Brahmacharya - Hinduism
Brahmacharya is
celibacy. Celibacy brings you strength, lots of strength. Brahmacharya has a
higher meaning than just celibacy. Brahma means
infinity, charya means moving in infinity.
In another
context, brahmacharya is the virtue of celibacy when unmarried
and fidelity when married. It represents a virtuous lifestyle
that also includes simple living, meditation and other behaviors.
In ancient and
medieval era Indian texts, the term brahmacharya is a concept with a
more complex meaning indicating an overall lifestyle conducive to the pursuit
of sacred knowledge and spiritual liberation. Brahmacharya is a
means, not an end. It usually includes cleanliness, ahimsa, simple living,
studies, meditation, and voluntary restraints on certain foods, intoxicants,
and behaviors (including sexual behavior).
In Indian traditions,
a Brahmachari is a male and Brahmacharini a female.
Brahma Kumaris :
Among Brahma
Kumaris and Prajapita Brahma Kumaris, Brahmacarya is
practised by married couples and householders too, as a way of formalizing
sexual behavior into a conscious, co-creative practice rather than merely an
unconscious habit.
International Society
for Krishna Consciousness :
In ISKCON,
a bhakti sect or devotional movement within Hinduism, a male devotee
is called brahmachari and female devotee brahmacharini. The
unmarried male brahmacharis wear saffron robes, while married male
householders wear white robes. Brahmacharinis wear saris of
any color. The terms brahmachari and brahmacharini are
reserved for those practicing celibacy.
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