Purpose of life

Hello Neeraj,

Good to hear of your practice of Brahmacharya. Coming to the answers,

Progress in Brahmacharya without the aid of Prânayâma is not impossible but would be an uphill task for most people. At the start of Brahmacharya and during the initial years, man is still very strongly connected to his past tendencies and impressions that have been accumulated over a span of many births by constant indulgence in 'Mâya'(Ignorance). His connection with these negative traits is often so strong that the pursuit of purity, divinity, sexless-ness and virtue appears contrary to one's nature. Unless one has a very strong commitment to cleansing oneself of the 'Avidya' (Ignorance) that has wound itself around the soul through immense devotion to God via complete surrender, it is not easy to succeed in this cleansing activity by 'Mânasik Japa' alone (Mental repetition of God's name)

The rationale behind the above statement becomes clear when we understand that the cleansing action must start at the physical or gross level. The physical, astral and causal bodies of the aspirant at the start of Brahmacharya are home to various toxins and impurities that are a result of his past actions.

Listed below are the directions of the actions to be carried our to cleanse these toxins present in different planes as per Yoga:

1. Through the practice of 'Yama-Niyama' the aspirant gets the mental strength and poise required to persevere the difficult path of reclaiming one's status of 'Âtma Bhâva'

2. Through 'Âsana' the physical body becomes fit, healthy and free from disease thereby allowing the aspirant to concentrate on God without aberration (A diseased mind and body lacks the energy and will to concentrate and focus on God). A person who does not practice Âsana should at least indulge in regular physical activity such as sports/exercise etc.. to attain robust and radiant health.

3. Through Prânayâma are removed the toxins and impurities in the body.

4. Through Prathyâhâra (withdrawal of the mind from the 5 senses of perception and action) are removed the impurities arising from the attachment of the mind to external objects.

5. Through Dhârana & Dhyâna are removed the impurities in the astral body

6. Through Samâdhi gets removed everything that hides the supremacy of the soul.

Prânayâma has been described as 'Tapas' of the highest order. It is a very special mode of breathing activity that makes man desire-less and peaceful; two very important requisites for anyone attempting self-realization. With constant and prolonged practice of Prânayâma, the mind becomes calm, serene, content and blissful. The mind starts to derive the bliss of the immortal Âtman and starts losing the tendency to seek entertainment from external sources. The control of Prâna through breath is the most effective way of controlling and regulating one's life energy. Unless one has succeeded in the control of his Prâna, absolute and unbroken Brahmacharya becomes impossible. Wet dreams will continue to occur and one cannot attain the state where he is completely free from the emission of spermatic fluid.

It is here that Prânayâma comes into the picture. After a year of practice of correct Prânayâma coupled with a life of Yoga and Brahmacharya, the 'Urdhvaretha Kriya' (also called the Vajroli Kriya) kicks into function. If the aspirant continues to maintain pure thoughts and actions scrupulously from this stage onwards, the ascent of semen to higher regions becomes automatic and natural. Semen which was earlier flowing downward and outwards now starts flowing upward and inwards. The secretion of semen within man gets lesser and lesser and his 'Ojas' increases drastically as a large amount of Prâna gets directly transformed into 'Ojas' without being converted into 'Rethas'(physical semen). This is when real Brahmacharya might be assumed to have begun. If one's efforts are honest and focussed the ascent towards becoming an 'Urdhvaretha' start falling in place.

If time happens to be a constraint, lessen Japa and meditation by half an hour and use these thirty minutes to perform Prânayâma before the start of Japa. This will result in deeper and more concrete focus during meditation; for Prânayâma is the foundation for all further effort at the mental plane involving Japa and meditation.

God bless and have a nice day :-)
Dhananjay