Meditation/celibacy

Hello Aman,

Yes, Prânayâma and meditation on God become very necessary if unbroken Brahmacharya through continuous conservation and transmutation of semen is the objective. There are exceptions to this rule in the form of some very advanced souls who do not particularly sit in a formal meditative posture and meditate. But such people are blessed with immense devotion, love and surrender to the Almighty and to such an extent that their minds are constantly in the thought and contemplation of the Supreme by default. In their case, the physical discipline of setting aside some time of the day for meditation, sitting in the spine-erect posture and meditating may not be necessary, for they are constantly in effective meditation at almost all times! In such cases, it can rightly be assumed that these people have got done with the discipline required for a beginner in their past lives and have now reached a state where the initial requirements of a formal Yogic discipline may not be necessary.

An example for such advancement was the great saint Shri. Ramakrishna Paramahansa. His spiritual advancement and realization was to such a degree that there was no other thought but that of God in the wakeful and dream states. The sight of mating animals reminded him of the union of the soul with the Supreme Lord and drove him into Samâdhi! Such was his purity, divinity and realization. He would sit with his spine curved in a hunch and yet be in complete union with the Almighty through Nirbîja Samâdhi, unaware of his surroundings.

So as regards to the neophyte beginner or even one who has made some advancement, a strict and regular discipline consisting of all the eight Angâs of Yoga as a part of lifestyle is mandatory. After reaching such an advanced state, these limbs of Yoga become effortless and natural.

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