Category:Abstain
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that voluntary abstinence is the foundation of spiritual health and the primary means to cure the diseased condition of material existence. To abstain from sinful life—specifically illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication, and gambling—is not a matter of artificial suppression but a requirement for purifying one's existence. Such abstinence constitutes tapasya, and without it, the mind remains disturbed by the senses and anchored in the bodily conception of life. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that while a student or brahmacārī may observe complete abstinence for a lifetime, even a householder or grhastha must learn to abstain from sense gratification according to the directions of the spiritual master. This restraint allows the practitioner to become dhīra, or undisturbed, and gradually rise to their original spiritual position. Furthermore, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that abstinence must be a practical science; merely abstaining from work or food without spiritual enlightenment does not lead to perfection. Ultimately, by following the basic regulations of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and abstaining from futile material pursuits, the living entity attains the supreme spiritual peace and makes rapid progress toward Godhead.
- The Foundation of Tapasya: To abstain from sex life and other material pleasures is the essential meaning of tapasya, required for those seeking spiritual realization.
- The Regulations of Brahmacarya: True celibacy involves a vow to completely abstain from sex indulgence in work, words, and mind at all times and under all circumstances.
- Curing the Diseased Condition: Abstaining from sinful life is the simple yet necessary knowledge required to cure the soul of the cycle of birth, death, old age, and disease.
- The Training of a Dhīra: Those who have been trained for abstinence in material pleasures become undisturbed by the senses and are considered dhīra men.
- The Role of the Spiritual Master: A disciple must follow the orders of the spiritual master regarding when to engage in or abstain from worldly activities to ensure progress.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Spiritual Progress through Abstaining from Sinful Life.
Subcategories
This category has the following 2 subcategories, out of 2 total.
Pages in category "Abstain"
The following 28 pages are in this category, out of 28 total.
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- A person who actually understands what the rasa-lila is will certainly hate to indulge in mundane sex life. For the realized soul, hearing the Lord's rasa-lila through the proper channel will result in complete abstinence from material sexual pleasure
- Abstain from futile time-wasting debates
- Abstaining from sense gratification
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- If the spiritual master's orders allow a grhastha to engage in sex life at a particular time, then the grhastha may do so; otherwise, if the spiritual master orders against it, the grhastha should abstain
- If we actually want to be cured from this diseased condition of repetition of birth, death, old age and disease, we have to abstain from this sinful life. So it is not difficult. It requires little knowledge
- If we purify our existence simply by following the basic regulations of KC, which involve abstaining from illicit sexual connection, meat-eating, intoxication & gambling, we will gradually rise to attain our spiritual existence, which is completely pure
- In the rules of celibacy written by the great sage Yajnavalkya it is said: "The vow of brahmacarya is meant to help one completely abstain from sex indulgence in work, words and mind-at all times, under all circumstances, and in all places." BG 1972 pur
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- Only students unable to accept such a vow in life (celibacy) were allowed to go home and marry a suitable wife. Otherwise, the student would remain a permanent brahmacari, observing complete abstinence from sex life for his whole life
- Only the Krsna conscious person can attain perfection in yoga practice. Nor can one who artificially abstains from eating, manufacturing his own personal process of fasting, practice yoga. BG 1972 purports
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- Simply follow the regular program of chanting 16 rounds of Hare Krishna Maha-mantra daily and abstain from illicit sex-life, meat-eating, gambling, and intoxication. In this way you will surely make rapid progress in Krishna Consciousness
- Srila Jiva Gosvami has cautioned mundaners to abstain from such conceptions - material body is perfect and deeming oneself a sakhi
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- Tapasa brahmacaryena (SB 6.1.13). Tapasa, to become brahmacari, to become . . . abstaining from sex life, it requires tapasya
- The brahmacaris, or students under the care of a bona fide spiritual master, control the mind by abstaining from sense gratification. BG 1972 purports
- The example is given that a person may apparently abstain from sleep all day, but as long as he is not spiritually enlightened he is actually sleeping
- Then the thread ceremony for the twice-born was inaugurated, as were the rules to be followed for at least one year after acceptance of the Vedas, rules for observing complete abstinence from sex life, and the vocations in terms of Vedic injunctions
- They (control the mind by abstaining from sense gratification) are referred to in this verse (BG 4.26) as sacrificing the hearing process and the senses in the fire of the controlled mind. BG 1972 purports
- Those who have been blessed by the spiritual master and the Supreme Lord can easily see through this foolish concept and abstain from futile, time-wasting debates
- Those who have been trained for abstinence in material pleasures are called dhira, or men undisturbed by the senses
- To have control it is necessary that one be nonviolent and truthful, refrain from stealing, abstain from sex life and possess only that which is absolutely necessary for keeping the body and soul together