The Benefits of Celibacy.

“The human being experiences pain and suffering in equal amounts as his material
enjoyment.”

“The real purpose of procreation is to engender God-conscious children.”

I Corintios 7, 32-40
“I want to free you from preoccupations. The non-married man preoccupies himself with the
things of the Lord, with how to exclusively please Him. The married man worries for the
things of this world, like how to please his wife. His energy is divided. The single woman is
busy with the things of the Lord, to be saintly in body and spirit. The married woman worries
for the things of this world, like how to please her husband.”

“Virginity is a divine gift which should be treasured and protected as a delicate and beautiful
flower.”

Children are products of the consciousness of their parents.

Sexuality, without responsibility or true love, only leads to a desolate, empty life, with much
sadness and anguish.
If we want to be truly happy, we must accept the inevitable fact that love always implies
sacrifice. Sexuality is not just an instrument of pleasure. It is an instrument of life, to bring
forth a God-conscious soul. It is an instrument to continue the good qualities and
characteristics that we should cultivate.

“Love should enliven the continuity of life; but not an empty life without God. It should be a
life oriented to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full of values and spiritual education.”

“Nothing is more dangerous as freedom without responsibility. To recognize and to search for
responsibility is to become mature.”

A life of celibacy is a very beautiful tradition that has descended from the sages since ancient
times. They informed us that sexual power is much more then a reproductive force; though its
main purpose is to engender a new person into this world. Nevertheless, the simple bodily
lust, through a longing for instantaneous enjoyment of the sexual act, makes people waste that
mystical spiritual potency.

We see that in today’s promiscuous world, people are very anxious to enjoy sexual life,
without necessarily considering the responsibilities of their actions. If sexual life brings
suffering to other persons, then it is harmful for spiritual life. Sexual relationships without the
desire for spiritual advancement, by offering the act and result to God, take away a lot of
spiritual and physical power of the persons involved. After sexual intercourse, those who
ignore the mystery of life and the higher purpose of the sexual act, tend to feel failure, defeat
and an emptiness of heart.

Sexuality without responsibility and true love only conduce to sadness, anxiety and
loneliness. If we want to be really happy, we need to accept the fact that love means sacrifice.
Sexuality is not an instrument of cheap pleasure; it is an instrument of life, for a new-borne
soul to have the chance to live in God consciousness. Sexuality is an instrument to preserve
human qualities and cultivate spiritual characteristics of selflessness, care and compassion.
If sexuality takes place only inside marriage, then there is protection against irreligious
behavior. But the sexual act for sense pleasure alone, without consideration for the sacred
wedding vows, will bring grave consequences, like children without parents, sexually-
transmitted diseases, even AIDS, and broken hearts due to being defrauded.

Virginity is the natural way in which God’s laws preserve the chastity of the couple. If
celibacy is conserved until one’s sexual innocence is granted to one’s life-partner then this is a
very high ideal; even though few people at present recognize it as such. But mankind has
suffered too much already for this reason, and for this reason many people are reconsidering
celibacy again, at least until ones wedding.

Complete celibacy, to consecrate one’s whole life to God, is a very personal vocation, and
should never be obligatory. It is a glorious act though; as it is means the dedication of one’s
full energy to God. Those who want to marry should do so, and feel happy with the
responsibility of a family. The desire to be celibate is the natural symptom of a person who
wants to dedicate himself fully to God, to work for humanity and all living entities. When a
person feels like this, then celibacy is a beautiful way of living and serving, as all Sacred
Scriptures of the great world religions have confirmed.

Those who care for the sacred nature of matrimony and the mysticism of sexuality are able to
bring a pure soul into the world. Children are the product of the consciousness of parents at
the time of conception; not only physical features are inherited, but the character as well. This
is a very serious matter. The Scriptures explain that when God incarnates on Earth, He choose
those persons who have dedicated their lives to Him and desire to have a child like Him, or
He himself as their child.

We all want to be successful in life. Successful results in celibacy are to be found in the
brahmacharies, or celibate students, and in grihasta-brahmacharies, or married couples who
regulate sexual activity exclusively for the procreation of children. The latter educate others
via their own example in the service of God; their sex life is not to gratify their senses.

Celibacy is the best way to prepare oneself for dedication and spiritual progress. The finality
of celibacy has to be to serve humanity and God, not to impress others. Celibacy is a heart
offering for God’s pleasure, as God is the truest friend of all living beings. He illuminates the
soul inside the heart and clears the misconceptions of one’s self-identity within the temporary
body. We are not our body, our hair, bones, skin, etc. He demonstrate to the mind and intellect
that the soul, jivatma, is a conscious divine particle, an individual conscious entity with free
will, which is our biggest treasure and gift; because through it one may address and contact
Him.

Srila Guru Maharaj

Translated and interpreted by Gopini devi dasi & Gopananda dasa