The Real Reason Behind Observing Brahmacharya
How does celibacy help?
The term brahmacharya has several connotations. One of them is celibacy.
If you see the traditional system of ashramas — the four ashramas: brahmacharya, garhasthya, vanaprastha, and sanyasa — brahmacharya is the period of studentship, the time you spend in gurukul learning Vedas and shastras.
What is most important during studies? Intelligence. Memory, grasping power.
Today we have several nutritional supplements meant to increase intelligence. Vitamins — don't know whether they work or not, but that's what they are supposed to do. But our sages discovered that the best nourishment for the brain and nervous system is available in the body itself.
This is the derivative of the dhatu called shukra — shukra mala. The body is made up of seven dhatus:
रसाद्रक्तं ततो मांसं मांसान्मेदस्ततोऽस्थि च
अस्थ्नो मज्जा ततः शुक्रं शुक्राद्गर्भः प्रजायते
From the food, the essence of food — rasa — is produced in the body, which is the base tissue. From rasa, first blood is formed; from that, flesh; from flesh, the medas or fatty portion of the body; from that, bones; from bones, marrow; from marrow, shukra. These seven tissues are there in all the cells of the body in varying proportions.
The shukra mala is what is called semen. If the semen is retained in the body, then it contributes towards the ojas of the body and also nourishes the brain and nervous system.
To reach the high states of yoga, the yogis use the same concept and create a condition called urdhwa retas. The normal flow of the semen — semen is retas — is downwards; the yogis make it move upwards.
But brahmacharis only have endeavour to retain retas or semen in the body so that it helps in their intellectual growth.
This is the idea behind observing celibacy.
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