Brahmacarya

Ramanuja comments: brahmacaryaṁ yoṣitsu bhogyatā-buddhi-yuktekṣaṇādi-rahitatvam – "Brahmacarya means the absence of a frame of mind in which women are seen as objects of enjoyment."

Kapila returns to this theme in a list of virtuous acts in the following chapter:

The essence of the thought here is that a Vaiṣṇava would not do something that wouldn't be pleasing to Viṣṇu, and since sexual intercourse for mere enjoyment isn't something that can be offered, a Vaiṣṇava would not unnecessarily engage in it.

There are diverse commentaries on this passage, some more and some less strict over the religious application of sex. The commentaries prominent in the Gaudiya line of thought, namely those by Sridhara Svami, Visvanatha Cakravarti and Baladeva Vidyabhusana, read as follows:

Hence, begetting children with one's duly wedded wife is the desired application for sexual desire.

In his commentary, Jiva Gosvami cites a verse from the Bhāgavata-purāṇa (11.19.33, cited earlier) to illustrate different yamas, one among which is brahmacarya. Freedom from sexual vāsanas (latent impressions) is attained through the practice of bhakti by the grace of the Lord, the indwelling witness of the heart.

• Avoid literature, films, music and environments where sexuality is put on display – they create impressions in the mind, impressions that are bound to arise again and disturb the mind's equilibrium.
• Avoid staying alone with a member of the opposite sex; avoid the company of people who do not follow the path of abstention.

• Avoid foods that are forbidden in the scriptures and settle for a simple, sattvic diet free of excessive spices, oil, and so forth.
• At night, avoid overeating, all sour or heating items, and excess sweets.
• Excess heat in the body is a cause of restless senses; follow a seasonal diet, cutting down on heating ingredients during the warm season.
• Drink an adequate quantity of water, as a lack of water leads to dehydration and the heating of the body; at least supplement the average of two and half liters the body loses daily in a temperate climate.

An agitated body and the powerful pulling of the senses can generally be traced back to improper eating. Such a condition may often be countered by fasting; in general, fasting is beneficial for brahmacarya.

• Do not think of yourself as one who has conquered over lust, remain ever-cautious – with pride comes the fall, and pride indeed invokes a challenge to be failed.
• Remember that the mind has become free of lust only at a time when it remains calm even when provoked, and when even in dreams no agitation or sexual visions arise.
• Men should treat all women as mothers or sisters, holding them in great respect; correspondingly, women should treat all men as sons or brothers. Otherwise, one may remember all women as maidservants of Krishna.

• Maintain a firm sādhana, keep the senses properly engaged to keep them afar from stray pursuits, and to purify them in the fire of spiritual practice.
• Practice japa and meditation for extended periods, preferably sitting still in a proper āsana; this will facilitate the sublimation of the contained vīrya.

• Do not sleep on your stomach or in other positions that generate pressure on the genitals. Sleeping with a straight back, either on one's left side or one's back, is recommended, and a hard mattress is preferable.
• Always empty your bladder before resting, as a full bladder puts pressure on the genitals. Excessive sleep causes excess dreaming and makes one easily subject to svapna-doṣa, or nocturnal emissions. ["This last statement brought a doubt to my mind. Masturbation is clearly illicit, but what if one passes semen during sleep? Is that illicit sex? When I got the opportunity, I put the question to Srila Prabhupada. He thought for half a moment. "Yes, that is also illicit." I didn't pursue it further, but it makes sense. If one has a nocturnal emission, it must only be because one is dreaming of sex enjoyment. Because it manifests physically in the form of discharge, it therefore becomes illicit." Hari Sauri das, Transcendental Diary 2-4)
  Bhaktivikasa Swami deals with this topic in his book Brahmacarya in Krishna Consciousness, ch. 26.]
• Avoid activity that agitates the genitals, avoid touching and looking at your genitals where possible.
• Many celibates prefer firm underwear, a traditional example of such being the kaupīna.
• Cool or cold baths are beneficial for the nervous system, and subsequently for peace of mind and for brahmacarya.

One should, therefore, withhold the mind from "dancing with the devil" and curtail its wanderings at the root. In particular, one should avoid bad company for it is such company that gives rise to sexual desires: tamo-dvāraṁ yoṣitāṁ saṅgi-saṅgam (BhP 5.5.2) – "Women and womanizers are the gateway to darkness."

For one fallen from brahmacarya, the following words of advice on a befitting attitude are offered in the Bhāgavata-purāṇa:

Thus, one is encouraged not to let go of the ideal, but rather to strive again and again toward it with all devotional sincerity.

• Ekadasi and the preceding and following days
• The entire month of Kartika
• Appearance days of the Lord
• Disappearance days of great saints
• Other Vaisnava festivals
• Bhagavata-saptaha and other religious events

Mahābhārata narrates a story in which Paraśurāma, Bhīṣma's teacher in the arts of war, requested him to marry Ambā, one of the three ladies he had captured on the behest of his brother, Vicitra-vīrya. Bhīṣma refused, on the plea of his vow of life-long brahmacarya; hearing this, Paraśurāma challenged Bhīṣma to a duel to enforce his request, only to be defeated by his disciple – to his satisfaction.

With the power of his full restraint and purity, he conquered the evil Meghanāda, Rāvaṇa's son, who was invincible before all but those who had abandoned all enjoyment for fourteen years.

The accomplished brahmacārī is, then, not a person abstaining from sexuality with great endeavor; it is the one who has risen beyond sexuality, becoming indifferent and unaffected.