Celibacy..
Question
I have been practicing celibacy for the past 2 months.Now my college will open after the vacation. I request you to please tell me some way to keep my mind unpolluted from lustful talks of my college friends.
Secondly,in my vacations, I had connected to the ISKCON people near my home to gather more knowledge about spirituality and Brahmacharya.They told me that it is impossible to practice Brahmacharya in this present age of Kali, and the pranayama and asanas cannot liberate anyone.They told me to just chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra.Do you think I should trust them to guide me properly?I think they are themselves illusioned. After all Brahmacharis like Swami Sivananda,Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramhansa existed in the Kali Yuga.
Answer
Hello Arjun,
Good to hear of your interest as regards Brahmacharya. Coming to the answers,
One should first decide which is more important to him or her; being popular and in stride with peer groups in college/school or getting established in Brahmacharya and savoring the bliss, character, strength and greatness that comes further to a life of Brahmacharya. The presence of one generally acts as an impediment to the other. A student who spends much time talking and thinking about sex/women and associates himself with tobacco, alcohol, parties and idle talk with his friends becomes unfit to practice Brahmacharya. Similarly, a person devoted to a life of Brahmacharya finds no interest with such associations. Such a Brahmachari is polite and amicable with the most characterless of his friends but limits his contact and interactions to the minimum and out of necessity. Just as the wanton and wayward man is wedded to his life of sexuality, the Brahmachari is wedded to his life of purity. This awareness is very important and necessary. A Brahmachari should not waste his time and energy trying to broadcast the practice of Brahmacharya among his friends but should avoid unfavorable company and make it clear to the few remaining friends of his lack of interest as regards topics of sexuality. Once people realize of the intentions and firmness behind such a resolve, things start falling into place.
The correct way to stay free from being polluted by lusty talk is to avoid such company. It is a task beyond possibility for a beginner Brahmachari to be in the presence of wrong company and yet maintain purity. Hence one's contact with friends must be limited.
Prânayâma and Âsana in a life of Yoga are time tested and efficient methods that help a person achieve purity and progress in Brahmacharya. These have been, are and will always be applicable in achieving spiritual progress and efficient evolution. Just as the rays of the Sun do not become dark because someone says so the efficacy of Yogic practices does not change with time, place and circumstance by someone's statement or non-statement.
Let those who think on the contrary remember the words of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita which has been intended for the present age--Kali Yuga :-
" Yogasthaha kuru karmaani sangam tyakthva Dhananjaya |
Siddha Asiddhayoho samo bhuthva, Samathvam Yoga Uchyathey" ||
- Chapter II/verse 48 - The Bhagavad-Gita
| " O Dhananjaya (Arjuna), forsaking attachment to the fruits of your actions, thou indulge in Yoga. Accepting success and failure with an equal vision, this evenness of mind is called Yoga" |
Just as adequate exercise aids in promoting good health when combined with healthy food, the practice of Yoga aids the Brahmachari when combined with God-devotion and meditation.
Lead a life of Brahmacharya and Yoga with devotion and love to God, following which the Lord eventually makes the path easier and free from obstacles.
ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)