How To Observe Brahmancharya (Wandering in Brahman)

In Patanjali's eight-fold yoga, yama (abstention) is the first limb and Brahmancharya is the fourth out of five abstentions of yama. In Sanskrit, "Brahmancharya" is defined as 'brahmane charate ete,' meaning to wander or roam in the thoughts of Brahman. Brahman is the ultimate reality and charate means "to wander." So a yogi who is observing Brahmancharya should always think about Brahman and try to realize it. The Upanishads, which are the cream of Indian spiritualism, describe that ' ayam atman brahman' or "this self/ soul is Brahman," so one should come closer to self and realize its greatness.

The presently accepted meaning of Brahmancharya is celibacy--that one should conserve semen and shouldn't use it for passion and lust. For this purpose, one shouldn't marry and indulge in sexual intercourse. But as the word Brahmancharya has been analyzed above, it doesn't relate to celibacy or semen. It simply indicates that one shouldn't wander in passion and lust but should wander in the thoughts of Brahman. This Brahman is realized when self is realized. Most of the saints and sages of ancient India were married. So marriage was not taboo for spiritual men. One who is observing Brahmancharya and practicing yoga should follow the tips below:

1. Have a home. A yogi has to practice yoga regularly and in the early morning. For this, he has to go to bed early and get up early. So he should have a fixed dwelling place or a home. Home is always sweet and there is no place like home. Palatial buildings of others may not be sweet and comfortable. In an uncomfortable environment, one cannot practice yoga. Those who wander from place to place cannot successfully practice yoga. They can give sermons only.
2. Have a wife and family. Sex is a biological need of the body. Through sex, old secretions from the body are removed and new secretions arrive. Through this process, the body maintains equilibrium. If old secretions remain for too long, they may become contaminated. It is like when water from a well is not used, it gets contaminated. Water seepage to the well gets blocked. But if water is used regularly, then the well supplies fresh water to hundreds of people.

   The case for sexual secretions is similar. In order to maintain fresh and healthy sexual secretions, one needs sex. For a safe and long sexual life, one has to keep a wife as per the social norm. A man without a wife is incomplete. A man running away from family and society is an escapist and coward. Such a man cannot be a yogi. A yogi is a brave man who can shoulder all responsibilities and hardships. Lord Krishna was a great yogi, a family man and a great warrior. So one should adopt a wife who not only satisfies sexual urges but becomes a good companion and well wisher. She gives timely, hygienic food and takes care of the whole family. To take timely, hygienic food is most essential for a practitioner.

3. Wander in Brahman. When one is satisfied with home, wife and family, one is satisfied with the material world. Then one can wander in the higher thoughts of Brahman or God. When a man understands that his self is not a small thing, but the greatest thing in the world, he gets immense strength, both physically and psychologically. For this, Patanjali has written, "Brahmancharya pratesthayam viryalabhah" or "By observing Brahmancharya, one gets vigor." Here Virya doesn't mean semen, but vigor.

So the path of spiritualism and yoga is very simple and natural. Only because of the misperception and interference of religious people, it can look hard and beyond reach. By giving up blind beliefs and practices, one can realize everything and can enjoy bliss.