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		Word	Meaning
1		Brahmacharya	In the 'Vedic' approach, to indicate the regulated flow of the life-span of an individual in a most natural and congenial way, for the common good of both the individual and collective living, four stages were marked out. They are: 'Brahmacharya', 'Grahasthashrama, 'Vanaprasthashrama and 'Sanyasashrama'. Correspondingly these stages pertain to: Childhood-to-Youth-hood, Householder's life, Retire-to-retreat (Into forest) and finally Renounce-the-very life. The substantial part of childhood-to-Youth stage, one lives with a teacher (Guru), as the member of his household (Gurukul) leading a very obedient life serving the teacher and as well learning. During this period the student has to maintain complete chastity, both in mind and body level by being a celibate. When one steps out of the 'Gurukul' with the blessings of 'Guru' into the world, the family and the social tradition demanded the person to play a responsible role of a house-holder. After having reared a family and done his bit to the society, the cultural system encouraged the individual along with the spouse, to methodically withdraw from the worldly pursuit, to the life of meditation and contemplation. If the person makes substantial progress inwardly, the last stage of renunciation is the most appropriate opening before him. The early three stages are marked out to be followed automatically, but pursuing the last stage is left to the individual's initiative, earnestness and steadfastness. The general perception of people, as the most important significance of 'Brahmacharya' is observing a very strict continence. Many traditions have emphasized that complete suppression of sexual urges, is the important prerequisites for undertaking religious-life in search of liberation. Thus, what has to be the outcome as response from a person, due to a profound realization, the tradition has positioned it as the prerequisite for the very realization itself to dawn! Like, 'putting the cart before the horse'! One has to deeply ponder here to grasp, whether renunciation of worldly possessions is the prerequisite for "Realization", OR one of the expressions of a realized person, is, a sense of natural detachment for worldly possessions? 'Brahmacharya, is the inward state of the human being, who has comprehensively seen the falsity of his/her ego and the appended sense of individuality. The delusion of incompleteness and separation has withered away from such a Being. It has come upon FULLNESS, without the aid of any externally stimulating thing or situation. Its 'Purnatva' (Fullness) is absolutely unconditioned and hence fully alive! In such a complete Being, all shades of psychological urges and propensities have become extinct. Its source of joy and delight is in the sense of abiding togetherness with everything else in the Creation. Thus 'Brahmacharya is not a morose and a morbid state of neither suppression nor avoidance. 'Brahman'= 'Fullness', 'Completeness', 'Togetherness' 'Oneness' + 'Achariya' = 'Conduct', 'Conducting oneself', 'Observing'. Thus, the other name for identity free, 'Non-dual Togetherness' with the TOTALITY is 'Brahmacharya! One should not be tempted into indulgence, taking the opposing stand to continence. One should clearly KNOW the way of one's own mind! The undue emphasis on sexual continence became popular in the tradition only due to the coming of monistic order, created to competitively spread a particular religious dogma and cult faith. The undertaking of a monk, demands unfettered life, so as to plunge into the monistic pursuits undistracted. In the ancient Bharat (India), those SEERS ('Rishis') who composed the astounding Upanishads, Vedas, Puranas and Dharma shastras, many of them were householders. Many could also lead their wives in the pursuits of 'Self-Knowledge'. There are also instances, where a wife of a Rishi, instructs and leads her husband in the path of 'Self-Realization'. Thus the true path of spirituality is not a life-denying brittle negation. Life-assertion is the cornerstone of true spirituality. Only the deceptions and the misgivings, which have got gathered due to our hoary ignorance, have to be understood and deeply realized.

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