Is Celibacy Possible?

Is Celibacy Possible?

It is quite possible for a man to practice celibacy while remaining in the world, albeit there are various sorts of temptations and distractions. Many have achieved this in times of yore. There are many even at the present moment also. A well disciplined life, a Sattvic and moderate diet, study of religious scriptures, Satsanga, Japa, Dhyana, Pranayama, daily introspection and enquiry, self-analysis and self-correction, Sadachara, practice of Yama and Niyama, physical, verbal and mental Tapas in accordance with the teachings of the Seventeenth Chapter of the Gita—all will pave a long way in the attainment of this end. People have an irregular, unrighteous, immoderate, irreligious, undisciplined life. Hence they suffer, and fail in the achievement of the goal of life. Just as the elephant throws sand on its own head, so also, they themselves bring difficulties and troubles on their own heads on account of their foolishness.

Those who practice Brahmacharya generally complain that they get mental fatigue owing to continence. This is only a deception of the mind. You get sometimes a pseudo-hunger, whereas, when you actually sit for dinner, you have no real good appetite and you do not take any food. So also, there is a false mental fatigue. If you observe Brahmacharya, you will have immense mental strength. You will not be able to feel it always. You will manifest it when the occasion arises, in the same way as a wrestler manifests his physical strength in the arena, though he feels as normal man in ordinary times.Continence is not harmful. It conserves energy. It gives immense strength and peace. Sexual indulgence leads to moral and spiritual bankruptcy, premature death, and loss of faculties, talents and capacities.

The practice of celibacy is not attended with any danger or any dire disease or undesirable result such as the various sorts of complex which are wrongly attributed to it by the Western psychologists. They have no practical knowledge of the subject on hand. They have got a wrong, ill-founded imagination that the ungratified sex energy assumes in disguise the various forms of complex such as the touch phobia. The complex is due to some other causes. It is a morbid state of mind due to excessive jealousy, hatred, anger, worry and depression brought about by various causes.

On the contrary, even a little self-restraint or a little practice of continence is an ideal pick-me-up. It gives inner strength and peace of mind. It invigorates the mind and nerves. It helps to conserve physical and mental energy. It augments memory, will-force and brain-power. It bestows tremendous strength, vigour and vitality. It renovates the system or constitution, rebuilds the cells and tissues, energies digestion and gives power to face the difficulties in the daily battle of life. The special virtues of endurance and bravery are intimately connected with the cultivation of chastity. A perfect celibate can move the world, can stop the ocean-waves like Lord Jesus, can blow up mountains, can command nature and the five elements like Jnana Dev. There is nothing in the three worlds that cannot be achieved by him . All Siddhis and Riddhis roll under his feet.

 

Enlightening Conversation.

Enlightening Conversation

1. What is the difference between tyaga, vairagya and uparati?

1. Avoiding contact with sense objects is tyaga. Not even being attracted towards the object, even when it is before one’s eyes, is vairagya. If the object is before one’s eyes, but still there is neither a desire to enjoy nor any aversion thereto, it is uparati.

1. What are the types of vairagya?

1. Ordinarily vairagya is of three types, according to the qualities of nature:
2. The vairagya arising out of aversion to the world and love for the lord is sattvic.
3. The vairagya in search of fame and prestige is rajasic.
4. If one looks down on others, and takes pride in one’s vairagya, the vairagya is tamasic.

In Yoga darshan, two types of vairagya have been described, par and apar. Apar vairagya is of four types:

1. Yatman: When efforts are made to get of worldly pleasure, but success is not achieved, it is called yatman vairagya.
2. Vyatireki: If attachment to some of the sense objects goes, but with others, it remains, it is vyatireki vairagya.
3. Ekendriya: The mind is also an indriya. When there is no attraction for sense objects, but one does think about them in mind, it is ekendriya vairagya. In this state, mind and senses are controlled on the strength of determination.
4. Vashikar: With vashikar vairagya, mind and the senses are completely subjugated and many miracles start happening. Hitherto apar vairagya has been described.When there is no attraction for anything, on has no taste for even omniscience or miracles, and one is established in one’s True Self, it is par vairagya. Renunciation of even the bliss of concentration and being beyond the qualities of nature is par vairagya.There are two more classifications of vairagya. Vairagya from the body is the first type, and being beyond the feelings of ‘I’ and ‘my’ is second type. People do achieve vairagya from their homes, but it is difficult to achieve vairagya from the body. Much more difficult is to experience non-existence of the body. It is achieved by rarest of individuals by sheer grace of the Sadguru.

   When a child is born, it is uncertain, whether it will get education, whether it will marry or whether it will engage in a vocation, but is there any doubt, whether it will die? We too are among such children.

   There can be a doubt, whether we shall become rich, whether we shall be famous, whether we shall win elections. But dear brother! Can there be any doubt whether we shall die or not?

   There is a fixed time for departure of a flight or a bus or even a train of life?

   Where do we live? In the abode of death. Whosoever comes here has to die. How long can you have relations with the mortals….?

   Death is inevitable, it is certain. Do you make any preparations for that? If yes, do it with greater determination; if not, start today.

On the path of Self-realization or God-realization, three kinds of desires keep us away from God. If we do not indulge in these three desires, we shall instantly hear songs from the divine kingdom. The three desires are:

1. Desire to live. 2. Desire to do. 3. Desire to know.

Even if we don’t desire to live, the body will live in any case. Even if we don’t desire to do anything, things will automatically get done by the force of the providence. If we don’t desire to know, then our True Self, the original source of all knowledge will manifest itself.

These three desires are obstacles to God-realization. Dear brother! Take courage. Those who have renounced desires have been blessed. Stop treating yourself as weak. You reverberate with divine music; you are full of divine bliss. You are the Divinity yourself. Just take care of these three things.

The Srimad Bhagwat says:

‘If you get the company of a God-lover for a moment, it is the best thing to happen to you. Heaven or even salvation don’t stand anywhere in comparison.’

 

 

 

 

How to Ward off Anger?

Lust, greed, attachment, pride and anger are the inner enemies which rob one, of the treasure of Self Bliss. And even among these, anger is the most detrimental to sÍdhanÍ.

Some belongings may still remain even after a robbery is committed in a house, but if a house catches fire, then everything is reduced to ashes leaving nothing behind whatsoever.

In the same way, the thieves of greed and attachment destroy only some of our virtues, but the fire of anger reduces our entire treasure of japa, tapa and virtues to ashes. Therefore beware of anger.

It is alright to act angrily, but be ever alert not to let it possess you. Do not eat hurriedly. Take at least 25 minutes to chew and masticate the food properly. Eat sattvic food.

Avoid garlic, red chillies and fried foods. If you are faced with a situation in which it is difficult to ward off anger, then instantly press the tips of the fingers onto the fleshy part of your palms, making a fist.

Your anger will subside within seconds. Take a drink made from 10 grams of honey, a few tulsi leaves and a little bit of Santkripa choorna thoroughly dissolved in a glass of water.

This helps enhance your cheerfulness. If the choorna or tulsi are not available, honey alone will do. Those suffering from diabetes should not take honey.

They can, instead, take grapes and raisins, which are absolutely harmless and highly invigorating for diabetics. The spiritual prowess attained through one month’s sÍdhanÍ is destroyed in a single fit of anger.

Therefore, O my beloved brothers! Be careful. Do not waste your priceless life in frequent fits of anger.