By Swami Sivananda
Not Suppression
but sublimation
In the Practice of Brahmacharya, what is wanted is
elimination of lust, but not suppression. Suppression of the sex urge is not
eradication. You can never be free of that which is suppressed. The suppressed
sex desire will attack you again and again and will produce wet dreams, irritability
and restlessness of mind.
Repression or suppression of the sexual desire will
not help you much. If lust is suppressed, it will again manifest with redoubled
force when a suitable opportunity arises, when the will becomes weak, when
Vairagya wanes, when there is slackening in meditation or Yogic Sadhana, when
you become weak owing to an attack of disease.
Do not try to run away from women. Then Maya will
chase you terribly. Try to see the Self in all forms and repeat the formula
"Om Ek Sat-Chit-Ananda Atma" very often. Remember that Atman
is sexless. Mental repetition of this formula will give you strength.
Ignorant people adopt foolish methods to kill the
Indriyas. They fail eventually. Many foolish aspirants amputate the organ of
reproduction. They think that lust can be eradicated by such a procedure. What
a great foolish act! Lust is in the mind. If the mind is subdued, what can this
external fleshy organ do? Some swallow tons of nux vomica to kill this organ.
They fail in their attempts to be centred in Brahmacharya. The state of their
mind remains the same, though they become impotent by taking nux vomica.
What is wanted is a judicious control of the Indriyas.
The Indriyas should not be allowed to run riot in sensual grooves. They should
not be allowed to throw us ruthlessly into the deep pit of worldliness, like
the turbulent horse carrying away the rider wherever it likes.
Brahmacharya means control, but not suppression, of
the sex desire or sex force. The mind should be rendered pure by meditation,
Japa, Kirtan and prayer. If the mind is filled with sublime divine thoughts by
meditation, Japa, prayer and study of holy scriptures, the sex desire will be
devitalised or de-energised by the withdrawal of the mind. The mind also will
be thinned out.
From sex energy to spiritual energy (Ojas Shakti)
If the sexual energy is transmuted into Ojas or
spiritual energy by pure thoughts, it is called sex sublimation in western
psychology. Sublimation is not a matter of suppression or repression, but a
positive, dynamic, conversion process. It is the process of controlling the sex
energy, conserving it, then diverting it into higher channels, and finally,
converting it into spiritual energy or Ojas Sakti.
The material energy is changed into spiritual energy,
just as heat is changed into light and electricity. Just as a chemical
substance is sublimated or purified by raising the substance through heat into
vapour which again is condensed into solid form, so also, the sexual energy is
purified and changed into divine energy by spiritual Sadhana.
Ojas is spiritual energy that is stored up in the
brain. By entertaining sublime, soul-elevating thoughts of the Self or Atman,
by meditation, Japa, worship and Pranayama, the sexual energy can be transmuted
into Ojas Sakti and stored up in the brain. This stored up energy can then be
utilised for divine contemplation and spiritual pursuits.
Anger and muscular energy can also be transmuted into
Ojas. A man who has a great deal of Ojas in his brain can turn out immense
mental work. He is very intelligent. He has lustrous eyes and a magnetic aura
in his face. He can influence people by speaking a few words. A short speech of
his produces a tremendous impression on the minds of the hearers. His speech is
thrilling. He has an awe-inspiring personality. Sri Sankara, an Akhanda
Brahmachari, worked wonders through his power of Ojas. He did Digvijaya and
held controversies and heated debates in different parts of India with learned
scholars through his power of Ojas. A Yogi always directs his attention to the
accumulation of this divine energy by unbroken chastity.
In Yoga, it is called Oordhvaretas. An Oordhvareta
Yogi is one in whom the seminal energy has flown upwards into the brain as Ojas
Sakti. There is now no possibility of the semen going downwards by sexual
excitement.
A clip by Dr Robert Svoboda on Ojas taken from the 2nd International Ayurveda & Yoga Conference - Sydney 2009
The secret of sex sublimation
According to Yogic science, semen exists in a subtle
form throughout the whole body. It is found in a subtle state in all the cells
of the body. It is withdrawn and elaborated into a gross form in the sexual
organ under the influence of the sexual will and sexual excitement.
An Oordhvareta Yogi not only converts the semen into
Ojas, but checks through his Yogic power, through purity in thought, word and
deed, the very formation of semen by the secretary cells of the testes or
seeds. This is a great secret.
Allopaths believe that even in an Oordhvareta Yogi,
the formation of semen goes on incessantly and that the fluid is reabsorbed
into the blood. This is a mistake. They do not understand the inner Yogic
secrets and mysteries. They are in the dark. Their Drishti or vision is
concerned with the gross things of the universe.
The Yogi penetrates into the subtle hidden nature of
things through Yogic Chakshu or the inner vision of wisdom. The Yogi gets
control over the astral nature of semen and thereby prevents the formation of
the very fluid itself.
The body of a man who is truly an Oordhvaretas has the
scent of a lotus. A man who is not a Brahmachari, in whom gross semen is
formed, may, on the other hand, smell like a buck goat.
The semen dries up in those who practice Pranayama
seriously. The semen-energy ascends up to the brain. It is stored up as Ojas
Sakti or spiritual energy and comes back as Amrita or nectar.
The process of sex sublimation is extremely difficult.
It demands constant and protracted Sadhana and perfect discipline. That Yogi
who has achieved perfect sublimation has perfect control over lust.
Complete
sublimation is achieved through ceaseless meditation on Atman and
Self-realization. That Yogi or Jnani who has attained the highest Nirvikalpa
Samadhi, in whom the seeds of Samskaras are fried in toto, can claim to be a
perfect Oordhvaretas or one who has complete sex sublimation. There is no fear
of his downfall. He is perfectly safe. He will be absolutely free from
impurity. This stage is a very high stage. A microscopic minority only have
attained this sublime exalted state. Sankara, Dattatreya, Jnana Deva of Alandi
and others reached this stage.
There is another sect called "Dhiryaretas",
or those persons, who, previously a prey to lustful thoughts and deviated from
Brahmacharya, later take to the practice of strict celibacy. Such a person, if
he practices strict celibacy for twelve years, can acquire superhuman powers.
Medha Nadi or Buddhi Nadi is formed in him. By means of this, he can have
retentive memory of anything as long as he lives, and he will be in a position
to learn all kinds of subjects.
By observance of unbroken Brahmacharya in thought,
word and deed for a period of full twelve years, one is bestowed even with the
vision of God, if one aspires for it. He can solve the most abstruse and
complicated problems easily. But, this kind of observance should commence
before the thirty-second or the thirty-fourth year.
That Yogi who has disciplined himself through
ceaseless protracted Sadhana, continuous meditation, Pranayama and Atmic
Vichara, the practice of Sama, Dama, Yama and Niyama, is also safe, although he
has not attained the stage of perfect sex sublimation. Women will hold no
attraction for him. He has thinned out his mind. The mind is starved to death.
It cannot raise its hood. It cannot hiss.
Sexual Samskaras and eradication of lust
Sexual Samskaras and eradication of lust
Total sublimation is difficult, yet not impossible
The process of sex sublimation is very difficult, and
yet, it is most necessary for the aspirant in the spiritual path. It is the
most important qualification for the Sadhaka, be he in the path of Karma Yoga,
Upasana, Raja Yoga or Vedanta.
It is a fundamental prerequisite for an aspirant. If
one has this qualification or merit, all other merits will come and cling to
him. All good qualities will come by themselves. You must achieve this at any
cost. You will surely attempt this in future births. But why not now?
The total annihilation of the sexual desire is the
ultimate spiritual ideal. Complete sublimation alone will make you free. But,
perfect sublimation can hardly be achieved within a day or two. It demands
continuous struggle with patience and perseverance for some time.
Even the householders should keep the above ideal
before them and try to realize it gradually. If the state of perfect
sublimation is attained, there will be purity in thought, word and deed. No
sexual thought will enter the mind at any time.
It is through constant Vichara and Brahma-Bhavana that
the mind has to be weaned from lustful thoughts and tendencies. You must remove
not only the sexual craving and the sexual impulses, but also the sex
attraction.
Think of the miseries that you get from a married life
with its various entanglements and bondage. Make the mind understand by
repeated autosuggestion and hammering that sexual pleasure is false, worthless,
illusory and full of pain. Place before the mind the advantages, bliss, power
and knowledge of a spiritual life. Make it understand that the exalted, eternal
life is in the immortal Atman.
When it hears constantly these suggestions, it will
slowly leave off its old habits. The attraction for sex will slowly die. Then
only real sex sublimation will take place. Then only you will become an
Oordhvareta Yogi.
There are two kinds of force in the mind, namely,
hostile or antagonistic force and friendly or favourable force. Passion is a
hostile force that drags you down. Pure reason is a favourable force that
elevates you and transmutes you into Divinity. Develop, therefore, my child,
pure reason to get unalloyed bliss and supreme Brahmic knowledge. Passion will
die by itself.
Sex sublimation is within your reach if you wish to
attain it. The path is quite clear, straight and easy if you understand it and
if you apply yourself with patience, perseverance, determination and strong
will, if you practice discipline of the Indriyas, right conduct, right
thinking, right acting, regular meditation, assertion, auto-suggestion and
enquiry of "Who am I?". Atman is sexless. Atman is Nirvikara. Feel
this. Can there be any trace of lust or impurity in the etemal, pure Atman?
Glory to those Yogis who have attained Oordhvaretas or
full sex sublimation and who are resting in their own Svarupa!
May we all practice perfect celibacy through the
practice of Sama, Dama, Viveka, Vichara, Vairagya, Pranayama, Japa and Dhyana
and reach the goal of life!
May the Indweller of our hearts grant us spiritual
strength to control the Indriyas and the mind!
May we all become full Oordhvareta Yogis like Sankara
and Jnana Dev of yore!
May their blessings be upon us all!
EXTRACT FROM BOOK May I Answer That?
Read also about SEXUAL ENERGY & SELF-REALIZATION
Sex Energy-A Manifestation of Para Shakti
The role of celibacy in the spiritual life
Sexuual energy, Ojas and Self-realization
The Sacred Side of Sex
Transmutation of the Sexual Force
Sexual Samskaras and eradication of lust
SEXUALITY (14 posts)
EXTRACT FROM BOOK May I Answer That?
43. QUESTION: Would you kindly suggest some effective methods
for conversion and sublimation of the sexual energy into spiritual energy or
Ojas?
SIVANANDA: Observe strict continence in thought, word and deed.
Give up thinking useless and vain thoughts.
Keep balance of mind in all conditions and
circumstances, contemplating the Divine.
Practice Sirshasan, Sarvangasan and Oordhva Padmasan,
besides Viparitakarani Mudra. Preserve the energy by constantly repeating the
Name of the Lord, doing intense Japa and meditation, and study of the Gita, the
Bhagavata, the Ramayana and the like.
Develop Viveka, Vairagya and Vichara. As dispassion
increases, so is the vital energy not allowed to leak out. The greater the
Vairagya (non-attachment to worldly objects) the more secure will be the semen.
The more the preservation of semen, the greater will be the transmutation into
Ojas which means abundant physical, mental, moral and spiritual strength and
quick evolution.
Pranayama helps a lot in gaining control over
the physical machinery and the mind. To have control over the mind means to
have control over the Prana Sakti and prevent Veerya from being let out. To
have control over this masculine power means to have abundant Ojas which enables
the aspirant to glow spiritually. Intense Sadhana, with the desires reduced to
the barest minimum, will sublimate the sexual energy into spiritual energy.
For further information, go through my book Practice of Brahmacharya. It gives exhaustive details regarding the subject in
question.
Sex Energy-A Manifestation of Para Shakti
The role of celibacy in the spiritual life
Sexuual energy, Ojas and Self-realization
The Sacred Side of Sex
Transmutation of the Sexual Force
Sexual Samskaras and eradication of lust
SEXUALITY (14 posts)
Peace love harmony