Английская Википедия:Brahmacharya

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Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Other uses Шаблон:Use dmy dates Шаблон:Use Indian English Шаблон:Italic title Шаблон:Hinduism small Шаблон:Jainism Шаблон:Buddhism Brahmacharya (Шаблон:IPAc-en; Devanagari: ब्रह्मचर्य) is a concept within Indian religions that literally means "conduct consistent with Brahman" or "on the path of Brahman". In Yoga, Hinduism it generally refers to a lifestyle characterized by sexual continence or complete abstinence.

Brahmacharya is somewhat different from the English term "celibacy," which merely means non-indulgence in sexual activity. Brahmacharya is when a person completely controls his body and mind citta through ascetic means.

In one context, brahmacharya is the first of four ashrama (age-based stages) of a human life, with grihastha (householder), vanaprastha (forest dweller), and sannyasa (renunciation) being the other three asramas. The brahmacharya (bachelor student) stage of life – from childhood up to twenty-five years of age – was focused on education and included the practice of celibacy. In this context, it connotes chastity during the student stage of life for the purposes of learning from a guru (teacher), and during later stages of life for the purposes of attaining spiritual liberation (Sanskrit: moksha).

In the Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist monastic traditions, brahmacharya implies, among other things, the mandatory renunciation of sex and marriage. It is considered necessary for a monk's spiritual practice. Western notions of the religious life as practiced in monastic settings mirror these characteristics.

Etymology

The word Шаблон:Transliteration stems from two Sanskrit roots:

1. Шаблон:Transliteration (Devanagari: Шаблон:Lang) meaning one's own Self, ultimate unchanging reality, absolute consciousness, much discussed in the Upanishads. Brahma is also the Vedic God of creation, no different from the Self or Шаблон:Transliteration. (Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang)—"The Self of mine is that Brahma")
2. Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang), which means activity, behaviour, conduct.

Hence, Шаблон:Transliteration roughly means "to stay true to one's Self or one own Шаблон:Transliteration" or "on the path of Шаблон:Transliteration".

In ancient and medieval era Indian texts, the term Шаблон:Transliteration is a concept with a more complex meaning, indicating a lifestyle conducive to the pursuit of sacred knowledge and spiritual liberation. Шаблон:Transliteration is a means, not an end. It usually includes cleanliness, Шаблон:Transliteration, simple living, studies, meditation, and voluntary restraints on certain foods (eating only Sattvic food), intoxicants, and on sexual behavior (both sex and masturbation, in some schools of thought).

As a virtue

Шаблон:Transliteration is traditionally regarded as one of the five Шаблон:Transliteration in Yoga, as declared in verse 2.30 of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. It is a form of self-restraint regarded as a virtue, and an observance recommended in a manner that depends on an individual's context. For a married practitioner, it means marital fidelity (not cheating on one's spouse); for a single person, it means celibacy. Shandilya Upanishad includes Шаблон:Transliteration as one of ten Шаблон:Transliteration in Chapter 1, defining it as "refraining from sexual intercourse in all places and in all states in mind, speech, or body" while Linga Purana in chapter 1.8 states that in case of householders, indulgence in sexual intercourse with their own wives and abstention from it with other women mentally, physically and verbally should be understood as brahmacharya as well.

Patanjali in verse 2.38 states that the virtue of brahmacharya leads to the profit of Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang). This Sanskrit word, Шаблон:Transliteration, has been variously translated as virility and, by Vyasa, as strength and capacity. Vyasa explains that this virtue promotes other good qualities. Other ancient and medieval era texts of Hinduism describe the fruits of this virtue differently. For example, Pada Chandrika, Raja Marttanda, Sutrartha Bodhini, Mani Prabha, and Yoga Sudhakara each state that Шаблон:Transliteration must be understood as the voluntary restraint of power. Chandogya Upanishad in verses of chapter 8.5 extols Шаблон:Transliteration as a sacrament and sacrifice which, once perfected, leads to realization of the Self ([[Ātman (Hinduism)|Шаблон:Transliteration]]), and thereafter becomes the habit of experiencing the Self in others and everything. Tattva Vaisharadi and Yoga Sarasangraha assert that Шаблон:Transliteration leads to an increase in Шаблон:Transliteration (power of knowledge) and Шаблон:Transliteration (power of action).

The great epic Mahabharata describes the objective of Шаблон:Transliteration as knowledge of Brahman (Book Five, Udyoga Parva, the Book of Effort). Шаблон:Transliteration leads one to union with the Supreme Self (Chapter 43). By subduing desire, the practice of self-restraint enables the student to learn, pay attention in thought, word, and deed to the Шаблон:Transliteration (teacher), and discover the truth embodied in the Vedas and Upanishads. According to the epic, the practice of studying and learning requires the "aid of time," as well as personal effort, ability, discussion, and practice, all of which are helped by virtue of Шаблон:Transliteration. A Шаблон:Transliteration should do useful work, and the earnings he obtains should be given away as Шаблон:Transliteration ("fee," "gift of thanks") to the guru. The epic declares that Шаблон:Transliteration is one of twelve virtues, an essential part of Шаблон:Transliteration in yoga and the path of perfecting perseverance and the pursuit of knowledge.

In Jainism

Jain Flag Photo

Green colour in the Jain flag stands for Шаблон:TransliterationШаблон:Sfn

Шаблон:Transliteration is one of the five major vows prescribed for the Шаблон:Transliteration (layman) and for ascetics in Jainism. For those Jains who adopt the path of monks, celibacy in action, words, and thoughts is expected. For lay Jains who are married, the virtue of Шаблон:Transliteration requires remaining sexually faithful to one's chosen partner. For lay Jains who are unmarried, chaste living requires Jains to avoid sex before marriage. Шаблон:Transliteration (Supreme Celibacy) is one of the ten excellencies of a Jain monk.Шаблон:Sfn Шаблон:Transliteration is mentioned as one of the Шаблон:Transliteration (ten virtues) in ancient Jain texts like Tattvartha Sutra, Sarvārthasiddhi and Puruşārthasiddhyupāya.Шаблон:Sfn

Among Sramanic traditions

Among the Sramanic traditions (Buddhism, Jainism, Ājīvika, and Charvaka schoolsШаблон:Citation needed), Шаблон:Transliteration is the term used for a self-imposed practice of celibacy that is generally considered a prerequisite for spiritual practice. The fourth of the five great vows of Jain monks, for example, is the vow of celibacy, which in this case means total abstinence from the sensual pleasure of all five senses, including the avoidance of sexual thoughts and desires. The yogin who is firmly grounded in the virtue of Шаблон:Transliteration is said to gain great vitality.

As Asrama stage of life

Шаблон:Transliteration in Hinduism literally means "conduct consistent with Brahman" or "on the path of Brahman".

Historically Шаблон:Transliteration referred to a stage of life (Шаблон:Transliteration) within the Vedic ashram system. Ancient Hindu culture divided the human lifespan into four stages: Шаблон:Transliteration, Шаблон:Transliteration, Шаблон:Transliteration, and Шаблон:Transliteration. Шаблон:Transliteration occupies the first 20–25 years of life, roughly corresponding to adolescence. Upon the child's Шаблон:Transliteration, the young person would begin a life of study in the Gurukula (the household of the Guru) dedicated to learning all aspects of Шаблон:Transliteration that is the "principles of righteous living". Шаблон:Transliteration comprised personal responsibilities towards himself, family, society, humanity, and God which included the environment, earth, and nature. This educational period started when the child was five to eight years old and lasted until the age of 14 to 20 years. During this stage of life, the traditional vedic sciences and various Шаблон:Transliteration are studied along with the religious texts contained within the Vedas and Upanishads. This stage of life was characterized by the practice of celibacy. Шаблон:Repetition section In one context, Шаблон:Transliteration is the first of four Шаблон:Transliteration (age-based stages) of a human life, with Шаблон:Transliteration (householder), Шаблон:Transliteration (forest dweller), and Шаблон:Transliteration (renunciation) being the other three Шаблон:Transliteration. The Шаблон:Transliteration (bachelor student) stage of life – from childhood up to twenty-five years of age – was focused on education and included the practice of celibacy. In this context, it connotes chastity during the student stage of life for the purposes of learning from a Шаблон:Transliteration (teacher), and during later stages of life for the purposes of attaining spiritual liberation (Sanskrit: Шаблон:Transliteration).

Naradaparivrajaka Upanishad suggests that the Шаблон:Transliteration (student) stage of life should extend from the age a child is ready to receive teachings from a Шаблон:Transliteration, and continue for a period of twelve years.

Graduation from the Шаблон:Transliteration stage of life was marked by the Шаблон:Transliteration ceremony. The graduate was then ready to either start the Шаблон:Transliteration (householder) stage of life, or wait, or pursue a life of Шаблон:Transliteration and solitude like Rishis in the forest. Vyasa in Chapter 234 of Shanti Parva in the Mahabharata praises Шаблон:Transliteration as an important stage of life necessary for learning, then adds that the Шаблон:Transliteration stage is the root of society and important to an individual's success.

Brahmacharya for girls

The Vedas and Upanishads do not restrict the student stage of life to males. Atharva Veda, for example, states

No age restrictions

Gonda states that there were no age restrictions for the start of Шаблон:Transliteration in ancient India. Not only young men, but older people resorted to the student stage of life, and sought teachers who were authoritative in certain subjects. The Chandogya Upanishad, in Section 5.11, describes "wealthy and learned householders" becoming Шаблон:Transliteration (students) with Rishi Kaikeya, to gain knowledge about Atman (inner Self) and Brahman (Ultimate Reality).

Historical references to Шаблон:Transliteration

The Vedas discuss Шаблон:Transliteration, both in the context of lifestyle and stage of one's life. Rig Veda, for example, in Book 10, Chapter 136, mentions knowledge seekers as those Шаблон:Transliteration (long-haired) and with soil-colored clothes (yellow, orange, saffron) engaged in the affairs of Шаблон:Transliteration (mind, meditation). Rig Veda, however, refers to these people as Шаблон:Transliteration and Шаблон:Transliteration. The Atharva Veda, completed by about Шаблон:BCE, has more explicit discussion of Шаблон:Transliteration, in Book XI, Chapter 5. This chapter of Atharva Veda describes Шаблон:Transliteration as that which leads to one's second birth (mind, Self-awareness), with Hymn 11.5.3 painting a symbolic picture that when a teacher accepts a Шаблон:Transliteration, the student becomes his embryo.

The concept and practice of Шаблон:Transliteration is found extensively among the older strata of the Mukhya Upanishads in Hinduism. The Шаблон:BCE text Chandogya Upanishad describes, in Book 8, activities and lifestyle that is Шаблон:Transliteration:

A hymn in another early Upanishad, the Mundaka Upanishad in Book 3, Chapter 1, similarly states,

The Vedas and early Upanishadic texts of Hinduism in their discussion of Шаблон:Transliteration, make no mention of the age of the student at the start of Шаблон:Transliteration, nor any restraint on sexual activity. However, there is a clear general consensus in both specific and various Upanishads (such as the Shandilya Upanishad) as well as Hindu Шаблон:Transliteration (such as the Manusmriti) that the male "student", referred to as the "Шаблон:Transliteration" should abstain from the "release of semen." This rule may or may not apply to the guru. The verses 11.5.4.16 and 11.5.4.17 of the Satpatha Brahamana present two different viewpoints on the sexual activity, of the guru during the Шаблон:Transliteration, i.e., the teacher of the "student Шаблон:Transliteration", one against and one as a choice. Similarly, in verse 11.5.4.18, the Satapatha Brahmana presents contrasting viewpoints on an eating restraint (regarding honey) for the Шаблон:Transliteration student.

Among religious movements

In Indian traditions, a Шаблон:Transliteration is a male and Шаблон:Transliteration a female.

Ashrams and Mathas

Various Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang, hermitage) and Шаблон:Transliteration (Шаблон:Lang, college of ascetics) of various schools of Hinduism call their male and female initiates as Шаблон:Transliteration and Шаблон:Transliteration.

See also

• Шаблон:Annotated link
• Шаблон:Annotated link
• Шаблон:Annotated link
• Шаблон:Annotated link
• Шаблон:Annotated link
• Шаблон:Annotated link
• Шаблон:Annotated link

Sources

• Шаблон:Citation
• Шаблон:Citation

Further reading

• Шаблон:Cite book
• Шаблон:Cite book
• Шаблон:Cite book
• Шаблон:Cite book
• Шаблон:Cite book

External links

• Brahmacharya (online book on Brahmacharya by Panyas Shri Chandrashekhar Vijayji)
• Brahmacharya Hi Jeevan Hain PDF (Hindi)
• Brahmacharya Ki Mahima PDF (Hindi)
• Brahmacharya Ki Shakti By Swami Rama Tirtha PDF (Hindi)
• Nakedness, Nonviolence, and Brahmacharya: Gandhi's Experiments in Celibate Sexuality Vinay Lal (2000), Journal of the History of Sexuality, Vol. 9, No. 1/2, pp. 105–136
• Seminal Truth: A Modern Science of Male Celibacy in North India Joseph S. Alter, Medical Anthropology Quarterly, New Series, Vol. 11, No. 3 (Sep., 1997), pp. 275–298
• Ritual, knowledge, and being: initiation and Veda study in ancient India, Brian Smith (1986), Numen, 33(1): 65–89.
• Renunciation in the Religious Traditions of South Asia Richard Burghart (1983), Man, 18(4): 635–653.
• Brahmacharya – Celibacy and Fidelity Himalayan Academy, Gutenberg Archives
• The Role of Celibacy in the Spiritual Life An interview with Swami Chidananda
• Practice of Brahmacharya by Swami Sivananda
• The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Chapters 5, 6 and 7 discuss Vivekananda's views on Brahmacharya