Eight aspects of Brahmacharya

Nityaananda!!!Gauranga!!! Hare Krishna!!! All glories to the Gurus!!!

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Eight aspects of brahmacarya, ( by Sridhar Swami, the Bhagavatam
commentator. Also quoted in Daksha Smriti).

(1) Smaranam - One should not think of the opposite sex. One should think of
Krishna and His service as given by the spiritual master. Memorize favorite
passages or verses from the Sastras.

(2) kirtanam - One should not talk of sex life. (Prajalpa) One should talk
of Krishna and discuss ones realizations with one�s friends, other
brahmacari�s. (Practice gravity).

(3) kelih- Don�t (play) or dally with the opposite sex, (even if it is your
service to deal with them, try to minimize it) . �Avyartha-kalatvam�- Rupa
Goswami says in NOD. Pure devotees don�t waste their time, they always are
cautious to make sure they are always engaged positively in K.C.

(4) preksanam- Don�t look lustfully at the opposite sex. Focus your eyes (or
remember) on your favorite deity form of the Lord.

(5) guhyabhasanam- Don�t talk intimately with the opposite sex in a secluded
place. Make strong friendships with other brahmacari�s, (or offer your
choice prayerful words to the deity instead).

(6) sankalpo- Don�t decide to engage in sexual intercourse. Make sure you
get proper counseling with a senior devotee(s) you have implicit trust in,
if you have fallen to this bad state of mind. (Thinking, feeling, willing).

(7) adhyavasayas- Don�t endeavor for sex life. Endeavor to improve or get
better devotees association then you have now.

(8) ca kriyanirvrttir - Don�t engage in sex life. Doing it has more trouble
in store for you (health, and otherwise) then you think. Control the senses,
mind, activities by devotional service.

nirvrttir eva ca - One executes real brahmacarya when all these activities
come to a halt. (Sridhara 6.1.12).

Etan maithunyam astangam pravadanti manisinah vikarita brahmacaryam eda
astanam laksanam iti

Discussions of these 8 points in further detail with evidences.

(1) Smaranam - One should not think of the opposite sex. One should think of
Krishna and His service as given by the spiritual master. Memorize favourate
passages or verses from the Sastras.

(SB. 7.15.36 Purport) �In our Krsna consciousness movement it is advised,
therefore, that the sannyasis and brahmacaris keep strictly aloof from the
association of women so that there will be no chance of their falling down
again as victims of lusty desires.�

(2) kirtanam - One should not talk of sex life. (Prajalpa) One should talk
of Krishna and discuss ones realizations with one�s friends, other
brahmacari�s. (Practice gravity, chant Japa nicely).

�Japa means tapa, tapasya. And that is drdha-vrata. Tapasa brahmacaryena.
Tapasya begins with brahmacarya. There is no tapasya, there is no
brahmacarya, there is no drdha-vrata,� (Rm. Conv. Jan 31, 1977)

�So this is the process. Tapasa brahmacaryena. Brahmacarya is very, very
essential. And that is, when one becomes detestful to sex life, that is the
beginning of spiritual life. That is the beginning of spiritual life.� (Lect
CC Adi 1.11, April 4,�75) (see determination)

(SB.1.5.26) tatranvaham krsna-kathah pragayatam anugrahenasrnavam manoharah
tah sraddhaya me �nupadam visrnvatah priyasravasy anga mamabhavad rucih

O Vyasadeva, in that association and by the mercy of those great Vedantists,
I could hear 0them describe the attractive activities of Lord Krsna And thus
listening attentively, my taste for hearing of the Personality of Godhead
increased at every step.

Lord Sri Krsna, the Absolute Personality of Godhead, is attractive not only
in His personal features, but also in His transcendental activities. It is
so because the Absolute is absolute by His name, fame, form, pastimes,
entourage, paraphernalia, etc. The Lord descends on this material world out
of His causeless mercy and displays His various transcendental pastimes as a
human being so that human beings attracted towards Him become able to go
back to Godhead. Men are naturally apt to hear histories and narrations of
various personalities performing mundane activities, without knowing that by
such association one simply wastes valuable time and also becomes addicted
to the three qualities of mundane nature. Instead of wasting time, one can
get spiritual success by turning his attention to the transcendental
pastimes of the Lord. By hearing the narration of the pastimes of the Lord,
one contacts directly the Personality of Godhead, and, as explained before,
by hearing about the Personality of Godhead, from within, all accumulated
sins of the mundane creature are cleared. Thus being cleared of all sins,
the hearer gradually becomes liberated from mundane association and becomes
attracted to the features of the Lord. Narada Muni has just explained this
by his personal experience. The whole idea is that simply by hearing about
the Lord�s pastimes one can become one of the associates of the Lord. Narada
Muni has eternal life, unlimited knowledge and unfathomed bliss, and he can
travel all over the material and spiritual worlds without restriction. One
can attain to the highest perfection of life simply by attentive hearing of
the transcendental pastimes of the Lord from the right sources, as Sri
Narada heard them from the pure devotees (bhakti-vedantas) in his previous
life. This process of hearing in the association of the devotees is
especially recommended in this age of quarrel (Kali).

(3) kelih- Don�t (play) or dally with the opposite sex, (even if it is your
service to deal with them, try to minimize it) . �Avyartha-kalatvam�- Rupa
Goswami says in NOD. Pure devotees don�t waste their time, they always are
cautious to make sure they are always engaged positively in K.C.

(From Lecture April 30 1972 Tokyo)

�If one is absent-minded, he cannot work nicely because mind is absent or
not in order. Therefore our method of controlling the senses is to engage
the senses in the service of the Lord. The first engagement should be that
mind should be always absorbed in thoughts of Krsna. Always engaged. These
boys, they are always engaged. Just like in offering arcana to the Deities
from early morning up to ten o�clock at night, and then they go to rest.
Again rise early in the morning. So somebody is engaged n cleansing the
temple, somebody is engaged in dressing the Deity, somebody is engaged in
cooking for the Deity, somebody is engaged going in Tokyo city for
distributing literature, somebody is performing kirtana here, somebody is
reading our various books. In this way we have got twenty-five hours
engagement instead of twenty-four hours. So mind cannot go outside Krsna.
That is called Krsna conscious. We don�t allow the mind go out of Krsna�s
service. And this is sannyasa.�

(4) preksanam- Don�t look lustfully at the opposite sex. Focus your eyes (or
remember) on your favorite deity form of the Lord. (See SB. 6.18.41-42)

(SB. 6.18.41-42) sarat-padmotsavam vaktram vacas ca sravanamrtam

hrdayam ksura-dharabham strinam ko veda cestitam

A woman�s face is as attractive and beautiful as a blossoming lotus flower
during autumn. Her words are very sweet, and they give pleasure to the ear,
but if we study a woman�s heart, we can understand it to be extremely sharp,
like the blade of a razor. In these circumstances, who could understand the
dealings of a woman?

Woman is now depicted very well from the materialistic point of view by
Kasyapa Muni. Women are generally known as the fair sex, and especially in
youth, at the age of sixteen or seventeen, women are very attractive to men.
Therefore a woman�s face is compared to a blooming lotus flower in autumn.
Just as a lotus is extremely beautiful in autumn, a woman at the threshold
of youthful beauty is extremely attractive. In Sanskrit a woman�s voice is
called nari-svara because women generally sing and their singing is very
attractive. At the present moment, cinema artists, especially female
singers, are especially welcome. Some of them earn fabulous amounts of money
simply by singing. Therefore, as taught by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, a
woman�s singing is dangerous because it can make a sannyasi fall a victim to
the woman. Sannyasa means giving up the company of women, but if a sannyasi
hears the voice of a woman and sees her beautiful face, he certainly becomes
attracted and is sure to fall down. There have been many examples. Even the
great sage Visvamitra fell a victim to Menaka. Therefore a person desiring
to advance in spiritual consciousness must be especially careful not to see
a woman�s face or hear a woman�s voice. To see a woman�s face and appreciate
its beauty or to hear a woman�s voice and appreciate her singing as very
nice is a subtle falldown for a brahmacari or sannyasi. Thus the description
of a woman�s features by Kasyapa Muni is very instructive.

When a woman�s bodily features are attractive, when her face is beautiful
and when her voice is sweet, she is naturally a trap for a man. The sastras
advise that when such a woman comes to serve a man, she should be considered
to be like a dark well covered by grass. In the fields there are many such
wells, and a man who does not know about them drops through the grass and
falls down. Thus there are many such instructions. Since the attraction of
the material world is based on attraction for women, Kasyapa Muni thought,
�Under the circumstances, who can understand the heart of a woman?� Canakya
Pandita has also advised, visvaso naiva kartavyah strisu raja-kulesu ca:
�There are two persons one should not trust-a politician and a woman.�
These, of course, are authoritative sastric injunctions, and we should
therefore be very careful in our dealings with women.

Sometimes our Krsna consciousness movement is criticized for mingling men
and women, but Krsna consciousness is meant for anyone. Whether one is a man
or woman does not matter. Lord Krsna personally says, striyo vaisyas tatha
sudras te �pi yanti param gatim: whether one is a woman, sudra or vaisya,
not to speak of being a brahmana or ksatriya, everyone is fit to return
home, back to Godhead, if he strictly follows the instructions of the
spiritual master and sastra. We therefore request all the members of the
Krsna consciousness movement-both men and women-not to be attracted by
bodily features but only to be attracted by Krsna. Then everything will be
all right. Otherwise there will be danger.

Here is a practical solution to the problem of agitation in the presence of
so many women in Kali Yuga. Avoid unnecessary association, but be practical.
Remember! The sense objects are not at fault. It�s how one understands the
purpose of the various sense objects that creates ones difficulties.

All creatures and all things must be offered for Krishna�s enjoyment. If one
understands this always, then one can be pacified despite provocation. But
disturbance or not, we must carry on our preaching duties. Get association,
and counseling. Endeavor for rectifying your strength. Then after regaining
strength-go out to preach again. This time more cautious then before you had
the initial weakness.

(SP let. Ekayani 12/3/72)

�Who has introduced these things, that women cannot have chanting japa in
the temple, they cannot perform the arati and so many things? If they become
agitated, then let the brahmacaris go to the forest, I have never introduced
these things. The brahmacaris cannot remain in the presence of women in the
temple, then they may go to the forest, not remaining in New York City,
because in New York there are so many women, so how they can avoid seeing?
Best thing is to go to the forest for not seeing any women, if they become
so easily agitated, but then no one will either see them and how our
preaching work will go on?�.. It is not possible.�

Hoping this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami cc: Bali Mardan Goswami

(5) guhyabhasanam- Don�t talk intimately with the opposite sex in a secluded
place. Make strong friendships with other brahmacari�s, (or offer your
choice prayerful words to the deity instead).

(SB. 11.17.33) strinam niriksana-sparsa-samlapa-ksvelanadikam

pranino mithuni-bhutan agrhastho �gratas tyajet

Those who are not married-sannyasis, vanaprasthas and brahmacaris-should
never associate with women by glancing, touching, conversing, joking or
sporting. Neither should they ever associate with any living entity engaged
in sexual activities.

Praninah indicates all living entities, whether birds, bees or human beings.
Among most species of life, sexual intercourse is preceded by diverse mating
rituals. In human society, all types of entertainment (books, music, films)
and all places of amusement (restaurants, shopping centers, resorts) are
designed to stimulate the sexual urge and create an aura of �romance.� One
who is not married-a sannyasi, brahmacari or vanaprastha-should rigidly
avoid anything related to sex and of course should never see any living
entity, whether bird, insect or human, engaging in the various phases of
sexual intercourse. When a man jokes with a woman, an intimate,
sexually-charged atmosphere is immediately created, and this should also be
avoided for those aspiring to practice celibacy. Even a householder who
becomes attached to such activities will also fall down into the darkness of
ignorance.

(6) sankalpo- The determination to engage in sexual intercourse. Don�t
contemplate to engage in sexual intercourse. Be determined to make sure you
get proper counseling with a senior devotee(s) you have implicit trust in,
if you have fallen to this bad state of mind. (Thinking, feeling, willing).

(SB. 7.15.22)

asankalpaj jayet kamam krodham kama-vivarjanat

arthanartheksaya lobham bhayam tattvavamarsanat

By making plans with determination, one should give up lusty desires for
sense gratification. Similarly, by giving up envy one should conquer anger,
by discussing the disadvantages of accumulating wealth one should give up
greed, and by discussing the truth one should give up fear.

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has suggested how one can conquer lusty
desires for sense gratification. One cannot give up thinking of women, for
thinking in this way is natural; even while walking on the street, one will
see so many women. However, if one is determined not to live with a woman,
even while seeing a woman he will not become lusty. If one is determined not
to have sex, he can automatically conquer lusty desires. The example given
in this regard is that even if one is hungry, if on a particular day he is
determined to observe fasting, he can naturally conquer the disturbances of
hunger and thirst. If one is determined not to be envious of anyone, he can
naturally conquer anger. Similarly, one can give up the desire to accumulate
wealth simply by considering how difficult it is to protect the money in
one�s possession. If one keeps a large amount of cash with him, he is always
anxious about keeping it properly. Thus if one discusses the disadvantages
of accumulating wealth, he can naturally give up business without
difficulty.

If one doesn�t get help to stop this contemplation at an early stage, then
eventually it goes from thinking, to feeling. At this point, devoid of mind
and sense control, the living entity loses all reasoning, and is unable to
hear the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of sastras.

Such a person usually ends up (at best, through counseling) getting married,
or (at worse) becomes a debauchee-falling into illicit life. Sometimes he
tries to satisfy this craving through artificial means. (See SB 2.6.20
Purport)

(SB 6.1.62) stambhayann atmanatmanam yavat sattvam yatha-srutam

na sasaka samadhatum mano madana-vepitam

As far as possible he patiently tried to remember the instructions of the
sastras not even to see a woman. With the help of this knowledge and his
intellect, he tried to control his lusty desires, but because of the force
of Cupid within his heart, he failed to control his mind�.

�Regarding your proposed marriage, if you think it is nice then you have all
my blessings upon you both. If you do not think you can remain brahmacari,
then it is better to remain in Krsna Consciousness as householder and not
pretend to brahmacarya artificially. From your description the girl seems
very qualified and sincere, so you continue to train her in our Krsna
Conscious way of life and she will work together with you as your helpmeet
in Krsna�s service.� (to Jananivas Sept. 29,�70)

Incidentally, Jananivasa Prabhu never got married. Instead since 1971 he has
dedicated his life to the worship of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava in Mayapur, thus
setting a wonderful example of dedication in Deity worship for all
brahmacari�s to follow.

(7) adhyavasayas- To endeavor for sex life. Don�t endeavor for sex life.

Endeavor to improve or get better devotees association then you have now.

Even if austerity and brahmacarya are painful because we want to be
unrestricted, as soon as we are regulated, what appeared to be painful is in
practice not painful.

There are two classes of men-those who are sober (dhira) and those who are
extravagant (adhira). When one, in spite of provocation or in spite of the
presence of a source of mental agitation, can remain steady in his position,
he is called dhira. An example of a dhira is given by Kalidasa Pandita, a
great Sanskrit poet who wrote a book called Kumara-sambhava, wherein he has
given an example concerning Lord Siva. It appears that when the demigods
were fighting the demons and were being defeated, they decided that they
could be saved by a commander-in-chief born from the semina of Lord Siva.
Lord Siva, however, was in meditation, and to acquire the needed semina was
very difficult. They therefore sent Parvati, a young girl, who appeared
before Lord Siva and worshiped his genitals. Although this young girl sat
before Lord Siva and touched his genitals, Lord Siva was steady in
meditation. Kalidasa says, �Here is an example of a dhira, for despite a
young girl�s touching his genitals, he was undisturbed.�

Similarly, someone sent a young prostitute to disturb Haridasa Thakura, and
upon hearing her appeals for intercourse, Haridasa Thakura said, �Yes, your
proposal is very nice. please sit down and let me finish my chanting, and
then we shall enjoy.� Morning came and the prostitute became impatient, but
Haridasa Thakura replied, �I�m very sorry. I could not finish my chanting.
Come tonight again.� The prostitute came for three nights, and on the third
night she fell down at his feet, confessed her intentions, and pleaded with
him, �I was induced to perform this act by a man who is your enemy. Kindly
excuse me.� Haridasa Thakura then replied, �I know all about that, but I
allowed you to come here for three days so that you could be converted and
become a devotee. Now take these chanting beads, and go on chanting. I am
leaving this place.� Here is another example of a dhira who has control of
his body (deha), words (vac), and intelligence (buddhi). One�s body, words
and intelligence should be controlled by one who is dhira and who actually
knows the principles of religion.

(8) ca kriyanirvrttir - Don�t engage in sex life. Doing it has more trouble
in store for you (health, and otherwise) then you think. Control the senses,
mind, activities by devotional service.

(Lect SB 6.1.21-22) �Of course, one who thinks that family life is too big a
responsibility can forgo it and thus avoid a lot of trouble. Family
responsibility is very great; therefore if a man feels he cannot accept the
responsibility, he should remain a brahmacari, a celibate student. A person
who practices the science of brahmacarya under the care of a spiritual
master automatically becomes seventy-five percent free from material
entanglement.�

(From Lecture April 30 1972 Tokyo)

�At the present moment, in the materialistic concept of life, everyone is
servant of the senses. Everyone acts by the dictation of the senses;
therefore they can be called, in other words, as godasa, servant of the
senses. Instead of becoming servant of the senses, one has to become the
master of the senses. That is called gosvami, master of the senses. So how
to become master of the senses? Senses are very strong. How one can become
master? The simple method is when one engages the senses in the service of
the Supreme Lord, it is automatically controlled.�

Etan maithunyam astangam pravadanti manisinah

vikarita brahmacaryam eda astanam laksanam iti

These eight kinds of enjoyments are eight kinds of breaks in the current of
Akhanda brahmacari life. We must avoid these eight interruptions with great
care, hard work and diligent self-introspection (always analyzing at all
times to observe your true motivations). Only he who is truly free from
these eight breaks can be technically called a brahmacari.

Srila Prabhupada has also acknowledged that in Kali Yuga it may be difficult
to strictly follow all the details in avoiding these eight breaks in
brahmacari life, but Krsna conscious life following the regulative
principles will help the devotee to prevail over the occaisional attack by
maya.

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--y.s. truthseeker

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