Verse: Bramacharya
I would like to summarize that we discussed yesterday. As stated earlier, Brahmacharya doesn’t mean just being a celibate. Brahmacharya means to become situated in one’s spiritual identity. The real import or the understanding is to become situated on the spiritual platform. This body is made of matter which is conscious due to the presence of the spirit-soul. This process of the soul assuming a body is a very intricate scientific process. First, the spirit-soul enters the womb of the mother and develops a body. The growth of the body depends on the food intake. In a deeper consideration, this food is actually matter or juice that a tree extracts from the earth. Trees transform the juice of the earth into stems, leaves etc. Humans consume this food and after a series of transformation semen (virya), the vital energy is formed. Semen has basically two functions: i) to retain the spiritual energy and ii) to carry the spirit-soul in the dormant state into the womb of the mother. Therefore, it is essential to retain the vital energy to make spiritual progress.
The importance of retention of vital energy is emphasized in various religions apart from Vedic scriptures. We considered the example of milk and butter to elucidate the relationship between vital energy and semen. Butter is spread thorough out the milk. But when it is churned, the butter gets separated from the milk, leaving the remnant milk practically useless. Similarly, the “virya” or the vital energy is spread throughout the body. When the living entity is agitated with lust, the vital energy is discharged through a specific organ which is disastrous for the spiritual progress.
Spirit-soul is the spiritual energy that gives consciousness to the body. Wherever there is consciousness we understand the presence of spirit-soul, just as wherever there is light there is fire associated with it. The spiritual energy flows in the direction of the projection of consciousness. If it is projected towards matter, the spiritual energy flows through the mind to the senses and finally, to the object of senses. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna explains that senses run after the object of senses and as result of this association, grows lust. The desire to exploit the object of the sense as the spiritual energy flows to it is called lust. As a result, the carrier of spiritual energy called “virya” or vital energy also flows in that direction. On the other hand, if the spiritual energy is projected towards Krishna, it flows towards Him. Understandably, there is so much importance given to fix our mind on Krishna. Thus the loss of vital energy causes death while the retention of the same causes immortality. The vital energy if projected towards Krishna, becomes further spiritualized. Just as the affection of mother for her child transforms her blood into milk, the love of the living entity for Krishna, transforms into nectar. This nectar inundates our heart and transforms into joy. Therefore, celibacy is just a bye-product of Brahmacharya which is meant for everybody. In Krishna consciousness all are Brahmacharis.
Now let’s consider the exemplary Brahmacharis like Brahma Himself who created four sons out of His mind (4 Kumaras), who were also perfect Brahmacharis. The four Kumaras remain eternally as young boys. He created 10 sons, among which nine became prajapathis to procreate and fill in the universe. But the youngest, Narada Muni abstained from household life and stayed Krishna conscious. Narada Muni is a perfect Brahmachari and eventually became a pure devotee of Krishna. Once Narada Muni was approached by the daughter of Time personified. He politely declined and consequently attained an eternal life. Hence when one is situated in one’s spiritual identity i.e., becomes a Brahmachari, becomes free from death. Another exemplary personality is Bhisma Dev. When Bhisma Dev got to know the desire of his father to marry the daughter of King of fisherman, who demanded Bhisma Dev to relinquish the throne and remain unmarried, Bhisma Dev immediately swore to remain a life-long celibate. When his father came to know the vow of BhismaDev, he blessed him that he would die only when he wishes to. Therefore, retention of vital energy is necessary for protracted life-span although no one is immortal in this material world. Another role-model is Hanuman who is the son of Anjana and Pavan-Dev. He is a pure devotee of the Lord assuming the form of monkey in Lord Ram Chandra’s pastimes. Hanuman performed miraculous feat by jumping from India to SriLanka and carrying a mountain to SriLanka. Another female Brahmacharini is Vedavati who performed severe austerities to get Supreme Personality of Godhead as her husband. Sita devi is Vedavati in her previous life. Ravana approached her which she politely declined. He still kept molesting her and touched her at one point. She was so chaste that she burnt herself and cursed Ravana that she would be the cause of his death. There are also other great Brahmacharinis like Maitreya gargi. She was so learned that she challenged the great sage Jagyavarga in the assembly of King Janak. In the recent past, there is Meera Bhai who accepted Krishna as her husband at a young age. But she was given in marriage to King of Rana, who tried to dissuade her. Later, he gave poison to kill her which she drank and digested it. She left home and got initiated by Jiva Goswami and later became a pure devotee of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Being fixed up on our goal not only solves our problems, but leads us to experience endless joy.
Hare Krishna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Does anybody have any question?
Question: Prabhupada brought Vedic culture to West. But in West, the lifestyle is different. How to adjust to that and how can men relate to women?
Answer: Prabhupada didn’t bring Indian or Oriental culture to West, but he brought spiritual Culture to the whole world. Anyone who wants to make his life successful can take advantage of that. If we think that it is Indian culture and meant for Westerners it would be a mistake. It is meant for everyone. Everybody is a spirit soul. Only the body is West. So, in order to remain situated in transcendental platform one has to rise above this bodily conception. Regarding relation, one has to develop a love for Krishna. When that happens, the bodily lust will disappear. This doesn’t mean that one doesn’t have a relation with a woman. But he sees them with a reverential attitude. In ISKCON there are grihastas. When both husband and wife both become devotees, they help each other in their spirituality. Naturally they overcome the difficulties imposed by material nature.
Question: Is it possible to develop the qualities of Krishna?
Answer: Yes. When one become purified and is situated in one’s consciousness, one develops roughly around 50 qualities of the 64 qualities of Krishna.
Question: How can Shantanu King give boon?
Answer: Yes. Sometimes even great personalities can give boon. He only gave a boon that he would die whenever he wishes to. After all who would like to live in material world forever?