Brahmacharya or celibacy is one of the important aspects of spiritual journey. It may not necessarily be a pre-condition for beginning the journey, but after a point, it becomes inevitable. The most simple and widespread understanding of the term celibacy is abstinence from sexual activity at all levels, that of mind, body and speech.

Like with the other spiritual practices, the practice of celibacy too yields desired results only when it is accompanied by right understanding.

The mind is not to be suppressed; the mind is to be conquered. To conquer means to win. If two people argue, then who is likely to win? One who wins by making the other understand. Because then, the argument comes to a complete closure as the other is not harassed, but is convinced. And if we were to win without making our mind understand? Then, the mind will not listen and will instead react at some point of time.

Hence, the following 4 steps designed by the Enlightened One offer a most practical technical solution that helps maintain celibacy in the present day:

1. Have a deep inner intent for brahmacharya

The world is the fruit of man’s deep inner intent. The intent (opinion) of brahmacharya is like a seed we sow. Later, when its fruits come forth, brahmacharya will automatically unfold in our life, naturally. This is how the world is said to be our own projection.

We may recite the following sentence three times a day: “Dearest God! Please give me infinite inner strength to not indulge, or cause someone to indulge, or give encouragement to one who indulges in sexual desires, feelings or gestures towards any living being, be it male, female or of neutral gender. Please give me strength to constantly maintain brahmacharya.”

Here, we strengthen our intent of brahmacharya and ask Lord for strength to maintain that intent, which shall help us succeed in our goal.

1. Studying the benefits of brahmacharya and dangers of abrahmacharya:

• Brahmacharya is the best tool for health and spiritual progress.
• Brahmacharya is the king of the body. A person practicing brahmacharya has a wonderful mind. The presence of brahmacharya in the mind, the body and the speech results in wonderful power of mind, wonderful power of body and wonderful power of the speech. Their mind and body both remain always healthy. One will be protected from the pains of the world and all bodily ailments. There will be no suffering of any kind then.
• Brahmacharya is the ultimate essence of this living body. The ultimate extract of our nourishment is semen and it is dissipated and lost in sex. There are certain nerves in the body that help preserve semen and this in turn protects the body. Therefore, brahmacharya should be preserved as much as possible. Vitality is the ultimate extract of all the extracts from the food we eat. If this extract is properly preserved, one can quickly attain the Self (the Soul).
• Indulging in sexual activity causes violence of many subtle beings. Besides, it could add on to the karmic entanglements which will result in the prolongation of worldly life, in turn delaying the attainment of moksha (the ultimate liberation from cycle of life and death).
• To understand the benefits in greater detail, there’s a free download of the e-book ‘Brahmacharya: Celibacy With Understanding’ available at https://www.dadabhagwan.org/books-media/books/english/brahmacharya:+celibacy+with+understanding/ This shall prove quite useful to you.

1. Repentance for any violation of brahmacharya

Hence, everytime there happens violation of brahmacharya, we shall ask for forgivesness from God. We shall remember the Lord residing within the person who we are pulled towards, and seek forgiveness from Him. When the ‘inside’ will be totally cleared, our mind will be clean and we will be free. So each time some adverse thought arises, we’ll clean it through repentance. We shall also repent for all the mistakes that have occurred till today, and make a firm decision not to repeat these mistakes ever, in future.

1. No protection to Abrahmacharya

‘Abrahmacharya’ is indeed wrong! In case there arises a situation where we get trapped in the wave of abrahmacharya, we shall never protect it; rather we shall confess it before our Guru as is, whole-heartedly. The slightest protection given to Abrahmacharya could prove to be difficult. On the other hand, once the protection to Abrahmacharya is gone, Abrahmacharya does not remain thereafter! So, we’ll try and be careful and honest in this regard.

Attain Self-Realization

The ultimate right understanding comes through the knowledge of the Self. The knowledge of the Self subdues the mind totally.

The word ‘brahmacharya’ ideally means to live in and as brahma (that is, as Atma or the pure Soul). After Self-Realization, one is able to disassociate from the body complex, which includes mind, speech, body and also the different worldly identities we assume in life; and instead identifies with the Soul, which is the real and permanent Self.

It is not that after Self-realisation, we immediately stop having sexual thoughts. But our opinion for these passions changes to: ‘They are not worth pursuing!’ With this, our inner self i.e. our mind, intellect and ego begin to become inclined towards brahmacharya. And as our inner self turns towards brahmacharya, the external pursuit for pleasure too sheds off automatically, in some time. All desires ultimately fade out in the presence of our real Self (the pure Soul that we really are!).

For more, please visit:https://www.dadabhagwan.org/path-to-happiness/spiritual-science/practice-celibacy-with-scientific-understanding/importance-of-celibacy/