What are the benefits of Brahmacharya?
according to yoga philosophy
Brahmacharya is perhaps the most misunderstood concept in yoga philosophy.
An aspirant to the path of yoga is introduced very early on to the concept as it is one of the Yamas or self-restraints, first mentioned in the Vedas and then revisited by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras.
Brahmacharya’s meaning is derived from combining two Sanskrit words, ‘Brahma’ meaning ‘the ultimate reality or the individual soul’ and ‘Carya,’ meaning ‘activity’ or ‘conduct.’
The two come together as:
‘To follow the path of Brahma, or conduct oneself in a way so that one stays true to one’s self or soul.’
Brahmacharya is, therefore, being virtuous and practicing restraint when it comes to worldly desires, including sex, but not limited to it. It applies to any feelings of lust, and according to the sage Patanjali, who compiled the Yoga Sutras, it refers to the “continence of the body, speech, and mind.”
K. S. Iyengar, in his book ‘Light on Yoga,’ says that the concept of Brahmacharya is ‘not one of negation, forced austerity, and prohibition.’
The Bhagavad Gita also describes Brahmacharya:
“While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment, lust develops. From lust, anger arises. From anger, delusion arises, and from delusion, the bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost, one falls again into the material pool.”
This article explores the concept of Brahmacharya and its many forms, including its benefits, the role of diet and the mind, and whether or not a person can achieve its benefits without having to give up on sex altogether.
Let us begin with the benefits of Brahmacharya.
What are the benefits of Brahmacharya?
In Ashtanga yoga, Brahmacharya is one of the first observances that a practitioner of yoga should hold.
Naturally, there are many benefits to the practice.
Here are some of the benefits of Brahmacharya:
1. Brings and maintains equanimity
Brahmacharya is the moderation of the senses, a practice to manage our sensory cravings.
A sensory overload can cause our energies to be scattered and result in throwing us off balance.
Observing Brahmacharya helps restore harmony to the body and mind, turning the mind inward, balancing the senses, and freedom from dependencies and cravings.
2. Transcends the sense of self
Sexual urges inhibit our sense of self as they create a dualistic view of gender and the world.
Brahmacharya helps us move towards a self that is unbiased, non-dualistic, and free from a limited view of intimacy and love.
It helps us build more profound and more meaningful relationships.
3. Increases willpower
Observing Brahmacharya takes immense commitment and willpower.
Developing the ability to say no to impulses and desires strengthens our inner resolve and instills more faith in our potentials.
4. Strengthens the mind
Swami Sivananda, a Hindu spiritual teacher, and yogi has said of Brahmacharya that it increases memory and creates the ability to ‘learn facts very well.
It boosts concentration and enables achieving more in much less time.
5. Transforms sensual energy into virtuous energy
Observing Brahmacharya helps one move towards the path of virtue and self-realization.
Once the mind is free from pursuing sensual desires, there is automatically greater peace and calm.
This helps focus the mind on the pursuit of the individual’s goal of yoga and spiritual practice.
6. Improves health and wellbeing
Brahmacharya leads to improved vitality as the vital force that is otherwise lost through sexual intercourse is preserved.
It leads to better health and wellbeing, improved stamina, developing a brighter personality, and longer life.
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Is there an age where Brahmacharya is more beneficial?
While there is no prescribed age for the practice of Brahmacharya, and people can practice it at any stage in life, historically, in the ancient Vedic system, the first stage out of the four stages of a person’s life was to be spent in Brahmacharya.
This refers to the student life or the years in a person’s life spent studying and educating one self, usually within the first twenty-five years of life.
It has been believed that being in Brahmacharya when one is gaining education helps in developing greater focus and concentration and keeps one single-mindedly devoted towards the pursuit of study.
Yoga also emphasizes Brahmacharya – there are schools of yoga that recommend observing Brahmacharya for the duration of the training or during yoga retreats so that the body and mind are not distracted by external stimuli and can instead focus on the practice.
What is the connection between celibacy and Self Realization?
Living a life of celibacy has been considered to be extremely important to observe to attain self-realization. From ancient times, the saints and sages observed life-long celibacy, which increased their capabilities and helped them achieve self-realization. However, householders can attain self-realization as well.
Brahmacharya is self-restraint, which is about having control over the mind.
Whether it is a householder living a monogamous life, or a celibate, controlling the desires of the mind and not being distracted by the sensory pleasures leads to self-realization.
Therefore, more than celibacy, it is controlling the mind that leads to self-realization.
Is there a relationship between the food we eat and the practice of Brahmacharya? This comes next.
What is the role of food in the practice of Brahmacharya?
Diet has a vital role to play in the practice of Brahmacharya. It is believed that the kind of food we consume directly affects the workings of the mind. Having control over one’s taste buds comes first before one can practice celibacy. If the right kind of food is consumed, which means a sattvic diet, the practice of Brahmacharya becomes easier.
Different foods have different effects on the mind.
Yoga’s sister science, Ayurveda, talks about how the food we eat can be classified into three categories of sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic. Each affects our physical and mental well-being.
Because of the prominent role that food plays in the way we think and our tendencies, a diet that is conducive to the practice of Brahmacharya is vital to its attainment.
What kind of diet is advisable?
Yoga lays great emphasis on diet. Here are some tips on a diet that you can use to aid you in your practice of Brahmacharya.
- A sattvic diet is advisable for the practice of Brahmacharya. This means eating vegetarian food that is fresh, healthy, and according to the season.
- Practice moderation in diet, which means abstaining from overeating.
- Do not eat much at night and preferably eat a few hours before going to bed.
- Occasional fasting for purification helps with controlling sexual urges.
This leads us to think about how our minds impact our practice of Brahmacharya. We address this next.
What is the role of the mind in the practice of Brahmacharya?
The mind can keep us distracted and busy with thoughts of sensory pleasures that can interfere with the practice of Brahmacharya.
It is the nature of the mind to fluctuate. Therefore, for the preparation of Brahmacharya, it is imperative to keep the mind under control. You can do this by taking a resolve or steadfast determination to pursue the practice.
Brahmacharya is not just a physical practice.
It also involves controlling the urges of the mind to think about and engage itself in sexual thoughts.
The role of the mind here is to abstain from any thoughts that are indicative of sexual impulses.
One way of doing this is to be mindful of such thoughts arising and, if and when they do, going back to one’s resolve and using that resolve to strengthen the mind.
Does Brahmacharya mean completely giving up on sex, or is there another way to get the benefits without having to forever abstain from sex? We explore this next.
Is there an alternative way to get the benefits of Brahmacharya without completely giving up sex?
One alternative to gain the benefits of Brahmacharya without completely giving up on sex is maintaining periods of abstinence from time to time. Some practitioners take a vow of celibacy for a limited period and spend that time deepening yoga and spiritual practice.
This, in turn, helps them build a sense of self and direct all their energies towards their practice. Once the period of abstinence is over, they come back to an aware and moderated sexual life.
Brahmacharya does not imply entirely giving up sex.
In the yogic context of the Yamas, Brahmacharya is about the middle path of self-restraint.
The middle path refers to moderation, which implies neither overindulgence nor repression.
In terms of relationships, Brahmacharya translates to being faithful and committed to one partner rather than letting uncontrolled desires take over.
One of the ways to experience the benefits of Brahmacharya is to observe celibacy for shorter periods – a week, a month, a year, and see how it impacts the self.
That, however, has to be done in thought, word, and action, which implies not just abstaining from sex but also abstaining from sexual thoughts and not engaging in sexual conversations.
The takeaway
Brahmacharya can be interpreted as walking in the consciousness of God rather than following the path of the sense objects.
This is achieved by controlling the senses, including our primal desires of sex.
Practicing Brahmacharya, however, should not be forced if one does not feel ready for it.
The goal in such a case should be to strengthen the mind and continue to work on it to stay away from giving in to any kind of impulses.
This video from Sadhguru looks at what it means to be in Brahmacharya and why everyone needs to practice.