Healthy living

The objectives and ideals discussed in earlier answers are the correct and final mode of lifestyle which one should aim at achieving if one wants to make the full use of one's abilities in the quest for the purpose of the human birth - Self realization.

Following such a lifestyle is not achieved all of a sudden but gradually and slowly with constant efforts and perseverance in this direction. To those who still have the desire for experiencing the pleasures of 'Samsara' (finite, dualistic world) and feel a lack of tendency towards a life of complete and strict spirituality, they would do well to keep such indulgence with in limits through a restrained and controlled attitude of moderation. This is enabled by keeping in mind the fact that uncontrolled sense indulgence will eventually lead man astray.

As regards to sexual contact within marriage, the method to be employed in getting over the urge for sexual intercourse is to first gradually reduce the frequency of ejaculation and thereby reach the state of complete non-ejaculatory relations. In such a relationship, both man and wife do not climax or reach to the state of an orgasm but stop sexual activity before ejaculation. The tendency to ejaculate or climax is withheld by withholding the breath (kumbhaka) as and when the tendency to ejaculate arises during intercourse. When this technique is perfected, both the man and wife become able to indulge in intercourse without ever ejaculating. Such a relationship is termed 'non-ejaculatory relations'.

After a few months to a year of such a relationship without even a single ejaculation, the person concerned will develop a distaste for ejaculation though still attached to performance of the sexual act. He can then work at getting free of the very need for physical contact through intercourse if his efforts are adequate and if God wills.

This method is much better than a lifestyle of recreational sexuality within marriage which results in loss of the vital fluid indiscriminately and in an uncontrolled manner. Only a small portion of the semen retained this way is converted into Ojas. Some portion will limit itself to betterment of the physical body within certain limits through partial resorption. However, it cannot give benefits beyond a certain limit both in terms of complete removal of physical and astral toxins through working out of karma or real spiritual progress which starts only further to the practice of complete Brahmacharya even within marriage. It can at best only be used as a passing stage but should not become a permanent way of life. The desire for the enjoyment of sexual pleasure will not subside if the sexual act is used for recreation even without ejaculation. As long as the desire for carnal enjoyment is at its high, the desire for spiritual progress leading to self-realization will not blossom. Both these are mutually exclusive. The degree of presence of one limits the degree of presence of the other. This is the law made by the Almighty Lord.

The real Dharma of a man or woman is resorted to only further to the observance of strict and complete Brahmacharya without any sexual thought, word or deed even with one's own spouse and further to channelization of the sexual energy into God-devotion and meditation. The spiritual progress and advancement that one achieves further to such effort is to be experienced and cannot be described in words. The purpose of sexual activity is procreation and not recreation. This is and will always remain the complete truth.

ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)