Brahmacharya : 4, & 5.

4. NEED FOR CELIBACY :



What do we see these days? Boys and girls, men and women are drowned in the ocean of impure thoughts, lustful desires and little sensual pleasures. It is highly deplorable indeed. It is shocking to hear some of the stories of boys. Many college boys have come to me and personally narrated their pitiable lives. Their power of discrimination has been lost owing to sexual excitement and lustful intoxication. Why do you lose the energy that has taken many weeks and months to gain for the sake of a little, momentary sensual pleasure?


In olden days, boys of the Gurukula (ancient educational system of India) were healthy and strong. Today there is no real ethical culture in modern schools and colleges. The present system of education needs a drastic and radical change. Modern civilization has enfeebled our boys and girls. They lead an artificial life. Children beget children. There is racial degeneration. It is impossible to be strong and healthy unless males and females, boys and girls, try their level best to keep up Brahmacharya or the vow of celibacy.
Pure air, pure water, wholesome food, physical exercise, outdoor games like tennis - all contribute to the maintenance of good health, strength and a high standard of vigour and vitality. There are, indeed, many ways to gain health and strength. These ways are, doubtless, indispensable requisite. But, celibacy is the most important of all. It is the only specific that keeps up true manliness.



5. BENEFITS OF THE PRACTICE OF CELIBACY :


The practice of celibacy is not attended with any danger or disease, or undesirable results such as the various sorts of 'complex' wrongly attributed by the Western psychologists. They have no practical knowledge of the subject on hand. They have a wrong and ill-founded imagination that the ungratified sex-energy assumes the various forms of 'complex' such as 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 of 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, energizes digestion, and gives power to face the difficulties in the daily battle of life. One who has perfect control over sexual energy attains power unobtainable by another means.


If a man leads a life of celibacy even in his householder's life and has copulation occasionally for the sake of progeny only, he can bring forth healthy, intelligent, strong, beautiful, self-sacrificing children. The ascetics and saviours of ancient India, when married, used to follow this excellent rule very carefully for this purpose, and also used to teach by example and practice how to lead a life of a
Brahmachari even as a householder.


It is worth repeating that a true celibate possesses tremendous energy, a clear brain, gigantic will-power, bold understanding, retentive memory and good Vichara Sakti (power of enquiry). Swami Dayananda stopped the carriage of a Maharaja (great king). He broke the sword with his hands. This was due to his power of celibacy. All the spiritual leaders have been true celibates. Jesus, Sankara, Jnana Deva and Samarth Ramdas were all celibates.

To be continued  ...