PRACTICE OF BRAHMACHARYAM : SECTION II : - 11.2. SWAMI SIVANANDA
Chinmaya Mission Trinidad and Tobago
Studying at the feet of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda in India, 1991 Vedanta batch.
— with Swami Chinmayananda
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Tuesday, June 23, 2020. 7:17.AM.
SECTION II. THE GLORY OF BRAHMACHARYAM -11.2.
11. WOMEN AND BRAHMACHARYA-2.
2. Brahmacharinis—ancient and modern.
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1.
In olden days, there were Brahmacharinis in India. They were Brahmavadinis; they
discoursed on Brahman. They did not wish to lead the life of Grihastha-Dharminis devoted to a
householder’s duties. They served the Rishis and sages in their hermitages and did Brahma-
Vichara or enquiry of Brahman. King Janasruti placed his daughter at the service of Rishi
Raikva. You will find this in the Chhandogya Upanishad.
New Batch of Brahmachari and Brahmacharini graduated at Chinmaya Mission Ashram at Sidhbari,Himachal.
2.
Sulabha was a very learned lady. She was born in a royal family. She was a
Brahmacharini. She was instructed in the religion of emancipation. She observed the practice of
asceticism. She was firm in the practices that belonged to the mode of life she led. She was
steady in her vows. She never uttered a word without reflecting on its propriety. She was a
Yogini. She led the life of a Sannyasini. She appeared before Janaka in his court and had a great
discussion with him on Brahma-Vidya or the Science of the Self.
Devi Workshop at Chinmaya Mission Pittsburgh
3.
Gargi was also a Brahmacharini. She also was a highly cultured lady. She also had a
lengthy discussion with Yajnavalkya on Brahma-Vidya. The dialogue between them comes in
the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.
4.
In Europe also there were many women who were celibate and who dedicated their lives
entirely to severe austerity, prayer and meditation. They had their own hermitages. In India,
even at the present moment, there are educated women who lead the life of Brahmacharinis.
They do not wish to marry. This is due to the force of good Samskaras of previous births. They
give education to the girls in schools. They give free tuition privately to poor girls and train them
in sewing and other household works. They study religious books and practice meditation in the
morning and in the evening. They do Kirtan. They keep a daily spiritual diary. They conduct
Satsanga classes and Kirtan among women. They train girls in the practice of Asanas and
Pranayama. They give discourses on the Gita and the Upanishads. They deliver lectures on the
religious subjects in English, Sanskrit and Hindi. During holidays and on important occasions,
they hold religious conferences for ladies on a grand scale for mass spiritual awakening.
Sometimes they visit nearby villages and distribute medicines freely to the poor. They
are equipped with the knowledge of first-aid, homoeopathy, allopathy and the bio-chemical
system of medicine. They are trained in nursing the sick. There is a highly educated
Brahmacharini, who is well-versed in Sanskrit, English and Hindi, who is the head of an
institution for girls. She maintains a free private school also for poor girls at her own expense.
This is a very noble service indeed.
CHILDREN WITH PARENTS AND RELATIVES AT CHINMAYA MISSION ON SPIRITUAL TRAINING
5.
Such girls and women are really a blessing to India. They lead a life of purity and selfsacrifice.
They enjoy bliss, prosperity and renown here and will also attain the immortal abode
of supreme peace hereafter. India is in need of more Brahmacharinis of this description who can
dedicate their lives to service, meditation and prayer.
There was a Maharani in the erstwhile United Provinces who wore simple dress, ate
simple food, served Sadhus and poor people and always lived amongst Sannyasins. She had a
sound knowledge of the scriptures and she did regular meditation and prayer. She observed
Mouna or the vow of silence for months together and spent some time in seclusion and ruled her
state also.
7.
There is an educated woman who is an M.B.B.S. Her husband is holding a good position.
She treats the patients freely. She does not charge any fees for visiting. She does very good
service to the society. She is not a job hunter. She is free from greed. She does medical service
for the purification of her heart. She regards medical service of the poor people as worship of
God. She looks after the house and serves her husband. She studies religious books and spends
sometime in meditation, worship and prayer. She is an ideal woman who leads a glorious and
pious life.
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NEXT : 11.3. Loose life is not freedom
The world is in dire need of such ideal women. I wish that the world may abound with
such glorious women. I do not condemn women. I do not oppose giving them education and
freedom. I have the highest veneration for women. I adore them as Devis or goddesses. But, I
am not in favour of such freedom for women as will ruin them. I am in favour of such education
and culture as will make them - immortal and glorious, as ...... To be continued ,....
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