Some may dissimulate, but Brahmacharya/celibacy is the eternal hallmark of the serious spiritual aspirant, the monastic, and the saint. Christ was known as a celibate. His statement, "Some are eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven" very plainly refers to celibacy. It also refers to the Kingdom of Heaven within that is attained through celibacy. ("The kingdom of heaven is inside you," He says elsewhere.) Christ speaks beautifully of celibacy again in His Parable Of The Three Brides. One "bride" uses up the "oil" in her lamp and is thus unable to "receive the bridegroom" -- of Christ Consciousness.

The Buddha required celibacy of his monks and lust and desire is repeatedly decried in His seminal Dhammapada. He predicted that Buddhism itself would end if women were allowed to become monks. He knew that the admission of women would bring the watering-down of the teachings, and the end of celibacy, which would forestall the appearance of Nirvana, saints and Buddhas.

Celibacy is a clear standard in the scriptures of Hinduism and Yoga. Shankara, one of India's pre-eminent saints, originated the orders of Hindu monks. As prescribed by Shankara, all such monks, or "swamis," take a vow of celibacy. Anyone may undertake such a vow to help himself to remain established in celibacy. In the Bhagavad-Gita the divine incarnation Krishna describes the yogi and God-seeker, and that special vow of celibacy so helpful to yogic progress:

"Serene-minded, fearless, firm in the vow
of Brahmacharya, having controlled the mind,
thinking on Me and balanced, let him sit,
having Me as the Supreme Goal."
The Holy Gita, Chapter Six, Verse 14, Translation of Swami Chinmayananda

Celibacy, Austerities, Yoga

LOSING YOUR NASTY SEX VRITTIS
 
Brahmacharya is undertaken by the yogi -- the one seeking to to completely still his mind so as to experience the Divinity directly within. The yogi seeks to eliminate all "vrittis," or fluctuations of consciousness. Vrittis include thoughts, memories, and sensations. Thinning the mental and bodily vrittis is the most difficult human attainment and brings him surely to samadhi -- union with God. The yogi sees right away that sex thoughts and thrills are just another vritti, and one of the grosser ones at that.

THE FUEL OF MEDITATION

The vitiating effect of sexual incontinence makes one unable to concentrate well, or bear the strain of yogic meditation, or to hold the transcendental perceptions. Celibacy and sex restraint, on the other hand, improves concentration dramatically. It is thu "fuel" of concentration and meditation.

CELIBACY CITED TWICE IN THE YOGA-SUTRAS

The Yoga-Sutra packs many things into each of its verses, but reserves a separate verse for celibacy. Then the scripture goes on to refer  to celibacy again in other verses.

THE GREAT AUSTERITY

Celibacy is actually one of the major austerities. The Yoga-Sutra lists  "austerities" (tapas) among the three basic actions of yoga. (The other two activities of yoga are "Self-Study" and "Devotion to the Lord.") Austerities are given first place in the Sutra. So one truly interested in yoga and God-knowledge will be very interested in austerities. The only other austerity that is on a par with  celibacy is meditation itself.

Effective traditional austerities include celibacy, fasting, solitude, silence, pranayama, holding an asana, and meditation itself. Another austerity that needs to be mentioned today: Restraining yourself from playing "fashion saddhu" and dressing yourself up in religious garb to get attention and notoriety. That would be a worthwhile austerity for some. But among all austerities, sexual continence is arguably the most important. It inaugurates profound changes in the physical and astral bodies of the aspiring yogi. Chastity dramatically improves his concentration and meditation. It founds the storehouse of his merit and accumulates shakti, sometimes called "ojas."

DESTROY TRUTH-VEILING KARMA

And because sexual immorality is actually a sin against the Creator, celibacy disencumbers him of negative karma that veils higher knowledge. This is why the first thing you do, when you become a monk (serious spiritual aspirant), is to take a vow of celibacy. Thus celibacy is both the best entry level austerity, and also a necessary companion of the whole trip. Along with meditation and the devotional attitude, celibacy is one austerity that brings rapid results. According to the yogic scriptures and the experience of saints, brahmacharya is essential to the attainment of samadhi. And samadhi is the real goal of meditation, yoga and spiritual practices.

 
Why Celibacy Is Essential
To The Higher Spiritual Life and Yoga

ENTER THE FRONT LINES IN
THE BATTLE TO CONQUER DESIRE

All of the profound spiritual traditions point to "desire" as the enemy of spiritual enlightenment. In the great parade of desires, sexual desire is the pre-eminent leader. It is even responsible for bringing each new embodiment. (Beings are reborn from the astral plane primarily because of lust.)

WORTHINESS AND MERIT

Only with celibacy is the yogin and seeker able to become worthy of a true Guide, worthy of initiation, and worthy of the desideratum of deep  meditation. Sin is a reality, existent since the foundation of the world, and sin always has immediate inner and outer consequences in this and later lives.

One of the impacts of sin is to veil the way to higher life. This is why the divine masters such as Buddha, Christ, and Sankara always demanded celibacy for an aspirant right from the beginning. Sexual sin has a huge impact in confusing the seeker, and veiling the path to God. One lacks the merit to even hear of true or effective teachings. Sexual immorality even prevents one from having an elegant and prosperous material life, let alone the higher life of saints. On the other hand, celibacy generates merit for the bettering of life, the creation of favorable circumstances, and even the unveiling of the Divine Mystery.

Human beings become blighted by sexual sin. One of the ways they become blighted is through confusion, and the inability to see the real external effects that follow upon sexual sin. They are also prevented from hearing or understanding dharma. With sexual sin, one simply doesn't have enough merit to penetrate spiritual mysteries. In the Bhagavad-Gita the divine incarnation Krsna states that lust covers up a man's wisdom and discriminative faculties, and compares lust and anger to the smoke that covers up the light of a flame, then turns and compares lust to an insatiable fire that destroys man. Arjuna asks Krishna why men continue in a state of evil:

"Now then, by whom led, does a man, O descendant of Vishnu,
practice sinfulness, as though unwilling and impressed by force?

"[It] is lust, [it] is anger, born of the quality of rajas.
Know this to be the great devourer, great sin, and the enemy
on earth. As by smoke fire is enveloped, and
the looking glass by rust, as the womb envelopes the fetus,
so by lust [discriminative knowledge] is enveloped.

CELIBACY AS TECHNICAL NECESSITY

Beyond providing the simple merit that leads one to higher secrets, and beyond its proof of devotion, celibacy has huge technical implications in meditation and the gaining of samadhi. The meditator and yogi is attempting a very difficult feat: that of reversing his life force back up the spine instead of down, opening up perception of the higher Reality. The sex drive itself is the great "locomotive engine" pulling the life force down the spine and out the senses. Without slowing the juggernaut of the outgoing sex drive, there is little hope of reversing the outgoing senses and accomplishing yogic pratyahara. When the spiritual man pursues celibacy or even sexual restraint, he gives a blow to the nose of the foremost "desire demon" keeping him bound to the world-illusion.

The wise yogi instead first pools, then  reverses that energy, actually utilizing it as the "engine of enlightenment" to pull the life force up the spine. But you cannot do this unless you begin to restrain it. Perfection is not necessary for the development of substantial progress. Even the attempt to restrain yourself from sex thrills brings great merit and new spiritual progress. Gradually the sex energy becomes like a rocket ship lifting you easily to the higher states. So stored up sexual energy, along with devotion, powers the flight to  samadhi.

HOLDING TRANSCENDENTAL PERCEPTIONS

The pure creative power is what makes it possible for an aspirant to interact with the Creator. Celibacy serves to fortify the seeker to undertake the strain of concentration and deep meditation, making his concentration true.

Further, the spiritual power bestowed by celibacy allows one to both uncover and withstand the dawning transcendental perceptions. One of these is the "bindu" or inner light. The foremost of these perceptions is the inner sound of Om. The Katha Upanishad states:

This Upanishad speaks of "Om" as the "goal" for which aspirants pursue celibacy.  Obviously, it is within anyone's power to simply say "Om," or to think "Om." The "goal" the scripture refers to is the inner sound of Om heard by successful yogis. He undertakes sexual restraint and celibacy in order to know this word,  i.e. actually experience it within.

THE "FOOD" OF THE SHAKTI

The subtle force built up in celibacy is called "ojas." This subtle force is like the "food" of the transcendental; it is the food of Om. The buildup of this ojas enables the mystic to perceive, hold, and abide in the transcendental perception of Om and Bindu. The buildup of the creative power allows man to interact with the Creator. This is what finally "burns" in the yogi and sets him aflame as a spiritual light.

Steady perception of the inner Om in turn gives perfect concentration to the mind, since these transcendental perceptions are more attractive than any worldly thing. The Yoga-Sutra states that the mind is pacified (samadhi is attained) through the the dawning of the transcendental  perceptions:

Through celibacy, the aspirant is able to uncover the inner sacred sound, and hold it, then gain steadiness of concentration, and samadhi. Celibacy is a great work, undertaken for a the great work of samadhi, as well as the spiritual liberation of mankind.

CELIBACY AND DEVOTION
BECOMING A WORTHY MATCH FOR THE GREAT SOULMATE
 
Celibacy is in itself one of the proofs of true devotion to the Creator. A promiscuous "wife" will not  attract the One True Soulmate. If you truly seek the All, then you must give your all. If you truly seek the Highest, then you must give your highest. If you would be a meditator or devotee, celibacy and  devotion are the worthiest offerings and attract the Grace of the Lord.
 
We can understand it this way: The creative energy is the most potent and sacred thing in the physical creation. To meet the Potent, one must be Potent. 

To contact the Sacred, one must be full of the Sacred.

Retention of the creative substance, in accord with Divine Law, is the central virtue. When one stores up pure Virtue in the body, one is able to meet the Supreme Virtue.

When one stores up the Creative Power in the body, one is able to "engage" the Creator.

It is simple logic that one seeking the Tryst with the Creator should be carrying within himself the Creative Substance, in good order and in measure. Only then is he a near "match" for that powerful Divine Bridegroom. Only then is he able to engage Him. One of the secrets of celibacy and spiritual realization is this: As the yogi or devotee interacts with the Pure Creativity within, only his or her celibacy (his own pure creative substance) provides sufficient "friction" to truly interact with the One True Soulmate. All celibates feel in deep meditation that they play the "female" role to the great Om. It is their own stored ojas that makes this possible. Without that stored up power, the aspirant has little to offer. He is no match.

Few know this, even among those interested in spiritual things. Fewer still can accept it. Most modernes would rather invent endless theories to discredit the value of celibacy. There are many western "spiritual teachers" walking around who purport to represent ancient dharma of India or Buddhism, yet have rarely live within a stone's throw of the celibacy ideal. This is ordinary human nature. All are attached to lust. After Jesus said "Some are eunuchs (celibate) for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven (within)," he also said: "This is a difficult saying, and few can bear (handle) it." This is why even though the celibacy teaching appears repeatedly in ancient wisdom, most flee from it, ever seeking to discredit it or to invent a way out of it. It is the same today as it was then.

It is very easy and ordinary to go on sexing and wasting the sacred energy. It is more difficult to attain God Consciousness. As you meditate devotionally and practice sexual restraint and continence, you will understand the importance and impact of celibacy by personal experience. Celibacy is the eternal teaching of the saints.

PRETENDERS, "UPDATERS" OF YOGA, AND FAKE GURUS

In this Kali Yuga, some modernes, posing as "spiritual teachers," attempt to obfuscate the meaning of  brahmacharya. They wish to divest the word of rigor; to excise its technical meaning and broaden it to the point of meaninglessness. "Well, the real meaning of brahmacharya is just to seek Brahma," or "Brahmacharya just means moderation," or "ethical conduct." Many intelligent men are so attached to sex, they misdirect their cleverness trying to invent all kinds of schemes to make celibacy optional in spiritual life. Some even delude themselves, with modern fake "tantra" theories, into thinking that lust, indulgence, and cosmic sin can lead them to high spiritual states. 

These only succeed in outwitting themselves and missing the fruits of spiritual culture; both the inner and the outer fruit. They become more addicted to sex, full of sex vrittis and more sex vasanas. They get farther and farther from samadhi and even a decent life.

Don't be bewildered or perplexed by promoters of an easy, "modernized" pleasure laden way "beyond renunciation." Don't fall under the spell of modern "teachers" of fake "tantra," who are essentially prostitutes. It is a typical delusion of many modern "yoga teachers" to promote themselves as "going beyond" the classical truths. (A recent American publication, for example, is titled "Beyond the Siddhis," as if the writer had mastered the siddhis.) In reality, these are unqualified teachers who shrink from the classical truths at first glance. They have never even penetrated the classical truths, much less gone "beyond" them.

In America, particularly, modernes approach ancient yoga with the assumption that they are fit to  "update" or improve ancient dharma. It is a strange assumption coming from citizens of a country that destroys the earth daily, worships technology and materialism, swims in a moral cesspool, exports sin worldwide, and is going through profound social collapse. Hindu and Buddhist teachers who come here from the east are often guilty of soft-selling or obfuscating the teachings on sex to gain the support and financial wealth of westerners. This leads to the corruption of yoga.

The saints of time have never been bewildered about celibacy. Serious spiritual seeker will see through absurd western attempts to "modernize" or "update" the ancient yoga. Sage Vasistha wrote in the Yoga-Vasistha:

"They [sages] conduct themselves (in the everyday life)
 in accordance with the time-hallowed rules of conduct..."
 
The Jivan-Mukti-Viveka of Sri Vidyaranya
Translation of Pandit Subrahmanya Sastri, F.T.S., The Theosophical Publishing House, p. 170

and

"He should be known as the killer of the Brahman, who is
a renegade beyond the pale of all recognized schools of thought."
 
Ibid. p. 218

The ancient truths are eternal. They don't change to accommodate passing whims of individuals or the masses. A  "spiritual teacher" who encourages sexual indulgence is far from an enlightened being; including those who claim to teach "higher tantra." He (or she) is like a pimp, dragging others into conventional lust, conventional ignorance, and conventional sorrow. The sexual libertine is a "killer of Brahman" (divine consciousness) both in himself, and in the world. For men who believe such false teachers, the path to higher good becomes encumbered; their spiritual caravan is sadly  waylaid.
 

Bliss of The Celibate by JULIAN LEE Brahmacharya or celibacy is basic training for the serious mystic or yogi, and is full of power and mystery. Learn how to attain brahmacharya in this e-book. $12.00 IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD Download the E-Book: Gifts Of The Mystic by JULIAN LEE The eternal pathway to mysticism and the higher spiritual life of the saints. $12.00 IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD ALL PROCEEDS SUPPORT THE CHARITABLE WORK OF THE SACRED WORD TRUST

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