Dealing with unintentional physical contact

1. To the best extent possible and as a rule, always make conscious efforts to stay away and clear of such situations or locations which may lead to the contact described. The mind during the initial periods of Brahmacharya is always looking for an excuse that leads to touch, fantasy, sight or any other contact with the opposite sex. Even without one's knowledge or intention, the mind very craftily suggests or tends to place one in situations which could lead to the above. One should be very vigilant against such seemingly harmless suggestions by a mind colored by past tendencies and instead make use of 'Buddhi Shakthi' and 'Vichara Shakthi' (power of the intellect and discriminative inquiry) before heeding to suggestions by the mind. Always try choosing a place which prevents occurance of the situation you describe.

2. If despite such efforts one has no other way out but to occupy a place which brings along the possibility of unintentional contact with a female, then one should constantly remind oneself of the reality behind the filth and refuse within a woman's body and how the body will appear at old age with a shrunken frame, wrinkled skin, dried up flesh, rotting teeth, scant hair, bad breath and a disagreeable smell emanating from all over with stool and refuse stored within.

One should remind oneself of the weakness and debility experienced on losing semen through ejaculation on the body of a woman. Let there be the grave reminder of the same signs of old age and decay which will prematurely present themselves in the Brahmachari further to the sexual act for entertainment. This will neutralize the desire and produce Vairagya (dispassion). Then let him think of the bliss, purity and everlasting joy that comes from merging with God upon reclaiming his true state of existence through Yoga and Brahmacharya.

When an honest comparison is made between the two opposite kinds of effects which follow from adhering to Brahmacharya and not adhering to it, one who has a strong urge to get established in Brahmacharya will eventually be prepared to stay unaffected and unflinching in spite of unintentional touch, for his mind is not on the woman but on his practice. The mind can get affected when it is idle or when it is pondering on sexuality. It has a very less chance of getting victimized if it is kept busy on the ideal of Brahmacharya and Yoga. The reason behind the mind yielding to touch is because of its association with touch as a source of pleasure and happiness. When the fallacy of such a concept is strongly established in the mind backed by reason and logic, the concept starts to lose its ground and becomes weak. Consistent practice of the same will eventually produce dispassion at the bodily concept of a woman.

3. To instill a real sense of the decay and degeneration that the human body undergoes through age and disease, and to get firm with the idea of reality, one can visit an old-age home, mental asylum or even a mortuary and get a first hand experience of the reality behind the illusion of the body. This method is very helpful when there is a very strong sense of lust and fantasy associated with the body of the opposite sex. This exercise can be used both by men and women Brahmachari-s to drive the sense of reality into their minds. Spending a few minutes in an old-age home or mental asylum by looking up the inmates or patients who have been afflicted with severe diseases leading to loss of bone, flesh, hair and in some cases even skin will give the correct picture of what this human body is really all about. This is what exists under the so called gloss of the human skin and flesh of a person even in his or her prime. It is very repulsive and not the least attractive. The illusion caused by Maya makes it appear otherwise.

Similarly, spending a few minutes in a mortuary with dead bodies very effectively drives home the concept of the disgusting nature of flesh. This is what the body of the so called 'attractive woman' ultimately becomes. Is one now ready to waste his divine and most precious fluid on this bag of dead flesh? The presence of the Atman (soul) who is none other than the Lord gives the body life. The power and attraction in beauty is the power and beauty of the Almighty Lord himself and not that of the body. As soon as life (Atman or Lord) leaves this body, it loses all its charm and becomes inert. Isn't this very simple? It is now a dead body fit to be eaten by maggots. Is it worth spending that most precious, most divine and most priceless fluid of life on this dead piece of decaying meat? One should strive to reach the state where one enjoys the beauty of the Lord (which is in fact the beauty seen in a living person) and not mistake the body itself to be the source of beauty. THAT beauty of the Almighty never wanes and never vanishes. It is eternal and real. It is to be known. This body is only a wrapper which holds THAT beauty when HE resides within. As soon as the Atman (soul) leaves, it becomes just what it was - A dead piece of flesh which wrapped the Atman within. It now shows its real nature and property. One of decay, impermanence and very disagreeable.

One can even opt to watch an autopsy (postmortem) if it is possible. The sight of the human body revealing its reality under the scalpel of autopsy and the smell that ensues will take away the sense of lust and desire even from a very passionate mind in no time at all. These methods can be resorted to if the sense of desire is too strong and if the mind refuses to believe that this body of flesh is nothing more than filth in terms of sexuality.

Finally, always keep the thought of God in the mind and pray to him help you overcome this limitation. All these methods bear fruit under HIS grace and HIS grace alone and never by mere human effort.

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