Awareness on food for attainment of brahmacharya (Gujarati Dadavani January-2013)

A living being (jiva), after coming into human life-form continues to dwell in five sense pleasures as per its understanding. Amongst the vishaya of the five senses, the tongue is the only correct and acceptable one. A discipline in diet becomes a very important part in practicing brahmacharya. One who wants to practice brahmacharya should eat only as much as required for the basic nourishment of the body; and that too only simple food, and not rich food (with plentiful oil and butter). Sexual impulses do not arise when one’s hunger (for food) eats this out, and when it does not eat it out, it gives rise to spiritual laziness (pramad). This laziness in turn gives rise to sexual impulses. Brahmacharya is the essence of the body complex. If this is gone then the basis of the Self will be lost, and this is not affordable for those practicing brahmacharya. We should also have the goal that the essence of the body complex rise higher (urdhvagaman) and result in a divine form.