Practice of Brahmacharyam : Section-3 - Swami Sivananda

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Monday, June 27, 2022. 6:00 AM.

Section-3 : Techniques of Sex Sublimation : 

15. To marry or not to marry -6. &

16. THE DANGERS OF PROMISCUOUS :

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6. The Akhanda Brahmachari

If you can remain as an Akhanda Brahmachari, an unbroken celibate, for a period of

twelve years, you will realize God immediately without any further Sadhana. You will have

achieved the goal of life. Mark the word ‘Akhanda’.

Seminal energy is a potent Sakti. Semen is Brahman Itself. A Brahmachari who has

practiced unbroken celibacy for full twelve years will attain to the Nirvikalpa state the moment

he hears the Mahavakya, “Tat Tvam Asi”, because his mind will be extremely pure, strong and

one-pointed.

An Akhanda Brahmachari, who, for a period of twelve years, has not allowed even a drop

of semen to come out, will enter into Samadhi without any effort. Prana and mind are under his

perfect control. Bala Brahmacharya is a synonymous term for Akhanda Brahmacharya. An

Akhanda Brahmachari has strong Dharana Sakti, Smriti Sakti and Vichara Sakti—power of

grasping, retentive memory and power of enquiry. He need not practice Manana and

Nididhyasana, reflection and meditation. If he hears the Mahavakya even once, he will at once

achieve Self-realization. His intellect is pure, and his understanding is extremely clear. Akhanda

Brahmacharins are very, very rare; but there are some. You also can become an Akhanda

Brahmachari if you attempt in right earnest.

You will have to be very careful of reaction. The Indriyas that are put under restraint for

some months, or one or two years, become rebellious if you are not always vigilant and careful.

They revolt and drag you out when opportunities arise. Some people who observe Brahmacharya

for one or two years become more passionate and waste the energy considerably in the end.

Some become incorrigible moral wrecks also.

Mere matted hair and application of ashes to the forehead and the body cannot make one

an Akhanda Brahmachari. That Brahmachari who has controlled the physical body and the

physical Indriyas, but who constantly dwells on sexual thoughts, is a confirmed hypocrite. He

should never be trusted. He may become a menace at any time.

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NEXT - 16. THE DANGERS OF PROMISCUOUS :

Do not be too familiar with anybody. Familiarity breeds contempt. Do not multiply

friends. Do not court friendship with women. Do not also be very familiar with them.

Familiarity with women will eventually end in your destruction. Never, never forget this point.

Friends are your real foes.

Do not mix with members of the opposite sex. Maya works through undercurrents so

stealthily that you may not be aware of your actual downfall. The sexual Vasana will assume an

aggravated form suddenly without a moment’s notice. You will commit adultery and then

repent. Then your character and fame will vanish. Dishonour is more than death. There is no

crime more heinous than this. There is no Prayaschitta for this. So beware. Be cautious.

Bhagavan Dattatreya has compared woman to a burning pit of fire and man to a pot of

ghee. When the latter comes in contact with the former, it perishes. Therefore, abandon her.

If you happen to live in a Dharmashala or public inn, if there is a single woman in your

neighbouring room, leave the place at once. You do not know what will happen. It is always

advisable to leave the danger zone immediately, however strong you may be through the practice

of Tapas and meditation. Do not expose yourself to temptation.

Do not test your spiritual strength and purity when you are a beginner on the spiritual

path. Do not rush into evil associations when you are a spiritual neophyte to show that you have

the courage to face sin and impurity. It will be a serious mistake. You will be running into a

grave danger. You will have a quick downfall. A small fire will be very easily extinguished by a

heap of dust.

You should remain far away from women in the beginning of your practices. After you

are perfectly moulded and well established in Brahmacharya, you can test your strength by

moving with ladies very cautiously for some time. If your mind is very pure then also, if there is

no sex idea, if the mind ceases to act through the practice of Uparati, Sama and Dama, remember

that you have gained real spiritual strength and made considerable progress in your Sadhana.

You are safe now. You should not stop your Sadhana thinking that you are a Jitendriya Yogi. If

you stop it, you will have a hopeless fall.

Even advanced aspirants who have made great progress in Yoga should be very careful.

They should not freely mix with women. They should not foolishly imagine that they have

become great adepts in Yoga. A great saint of repute had a downfall. He freely mixed with

women and made women-disciples, whom he allowed to massage his legs. As the sex energy

was not completely sublimated and turned into Ojas, as lust was lurking in a subtle form in his

mind, he became a victim to passion. He lost his reputation. The sexual desire was only

suppressed in him, and when a suitable opportunity came, it again assumed a grave form. He had

no strength or will power to resist the temptation.

Another great soul, who was regarded by his disciples as an Avatar, became a YogaBhrashta. He also freely mixed with ladies and committed a serious lapse. He became a prey to

lust. What a sad misfortune! Aspirants climb with great difficulty by the ladder of Yoga and

they are irrecoverably lost for ever on account of their carelessness and spiritual pride.

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NEXT- 16.1 : Havoc played by mental images

To be continued ....

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