Deva-s (Celestial beings)
Question
Dear Brother,
1) In one of your posts, you had mentioned - "Ones attitude should be I will give up food, water, sleep and even this life but not Brahmacharya for self-realization, for how can I cheat and fail the great Lord who has been kind enough to introduce me to this highest mode of spirituality which even the Deva-s (celestial beings) crave for and envy?"
Aren't celestial beings enlightened and higher in status than human beings? Does being a celestial being have a fixed time period and not for eternity?
2) You had mentioned that one can take a vow in periods. Say if I follow brahmacharya for about 2 months, and at the end I somehow watch porn and masturbate. Will it destroy the saved divine energy of the 2 months in total?
3) Is there any proof that Lord Yama exists or is it some passed down folk stories to instill fear in people to follow the right path?
Thanks.
Answer
1. Deva-s (celestial beings without a physical body who inhabit the Deva loka) are not self-realized. They are spiritually advanced beings, though not yet enlightened. They occupy the higher astral planes and remain there until the strength of the good Samskara-s (impressions) which are latent in them last. Then, they have to come back and take rebirth on the Earthly plane to strive for liberation.
The Deva-s are much higher than the ordinary human. An Urdhvareta, though a human is the equivalent of a Deva in rank (Urdhvareto bhaved yasya, sa devo na tu maanushaha The Yogi who is an Urdhvareta is the equivalent of a Deva and not a human, though using a physical body - say the scruiptures). These Deva-s who are in a state of bliss in the astral plane (as an effect of their past good deeds), do not however have access to liberation in that plane. For that, they have to wait till their good karma is expended and take rebirth here on Earth in flesh and blood. It is only the Brahmachari who is in the quest of Brahman through Brahmacharya who has this access. Hence it may be said that the path of salvation through Brahmacharya is Durlabha (unavailable) even to the Deva-s. This is why one must make full use of this divine human birth which is the gateway to liberation without wasting time and energy on other useless pursuits.
2. After taking the vow of Brahmacharya, one must never watch porn/masturbate or slip voluntarily. Extending the vow in stages means increasing the duration of Brahmacharya gradually, on and on and does not mean willfully breaking it with sinful activity. If such voluntary break of Brahmacharya with full awareness and cognition were to be indulged in, all the divinity lost. The aspirant will realize what this means, on his own at the right time.
3. Is there any proof in physical terms that God exists? It is not necessary to prove any of these things. Those who believe accept it and those who dont reject it. What exists and what does not will finally be realized through experience.
ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)