Articles
Lesser The Need, Better The Life
    Published in: The Pioneer
    Category: Hacked BY QQEN-ihtilal.in
    Dated: 3/15/2008
Is brahmacharya useful? To answer this question, let us take an example of a person who practiced brahmacharya throughout his life. Swami Vivekananda took the vows of sanyas at an early age and kept them till his death.

What is brahmacharya? The practice of brahmana is called brahmacharya. And, what is brahmana? Brahman is the basic ingredient of existence related to spirit, which is beyond matter. Therefore, the practice of brahmacharya is associated with soul-related activities. Of the four physical instincts - food, sleep, sex survival - as is the instinct to protect oneself from harm. Is sex necessary for existence? Does it give any long-term advantage? Can someone abstain from it and still survive? What benefits are there in controlling the sex urge? Answers to these questions indicate whether brahmacharya in which abstaining from sex is necessary, useful or not.

Sex is not compulsory for existence. One can manage, though with difficulty, to live without it. No wonder only a few chosen ones are able to follow brahmacharya throughout life.

This brings us to the most important question regarding benefits of controlling the sex urge. Lord Krishna states observes in the Bhagavad Gita, “Those desiring to gain liberation practice brahmacharya.” At another place, he says that brahmacharya is the austerity of the body.

There are two benefits of brahmacharya. One, practicing it help one attain liberation. Two, one can easily save oneself from all kinds of negative fallouts resulting from sensuous behaviour.

From available sources it is obvious that only a few people can pursue brahmacharya since childhood. It appears that most people are unable to restrain themselves from sexual pleasures. So if there is no natural urge for sanyas, it is wise to get married at an appropriate age and taste pleasures related to the soul, such as peace and bliss. Thereafter, one should try to free completely oneself from worldly pleasures.

 
 
 
 
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