DISCUSSION ON CELIBACY
Question of Celibacy:
Harry wrote;
Most translations of the Bhagavad-Gita use the word “celibate” in Chapter 6 verse 14.
The Lord gave us a stomach which makes us hungry. The Lord does not expect us to starve. Eating is nothing but natural bodily action. We are not asked to refrain from any natural action. Then why celibacy?
Here is a different viewpoint on the meaning of the word celibate in the context of the verse 6.14…
(Translated by Swami Gambhirananda with commentary from Sankaracarya. Published 1984)
Chapter 6 Verse 14.
He should remain seated with a placid mind, free from fear, firm in the vow of a celibate, and with the mind fixed on Me by controlling it through concentration, having Me as the supreme Goal.
Swami Gambhirananda’s discussion:
Further, prasantatma, with a placid mind, with a mind completely at peace; vigata-bhih, free from fear; sthitah, firm; brahmacari-vrate, in the vow of a celibate, the vow consisting in service of the teacher, eating food got by begging, etc.-----firm in that, i.e. he should follow these; besides, mat-cittah, with the Mind fixed on Me who am the supreme God; samyamya, by controlling; manah, the mind, i.e. bv stopping the modifications of the mind; yuktah, through concentration, i.e. by becoming concentrated; asita, he should remain seated; matparah, with Me as the supreme Goal. Some passionate person may have his mind on a woman, but he does not accept the woman as his supreme Goal. What then? He accepts the king or Siva as his goal. But this one the (yogi), not only has his mind on Me, but has Me as his Goal.
It seems therefore, Swami Gambhirananda defines celibacy as having only one supreme goal. That being the Lord.
Dr. Prasad’s comments (Dr. Prasad wrote the following in his book):
"..... Celibacy is necessary to still the mind and awaken the dormant Kundalini. Celibacy and certain breathing exercises are necessary to cleanse the subtle body. Subtle body is nourished by seminal and ovarian energy just as gross body needs food for nourishment. Sarada Ma warned her disciples not to be intimate with persons of opposite gender even if God came in that form. The role of celibacy in spiritual life is overlooked in the West, because it is not an easy task for most people. The individual should choose the right life partner for success in the spiritual journey if the practice of celibacy is not possible. It is very dangerous to force celibacy on disciples. The scripture says: Just as a King protected by the castle walls wins over the invincible enemy; similarly, those who want victory over the mind and senses should try to subdue them by living as a householder (BP 5.01.18).
Sublimation of the sex impulse precedes enlightenment (AV 11.05.05). One sense organ, attached to its object, can drain the intellect; just as one hole in a water pot can empty the water (MS 2.99). One commits sin by engaging senses to sense objects, and obtains yogic powers by controlling the senses (MS 2.93). Transmutation of the life force of procreative energy leads to yoga. One can transcend sex by beholding the presence of the divine in the body of all human beings, and mentally bowing down to them. ....."
Dr. Prasad further comments:
I MYSELF PONDERED THIS QUITE A WHILE AND ASKED A CELEBATE swami WHO REFUSED A WOMAN'S ADVANCES AND IS 92 NOW STILL ALIVE, DOES NOT LIKE ME BECAUSE I DID NOT BECOME HIS SLAVE (CHELA) AND WROTE MY OWN COMMENTARY ON GITA. HE SAID THAT THOSE DESIRES THAT ARE FULLY MET IN PREVIOUS LIVES DO NOT BOTHER YOU ANY MORE. HE THINKS IT IS SUCH A DIRTY THING TO DO SEX, LIKE YOU AND I WILL FEEL DIRTY ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY.
THUS SEX IS A DESIRE LIKE HUNGER FOR POWER, MONEY ETC. IT IS NOT THE SAME AS EATING, DRINKING etc. necessary for life. Sex is necessary for procreation on this plane of existence, not necessary on higher Daivic levels.
THOSE ADVANCED YOGIS FROM ASTRAL WORLD DO NOT CARE FOR IT, ALTHO THEY PERFORM SEX FOR PRODUCING A CHILD. LIKE SAGE VAYAS DID AT THE REQUEST OF HIS MOTHER TO PRODUCE PANDU, DHRITRASTRA AND VIDURA. ALTHO MOST OF US CANNOT CONTROL THE URGE DURING YOUTH DAYS. FOR rest of US CONTROLLED SEX IS RECOMMENDED AFTER MARRIAGE, WITH ONE WOMAN, UPTO THE AGE OF 55-60 THATS WHY you and I CANNOT BECOME A YOGI!! for yoga sadhana, celebacy is desirable, if not absolutely necessary. LORD IS A CLEVER GUY, HE HAS MADE IT HARD FOR MOST TO GET OUT OF THE BONDAGE TO KEEP THE WORLD AND HIS DRAMA GOING. HE REWARDS US WITH THE PLEASURE OF SEX, OTHERWISE WE WILL REFUSE TO PROCREATE IF SEX WAS A REAL PAINFUL EXPERIENCE.
General discussion:
Whether or not some humans can manage without sex is not really relevant. The point is we are to fulfill bodily functions.
There is undoubtedly a great deal of pain & suffering on earth, but that does not mean that we are here just to suffer.
Possibly our main goal is to work our way through the maze of life fulfilling our prescribed duty to the best of our ability. Possibly also the real judgment is on how well we perform our natural duty.
We all agree that languages change and develop with time. Example, in recent past we have created many new words e.g. technology, internet, modem, cyber etc. At the time the Gita was written possibly the word celibate was used more generally and we are trying to be more specific than was the intent.
The Clergy, in all religions, has a history of creating divisiveness, superiority, rituals and even justifying wars. It is difficult to blindly follow the clergy.
Swami Gambhirananda’s interpretation of the word celibate may well be accurate.
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