Role of Austerities

1. All these hyms, mantras and slokas have spiritual vibrations inbuilt within them which then flood the individual and his surroundings while chanting. The 'Nada' (divine sound) gets activated. All mantras are the result of the Tapas (penance) of the great Rishis and Yogis who came across them during Samadhi Meditation on the Supreme. They contain meanings which are devised to ward away tamas (stupor) and establish sathwic tendencies. So chanting these with devotion and surrender to the Almighty cleanses negative tendencies within and makes the person eligible for pursuing spiritual sadhana more easliy.

The purpose behind  fasting on 'Ekadasi' to ensure that the mind of the normal man which is mostly engrossed in enjoying the pleasures of the senses of sight, smell, taste, sound and touch gets a break from all this sense bombardment and is offered a chance to think and contemplate on the Lord. The stomach is one of the most important tools of turning the mind away from the senses. If put on fast on the day of Ekadasi and turned towards God, the mind automatically reduces its tendency for sense craving. This much is the purpose of Ekadasi and not more. It is an exercise to make the common man offer at least one day towards thinking on God.

However, much fasting or 'Upavasa' in not for Yogis. It leads to weakness and loss of vitality if carried out continuously. Fasting should be taken recourse to for a small duration when one is ill and sick and not otherwise. Yogis who are following the Brahmacharya vrata should not fast unless ill. "Verily, Yoga is not for him who eats too much or who does not eat at all (fasts); nor for him who sleeps too much, or does not sleep at all" -- says Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita. The correct method is to take recourse to limited and moderate, sathwic food and never over-eat.

Meditation on 'OM' while sitting in Padmasana after the practice of Asana, Bandha and Pranayama is a good technique to develop concentration on the Almighty and ward away fickleness. One can silently and mentally chant OM always. This makes it possible to then meditate on the 'Nirguna Brahman'(formless Almighty) easily which is the highest form of meditation on the formless, colorless, invisible, attribute-less Almighty. In this form of meditation, one ultimately thinks of he himself to be no different from the Almighty and merges with HIM.

Those who want to do Japa (repetition of God's name) can chose 'OM', 'Om namo Narayanaya', 'Om namah Sivaya' or Ram Naam. There is only one God and that which is offered with devotion and love reaches him alone, call him by what name you may.

Brahmacharya is the highest of all 'vratas'. One who follows this correctly in thought, word and deed need not follow any other 'vrata'. This is endorsed by Lord Shiva who says:

"Na tapo-tapaha ithyaarhu Brahmacharyam tapothamam..
..Urdhvaretha bhavedyasya, sa devo na tu maanushaha"

-"Brahmacharya alone is the supreme penance. Of course, other penances (such as
prayer and silence etc ...) are good in their place, but they are all inferior to
Brahmacharya. That Urdhvareta saint who has done penance over the restraint of the
mind as regards sexuality by diverting it to the Supreme is not a human-being but a living God."

2. Books are like maps. One cannot know a region by merely memorizing the map. To know the region, one has to personally visit and explore the place for real. Then, what is explained in the map becomes clear. One will no longer need the map after this stage. The same applies to progress in Brahmacharya. After reading spiritual literature, one should apply it in real life, meditate on it and make it a part of one's living. Then one comes to experience what has been described. Mere bookish knowledge is of no use. It is practice of the great truths by meditating on them and leading a life governed by the tenets of Yoga with Bhakthi (devotion) & surrender to God that leads to real progress.

Reading the lives, biographies and works of great saints such as Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi, Trailinga Swami of Varanasi, Shri. Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Yogi Milarepa of Tibet, Shri. Sadashiva Brahmendra of Nerur will prove very useful to those interested in observing absolute Brahmacharya. One can Google search for matter related to these saints on the internet. Guidance from all these great self-realized masters & saints is still available from the cosmos to those who are genuine and serious in their quest for Brahma-Gnyana (knowledge of the Supreme). They guide and lead honest aspirants in the right direction through intuitive suggestions during or sometimes after meditation. This is the truth which I state from my personal experience and with great reverence, respect, humility and love for these Mahatma-s. It is for us to lead a pure life and take the effort to meditate.

Some interesting links which are a must read for all Yogis and Brahmacharis:

http://www.cosmicharmony.com/Av/Milarepa/Milarepa.htm
http://www.krishnamurthys.com/profvk/gohitvip/sadasiva.html
http://www.spiritualbangalore.com/knowledge-center/articles/santa-shreshta-sadas
http://www.shreemaa.org/drupal/node/353
http://www.belurmath.org/gospel/

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