Celibacy and Masturbation || Acharya Prashant, with DU (2022)
Video Information: 22.03.2022, with DU, Greater Noida
Description:
The session addresses a question on celibacy and masturbation, emphasizing that such concerns stem from a lack of engagement with higher pursuits. Acharya Ji explains that trivial issues like masturbation lose significance when one focuses on the "big fight" for truth and liberation. He highlights that Vedanta doesn't impose strict methods but seeks to remove blindfolds, allowing individuals to act freely and correctly. The discussion critiques dependency on rituals or external guidance, urging seekers to embrace personal responsibility and genuine love for truth. True liberation, he notes, demands strength and self-reliance, transcending superficial spiritual practices.
🎧 Listen to Acharya Prashant on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2QmVEAAnsNE7Xs0MW0Li8Y?si=09fbcbc7c99c469b
Video Information: 22.03.2022, with DU, Greater Noida
Description:
The session addresses a question on celibacy and masturbation, emphasizing that such concerns stem from a lack of engagement with higher pursuits. Acharya Ji explains that trivial issues like masturbation lose significance when one focuses on the "big fight" for truth and liberation. He highlights that Vedanta doesn't impose strict methods but seeks to remove blindfolds, allowing individuals to act freely and correctly. The discussion critiques dependency on rituals or external guidance, urging seekers to embrace personal responsibility and genuine love for truth. True liberation, he notes, demands strength and self-reliance, transcending superficial spiritual practices.
🎧 Listen to Acharya Prashant on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2QmVEAAnsNE7Xs0MW0Li8Y?si=09fbcbc7c99c469b
Category
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LearningTranscript
00:00And I used when I started watching your videos I became a brahmachari. What do you mean by brahmachari?
00:05What did you become but I and I was not masturbating. You're not masturbating. Okay, then
00:10and
00:12After I got bored watching your videos, I started masturbating
00:18Sounds ridiculous this answer huh? A spiritual teacher is advocating jealousy. Yes, I am but what should I should I do?
00:25What should I do? So now what should I do? So now what should I do?
00:29What should I do and then someone comes and releases your blindfold and then you're asking what should I do?
00:35What should I do? What should I do?
00:36Now there is the Sun and now there is the light here in your eyes. You still require someone to tell you what to do
00:44That's what neti neti is. I'll be angering a lot of
00:48my
00:49fellow ladies, so
00:51Advance apologies
00:53You
00:58Always talk about so big people like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Swami Vivekananda, Ramakrishna Paramhansji, Shankaracharya Buddha
01:04Now one thing which always tingles like tingles me like you always talk about like I
01:10Like I'm really in love with all like all the stuff which you say
01:13But the thing about here is like when I was exploring these things when I was exploring these things
01:18I like I was kind of high like now
01:20I know this now like now I know about this now that now that and when I came to
01:24Upanishads when I came to Advaita
01:26That's like that was the point when the high was over like now
01:30There's nothing to know like as you said after the Upanishads when you know the stuff about Upanishad
01:34There's actually nothing to know and Upanishads also say that thing and like when I know all like all the stuff at that point
01:40I was a celibate like like not celibate. Sorry. I think that's the wrong word, but I was falling celibacy
01:45I was a brahmacharya as you said like the one who is in love with Brahm who don't have to do anything with the
01:49Body or with the or with the you know
01:52And about the sexual stuff, but he's in love with Brahm
01:55That's why he's not able to get the time and at that time I used to thought like I'm that person
02:00But now as the stuff is over
02:02And and you know I have read this thing and I and if I watch any of your videos I get the same message
02:08Stay unattached and Advaita is true and stuff like that
02:10I get the same message either in this way or that way and this you know makes me fall again into the you know the
02:17Stuff about the masturbation thing and this things give me so much clarity that I'm not
02:23Like I don't have momokshu. I just have a ruchi. I like I just have an interest okay
02:27This is a stuff and you know as a charity says mukti is a great thing to get so why not get it if I can
02:32Get money. I can get cars. I can get Ferrari. I should also have mukti, so that's my interest. That's my ruchi
02:38I'm not able to get the momokshu and
02:40Like that like like we say like the Buddha said I am sitting over here
02:44If I don't get that like the stuff which I'm finding I'll die over here sitting here
02:48I I'm not getting that stuff and for that
02:51I'm seeking your guidance how to follow celibacy again is the meditation that I think to do right now
02:56Is it the right thing to become celibate again like to follow celibacy again?
03:03What is the question what are you saying
03:07And I you when I started watching your videos I became a brahmachari and I watch your what do you mean by that
03:14To answer my questions
03:16What do you mean by brahmachari? What did you become?
03:20Okay. Okay. So the first video of which of like I was your first video which was about Lord Krishna and
03:27From there. I became a brahmachari. What did you mean by that? What were you doing or not doing? I
03:34Was focused on the stuff the mukti moksha and truth, but I and I was not masturbating you're not masturbating
03:42okay, then and
03:45After I got bored watching your videos I started much of it
03:56Like this is the simplest way I can put it out
04:06Like I'm like I'm not talking about a day like if I watched your videos in the morning and in the evening
04:12I masturbate not like that like for a long period of time like for several months you can say even yeah several months
04:17I you know appropriate. I watch your videos from let's say January to October. I
04:22Also read Upanishads. I also read the lecture of money. I did a lot of stuff, but I didn't meditate but I didn't meditate
04:27Okay
04:28But I did everything else like as you said the gyan yog and I like I did many things like I not did but I
04:35Listened many things from you as well as from the other people who teach other Veda
04:41Particularly and after that it was over now. I started masturbating I had time so I masturbated
04:46So now I'm like what comes to my mind is Karthik. You didn't meditate. Maybe that's the fault
04:51You didn't have that thing like we didn't meditate. Maybe that's the fault. So now start meditating and
04:57Again, like is it the right thing to do again? Because I'm not able to you know, it was my interest
05:03I was just not I was not watching web series. I was watching your videos
05:06So
05:10In the duration you are watching the videos
05:13you didn't masturbate then you got bored after a few months and
05:17Then you started masturbating and now you are saying that you want to start with meditation methods. Is that the position?
05:25That is the position. Okay. I
05:29Mean why is it such a big deal first of all, why are we talking about it?
05:36Because
05:38People say that one should not and I'm also feeling like when I do met like
05:43Osho said whatever you're doing do it. Don't you're like you don't need to like these are stuff which comes in my mind when I
05:49You you you you drop all these big names. You tell me on your own. Why are we talking about this thing right now?
05:56There are so many things to talk of. Why are you talking of masturbation?
06:00Because I think that
06:02There are better things to do which I'm not doing like the stuff
06:05You said like as you said that these are the cheap tools
06:08You need to go to the biggest thrill the biggest level of truth where you can get biggest
06:14then the question has to be
06:17the absence of the big
06:20right
06:22not getting
06:24The big thing is not there. So you say you are going for cheap thrills, right?
06:29And you're talking so much of the cheap thrills
06:33Why are you not talking of the absence of the big thing
06:38Maybe because you say that it can't be attained like you can't do anything to attain it. You cannot do anything to
06:45Attain it as you say. Oh, the big thing is not
06:49The big thing is not about attaining the big thing. The big thing is about fighting the stuff that keeps you away from the big
06:58That fight is a very real thing. Hmm and one needs to take that up know
07:06But if I can't get it, why should I fight?
07:08Yes, if you're saying that
07:10Pioneers are sick. I was a serious ninja. That's all that's called love
07:16That's called love you cannot
07:19Ever fully completely have it, but it's still worth the fight
07:24And when you plunge yourself into the fight, then you do not care about these small things
07:33Mark my words. I'm not saying these small things will altogether stop
07:38What I'm saying is that you will not care so much about them that you start raising them as the most important thing in your life
07:47When you are in a discussion like this
07:49To me, it's as good as asking
07:53Sir, I pick my nose once too often
07:58What do I do about it?
08:01Or my hair has a lot of dandruff. What do I do about it?
08:04You pick your nose many times a day
08:08Why should I care?
08:11Hmm there is another organ dangling in your body you play with it two times a day. Why do I care?
08:17What's the big deal the thing is when you are in the in the right endeavor
08:23Then such things stop mattering to you
08:27And I said stop mattering. I didn't say such things stop
08:32They will continue because you have a chimpanzee's body
08:36And we very well know that monkeys do masturbate
08:39There are many species of monkeys
08:42And we very well know that monkeys do masturbate
08:46There are many species who do that
08:49So that's there in your biological self
08:53And it will take quite a while before
08:56you are freed of your biological self till that time you will continue to behave like the monkey and
09:05Masturbating is a part of being the monkey
09:12Are you getting it? So you will stop caring and when you stop caring you often find
09:19that you
09:22Also stop caring to do it
09:27When you
09:29stop
09:30Caring for masturbation as if it's such a huge thing
09:34Then often it happens that you also stop caring to masturbate
09:39Because it's not a big deal when it's not a big deal then it stops being very enchanting
09:46Why do you go towards
09:48That activity of masturbation because there is certain attraction a charm in it, right?
09:56That same charm is making you raise this question. Don't you see?
10:01This question is in sense
10:04Coming from the same point
10:06From the same point your masturbation comes
10:10When you masturbate on your bed or wherever you think masturbation is important. Therefore you masturbate, right?
10:18Right now again, you think masturbation is very important. That's why you're asking this question
10:25You have to take up the big fight in such a complete way that you stop thinking that masturbation is important
10:33When it is no more important then often you find that it is no more important to even do it
10:41still a
10:43bit of it might remain and
10:45Then you shouldn't care much about it
10:48but please do not use my words as
10:52License to indulge in sexual excesses
10:57Right
10:59Give yourself up to the right thing and you will forget all about these cheap titillations and
11:05If some part of that still remains
11:09Do not worry much about it. What can you do? You are a monkey
11:14The monkey has a penis
11:18You are born with it
11:20Huh?
11:22Are you getting it? Remember how much importance can one give to picking his nose?
11:29You
11:34Yes
11:36One last question. Maybe you can answer this together like two last questions. Maybe you can answer these together
11:42I hope I hope that I am audible
11:44Now the first question is as I said, it's about love. You are not in love
11:48That's why you are doing like you're asking about masturbation not about the truth
11:52That's why you even need to meditate to you know
11:55If you are in love that that then that love is even you know, that's what you say
12:00So if someone doesn't have love then what can you do?
12:04Like as you said like from whatever we talk like I'm thinking maybe I don't have love
12:09so now what should I do and the second question is as
12:12Like I'm not like as you talk about big personalities like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Swami Vivekananda
12:17So my question is that that those big personalities suggested some methods like one of them says
12:24To do the bhajan to take God's name and one of them prescribed like the one of like one of them even
12:30You know open up the whole stuff about yoga, bhakti yoga, karma yoga, jnana yoga and this and that everything
12:36So and they all and they also prescribed many methods like do this do this. I'm talking about
12:42Someone and I'm pretty sure that you can know like, you know whom I'm talking about. So
12:48Why don't you talk about those things which they say like as they say chant God's name or they say do meditation like
12:56Someone said I'm taking I'm not taking the name and how can I fall in love if I like if I'm not as you say
13:03Like if because I'm talking about masturbation, that's why I don't have love. I mean like masturbation is more important
13:08What again is the question?
13:12What should I what's what should someone do if he doesn't have love
13:17First thing keep it short
13:22Love is lost in the vast spread of trivia
13:29So keep it short, what can someone do if he doesn't have love suffer
13:36That's a good thing to begin with
13:40Go to people who know love
13:43And in burn in jealousy
13:48You
13:50See what you're missing out on
13:58Sounds ridiculous this answer huh? A spiritual teacher is advocating jealousy. Yes, I am
14:07So what I'm saying is like that sounds good to me because even the so like nowadays the famous spiritual masters also say
14:14That do the satsang be with the people whom you want to be like and the traits will get transferred
14:21Now the traits don't get transferred
14:25Something within you awakens it is within you. It does not come to you via transfer
14:32Love is there in me. Obviously it is there but it is hidden beneath a pile of maybe porn magazines or something
14:40I
14:42Said there, you know modern things nowadays people don't use magazines
14:48And the last question why don't you talk about the other things which great personalities say like chanting was there meditating?
14:54Thank you. I'm like I can like my like if I talk about my mom
14:58She doesn't take as much name as you know, maybe like say let's take a random God
15:03She doesn't take his name or all all these great names you're talking of
15:10Did they consult each other before they said what they did?
15:19Okay
15:21But Swami we okay, but one of them
15:25Consulted their guru and you know, he prescribed to do that or this
15:29Consulting someone is one thing learning some work from someone is one thing
15:35But to take the same path as someone else did is a totally different thing. No
15:44What exactly do you want me to do you want me to tell you the same things that other people have said before me I
15:53Want you to tell something because you are saying anything that you are saying the problem is because of this
15:58And we have to leave this but what should I should I do?
16:02What should I do like after watching each and every video of yours like I I also have some of your courses and even after watching
16:08The course is very effectively very attentively even with a diary and a pen
16:11I write all the things which is there after that still this question comes. Okay. So now what should I do? What should I do?
16:19You are in a jungle
16:25You are stuck
16:28And you have blindfolds on
16:32Hmm and
16:34You are stumbling from here to there
16:39Even the jackals are laughing at you
16:43Nobody even wants to kill you because they are having such a good time just looking at you
16:49Imagine a lion giving out a huge guffaw
16:54And
16:56Then someone comes
17:00And releases your blindfold and then you are asking what should I do? What should I do? What should I do?
17:06Now there is the Sun and now there is the light here in your eyes
17:11You still require someone to tell you what to do. That's what Nitya Nitya is
17:18It removes the blindfolds and
17:21Thereafter it's an insult if you still need to be told what to do
17:30Basically I should I like I can do anything
17:32That's what freedom is all about not that you can do anything
17:36Freedom is about now being able to do the right thing because you can now see
17:44Vedanta does not impose itself upon you. It leaves you free
17:49It does not even ask you to carry
17:53Vedanta with yourself
17:55Vedanta says be liberated and forget everything including Vedanta
18:02Be liberated that's all but you're asking what will I do after liberation?
18:07What will I do after I gain eyesight you decide what you will do? Why should somebody interfere?
18:14Hmm Vedanta is height of liberalism
18:19You decide
18:25But you like to be told you like to be handheld
18:32Some
18:33Heavenly teacher should come and show you the way you see you should dance like this you shave your head and start dancing now
18:40You are happy. I have been given something to do
18:45Somebody comes and says you give up your clothes
18:48And walk around
18:52Hmm like the crow
18:57Growing your way into
19:00Enlightenment
19:02And now you are happy I have been told something to do
19:07Vedanta is for
19:10Real people who do not like to be told what to do
19:14You
19:18We learn this for
19:20strong people
19:23To use a sexist phrase Vedanta is for real men
19:29Hmm and all the other so-called spiritual thrills are for boys
19:37Vedanta is only for the men
19:40Hmm
19:42No, I'll be angering a lot of my fellow ladies so advance apologies
19:52When I say men I
19:55refer to purush
19:58Pure consciousness and that pure consciousness is
20:03Potentially there in women as well. So when I say Vedanta is for men
20:09I've actually said Vedanta is for real men and real women. I
20:16Cringe why do I have to explain every time?
20:19It's as if I'm apologizing
20:22You cannot understand my vocabulary
20:25and I have to
20:28Go on offering an explanation every time
20:31So this is the last time after this I won't
20:36Thank you so much
20:39You