Small thread on the concept of Brahmacharya in Hinduism/Sanatana Dharma versus the idea in other faiths.

The central idea of Dharma is restraint. If you look at the Dharma granthas, there is a stress on restraint.
A part of this restraint is Brahmacharya. Brahmacharya is not quite translatable as celibacy in the Judeo Christian context although a portion of the idea is similar

Ancient Indian societies were based on this idea. From where does this idea come about?
Well, part of this is an observation by 1000’s of people through the ages that without Brahmacharya there is no real progress in terms of spirituality... otherwise the idea wouldn’t survive.

Brahmacharya takes various forms:
It can be just physical or physical and mental and indeed permanent or temporary.
Most modern people scoff at it, but those who choose to walk any path eventually realise the truth behind the concept.

The problem when you look at it from a scientific viewpoint is that most scientists don’t subscribe to Brahmacharya for the length of time required for this to age its effects.. neither do they practice any mantra/spiritual practice... so it’s a chicken and egg situation.

Not *age but * evaluate.

Today, of course, to suggest Brahmacharya is too difficult to modern populations... part of the problem is “Why restraint?”... (first will come “mah choice, then the unthinking question”) a spurt of films you would have seen where people find it difficult to stop for just 40 days

You may remember the sage Dandamis’s conversation with Alexander the Great? Dandamis would have been a Brahmachari... in 12 years, the mind is terrifically strengthened by this practice and self control becomes effortless.

Even in 6 months or a year, especially with adjunctive mantra practice like the Gayatri can the ripples within the mind be subdued. This was the basis of Swami Vivekananda, Jnaneshwar, Aurobindo, you wish to become a fraction of that... you must go to the source of their power.

Of course, if you eat huge quantities of the wrong kinds of food and try all this stuff while thinking of the latest fashion idol in your mind all the time... then you will only fail.. and feel guilty too.

This thread isn’t for the faint hearted... it’s for those who wish to conquer themselves.... the most difficult conquest of them all.
But then that’s what made Hinduism one of the greatest civilizations and acknowledged to be so by so many greats.

The Judeo Christian tradition also has the concept at least in part...
1. but doesn’t explain exactly why it’s so important.
2. It doesn’t teach how exactly this is to be done (
3. And anyway, who wants this difficult path when u can enjoy ur life... much easier.

This last explains why so many priests from these traditions made the headlines.. for all the wrong reasons...
Unless your desire is in the 180 degree opposite direction.. how can you even dream of success at conquering such a basic instinct?

Suppression is the method taught by the West... this is useless... in actuality, the clue comes from Shaivite traditions.

If you endeavour to do so, then you must forget... and that’s definitely possible..

As far as the Islamic jurisprudence is considered... there is no commonality with celibacy from the Judeo Christian tradition, which is the one crucial point of difference between the two Old Testament ideas.
BUT...

BUT in practice, quite a few practicing Sufi traditions stress on celibacy AND what is interesting is that they give you a way to control... so for example
1. No food after sunset
2. No rich foods
3. Fasting is far more rigorous
Etc

The common ground is assumed to be due to influence from Pashupat Shaivite traditions in present day Afghanistan on medieval Islamic tradition...

Nowadays, there are a great many people who claim to do mantra practice.
Is somebody really doing this or gasbagging?
How can we check it by Jyotisha?

One easy rule I am giving from basic texts:
So... mantra pada is 5th lord.. check the status of the 5th lord from all the three Ascendants (ie. Sun, Moon and Lagna)....
Where is that 5th lord?
If 5th lord is in a kendra or kona and enjoys Yoga from at least one Ascendant...

When the 5th lord enjoys Yoga from all three Ascendants (Sun, Moon and Lagna)... then we know for sure that Mantra is at least possible to play a huge role in somebody’s life..
If the chart shows other spiritual indications then it’s more and more obvious...

Depending on what the 5th lord is, so will the Devata of the mantra change... if all three are powerful.
If at least two of these aspect each other then further Yoga is generated. Check out for all signs, result holds true for other matters of the 5th house (more Paroksh matters)

Now, check if the Vimshottori dasha of these 5th lords causing Yoga, appears in the person ‘s life?
THAT time is the clear cut period when Mantra Sadhana will be done.

NEXT
What sort of Raja Yoga does the 5th lord power cause?
You may year of people who just started some minor sadhana and got direct Paroksha darshan of the Devata?
Did it sound unfair?
How did it happen to that “undeserving fellow “?

So, NOW you can check exactly whether they are lying or in fact telling the truth.
Why?
A: Because the 5th house is in fact the house of Purva Punya... what you see today is only this lifetime... BUT you have no idea of past life sadhana...

If anybody tells you that they are doing x hours serious sadhana in a day... check their 5th lords from Sun, Moon and Ascendant... then the 5th house quality ....
for comparison, check your own also....

NEXT,
Consider the Raja Yoga giving 5th lords dasha from Moon Sun and Lagna and check how good your mantra practice gets in those years/ months/ days AND the Devata will be that signified by that 5th lord. Check it out.

If there is a significant elevated graha/planet in the 5th house nobody occupies its nakshatra, then that planet’s dasha will also give success in mantra shastra. Devata will be that signified by that planet, time will be that Dasha of that planet.

What if THAT exalted 5th lord’s dasha/period never comes in your expected lifetime?
Many people have asked me this question... there is one upaya.
Do the mantra of the Devata signified.. based on the Rashi in which the 5th lord lies.