What Actually Does Continence (brahmcharya vrat)-Celibacy-Mean As Preached In Bhagavad Gita?
Bhagavad Gita sings:
प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीर्ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थितः ।
मनः संयम्य मच्चित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्परः ॥
praśāntātmā vigatabhīr
bramacārivrate sthitaḥ,
manaḥ sanyamya maccitto
yukta āsīta matparah
“Abiding in continence, fearless, serene at heart,
alert and restrained in mind,
he should surrender himself firmly to me.”
What actually does continence (brahmcharya vrat)-celibacy-mean?
People usually say that it is restraint of the sexual urge.
But it has been the experience of sages that such restraint is impossible
so long as mind is associated with objects, sights, touch,
and
sounds which
inflame the urge.
A true celibate ( brahmchari ) is rather one
who is engaged in the task of realizing God ( Brahm ).
The brahmchari is a man of Brahm-like conduct:
a doer of the appointed task of yagya
that
leads men to attainment and ultimate dissolution
in the eternal, immutable God.
While doing it, the external sensations of touch and of all such contacts of the mind
and
other senses have to be excluded in order to concentrate the mind on contemplation of God,
on the incoming and the outgoing breath,
and on
meditation.
There are no external memories when the mind rests on God.
So long as these memories last,
the absorption in God is incomplete.
Currents of deviation flow through the mind, not through the body.
When the mind is wholly occupied with its adoration of God,
not only does the sexual urge but all the other physical urges also cease.
So dwelling in conduct that will take him to God,
free from fear,
in a state of repose,
and
with a restrained mind,
the devoted worshiper should surrender himself totally
to an accomplished teacher.
[Revered Gurudev Swami Adgadanand jee Paramhans]
Humble Wishes.
~mrityunjayanand~