4 questions

1. Suppression of sexual thoughts will lead to irritation, stress, anger, ill-health and finally a wet dream. It is not possible to prevent the expulsion of semen further to an orgasm. If semen is conserved, it has to be sublimated and transmuted. Else, it has to be ejaculated. It is not possible to indulge in lustful thought or activity and yet conserve semen. Hence the correct method is to avoid the incidence of letting lustful thoughts grow and keep the mind occupied on constructive physical, intellectual and spiritual pursuits.

2. Yes, letting oneself be overcome with base emotions such as anger, attachment, greed, arrogance and jealousy along with getting stressed and agitated results in the loss of Prâna or vital energy. Since semen is the gross most representation of Prâna, loss of Prâna destabilizes the harmonious flow of energy within the body resulting in weakness and eventually the loss of semen. The quantity of energy lost depends on the intensity and duration of the negative emotion.

3. Yes, everything in this world and beyond is under the final will and direction of the Almighty. This is because everything in this world is the result of the creation of the Almighty and is within the Almighty. There is nothing in the entire universe including space that is beyond the Almighty or which is not a product of his creation. The scriptures point to the fact of the Almighty being the most primal force which has always existed and will always exist. Being beyond birth, death, physical form and imitations, the Almighty may be conceived to be that infinite and eternal force form which is responsible for all creation. He is described in the Upanishads as 'Sath-Chith-Ananda' which comes close to Knowledge-Existence-Bliss. This means he is the source of all knowledge, the state of eternal existence and infinite bliss. One cannot get the complete concept of what the Almighty is as long as one is not self-realized.

The natural doubt that arises in the mind of a person then is, if the Almighty is everything, the only reality who supersedes all other things and is the cause behind all actions, then what is this world? Who are we, and what are we? It must then follow that this world is false, all objects are false and we ourselves are false and do not exist since the Almighty is alone the reality and the Supreme truth!

Yes, the Almighty alone is reality. The world is false, objects are false and we ourselves in terms of our body, mind, intellect, individual consciousness and ego are false in gross terms. It is our true self, the Âtman (pure soul) which is true and hence the Âtman is no different from the Almighty itself, it being the only true entity. Note the word 'gross terms'. By 'gross terms', we mean all those things that are the product of two or more things. All those things that are divisible and all those things which cannot exist independently by themselves. Let us take the example of the human body to get clear with the concept of falsity of matter and the reality we call the Almighty.

Now the human body is the product of various things. It is compound in nature, being the combination of things such as blood, flesh, bones, nerves, skin etc.. If we go a little further and analyze these things in particular, say the bone, we will find that the bone is again a combination of various materials such as calcium, fiber, protein and collagen. If we go much further and analyze a protein cell in the bone, it is  seen to consist of various amino acids. Further analysis will make us learn that the amino acid is itself made of molecules of a particular group. Split these molecules and we get elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. On analysis of the individual hydrogen atom, we learn that it is basically an electrically neutral atom consisting of a single proton and a single electron bound to the nucleus. Suppose we were to go further and try to find out what a proton or a neutron or the electron within an atom is made up of, we would arrive at the final conclusion that these individual constituents of an atom are really forms of energy and not matter . It is the final and indivisible state. The magnitude, nature and application of this energy differently results in the formation of atoms with different number of protons. The quantity of protons in an atom is what we call the atomic number of the resultant element. No two elements have the same atomic number or in other words the same number of protons. So the presence of different numbers of protons in an atom gives rise to different elements and finally different substances or different kinds of matter such as a stone, a piece of wood, a piece of glass etc... It is this final energy called atomic energy that is used in a nuclear reactor through nuclear fusion, where two smaller nuclei are fused into a larger nucleus releasing energy as a by product. A similar but reverse process occurs in a nuclear fission reaction, where a single, heavy, atomic nucleus splits into free protons and photons with the release of a very large amount of energy. It is a well known fact in science that these free protons and photons are really nothing but forms of light and light again is nothing but a form of energy.

So on scientific analysis of any form of matter that we see all around us, be it the human body, the earth, air, water etc.. we come to the final conclusion that all matter is a form of energy. That the physical things called a stone or glass are not really physical in nature at the innate level but are forms of energy in their own frequency of vibration. The dense conjugation of energy results in what we call matter, which in reality is only energy in a frequency of vibration . So all physical objects are forms of energy and nothing more. This entire world with its objects is hence energy and not matter, speaking in terms of reality. We can thus infer that the world of objects we see all around us including our body are not real but only concentrated forms of energy in a state of vibration. Similarly, our mind and its wants and desires are also energy forms through the medium of thought.

What is that source or origin of this energy? There must be a source from which this energy has coalesced into matter. Some source which is intelligent enough to create such an energy and bind the protons and electrons within an atom to form matter. The protons and neutrons are after all lifeless and do not possess a mind or intelligence to behave in the way required to form the nucleus of an atom! Yet they are held together by some mysterious force through the means called atomic energy.  Some source which has the high degree of intelligence to design the beautiful mechanism of function of the stars, planets, human body and everything in creation based on this principle of the Atom. This one, single, universal force which is indivisible and the master creator and controller of all forms of energy is what one might call as the Almighty. It now follows naturally that all forms of energy and hence matter, originate from this Almighty. That these forms of energy are juggled in different ways by the intelligence of that superior being resulting in the different objects of creation. Hence it should be, that this superior being or Supreme is independent of all forces and unaffected by their presence. It is a being that is beyond destruction and hence the only reality; for it is the cause behind everything and not the effect. The objects of its creation are only forms of energy that are held together by its will. A contrary-will from this controlling entity can hence dissolve these forms of matter into their constituent energies and finally even this energy can be withdrawn into that Supreme, following which the Supreme alone remains as the one final reality and every other effect in terms of matter or otherwise dissolves into nothingness. This is what is meant by saying "The world is an illusion and false".

Here we come to the exact concept of the Almighty as -"The one who is the supreme cause of all causes, while He Himself has no cause." Thus one can rightly conclude that the Supreme being controlling these forces of nature, matter and non-matter is beyond decay, death and limitation. That it is an entity within whom everything is contained and not something superseded by any force, matter or non-matter; for there cannot be anything beyond it in terms of the cause behind existence, knowledge and creation. It is this indivisible nature that makes it the only reality of permanence and continuum, beyond the fetters of change .

This principle is demonstrated very clearly when we see that anything and everything which is a compound is subject to change and finally destruction. In other words, everything which is the sum total of two or more substances is impermanent, prone to destruction and only an illusion. It is an illusion both in terms of our perception and most importantly in terms of the absolute reality . A stone, a piece of glass or wood, the human body, the planets and stars and even the air around us are all compounds and hence always subject to change, alteration and finally destruction when the form of energy holding these things together changes in magnitude or withdraws. These things then revert to their true form namely energy and even this energy being an effect of that Supreme entity which has created it merges back into the source - Almighty. Then, this formless, shapeless and featureless source of all energy called the Supreme alone remains, as was before creation; This is beautifully described in the Bhagavad-Gita -

"Aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate
iti matva bhajante mam budha bhava-samanvitah" - Chapter 10/Verse 8.

Meaning -"I am the source of both the spiritual and material worlds. Everything arises from me. The wise who know this engage in realizing me and worship me with all their hearts".

This Supreme alone is the final, indivisible, unalterable state of existence which is above, beyond and in full control of all effects, being the cause of all effects. This is what the scriptures mean when they say -"O man, this world is unreal, it is falsity, it is the cosmic dream of the Supreme being, devised to evolve the Jivâtma (embodied soul) and make it realize itself as nothing but Almighty itself; for in reality, if there is but one absolute reality called the Almighty, then the Âtman (pure soul) can be no different than that. Just as drops of water in the ocean are the ocean themselves and are perceived as drops when separated, the concept of individuality in man is born out of the ignorance surrounding the Jivâtma (embodied soul) which makes him think himself as separate from God and results in suffering. Upon losing this ignorance through self-realization, the drop of water called the individual soul merges into the ocean of water called the Almighty to realize itself as nothing but the Almighty. So waste not your time and energy by attending to the senses and their unending needs. Devote your heart and soul to the attainment of the absolute, following which all suffering comes to an end and one gets established in permanent knowledge, existence and bliss which is the nature of the Almighty".

We can now know the reason behind calling ourselves as puppets under the Almighty. The ignorance surrounding man makes him think of himself as separate and distinct from the Supreme. God's purpose behind evolution is to reduce and finally erase these layers of ignorance around man or animal. This whole process called evolution is a part of God's cosmic dream where the embodied soul suffers on thinking itself to be separate and reclaims its lost kingdom of Godliness upon realizing itself to be indistinct. Hence the statement "God is the final doer of all actions, not man". This means that all circumstances, situations and results that one encounters in one's life are staged by the Almighty in this cosmic drama called life so that the embodied soul improves, corrects, raises above its mistakes and gets closer and closer to its default state of Godliness, finally merging into that Godliness.

As long as one considers oneself separate from the Almighty, one's actions will be either good or bad and one thus incurs the karma of these actions which are again good or bad. One has to suffer for his misdeeds and enjoy for his good deeds. He has to suffer or enjoy because he was conscious of himself as "I am the doer" while performing the misdeed or good deed. What karma or result can accrue to one who has given up his ego, his individuality and his distinctness as regards the Almighty? Such a person is neutral and fully aligned to the workings of God as regards this dream world and its happenings. He performs his duty as assigned by God with honesty and sincerity and does not worry about the results of his actions, knowing fully well that the Almighty is working through him to elevate him to his default state of Godliness and he is only a medium. Knowing fully well that this world is an illusion and false and God alone is real . Then, all actions of such a man become the actions of God in terms of absoluteness. Such a man can do no wrong as long as he is hinged to this truth. It is only as long as the individual ego, desires and wants exist that man considers himself separate/distinct thereby accruing karma, and performs wrong actions. This individual ego cannot fully dissolve as long as self-realization is not attained.

So our role in life as individuals is to take the path shown by the Almighty and bravely endure the ups and downs of life, knowing them to be measures taken by the Almighty to help us correct and improve in terms of absolute reality through this dream drama called life. These are only lessons to the embodied soul, thought in the classroom called life. Our role is to lead a life of purity, virtue and divinity and strive to realize ourselves; for then, our efforts become concurrent and in line with what is proposed by the Almighty and not against. A life devoted to sense pleasures as the life aim takes man away from this concept and instead strengthens the concept of individuality, while the correct objective is of universality.

What is the benefit of such an approach? The benefit is that we would be sparing our mind and body of the unnecessary suffering and pains that come from the wrong concept of ourselves being the doers and thus having expectations for the results of our actions. A man who follows this correct approach with the firm conviction - "God alone is the doer, I'm only the medium. Hence I will keep my mind and body neutral and align my mind and body to receive and act on God's commands without desires, wants and expectations. I will sincerely carry out and co-operate with that which he intends for this birth of mine without attachment or expectations for the fruits of my actions and with full surrender. My present suffering or pain is the result of past karma which is being worked out. Let it work itself out. I will not indulge in more negative action but make myself neutral and fully poised to act upon the way shown by God through destiny. My life objective will be the attainment of self-realization, for that is also the Lord's aim in giving me this human birth. All other activities such as my occupation, leisure, sleep and other things will be incidental to my life and not the central purpose or aim of my life."

This is our role in life. It is only this much and not more. Our role is to stay riveted to the ideals of virtue, purity and divinity to the best of our ability and that too without expectations, whilst being sincere and honest to duty through the path shown by God. Let him make us a doctor, engineer, fisherman, film-actor, fire fighter or a businessman or something else. None of these things matter; for all these are akin to one's role in a drama and unreal. Just as an actor in a drama does not really suffer or enjoy by being ridiculed or praised in the drama, one's materialistic achievements or non-achievements don't really count in terms of the absolute reality, considering this world is an illusion. Our duty as actors in this world drama is to give our best at performing honestly and convincingly in whatever occupation or career that destiny provides, without being attached to the career itself . It is one's spiritual state and advancement that count, for it is through spirituality that man comes out of this dream called life and establishes himself in his default state of reality - Godliness. Our role is to strive to the best of our ability to indulge in all efforts that will take us towards self-realization and not indulge in any effort that will take us away from Godliness, virtue and purity. This is the highest and best religion, call it by what name you want. The tenets of all true religions of the world finally advocate this attitude and nothing more. The means and approach may be different, but the end is the same.

4. This entire dream drama called life has been scripted by God so man realizes himself to be not different from God. These 'apparent' physical objects made of atoms are held together by the energy we discussed for this very purpose, giving a sense of reality to this world, but whose actual nature is falsity. What is self-realization? Realizing one's true self, the indivisible Âtman as the Almighty and things such as the body, mind, ego and the manifest world to be falsity comprises this enlightenment. So whether one wants it or doesn't, one will eventually gravitate towards Godliness and spirituality in course of time. It is a very natural process. The Supreme Lord has devised this drama called life with this very objective and each and every embodied soul, from the smallest insect to the most staunch non-believer of God will realize himself as not being separate from God in course of time, immaterial of whether one wants it or doesn't. The question is not whether one believes in God or whether one wants self-realization, but how soon one wants self-realization . The aim of a life of Yoga with Brahmacharya is only to help one reach this state earlier and faster and thereby prevent oneself of the troubles and suffering which come from an opposite kind of lifestyle. Finally, even this decision on whether or not to adopt a life of Yoga and Brahmacharya is taken by the Almighty; for it is through his grace and directions alone that a person gets the mind to follow such a life and attain success.

"Why not strive in the direction of God's wishes rather than taking a contrary path based on one's whims and fancies? This will soon help one turn into a believer. Especially, when the fact remains that one can never go against what he has decided for us..." -- Is the question a person doubtful about all that has been written should ask himself. For those who still don't believe in God, there is always the drama called life scripted by the 'Master Director' called God which has its own methods and techniques of turning the strongest non-believers of God into believers.

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