BRAHMACHARYA - 22. SOME ILLUSTRATIVE STORIES - Sri Swami Sivanda - The Practice of Celibacy - HQ Full Book.

This chapter presents various stories that highlight powerful life lessons about lust, passion, detachment, and wisdom, which are essential for cultivating a virtuous life. Through vivid examples from history and mythology, the chapter offers insights into human nature, illustrating the power of desire and the importance of self-control, discernment, and renunciation. The stories of Jaimini, Socrates and his disciple, Raja Yayati, Yogi Vemana, and the tale of Hemachuda underscore the profound spiritual lessons on overcoming attachments and attaining self-realization. 

1. The Power of Lust: The Example of Jaimini
The first story centers around Jaimini, the great sage and the author of Purva-Mimamsa. In an important teaching session, Sri Vedavyasa warns his students about the power of lust and the potential dangers of being distracted by worldly desires. Jaimini, in his pride, claims that no woman can attract him because he is firmly established in Brahmacharya (celibacy). Vyasa, sensing Jaimini's arrogance, decides to teach him a lesson using his Yogic powers. Disguised as a beautiful young woman, Vyasa creates a situation where Jaimini is tempted by lust. Despite his initial resolve, Jaimini is swayed by the lady's charm and loses his self-control, attempting to embrace her. Vyasa reveals his true form, rebuking Jaimini for his pride and reminding him of the unpredictable power of lust. This story emphasizes the danger of overestimating one’s strength in the face of worldly temptations. It serves as a warning to anyone, especially Brahmacharis or those practicing celibacy, about the overwhelming influence of desire, even for those who believe they are beyond its reach. 

2. Passion’s Hold Over Man’s Mind: Socrates and His Disciple
The next story illustrates the struggles of worldly individuals against the overpowering forces of passion. A disciple of Socrates seeks advice on how often a householder should engage in sexual relations with his wife. Socrates initially suggests that it should be only once in a lifetime, but the disciple argues that such a practice is impossible for those who live in the world, where temptations and desires are rampant. After several revisions, Socrates finally gives a more practical answer: once a month. Yet, the disciple still finds this difficult to accept, highlighting the powerful grip that passion holds over the human mind. Socrates, seeing the disciple's dilemma, offers a final piece of advice: to contemplate death and burial. He tells the disciple to dig a grave and prepare for the inevitable end of life. This harsh lesson triggers a shift in the disciple's perspective, making him realize the futility of sensual pleasures. He renounces indulgence and dedicates himself to a life of self-control, discipline, and spiritual growth. His transformation reflects the importance of introspection and the realization that detachment from worldly desires leads to true freedom and peace. 

3. Lust Increases with Enjoyment: Raja Yayati
King Yayati’s story is a classic example of how indulging in worldly pleasures only deepens the thirst for more. Yayati, a king who enjoyed a thousand years of luxurious life, becomes old and desires to continue indulging in pleasure. He asks his sons to exchange their youth for his old age, and only his youngest son, Puru, agrees. However, after a period of indulgence, Yayati realizes that his desires are insatiable, and no amount of pleasure has quenched his thirst. The king's realization teaches that the pursuit of sensual gratification only fuels the desire for more, leading to an endless cycle of dissatisfaction. True happiness, as he concludes, lies in renouncing these desires and focusing on spiritual growth. Yayati's renunciation of worldly pleasures and his retreat into the forest symbolize the importance of detachment (Vairagya) in the journey towards self-realization. 

4. Dawn of Viveka and Vairagya: Yogi Vemana
The story of Yogi Vemana is a striking example of the transformative power of wisdom and detachment. Born into a wealthy family, Vemana falls into a life of debauchery and indulgence, wasting his wealth on women and pleasures. However, his encounter with his sister-in-law’s lost jewels leads him to a moment of profound self-realization. When Vemana is sent to retrieve an ornament from the sister-in-law, he is forced to witness the nakedness of the prostitute, and in that moment, a powerful sense of detachment (Vairagya) dawns upon him. Vemana renounces his previous life, dedicating himself to a quest for true happiness and spiritual knowledge. He seeks out the goddess Kali for initiation into the mysteries of divine knowledge (Jnana), and through this process, he becomes a revered Yogi. Vemana’s journey teaches the importance of discernment (Viveka) in recognizing the difference between the fleeting pleasures of the world and the eternal satisfaction that comes from spiritual wisdom and self-discipline. 

5. Beauty Lies in Imagination:
The Story of Hemachuda The final story in this chapter revolves around Hemachuda, a prince who, despite his external beauty and virtues, struggles to understand the true nature of love and attachment. During a hunting trip, he meets a beautiful maiden, Hemalekha, who lives alone in the forest. Hemachuda becomes enamored with her, but he soon realizes that she is indifferent to sensual pleasures and does not reciprocate his feelings in the way he expects. Curious about her dispassion, the prince questions her, and she responds with a profound insight into the nature of love. Hemalekha explains that love and attachment are transient and are shaped by external circumstances and desires. She teaches him that beauty and pleasure are subjective and fleeting, depending on the environment and time. This realization shakes Hemachuda, and he begins to understand the illusory nature of worldly attachments. The story emphasizes that true love and happiness are not based on external appearances or sensory pleasures but arise from inner wisdom and spiritual understanding. 

Each of these stories is rich in spiritual wisdom and offers valuable lessons on the power of lust, the dangers of indulgence, the necessity of detachment, and the importance of self-awareness. Whether through the pride of Jaimini, the passion of Socrates' disciple, the indulgence of Raja Yayati, the transformation of Yogi Vemana, or the insights of Hemachuda, these narratives highlight the ever-present challenges of the human mind in the face of desires and attachments. They serve as timeless reminders that true peace and happiness come not from external possessions or pleasures, but from cultivating inner wisdom, renunciation, and self-discipline.

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