Expert: Dhananjay - 1/25/2012

Question
Hello Dhananjay,

I have a question regarding health benefits of Brahmacharya. I have gastric reflux which has lead to various other ailments. I have tried Brahmacharya in the past for several months and have felt great power and inspiration and has got me to where I want to be in life.

But now it seems this is ruining me slowly month by month it does not go away. As of late over the past six months my efforts at brahmacharya have not been good. I thought I had it under control at about 3 weeks of practice it seemed to be healing but then I reverted back to losing the seed and it is becoming worse.

Can solid and consistent brahmacharya over a long period of time,  say 6 months to 1 year along with healthy lifestyle repair the damage and cure this ailment?

Answer
One's present state of existence is a result of one's past karma. The best way to speedily workout past karma and revert to one's default state of bliss is through honest and committed practice of a life of Yoga & unbroken Brahmacharya aimed at self-realization with God-devotion. One should persevere in this path without doubt and without slackening efforts even if there occur breaks initially. With sincere efforts and God's grace, Brahmacharya becomes natural, unbroken and one's default way of life in course of time.

When strong past karma starts to surface whilst being worked out through Brahmacharya, the person finds the going tough and an uphill task. If at such times one gets cowed down by the impediments and succumbs to giving up on Brahmacharya, he loses the one and only opportunity to redeem himself of his karma. Hence one should never give up on this mode of life. One should learn to be calm and face the surfacing karma with a firm resolve through God-devotion and commitment to Brahmacharya. This karma has embedded itself due to one's own past misdeeds and has to be worked out without a choice. The wise man hence does not waste time in postponing the same but gets ready to work it out once and for all and be free of it. Then, all the seeds of past karma (which are the cause of all physical/mental sorrow) slowly start vacating and the 'Jiva' (embodied soul) gets redelivered to its default state of bliss free from pain and finally attains liberation.

One should think of Brahmacharya as one's default lifestyle. It should be made into one's natural state for ever. It is sexuality which is unreal and the opposite of one's default state. Making this into one's lifestyle is a disease. One should first rid oneself of this disease, then all other diseases will pass. Sexuality is an urge for procreation and nothing more. It should not be extended to recreation. If this policy is strictly applied, the greatest strength and peace dawn from within and the body and mind follow with exuberant health. Then, magnificent benefits slowly start trickling in over a period of time. But one should be patient and apply these tenets for life without a break. There is no use if one gets disheartened after following such a life for a few months and not finding drastic benefits. Just as a plant sapling takes time to become a full grown fruit bearing tree, Brahmacharya yields the greatest benefits when practiced for a long time as one's lifestyle.

To the one who has made Brahmacharya his default way of life for ever, who is devoted to the Almighty, who leads a life of purity, virtue, kindness and non-violence, who wishes good to all (including those who wish ill of him) and treats everyone with an equal eye, who checks himself from succumbing to lower traits such as lust, anger, greed, attachment, arrogance and jealousy, to such a person, all physical/mental diseases, abnormalities and sufferings eventually pass. He is assured of reverting to his default state of joy and bliss without a doubt in course of time.

Practice such honest and correct Brahmacharya with a life of Yogic practices through devotion to God. The problem on hand will gradually dissolve. Unbroken Brahmacharya with God-devotion and meditation is the surest way to be rid of all forms of sorrow in this dream called life and reach eternal liberation.

ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)