3 questions

QUESTION: Hello Dhananjay,
1.In the answer with the title of break-brahmacharya you said "one should prevent the birth of negative emotions right from the start through the application of Buddhi shakti (power of intellect) and Vichara shakti (power of inquiry),for it is of little use suppressing them after they have been let to grow".could you clarify  more it and could we really prevent them in this way while we know they rise from subconscious & unconscious mind further to bad  Samskaras?
2.Suppose we have not sublimated enough semen through physical  ,intellectual & spiritual activity or have not followed food regime in some cases (or any other reason) and we encounter huge inner tension & not able to displace lustful & negative thoughts anymore & also not able to harness this gross energy   .isn't it better to allow JUST SO LITTLE of lustful thought get presented in  the mind in order to decrease the tension & stop it after that?does this unharnessed & not refined energy hurt the body or brain?
3.Do brain & nerve cells get hurt doe to high-low of energy level because of doing yoga practices along with brahmacharya for a while & then break the brahmacharya esp by  masturbation? if yes could this hurt get undone or not?
Thank you for your answers.your answers have had an important role   in keeping on my celibacy (near brahmacharya).
Ali,

ANSWER: 1. Both positive and negative thoughts/actions are the result of one's past Samskâras (impressions) stored within. Effort towards or against these impressions in the present, amplify or minimize their effects to a certain degree. The result of any action is not within one's reach, for one is not the doer in reality but only an instrument of the Almighty. These actions are being worked out  through the individual, by the Almighty to evolve the Jivâtma (individual soul) towards betterment. Thus does the Almighty make the individual soul realize its ignorance and help it attain to knowledge. Through each and every happening occurring in one's life, the individual soul is slowly being made to unwind itself of the ignorance surrounding it and is getting one small step closer to its true state of knowledge and bliss. The aim of Yoga and Brahmacharya is to make this progress faster and more direct, nothing more. Hence the result of all actions lie with the Almighty and never with the doer.

What then is the importance of one's individual effort if the Almighty is both the doer of the action and the giver of result? What is our role? Our role is to work in tandem and in concurrence with the workings of the Almighty and strive towards correct performance of one's Dharma as a human being. Our role is to strive to follow the path of virtue, Godliness, purity and truth through the path shown to us by the Almighty without caring for the results of actions. Such an attitude and effort will instill a sense of deep happiness, peace of mind and satisfaction from within.

It is like a painting brush being handled by an ace painter. What would happen if the brush were to exert its own individual will and decide to paint the canvas green, while the artist decided to paint it blue? The result would be that the brush would not succeed, for it is not the painter but only the medium or instrument. The will and wish of the artist alone matters. The brush would only end up incurring much stress, strain and discomfort if it were to develop an individual desire and try moving in its own accord. It would achieve nothing but pain and disappointment. On the other hand, if the brush were to adopt a neutral and flexible attitude thinking - "I am not the painter. I am only the medium through which he paints. Let me make myself free from all desire. I will fully work as per the painter's wishes and color the canvas with whatever color he chooses. This is my role and nothing more". The brush would now be free from all stress or strain and be at peace with itself by acceding to the wishes of the painter. It is not bothered about what the artist decides to paint. It has realized that its role is to work with and not against the wishes of the artist.

Man is like the painting brush and the Almighty is the painting artist. As long as man fails to realize this and instead thinks he is the painter (doer of actions), he suffers. The minute he surrenders to the will of the Almighty and treads the path of Dharma and virtue, he is no longer concerned with the results. His only thought is to comply with the wishes of the Almighty, for he knows that the Almighty is working through him to make him evolve and better himself. He has to suffer for the remnant past negative actions that have been already performed in his earlier thought mode but is absolved of any karma from then on. For, how can karma occur when all actions are the actions of God but not of one's ego? This is why one is advised to shun and nip negative emotions as soon as they start to arise. Let one not get depressed or worried that a lustful thought or emotion has risen. But, let one immediately work at nipping the thought at the bud by reminding oneself that such thoughts or emotions are the result of ones ignorance which one is striving to annihilate. Let the mind be diverted towards constructive thoughts or activities and away from the negative thought train by making use of Buddhi shakti (power of intellect) and Vichara shakti (power of inquiry). With constant effort and practice, this slowly becomes more and more successful and a good level of mind control gets established. One has now done his duty or Dharma by working with the Almighty in trying to get rid of ignorance. His efforts have been with and not against the wishes of the Almighty. The brush has co-operated with the wishes of the painter and not against. This is as much as one is supposed to do. One's role is this much and not more. Let us not worry about the result. That will be decided by the Almighty. The brush has given itself to the will of the painter. The quality of the painting is not its concern. That will be taken care of by the artist (Almighty). Constant thought and action on these lines will eventually work out and nullify past Samskâras in course of time.

2. The minute one resorts to letting lustful thoughts or actions blossom willingly even to the smallest extent, one starts working against the wishes of the Almighty. It is no longer the work of the Almighty but the work of the lower self or 'Ahamkarâ' (ego). One now starts to incur karma. The brush is no longer in a state of complete surrender to the painter but has started to behave as per the wishes of its inner ego driven by Avidyâ (ignorance). Suffering and pain again start due to induction of karma. It has gone back to the same old wrong path, asserting its foolish desire to paint the canvas all by itself, based on its whims and fancies. This is impossible and will only lead to pain and suffering. One's duty is to try one's level best never to give in and never to give up. So let us do our duty till our last breath. The rest will be decided by God. The results are not our concern. If one has been unable to indulge in adequate physical, mental and spiritual activity on some day or for a few days due to an unavoidable circumstance, then let him at least maintain his state of God devotion and surrender with the attitude - " I was not able to follow the regular measures and efforts that I normally perform. But I will stay devoted to the Almighty and try my level best to keep my mind clean and pure. I will pray to HIM to give me the strength and ability to stay true to Brahmacharya. There will not be the slightest slackening of efforts from my side." Such devotion and commitment is what matters. Let us never be at fault. If we willingly let a lustful thought grow, it is then our fault. Let this not happen. Let our efforts be to the maximum. The negative thought will slowly dissolve and vanish. It cannot hurt the body or mind as long as there is honest effort to dissolve it and a desire to stay connected to the Almighty  .

3. Not the slightest amount of harm is inflicted to the body, mind or brain through Yoga and Brahmacharya. On the other hand, these slowly get separated from the toxins and impurities lodged within and shine in health and luster. The breaks during the initial periods of Brahmacharya through masturbation are the result of strong past Vâsanâs (tendencies) surfacing. They violently shoot up at the most unexpected of times and try to re-assert their position, for they have resided in the individual for long and have become his second nature. If the aspirant is however determined and unmindful of these tendencies through the practice of Yoga with a life of Brahmacharya through God surrender, these past impressions gradually weaken and diminish in the course of being worked out faster through Brahmacharya. One becomes stronger and more adept at handling them deftly when they show their heads and eventually destroys them through the grace of God. What is most important is to put our heart and soul into the practice and never willingly give up or give in to lustful thoughts. This is as much as we need to do. The rest will be taken care by HIM!

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

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QUESTION: Thank you so much for your nice answers,but actually you didn't answer the third question frankly.that was my personal experience before starting the brahmacharya ten month ago.unfortunately my source of studies (books of BSY) didn't explain clearly brahmacharya with details and this ignorance weakens my memory & leave me more sensitive & obsessed (or at least i think like this along with irregular & even stop the consumption of my medicine Fluoxetine for a while).could i hope to regain my earlier state in course of time ?can damaged brain & nerve cells be mended ? forgive me if the question is not in your expertise.