When to practice Yoga?/FOLLOW UP

QUESTION: Dhananjay, hi

Hope you are keeping well? Dhananjay, I wanted to ask if there is a monthly/fortnightly period [in men] during which the sexual urge is at its peak? Like women have the menstrual cycle, is there a similar period for men? If yes, what is it and what precautions can men take during that time to overcome the urge to ensure there is no downfall. I ask because I had read in one of your earlier posts a mention about a cycle for men too.
Also, I had read in one of your posts that completely giving up onions and garlic in the first year of brahamacharya is useful and that relaxations can be made when there is good control over the vital energy i.e. semen. Can you please elaborate here as well.

Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you, Manish

ANSWER: Unlike women, there is no formal period as regards men when it comes to peaking of the sexual urge or occurance of a wet dream. Based on the purity one has achieved further to the extent of removal of past impressions and tendencies pertaining to sexuality in the Karana Sharira (causal body), the frequency of heightened sexual urge goes on gradually reducing and finally reaches the state of equilibrium bereft of urge in an Urdhvareta (one who has achieved the perpetual and automatic sublimation of semen into Ojas)

In the normal man who is new to Brahmacharya, the body, mind and psyche are inundated with dense layers of sexual impressions and resulting tendencies from past activity. When such a person tries Brahmacharya, wet dreams occur frequently. Formerly, the person was active in artificial forms of release through sexual fantasy, masturbation, imagination or even sexual intercourse. The body, mind and psyche had hence become conditioned to the need for constant production of large volumes of semen. There was a regular drain of vital fluid out of the body and the body found it necessary to replenish this lost fluid at the cost of other living tissues. This was leading to premature degeneration of the body. When such a person starts Brahmacharya, the body, mind and psyche which have been used to producing a high volume of semen are not yet conditioned or signaled towards the need for lesser volume of semen in the new lifestyle. They take some time to readjust towards the lesser need. Till then, semen production does not reduce all of a sudden. The time taken for this readjustment depends on two important factors:

1. The magnitude of the dense layers of sexual impressions stored within.
2. The efforts carried out towards honest and true Brahmacharya.

If these layers of past sexuality are very strong, the person will have a strong sexual urge and desire at the initial stages of Brahmacharya. This results in formation of much physical semen. Since he has stopped all forms of voluntary release, the semen produced as a result of these sexual urges escapes through wet dreams. The body, mind and psyche are yet to attain to the stage of sublimation. The body is still in its former mode. This regular occurance of wet dreams appears similar to the menstrual period of a woman. It might occur fortnightly, bi-monthly or once a month depending on the above factors. In reality, it is not a cycle.

When correct and efficient Brahmacharya is carried out with the right food, waking up early, physical/intellectual activity, the practice of Bandha, Pranayama and meditation with God-devotion, the dense layers of sexual impressions gradually start unwinding & dissolving. This can  be seen through a corresponding reduction in the frequency of wet dreams. While there might have been a tendency for bi-monthly wet dreams, it now becomes monthly and so on. With more practice and honest efforts, wet dreams might further reduce to say once in two months. This frequency goes on reducing and one finally reaches a stage where they taper away into nothing. The time taken to reach such a stage depends on the two factors mentioned above and most importantly on the grace of God. So there is no cycle or regular period in man as in the case of women. This apparent male period reduces in frequency with increasing advancement.

If Brahmacharya is carried out correctly with great intensity, God-devotion and meditation, a good deal of control over the sublimation of semen into Ojas can be established within a year to a year and half of unbroken practice. The practice has to be unbroken for a year or more without a single voluntary break. Then, wet dreams become occasional and one reaches this stage of a basic degree of siddhi (control) over semen. There will then be no tendency for voluntary release while awake. But one will still be susceptible to occasional sexual impulses and ejaculation in a dream. Brahmacharya then becomes more effortless and natural. It becomes possible for the Yogi to achieve deeper states of meditation. A sense of Vairagya (dispassion) will gradually start to dawn as regards this illusory world of objects. One becomes more centered towards God and purity. While earlier, there was a strong undercurrent towards sexuality, there now arises a stronger undercurrent towards purity and virtue.

Till such a stage is reached, it is very useful to give up onion, garlic, chilly, strong spices etc.. When such a stage is reached, onion and garlic can be taken in small medicinal doses (one raw onion once a week while eating food and four to five pods of garlic once a week) for their blood purifying properties. Such a medicinal dosage does not affect the Brahmachari who has reached this stage. Spicy food is always best avoided. The barest minimum of salt and spices are conducive for the practice of Brahmacharya. Much spice and chilly agitate the mind and make deep meditation tougher to achieve. One who cannot meditate on the Supreme with intensity will find sexual thoughts reverting further to an irate and unstable mind. The chance for fall becomes more real. Unless deep states of meditation are regularly taken recourse to, attaining to initial stages of Samadhi (super-consciousness) becomes impossible. The dietary schedule one needs to follow becomes clear to oneself upon reaching this stage and a self-regulating tendency from within develops which does not allow eating those foods which are harmful for the spirituality of the aspirant.

ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)

[an error occurred while processing this directive]---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dhananjay, hi

Thanks very much for the answer, it greatly helps and I really appreciate your help on this matter as does God I am sure. God Bless.

I remember in one of your earlier posts you had said that the practice of bandh, pranjayam, and meditation needs to be performed twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening [4 times in the morning and 4 in the evening]. For one who has little time in the evening because of work commitments etc what do you suggest, is there an alternative whereby it can be done in the morning etc.

Thanks once again Dhananjay, I greatly appreciate the clarity that you are bringing to so many people.

Regards, Manish