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The meaning of the term Brahmacharya is staying on the path of Brahman by controlling Chitta ([[Manas (मनः)|manas]] or mind) which may lead to the realization of Brahman.  It is included under the 5 types of yama in yogashastram. There are multiple interpretations by wise people of this Yama.

The meaning of the term Brahmacharya is staying on the path of Brahman by controlling Chitta ([[Manas (मनः)|manas]] or mind) which may lead to the realization of Brahman.  It is included under the 5 types of yama in yogashastram. There are multiple interpretations by wise people of this Yama.

== Scriptural Occurrences: ==

== Scriptural Occurrences ==

1.    In Atharva Veda, Shaunaka Samhita, Kanda - 11, Sukta - 7, Verse - 18<ref name=":1">Dr G. S. Sharma, Atharvaveda(2015), New Delhi, Sanskrit Sahitya Prakashan, page 609</ref> , we find the reference to Brahmacharya.<blockquote>ब्रह्मचर्येण कन्या युवानं विन्दते पतिम् ....|  ''brahmacaryeṇa kanyā yuvānaṁ vindate patim.... |''</blockquote>Meaning  A youthful ''Kanya'' (कन्या, girl) who graduates from Brahmacharya, obtains a suitable husband.  

1.    In Atharva Veda, Shaunaka Samhita, Kanda - 11, Sukta - 7, Verse - 18<ref name=":1">Dr G. S. Sharma, Atharvaveda(2015), New Delhi, Sanskrit Sahitya Prakashan, page 609</ref> , we find the reference to Brahmacharya.<blockquote>ब्रह्मचर्येण कन्या युवानं विन्दते पतिम् ....|  ''brahmacaryeṇa kanyā yuvānaṁ vindate patim.... |''</blockquote>Meaning  A youthful ''Kanya'' (कन्या, girl) who graduates from Brahmacharya, obtains a suitable husband.  

''ahiṁsā satyamasteyaṁ barahmacharyaṁ kaṣhamā dhr̥̄tiḥ |'' ''dayārjavaṁ mitāhāraḥ śauchaṁ chaiva yamā daśa || 17 ||''</blockquote>Meaning: “Non-violence, truth, non-stealing''',''' continence (being absorbed in a pure state of consciousness), forgiveness, endurance, compassion, humility, moderate diet and cleanliness are the ten rules of conduct (Yama). (ii)”.

''ahiṁsā satyamasteyaṁ barahmacharyaṁ kaṣhamā dhr̥̄tiḥ |'' ''dayārjavaṁ mitāhāraḥ śauchaṁ chaiva yamā daśa || 17 ||''</blockquote>Meaning: “Non-violence, truth, non-stealing''',''' continence (being absorbed in a pure state of consciousness), forgiveness, endurance, compassion, humility, moderate diet and cleanliness are the ten rules of conduct (Yama). (ii)”.

== Why Brahmacharya is required? ==

== Opinions of various scholars about why Brahmacharya is required? ==

Brahmacharya is a virtue that a person is expected to bear. It is a Yama that a person can follow. Below are reasons for it.  

Brahmacharya is a virtue that a person is expected to bear. It is a Yama that a person can follow. Below are reasons for it.  

=== a.   Practice of Brahmacharya ===

=== Practice of Brahmacharya ===

<blockquote>“Brahmacharya is absolute freedom from sexual desires and thoughts. A real Brahmachari will not feel any difference in touching a woman, a piece of paper or a block of wood. Brahmacharya is meant for both men and women. Bhishma, Hanuman, Lakshman, Mira Bai, Sulabha and Gargi were all established in Brahmacharya. Mere control of the animal passion will not constitute Brahmacharya. This is incomplete Brahmacharya. You must control all the organs—the ears that want to hear lustful stories, the lustful eye that wants to see objects that excite passion, the tongue that wants to taste exciting things and the skin that wants to touch exciting objects” Swami Sivananda in Practice of Brahmacharya<ref>Swami Sivananda, [https://www.dlshq.org/download/practice-of-brahmacharya/ Practice of Brahmacharya],(1997),  Page 24,World Wide Web, A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION.</ref>  says on page 24, </blockquote>

<blockquote>“Brahmacharya is absolute freedom from sexual desires and thoughts. A real Brahmachari will not feel any difference in touching a woman, a piece of paper or a block of wood. Brahmacharya is meant for both men and women. Bhishma, Hanuman, Lakshman, Mira Bai, Sulabha and Gargi were all established in Brahmacharya. Mere control of the animal passion will not constitute Brahmacharya. This is incomplete Brahmacharya. You must control all the organs—the ears that want to hear lustful stories, the lustful eye that wants to see objects that excite passion, the tongue that wants to taste exciting things and the skin that wants to touch exciting objects” Swami Sivananda in Practice of Brahmacharya<ref>Swami Sivananda, [https://www.dlshq.org/download/practice-of-brahmacharya/ Practice of Brahmacharya],(1997),  Page 24,World Wide Web, A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION.</ref>  says on page 24, </blockquote>

=== b. Osho in "Talks on Zen" <ref name=":0">Osho, Zen:The Path of Paradox, Vol. 1, Talks on Zen, (1977), Pune, Osho.com (Audio Discourse)</ref> gives the below reason in chapter 8. ===

=== Talks on Zen ===

<blockquote>“The other day I was talking about three dimensions: intellectuality, emotionality, sexuality. These are the three dimensions of your inner being. And there is a fourth dimension - brahmacharya. The word brahmacharya is so profound that there is no way to translate it. It does not mean just celibacy; celibacy is a very poor word. Celibacy is negative, it simply says: no sex. Brahmacharya is positive. It says: a divine life. The meaning of brahmacharya is "behaving like a god, living like a god." Brahma means god and charya means living - living like a god, being like a god, behaving like a god. To be godly is brahmacharya.  

<blockquote>“The other day I was talking about three dimensions: intellectuality, emotionality, sexuality. These are the three dimensions of your inner being. And there is a fourth dimension - brahmacharya. The word brahmacharya is so profound that there is no way to translate it. It does not mean just celibacy; celibacy is a very poor word. Celibacy is negative, it simply says: no sex. Brahmacharya is positive. It says: a divine life. The meaning of brahmacharya is "behaving like a god, living like a god." Brahma means god and charya means living - living like a god, being like a god, behaving like a god. To be godly is brahmacharya. Brahmacharya is the fourth dimension of your being. Three dimensions are available to everybody. When all three dimensions function in tune, in step, in a dance, then the fourth arises as a fragrance. The fourth is a song that arises out of these three dancing together, embracing each other, melting, merging, into each other. Then arises the fourth. The fourth is the beyond, the transcendental. “<ref name=":0">Osho, Zen:The Path of Paradox, Chapter 8, Vol. 1, Talks on Zen, (1977), Pune, Osho.com (Audio Discourse)</ref></blockquote>

=== Yoga The Alpha & Omega ===

 

<blockquote>In the topic, 'The Alchemy of Being: Brahmacharya Osho says ,“Brahmacharya is not against sex. If it is against sex then sex can never disappear. Brahmacharya is a transmutation of the energy: it is not being against sex, rather it is changing the whole energy from the sex center to the higher centers. When it reaches to the seventh center of man, the sahasrara, then brahmacharya happens. If it remains in the first center, the muladhara, then sex; when it reaches to the seventh center, then samadhi. The same energy moves. It is not being against it; rather, it is an art how to use it. “ <ref>[https://oshoworld.com/yoga-the-alpha-omega-vol-05-01-10/ Osho, Yoga: A New Direction, Discourse : Yoga The Alpha & Omega Vol 05 - Discourse 7 (1975)] </ref> </blockquote>

=== d. Osho in discourse Yoga The Alpha & Omega Vol 05 - Discourse 7<ref>[https://oshoworld.com/yoga-the-alpha-omega-vol-05-01-10/ Osho, Yoga: A New Direction, Discourse : Yoga The Alpha & Omega Vol 05 - Discourse 7 (1975)] </ref> gives the below reason in the topic The Alchemy of Being: Brahmacharya says, ===

<blockquote>“Brahmacharya is not against sex. If it is against sex then sex can never disappear. Brahmacharya is a transmutation of the energy: it is not being against sex, rather it is changing the whole energy from the sex center to the higher centers. When it reaches to the seventh center of man, the sahasrar, then brahmacharya happens. If it remains in the first center, the muladhar, then sex; when it reaches to the seventh center, then samadhi. The same energy moves. It is not being against it; rather, it is an art how to use it. “</blockquote>

== References ==

== References ==

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