One common usage of the term 'Brahmacharya' in Vedic culture denotes the phase of the first 25 years of a male's childhood. Ancient Hindu culture divides the human lifespan into 100 years. Brahmacharya is the stage when a boy lives at the house of his guru and learns spiritual knowledge from him. They are also taught how to live through life. Later when the child becomes qualified, normally around the age of 12, he receives initiation called Upanayanam. At that point the child is considered to be reborn. Brahmacharya is the first stage of the spiritual order of life, namely, Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, and finally Sannyasa.

The word brahmacharya is also used for the vow of celibacy a person may take at any age after realizing that material enjoyments will never bring the perfect happiness of the soul. Thus one surrenders to the guru and renders menial service unto him. By the guru's association, the person will lose taste of this world.

Brahmacharya is not mere student life, but also of abstinence from sex within the mind, the words and actions.

The evil consequences of sex passion.

When a man is excited by passion, the Prana or vital air becomes active. The vital air moves the internal semen. It falls downwards, just as the clouds burst into the rain water; just as the fruits, flowers, and leaves of the tree drop down by the force of the blowing winds.

Most important is the evil after-effects, once the semen is lost. Prana becomes unsteady. It is agitated. The body and mind do not coorperate at all. There is physical and mental lethargy. One has to take hot milk, fruits and other articles to make good the loss of energy. Once lost, the semen can never be obtained again. Some symptoms that arise are bad memory, premature old age, impotence, various sorts of eye diseases and nervous diseases are caused by the heavy loss of this vital fluid.

Those who have lost much of their semen become very tense and agitated. They lose their balance of mind quickly. Little things upset them. Those who have not observed the vow of celibacy become slaves of anger, laziness and fear. If one is not strict, with senses under control, they venture to do foolish actions which even children would not dare to do.

Benefits of the Practice of Celibacy

The practice of celibacy reduces to a great deal any danger or disease. Some undesirable results may be indicated, such as the various sorts of pathologies, many of which have been wrongly attributed by modern psychologists. They have no practical knowledge of the subject on hand. They attribute these complexes to some other cause. These are actually caused by a morbid state of mind due to excessive jealousy, hatred, anger, worry, and depression.

Celibacy gives inner strength and peace of mind. It invigorates the mind and nerves. It helps to conserve physical and mental energy. It augments memory, will force, and brain power. It bestows tremendous strength, vigor, and vitality. It renovates the system or constitution, rebuilds the cells and tissues, energizes digestion, and gives power to face the difficulties in everyday life. One who has perfect control over sexual energy attains power unobtainable by another means.

If a married man controls his senses, he can bring forth healthy, intelligent, strong, beautiful, self-sacrificing children. The sages and saints of ancient India, when married, used to follow this excellent rule very carefully for this purpose, and also used to teach by example and practice how to lead a life of a Brahmachari, even as a householder.

How To Get Established In Celibacy

No thinking or dreaming of women. Do not even glance at the opposite sex. Looking at them will cause lust and desires to talk to and touch them. Therefore never look at the opposite sex. Never talk intimately with them.

The man's look has to be perfectly chaste and pure. Lord Jesus says: "If you have a lustful look, you have already committed adultery in the heart." Lustful looks and thoughts, wet dreams are all failures or breaks in celibacy. Be chaste in your look and speech. See mother in all women. Cultivate God conscious thoughts. Repeat the Lord's Name and meditate regularly. In this way one will be established in celibacy.