Q&A-18: "What is Brahmacharya? Is it possible to practice it to perfection?"

The full and proper meaning of Brahmacharya is search of Brahman. Brahman pervades every being and can therefore be searched by diving into and realizing the inner self. This realization is impossible without complete control of the senses. Brahmacharya thus means control in thought, word and action of all the senses at all times and in all places.

A ,man or woman completely practicing Brahmacharya is absolutely free from passion. Such a one therefore lives nigh unto God, is Godlike.

I have no doubt that it is possible to practice such Brahmacharya in thought, word and action to the fullest extent.

Gandhiji in Young India, June 6, 1924
Courtesy: ‘Truth is God’ – Gleanings from the Writings of Gandhiji
Published by Navajivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad-380014, Gujarat

Gems from the Buddha-4:

If a man speaks or acts with an evil mind, suffering follows him as the wheel follows the hoof of the bullock that pulls the cart - Dhammapada

For detailed article on Dhammapada from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhammapada

From My Spiritual Diary-8:

· Regarding moral conduct, observe these two rules: Be truthful always, and honour and worship all women as mothers. (Swami Brahmananda)

· Attachment or the sense of ownership, in relation to objects or individuals is the root cause of all the bondage in the world.

· Realization of God is impossible without purification of the heart. (Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa)

· The mind becomes pure through ‘japa’. While repeating the mantra, you should remember God. Such repetition and remembrance will do much good. Mere repetition without remembrance will not be any use. (Swami Brahmananda)

· In this transitory world, there are five permanent gems: Company of the Sadhus; Talks about God; Complassion, Humility and Doing good to others. (Saint Tulasidas).

· Compassion is the root of all virtue and happiness, and arrogance is the root of hell or narrowness and misery. Do not leave compassion even when life is about to leave the body. (Saint Tulasidas).

· The moment you thoroughly understand that you are a gool, you begin to become wise. (Swami Akhandananda).

· Useless work, useless talk, gossiping and useless thinking are like weeds. Pull them out. Then there will be time for useful work. (Swami Yaatiswarananda)

Prayer of the day-7:

"O Thou Unbounded Spirit of the Universe,
Make me to feel Thy nearness, that my mind
may be freed from all doubt and fear.
May I find Thy Presence everywhere.
May I perceive Thy beauty and sublimity
in all things.
Give unto me true devotion.
May I always feel that Thou art my Resting-place.
My Source of inspiration and joy.

Courtesy: "Book of Daily Thoughts and Prayers" by Swami Paramananda
Published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Chennai-600004

From My Spiritual Diary-7:

· Sweet words, sweet dealings, forbearance, service and love – in the long run these triumph over all ills of life.

· Even wild animals become submissive by kind treatment.

· Examine yourself and resolve firmly in your mind to mend your defects, even if you fail again and again; lay all your troubles before God; weep and pray to Him from your heart to remove all your faults and mistakes.

· Have no ill feeling towards anybody. To one who is good, the whole world is good.

· By willing to abstain from sense indulgence, man grows in stamina.

· By yielding to base urge, man weakens his will.

· Attuning the individual will with the Cosmic Will is redemption.

· Poverty is not an extraneous factor. It is subjective. It is a defect in the mind.

· That man lives well in the world, who is capable of both attachment and detachment.

· Man grows in spiritual excellence, when he gives up all attachments to sense object which are evanescent. (Vedanta)

Gems from Jainism-5:

Kill Not. Cause no pain - Mahavira

Courtesy:

http://www.worldofquotes.com/author/Lord-Mahavira/1/index.html

Gems from the Buddha-3:

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him; If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him - Buddha

Courtesy:

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/buddha.html

From My Spiritual Diary-6:

* By being guileless, one can speedily realize God. There are several kinds of people who do not attain divine knowledge. First, a man with a perverse mind; he is not guileless. Second, one who is very fastidious about outer purity; Third, a doubting person.

* The power and potentiality of the mind increases as it progresses in self-purification.

* Quieting down the body and mind is meditation.

* Minimising the bodily requirements is imperative for spiritual advancement. He is a yogi who has reduced his bodily needs to the bare minimum.

* The mind that delights in the mundane, gets entangled.

* Yoga is not possible for him who eats too much or for him who abstains too much from eating; it is not for him, who sleeps too much or too little (Bhagavad Gita).

* If you seek God, then seek Him in man; He manifests Himself more in man than in any other thing. If you see a man endowed with ecstatic love overflowing with prema, mad after God, intoxicated with His love, then know for certain that God has incarnated Himself through that man.

* Words give rise to more words. If, therefore, anybody says something unpleasant or unjust to you, it is better to ignore it and keep quiet. The dumb have no enemies. Try to put up with difficulties as best as you can.

* He who endures, prevails; he who does not, is destroyed.

Gems from the Quran-2:

“He deserves paradise who makes his companions laugh” - Quran

Courtesy: http://thinkexist.com/quotes/quran/

Gems from the Bible-5:

Nothing shall be impossible unto you. (Matthew, 17:20)