wet dreams

Hello there,

I'm doing good. Its very nice to see that you are putting efforts into the practice celibacy, coming to your queries:

Q1: Do wet dreams stop with constant practice of 'Brahmacharya?
A:  A wet dream in the general sense is the expression of unfulfilled desires in the awake state, during the dream state. If sexual wants and desires are let to blossom while we are awake and consequently suppressed, they manifest in the form of erotic/ sexual dreams which may or may not lead to a wet dream (emission of vital fluid). If the intensity and involvement in the sexual fantasy is very strong and deep while awake, there is a high possibility that the erotic dream might turn into a wet dream, i.e a dream accompanied by emission of vital fluid. Again milder indulgences in fantasies during the awake state might produce a sexual dream of lesser intensity, but without emission.

If a celibate practices true celibacy in thought, word and deed for a long period of time he can reach a state where he no longer has wet dreams. This state he reaches, further to elimination of most gross and subtle impurities in his physical, astral and causal bodies. If at all there is an occasional emission of fluid, it will mostly be a small amount of prostatic fluid being flushed out by the prostate gland for occasional cleansing (such emissions will not be accompanied by erotic/ sexual thoughts or fantasies). In fact the subject might not even know when the fluid came out as he would have experienced deep dreamless sleep and finds a very small amount of fluid emitted upon getting awake. This is accompanied by a sense of freshness and wellbeing, unlike a nocturnal sexual wet dream which results in weakness, dullness, depression and a sense of guilt. Such cleansing in a true celibate is very occasional like say once or twice a year. It does not fall in the category of a erotic wet dream which is debilitating.

Q2: How often do I experience wet dreams?
Elaborating whether I experience or don't experience wet dreams might be a little out of context as it would result in self-promotion. But I can vouch for the fact that wet dreams stop or almost come to a standstill once gross and subtle impurities (toxins) have been removed to a large extent. Again one never knows if the level of purity one has attained is really enough for life long stoppage, except by future experiences of success or failure. It is best to bear in mind that we are students in this path and be alert and humble.

To sum it up, a celibate has to constantly be on guard against the onslaught of senses which can stir up the latent lust present within. No amount of effort is enough, for we are always short of the mark by a few degrees. The day we think ourselves to be beyond lust, that day we fail and get to see our short comings. We see there's 'So little done and so much to do'. But with constant perseverance and devotion to god, success will ultimately come. As to when one succeeds in reaching this state beyond lust, Lord Krishna tells us in the Bhagavad-Gita:

" The objects of senses but not their relish turn away from the abstemious man. Even the relish turneth away after one has realized the supreme " - Chap.II verse 59, The Bhagavad-Gita

Which means:- A man by restricting his senses may refrain from the objects of sense enjoyment, but the taste for enjoyment remains. Even this taste leaves man after he has realized the supreme.

So till the final goal called self-realization is achieved, one is ever a student and ever prone to onslaught of the senses. He may fall from his state of celibacy at any point of time if not vigilant. Only honest effort and humility can help one reach the goal.

Trust this helps,
God bless and have a nice day :-)
Dhananjay