celibacy

Hello Sural,

Good to know of your interest in celibacy, coming to your query

Q1: Does a slip in celibacy after a month from start bring one back to the same level?
A: Conservation and transmutation of Semen results in a corresponding increase in the 'Prana' or vital energy, the source of all life and greatness. A slip in celibacy does harm to the celibate on the following fronts:

1. It drains the 'Prana' or vital energy that had being conserved. Semen once lost can never be recovered. The body has to again start the production of more semen at the cost of more life energy. To this extent man loses 'Prana' or life energy irreversibly. On a parallel note, his ability, success and greatness will reduce by that extent.

2. A slip in celibacy, re-familiarizes man with the sexual sensation as a source of delusive pleasure. One of the aims of celibacy is to kill the familiarity of the sex-sensation. This purpose gets compromised.

At the physical level, a slip in celibacy is like taking two steps forward and one step backward. Mentally and at the Karmic level (At the level of the causal body) it almost amounts to a reset back to square one.

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa the great saint has said:- " The entire process of raising the Kundalini, by spotless celibacy for a period of two years is lost with one single act of ejaculation. The aspirant has to start all over again".

At the beginning of celibacy, slips do happen. Take an oath to be celibate for ten days, then increase it to fifteen days, then to twenty days and so on. With success in longer and longer periods of celibacy, the tendency to slip reduces. Once three months of absolute celibacy are achieved, the going gets easier. After completion of a year of unbroken Brahmacharya, one gets transferred to a different domain of peace, power, bliss and virtue. Cosmic energies start working in favor of the celibate. The first year of celibacy is fraught with troubles and obstacles as purification at the physical and mental level occurs. With honest efforts and devotion to the lord, success is assured.

Q2: Does longtime celibacy affect fertility?
A:  In reality a true Brahmachari is more potent and virile than the healthiest youth. If he marries and aspires for offspring, the couple can achieve conception with a single act of copulation during the wife's fertile period, if god wills them to have a child. Normal men need to try for many days or months to accomplish this objective. Such is the power and sperm concentration in his semen.

Brahmacharya is not suppression of the sexual force but transmutation. Brahmacharya makes a man get closer to perfection and will never harm the aspirant as long as his practice is correct. Chastity is to be followed in thought, word and deed. Mere physical celibacy with impure thoughts results in repression of the sexual force and will not bear fruits. The myth that Brahmacharya leads to infertility has sprung from people who haven't been true to the practice in thought, word and deed and who might have thus faced physical problems. To sum it up, true celibacy increases fertility!

Q3: How does one face the depression further to a slip?
A: A slip only indicates that our efforts are not up to the mark. It shows we need to strive more honestly, sincerely and in the correct direction with prayer to god for success. Adequate physical, mental activity and  god-meditation on a daily basis are an absolute must if one wishes to break free from slips and wet dreams. We fail due to our own shortcomings, none are to be blamed.

Semen is the net sum of all power and life within man.
The 'Saptah Brahman' - An ancient treatise on Dharma says :-"Semen is brightness, strength and self (Atman or the soul).

When man loses semen he is losing a part of his very self, a part of his very life, being and existence. It is irreversible. The resulting depression is enormous and beyond words. The best way to avoid this depression is not to slip in the first place! However if one does find himself a victim of slip, he should immediately get at the root of what caused the slip and ensure non-recurrence of the cause. Meditating on god with devotion and sincerity, asking him to give strength to win over the senses will help. Also important is to busy oneself with constructive work and build a resolve to stay true to the oath of celibacy.

Finally words from the mouth of none other than the blessed Lord Shiva
as told to Goddess Parvati which should serve as an inspiration for all celibates:-

" Na tapo tapahah ithyaahu Brahmacharyam tapothamam |
Urdhvareto bhaved yasya, sa devo na tu Maanushaha" ||

Meaning:- "There is no penance which equals Brahmacharya. Brahmacharya is the highest and loftiest of all penances |
The Urdhvareta saint who practices Brahmacharya is not a human being but a living god" ||

Trust this helps
May you achieve great success in celibacy
God bless and have a nice day :-)
Dhananjay