By Swami Chitananda
What is this
sex energy? This energy, this sex energy, is a manifestation of God. It is
Brahman in dynamic expression. It is Shakti, Para Shakti. We all know that this
phenomenal universe is the activity of the cosmic power call this which is
illimitable, indescribable and infinite. We call this cosmic power Para Shakti,
Maha Shakti, Maha Maya or Prakriti.
Countless billions of universes come and go
through the activity of this great cosmic energy. It is this cosmic energy,
this Para Shakti, that manifests as the incredible energy of the sun, the
energy of the planets and, the incredible speed at which they whirl in their
own orbits. It is this cosmic energy which manifests as the power of gravity,
as the power of the sun’s radiance, as the power of all these great planets and
heavenly bodies, as the power of the wind and other elements. If sometimes the
wind is furious, it will even blow up houses.
It is the cosmic energy which
manifests as the power of fire, as the power of the volcano, as the power of
floods, as the power of earthquakes, as the power of the Bhumi (Earth) to bear
mountains, rivers and seas. So, earth, air, water, ether—all are nothing but
the manifestations of this great power. It is the same power inside the seed
that makes the seed grow into a huge tree. It is the power behind lightning and
thunder.
Any power that you see in this universe is the power of this great
cosmic force and it is this same power that animates all living beings, trees,
plants, insects, birds, bees, reptiles, fish and animals. It is the power of
the lion, it is the power of the elephant and it is the power of the brilliant
intellect or genius of a Faraday, a Raman or an Einstein.
This self-same power
abides in us and animates our entire body mechanism. It is the power that
digests our food, that makes our heart pump blood, that makes our lungs
breathe, that makes our muscles and joints work, that makes our tongue talk and
ear hear. It is this very power that is also present as the sex energy in us.
So, sex energy is part of the one indivisible great cosmic power present in the human individual. In its gross biological aspect, it is called the sex energy. In its subtler aspect, it is the energy of discrimination, the power of the intellect to analyze and enquire and ratiocinate. In a still subtler aspect, in its psychic aspect, it is the power of the Kundalini. And in its supreme aspect, it is nothing but Atma Shakti. Because Brahman and Shakti are not two. They are the static and the dynamic aspects of one and the same principle.
Therefore, the sex energy is nothing but the presence of the Divine Mother in
all human beings. It is something divine, it is something sacred, and its
supreme function in the scheme of things of the Creator is to keep going the
universal process. It is the function of reproduction which is present in all
nature, in all life. Without this subtle power of duplication or reproduction,
all species will become extinct.
So, the utilization of the sex energy for the
purpose of reproduction is actually a sacred process for cooperating with
Brahma, the Creator. And any other aspect of the sex energy is a secondary,
lesser aspect.
And if this energy or power is wisely utilized in a moderate and
restrained way, even after such utilization, a sufficient amount of it will be
available for higher spiritual development. And if this gross biological energy
is converted through Yogabhyasa into a subtler form, it becomes available for
deep contemplation, reflection and meditation. Manana, Nididhyasana and Samadhi
are enabled through the power of this conserved and converted energy. That is
Brahmacharya.
So, all practices to successfully conserve and convert the sex
energy into a higher form and utilize it for a higher spiritual purpose are
included in the broad meaning of the term Brahmacharya. Therefore, Brahmacharya
is not only a single act of restraint; it is a whole way of life. It is that
way of living and moving and acting which will take us towards Brahma-Jnana.
That is Brahmacharya. And therefore it involves moderation in all our
activities and a wise restraint of all our senses.