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2           BRAHMACARYA IN KÅÑËA CONSCIOUSNESS

          how to control the senses and subdue the mind; training to be a
          gåhastha, vänaprastha, and sannyäsé. This training is by submission
          to, service to, and friendship to the guru. 7
              In terms of  varëäçrama  principles, the highest standard of
          brahmacarya means the vow not to marry but to observe strict
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          celibacy throughout life. This is called the  båhad-vrata  (“great
          vow”), or naiñöhika-brahmacarya. “Naiñöhika-brahmacäré refers to
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          one who never wastes his semen at any time.” “The word mahä-
          vrata-dharaù indicates a brahmacäré who has never fallen down.” 10
              In Indian society, brahmacarya has often been considered as a
          set of restrictions aimed at upholding good health and moral
          principles, with the ultimate purpose of enjoying civilized sense
          gratification.  Brahmacarya in Kåñëa consciousness, however,
          operates on the dynamic principle of knowledge and renunciation
          fully engaged in the service of God. Çréla Prabhupäda: “One
          practicing  brahmacarya should be completely engaged in the
          service of the Lord and should not in any way associate with
          women.” 11  According to the definition of  brahmacarya given in
          Çrémad-Bhägavatam (7.12.1), an unmarried person who does not
          live in the guru’s äçrama, who has not submitted himself to the
          rigid life of surrender, and is not directly and exclusively engaged
          in the service of his guru, cannot properly claim to be a
          brahmacäré.
              The broader meaning of brahmacarya is, as Çréla Prabhupäda
          would cite, brähme carati iti brahmacarya: “To act on the spiritual
          platform.”

                     THE BENEFITS OF BRAHMACARYA

                       äyus tejo balaà véryaà
                            prajïä çréç ca yaças tathä
                       puëyatä satpriyatvaà ca
                            vardhate brahmacaryayä
              “By the practice of brahmacarya, longevity, luster, strength,
          vigor, knowledge, beauty, fame, piety, and devotion to truth
          increase.” 12
              Practice of  brahmacarya gives good health, inner strength,
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