A person had asked in a mailing list on how to overcome lust. Here is the reply I posted.
You should understand that just like the appendix in the abdomen is a vestigial organ in the body, the sexual urge is a vestigial emotion in the human psyche. It is a remnant of the biological evolutionary past. It is one of the unwanted animal instincts in the human being. Unlike hunger or thirst, it is not a biological necessity.
Just as how a person with high fever suffers from mental delirium and has a skewed perception, or how a person with alcohol in his blood sees things differently, the hormones related to reproduction create a delirium in the mind. This makes the people of the opposite gender look pleasant, their voice sound pleasing, etc. You should understand that this is merely a delirium created in the mind due to the chemical imbalance in the body. With the help of discrimination, this mistake in the perception has to be corrected.
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Dear Gokul,
Luckliy,I have read the article.Indeed,Just 2 days before,i fondly remember some of the Tips from you to maintain Bramcharya.I read the Wonderful article.Again i read it word by word to get deeper meaning and relate with my shift of Identiy.Any mind watcher knows -the reason
why I want to maintain Brahmacharya easily slips with out routine LITTLE practice.After Slip,
the AIM to maintain the Perfect Brahmacharya Increases till the next slip.
Anyway,I perfectly conviced the I can conquer the LUST and Great joy Brahmacharya…even i am in Foreign land.
Dear Gokul,
Luckliy,I have read the article.Indeed,Just 2 days before,i fondly remember some of the Tips from you to maintain Bramcharya.I read the Wonderful article.Again i read it word by word to get deeper meaning and relate with my shift of Identiy.Any mind watcher knows -the reason
why I want to maintain Brahmacharya easily slips with out routine LITTLE practice.After Slip,
the AIM to maintain the Perfect Brahmacharya Increases till the next slip.
Anyway,I perfectly conviced the I can conquer the LUST and Great joy Brahmacharya…even i am in Foreign land.
Kindly excuse (few) spelling errors.
Kindly excuse (few) spelling errors.
I have some problems with the evolutionary concept presented and it implies that man had evolved from animals and this is not yet proven. Very often, a person with jaundice is not aware of the fact that he/she has jaundice. The yellowish discoloration of the normally white colored outermost covering of the eyeball is described as jaundice but it does not change the visual perception of the individual. You have correctly pointed out that appendix may not have much role but its role is not related to appetite or craving for food(or sensual desire).Lust appears to be operating very actively in the lives of many and should be viewed as a driving force and not like the appendix.
I have some problems with the evolutionary concept presented and it implies that man had evolved from animals and this is not yet proven. Very often, a person with jaundice is not aware of the fact that he/she has jaundice. The yellowish discoloration of the normally white colored outermost covering of the eyeball is described as jaundice but it does not change the visual perception of the individual. You have correctly pointed out that appendix may not have much role but its role is not related to appetite or craving for food(or sensual desire).Lust appears to be operating very actively in the lives of many and should be viewed as a driving force and not like the appendix.
Thanks for your points.
Whether it is proven or not that man has evolved from animals, it is clear that there are common characteristics like eating, sleeping, urge to protect one’s physical self, urge to propagate the species, etc. All animal instincts are present in man. It is only the spiritual quest trying to find out “Who am I?” that is extra.
It is true that a person with jaundice does not see things yellow. It is just an example used often.
Lust does operate a vital role in a lot of people. I would consider that as the remnant of human animal instincts. It may play a role in the life people who are not mature. It is not necessary in a mature individual. However food is a biological necessity and is necessary even a person has advanced spiritually.
Thanks for your points.
Whether it is proven or not that man has evolved from animals, it is clear that there are common characteristics like eating, sleeping, urge to protect one’s physical self, urge to propagate the species, etc. All animal instincts are present in man. It is only the spiritual quest trying to find out “Who am I?” that is extra.
It is true that a person with jaundice does not see things yellow. It is just an example used often.
Lust does operate a vital role in a lot of people. I would consider that as the remnant of human animal instincts. It may play a role in the life people who are not mature. It is not necessary in a mature individual. However food is a biological necessity and is necessary even a person has advanced spiritually.
While I totally concur with Gokul on the need to ‘conquer’ lust to be able to progress spiritually, this skill and ability comes with time. That’s why we have the beautiful concept of ‘purushartha’ — artha, kaama, dharma and then, when one is mature enough, moksha. No harm is having moksha as the ultimate goal from the age of 12, but we need to be realistic about how and when to get there. However, we need to be cautious, not to push a nihilistic dislike for the opposite sex down people’s minds…this is not natural. Instead we can promote a life of restraint. To qualify for moksha, we need chitta shuddhi, and for chitta shuddhi, most of us have to engage in karma yoga. Having to and wanting to interact with the opposite sex is inherent in the karma yoga of all non-sannyasis and we may as well recognize this. I find Adi Shankara’s instructions a bit radical and aimed at potential sannyasis and new novice monks. Swami Ranganathananda in one his addresses to the Vivekananda Kendra points out, how the Kendra was a step in the right direction, in that people who do want to be in a married relationship will also have an organisation to practise nishkaama karma for loka sangraha. He further says, too many monks is probably not good for the society, as Buddhism learnt from its earlier days.
While I totally concur with Gokul on the need to ‘conquer’ lust to be able to progress spiritually, this skill and ability comes with time. That’s why we have the beautiful concept of ‘purushartha’ — artha, kaama, dharma and then, when one is mature enough, moksha. No harm is having moksha as the ultimate goal from the age of 12, but we need to be realistic about how and when to get there. However, we need to be cautious, not to push a nihilistic dislike for the opposite sex down people’s minds…this is not natural. Instead we can promote a life of restraint. To qualify for moksha, we need chitta shuddhi, and for chitta shuddhi, most of us have to engage in karma yoga. Having to and wanting to interact with the opposite sex is inherent in the karma yoga of all non-sannyasis and we may as well recognize this. I find Adi Shankara’s instructions a bit radical and aimed at potential sannyasis and new novice monks. Swami Ranganathananda in one his addresses to the Vivekananda Kendra points out, how the Kendra was a step in the right direction, in that people who do want to be in a married relationship will also have an organisation to practise nishkaama karma for loka sangraha. He further says, too many monks is probably not good for the society, as Buddhism learnt from its earlier days.