Q&A on ‘Brahmacharya’ at the Satsang, 26th May 2013

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Q. What is the difference between bachelorhood and Brahmacharya?
Dr. J: See, bachelorhood is an English word. You are a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science; while this Brahmacharya talks of something higher, a higher state of consciousness.
Smt. H: The two words are very different, Dr. Jayadeva explained it very nicely. Brahmacharya is a very superior word. ‘Brahman’ the word itself means a man who is always with a higher consciousness, whose thoughts move with Isvara (God), whose mind is always pure and he does not indulge in anything, there is no question of pleasure seeking. He is always happy and blissful with his purity of thoughts.

Q. Can a person achieve self-realization without marriage? Is he progressive in this kind of thinking?
Dr. J: One can achieve the highest.
Smt. H: Without marriage one can achieve the highest but people like Buddha, Mahavir, Nanak, they all were married but were into the world to give the knowledge. They were very much in the world. For achieving the highest and remaining in it, the world is required, not remaining secluded. That would be better management because you are also doing the right Karmas. In the Yoga Sutras, when talking of final Samadhi and the states thereafter, it is said that a person can reach the highest but he will not attain liberation (Moksha) until all his past Karmas are over with. To attain Moksha it is necessary to do some good Karmas which is only possible when you live among people and do whatever you can for them. A family provides a good set up for this. However, marriage is a system, a convenience for this; after all, one has to uplift oneself, whether married or not.

Q. How does one know and choose his life partner in the state of Brahmacharya?
Dr. J: You can’t be in a state of Brahmacharya and then start choosing.
Smt. H: Dr. Jayadeva’s life was different. I came along and told him I wanted to marry him. If we want to search for someone or if we find an individual who can see good in you and is a personality with whom you could gel well, go ahead. Both can live together and function together. Nothing is wrong in it. Both should have the same purpose and same goal. As I felt, my purpose and goal in life could be this, like a mission, being in the Institute and taking care of humanity. Since his was the same mission, I decided to join him and asked to marry him. But marriage or no marriage, you are still a Brahmachari living a very self-uplifting life. When choosing a partner, it is important to see what they are looking for in a marriage. Is it that they just want someone to take care of their needs while they relax? Even after marriage, everyone should be self-sufficient and self-reliant. After marriage everyone should remain health conscious, you can’t depend on your partner to remain healthy. You should have the confidence that you can handle any kind of ups and downs in life because you have full faith in yourself and in God. If this is present in both the individuals, then they are right partners and you can go ahead and marry. Otherwise not.

Q. What strength does one gain by practicing Brahmacharya?
Dr. J: In India, this comes as a stage of life. Study and then householdership. So it has been set out like that.
Smt. H: By practicing Brahmacharya, a person’s entire energy is channelized and totally focused on whatever work he has taken in life. If Brahmacharya is not practiced, energy runs haywire and the focus and progress is lost. So Brahmacharya is very much required for any action and to lead to its success.
Satsang is an open meeting held every Sunday from 9:30 to 10:30 am at The Yoga Institute, Santacruz East, Mumbai. It involves an interesting presentation to the public, made by the students of the Teacher Training Course. Each week, a new presentation of a Yogic concept is made in a simple way through skits and decoration for the general public, followed by a short speech from our Gurus, Dr. Jayadeva and Smt. Hansaji Yogendra.