From jamesjs@unixg.ubc.ca Sun Mar 08 23:37:12 1998
Newsgroups: alt.meditation.shabda
Subject: Ojas: The Power of Chastity
From: jamesjs@unixg.ubc.ca (James Shannon)
Date: 9 Mar 1998 07:37:12 GMT




                      
                       OJAS: THE POWER OF CHASTITY

                                   by

                           Sant Kirpal Singh Ji
                      
                              (1894 - 1974)

                                           
                     The following Q & A session was 
                     given on Jan. 27, 1971 in Rajpur 
                     India, and was published in the 
                     Nov. 1974 issue of Sat Sandesh. 
                     -------------------------------

                                          
[QUESTION]:  While reading yesterday, I came across a brief mention of the 
power of Ojas, but it didn't give much in detail about what it is about.

[MASTER]:  Ojas is the power which helps you rise into the Beyond: that is 
called Ojas. So you will find how necessary is chastity of life. The more 
you have got that Power within you, the more you are healthy; even if it 
exceeds what the body requires, it will help you in the Beyond.
 
   You see, from eat and drink we have some milk-like element, chyle; from
there it arises and comes into the blood. From blood forms the flesh, bones, 
and then the pith of the bones. From the pith of the bones that Power arises. 
Those people who are not chaste, given up to unchastity, they have no hope 
for this Ojas Power. So, Ojas is the Power which helps you to transcend into 
the Beyond. That is why "chastity is Life, sexuality is death." We sometimes 
use words, but we don't know the very basic purpose for which they are there. 
You have read chastity is Life, sexuality is death. Normal way: that's all
right.  Everything which exceeds limits, that goes to spoil, you see. So 
blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. That power helps.  
Those who are always drained out have poor health, no thinking power, not 
are they able to do hard work; they can do nothing. So that is why it said, 
chastity is Life and sexuality is death.
 
   Those who are not married should observe strict celibacy.  Those who are
married should observe according to the scriptures. Scriptures only say to 
marry means taking a companion in life who should be with you in weal or woe 
through your earthly sojourn and both meet God. Help each other. One duty 
may be begetting children - one! Not all! We have considered perhaps it is 
machinery of enjoyment. That is wrong.
 
   Ojas has not been defined anywhere, I tell you. From Ojas you have got 
that power which helps you to go into the Beyond. If you have got no surplus 
of this valuable fluid within you, how can you sit? Now you will see how 
important is chastity. The word "chastity" is used as Life and its opposite 
is death, you see. These things are not explained to us, that's a pity. We 
ourselves do not know. Outward acting and posing won't do, I tell you. So 
that is why I put it in the diary forms even in word, even in thought. Even 
unchaste words and thoughts affect you.
  
   If you observe an average - very simple diet with chastity, you'll be 
blooming. All your tonics, all your outward dietary proteins won't help you. 
Special diets also won't help - that is only temporary. I think with acting 
and posing, you appear to look all right, that is all.
  
    I read an instance in one book while I was a student. In the West it is 
usual that girls seek their own husbands and husbands seek their own 
companions. There was one girl who was ugly looking and nobody wanted to 
marry her. She was disappointed so she left the town and lived in an out-
of-the-way place. Naturally, when one is disappointed, one reverts to God. 
She passed her days in sweet remembrance of God. After a year or so somebody 
came up to her, "I would like to marry you." "What are you talking about? 
I am the ugliest woman in the world." "No, no, no, you're not ugly." "No, 
no, don't joke with me!" She looked in the looking glass and her features 
were changed. So, thoughts are very potent, you see. Chaste thought is a 
blessing. 

    Ojas power is that, as I tell you, which helps you to transcend into 
the Beyond.
 
   [Q]:  Even the power to think depends on Ojas also? Continence of mind,
that also depends on Ojas?
  
   [MASTER]:  You waste your power by thinking. Thoughts result in words 
and in action. That does not affect those who have no inkling whatsoever 
of God. Some diaries, excuse me, are full of chastity failures in deed. 
They take it like a food. This is wrong. I have to give them right 
direction, very politely, "Take more care of that."
  
   [Q]:  But he means that Ojas helps to increase the intellect also, I
think.
  
   [MASTER]:  Well, chastity helps everything. If oil is oozing out of a 
burning lamp, then how long will that go on giving you light? That's 
the foundation on which the building is raised: your physical body, your 
intellect, your everything. There was one Swami Ram Tirath, principal of 
the Government College in Lahore. He said sometimes it so happened the 
very brilliant students failed. Very brilliant students who used to stand 
first in their classes - failed their examinations. When they went into 
it, they found that they lost their vital fluid the night before.
  
   Kabir says, a dog when it indulges in coition; it remains sad for a
month, that affects it one month. What to speak of men who indulge
daily! I need not say these things so openly, but that cuts the very 
roots of the life.
 
   So chastity is Life, you see. I think you will rarely find those who
observe chastity, say even for one month. They think that perhaps it is a
part of their diet, but that is wrong. So chaste, normal life is all right, 
as prescribed by the scriptures. That is why I say married life is no bar
to spirituality if conducted according to the scriptures. When I write
something, I mean something, you see. We simply read it, that's all.
 
   Your chart is with you - self-introspection report - look to that. If
thoughts are right, you lose less. Suppose you lose one grain in thought,
five grains in word, and half a pound in action. Thoughts are very potent. 
These are a necessity to insure your success. You want to go home this 
very birth; all right, have it. You're sure to go. This side you try, 
but the other side you drain out, what is it? You cannot sit. Those who 
say, "We cannot sit, our mind does not allow us," this is all due to 
failure. 

In the great legend of Ramayana, the other side opposing Rama was to fight. 
From that side some man came up to fight. He had observed twelve years of 
strict celibacy, chastity of life. But from Rama's side, Laxman who had 
been chaste all his life was selected to fight. History shows that. I've 
read Napoleon's life. By hearing his name, the whole of Europe trembled. 
What happened when he was caught at the Waterloo Battle? The story goes 
that he had fallen in this failure the night before. What a miracle is the 
life of the great man!
  
   In everyone's life you will find this is the drawback, the biggest
drawback in the majority. Saying is something, but living is something
else.
  
    In India, there were three or four invasions from the West, from Persia 
(Afghanistan). Prithvi Raj stood against them and drove them out. When 
finally he was captured, the reason given for that is the same reason. The 
day following, you are not in your sound thought, you see. You may have a 
boost by your outward drink and this and that thing.
 
   I don't think you've been given this very vivid view on this subject
before. Facts remain like that. You may have a very simple life. From that 
you'll bloom. Your every power will be enhanced. When you have got no light 
for your own, how can you understand the light? Visualizing won't do. And 
these are people initiated by so many, so many masters in the world. This 
is a failure in them too, even the heads. They've got no control over their 
discharges. I never dreamt of this in my life. That helps in goodness when 
you can store in you.
 
   Nature does not spare anybody. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they
shall see God." These are very clear words. When you have got no power of 
Ojas, how can you see God? How can you rise above? It will give a boost to 
have something, then you have to maintain it, you see.
  
    Live in a normal way, not given up to everything. An example is given 
to bring home the things to the people at large: The Lord of Food complained 
to Lord Shiva, "People eat me too much." Then he replied, "Those who eat 
more than really required, you eat them up." Then whatever is not digested, 
that brings disease. If you are eating too much, you are not able to digest 
anything. Those who indulge too much in anything, ultimately they are not 
able to enjoy that. These things eat them up. That is why you know self-
introspection is most necessary, for which we care little, very little. So 
don't spare yourself.
  
   Yes?
  
   [Q]:  When someone overeats, that affects chaste thoughts?
  
   [MASTER]:  Yes. When food is not digested, you are not able to sit for 
meditation.  You're drowsy. So long as your stomach can digest, it is all 
right - for one, two months, a year or so. After that, if you overeat you 
are not able to digest. It means the same thing, that Food and Drink eat 
you up. You are not able to digest it and that food gives no power, no 
strength. How do diseases come up, you see? Whatever food remains undigested 
brings on all diseases. Or overwork.
 
   Three things kill a man - Hurry, worry, and food that is not digested.
You see the very importance of it; it is very good you put that question, 
on Ojas.
  
   Yes?
   
   [Q]:  Is loss of semen during the night strictly a matter of thoughts 
during the day?
 
   [MASTER]:  Surely. When you look into the eyes of others, others affect 
you. Eyes are the windows of the' soul. That is what I was saying to you 
last night. Don't look into the eyes of others, may be one sex or the 
other, you will be affected, weakened. If you have control over yourself 
and you can affect others, that's another thing. In the time of 
discipleship we must be very careful. When you have grown up and you have 
got a sheet anchor, you cannot be affected by others; you'll give life 
to others. Sometimes we say, "Well, Master talks lovingly to everybody." 
He talks lovingly from His soul, you see, not from the body. Others who 
talk very lovingly, talk from the level of the body. Love that arises 
from the body and ends in the soul: that is love. Generally all this love 
which ends in the body is called lust. These things are not differentiated 
in books, I tell you. What is that lust? Lust is love, your love, which 
arises out of the body and ends in the body. By sitting here, by radiation 
you have a boost to go into the beyond; that's Love. That is why that Love 
is called Charity, you see.
  
   Yes?
  
   [Q]:  How strict should we be about associating with other people? 
Even any initiate? We shouldn't make any distinction.
  
   [MASTER}:  Meet socially so far as is necessary. If you have to meet 
in a Satsang or anywhere, you should think of nobody else except God. 
Satsang is only Satsang when no other thought creeps in your mind except 
God. When you are there, you are socially meeting, kissing, that is no 
Satsang.
  
   Once I reported one place, they began to embrace children. I stopped
them. This kind of love will spoil your lives. If glasses are stacked in 
one place, they will strike, clash against each other and be broken, is 
it not so? We are not yet the master of our body, you see. We're dragged 
like anything. So, during the period of discipleship, you must be very 
careful. Even after that, those who are not in full control of themselves,
they also go down. We have to be very careful. When I prescribed the
diary, it really meant something, really.
  
   Now times have changed. Nobody can stay with anybody for a longer
period. They must get something. And they are given, but this should be
maintained by self-introspection. First something is given. (At initiation 
some experience of Light and Sound is given). That goes all right for some 
days, but if your life deteriorates, that leaves - goes away. God is Life, 
Love and Light. You get Life; Chastity is Life. We simply read things; we 
don't go into the bottom of them. God is Life, Love and Light. So our 
very life comes from where? Chastity! These things are not preached, that's 
the pity. They simply tell you to go do this performance, do that 
performance, etc. If your life is really pure, then even one thought will 
help you. Thank God, with all these things you get something through the 
Grace of our Master. But we have to maintain it. Normal life is all right. 
Yes, you wanted to say something?
 
   [Q]:  In regards to thinking, somebody once made a statement: "I think;
therefore I am." But that's not really true, because I am even if I don't 
think. Is that correct?
  
   [MASTER]:  You are a conscious entity and thinking arises from 
consciousness, is it not? How can one who is not conscious think? So that 
is why when you say, "I think," means you are conscious. We generally use 
words and don't go into the bottom of what they represent. We are conscious 
entities. Then, that consciousness works through the level of brain, 
through intellect. Consciousness helps you to think. So that is why it is 
said.  God is all Intellect, all Wisdom, all Love, all Life." So God is 
working, He is all consciousness; you are a drop of the ocean of all 
consciousness. You have got the same power, the same thing in you - Life, 
Light and Love. Once, as President of the World Fellowship of Religions, 
I gave out my address on this very point: Life, Light and Love. People use 
these words but they don't follow what they actually mean.
 
   One who is given up to outward losing of all this power, Ojas, is
never patient, I tell you. That's the outward symbol. Like milk boiling,
he will bubble out, can't control himself. That's the one thing you'll
note. One who is very strong, he considers calmly. This is one thing that 
will come out. You can judge from that, you see. If one becomes wild for 
the time being, cannot control himself, that is a sure sign that he is not 
chaste. He is losing all that power. For the building that has no ground 
underneath, a strong foundation is required. You may then have so many 
stories raised up high on that; but if the ground is weak, then? It will 
fall down. Masters have been giving this example in another way. They say 
the walls which are made of sand, how long will they last? Walls made of 
sand, will they last? How long?
  
    So, chastity of thought, chastity of everything, of all outgoing
faculties - sight, audition, feelings - the word Brahmcharya is used for 
that. Brahmcharya is the way of living to find God. Brahmcharya means 
self-introspection, a means which enables you to find God. The other word 
is "Sadachar," ethical life.
  
    Brahmcharya: "Brahm" means God, and "acharya" means way of living. 
That is not only controlling the semen within you, but controlling all 
your outgoing faculties.  Control your tongue, control your thought; think 
no evil of anybody else. Don't be affected by what you hear from others. 
If others say, "I have seen ... this and that thing," don't believe it.
  
    Yes?
  
    [Q]:  So, chastity is the foremost of all the virtues?
  
    [MASTER]:  Well, it is the foundation of the physical body. The body 
is founded like a building, depending on the strength of the foundation. 
Even thoughts affect the very child in the womb. A mother's thoughts affect 
the child in the womb. Some children are very lusty. That is due to the 
parents. While the child is in the womb we must be quite chaste, calm, 
loving; that will affect the child within the womb. He'll be born like 
that. The reactions of the past, and the reactions of the mother's 
thoughts, both affect and form the child.
  
    This subject is very long, you see.
  
    Something more that will be a help to you: Animals and men, there is a 
vast difference between the two. When an animal becomes pregnant, no male 
animal will touch her. But in man, we are the highest in all creation, 
what do we do? Shameful, is it not? My hint is sufficient. I need not go 
too far into it. We don't observe that.
 
    With any subject, that will be thrashed out, threadbare, to bring home
the truth at the bottom, you see.
  
    [Q]:  Many of the initiates, I'm sure, will be interested in this, 
besides myself: If we had unchaste lives before we were initiated, how 
long does it take, is there a time before we are adjusted?
 
    [MASTER]:  I tell you, if you take poison, that affects you. But take 
no more poison, you see. To fall in sin is manly, but to remain there is 
devilish. You see, that woman who committed adultery was brought to Christ. 
He said, "All right, what do your scriptures say? That such a woman should 
be stoned to death. All right, let her stand there, and you stone her. And 
who shall stone her? Who has not felt guilty of that at heart of hearts?" 
Nobody dared. And he said to her, "All right, go; do no more." Our Master 
Baba Sawan Singh used to say sometimes, when out of the whole gathering 
one would say, "Master, I have committed adultery." "Well, can anyone bear 
the burden of his sin?" Who would dare to say? Then he told him, "All 
right, do no more" just like that.
  
    We should stop somewhere. The poison eaten can be cleaned, you see.
If you stop eating more poison, then it's all right. So there is hope 
for everybody.
 
    [Q]:  Sometimes I have a feeling that I should follow a certain pattern 
of life, like during the day; and I say, "Well, I'm going to meditate this 
much, and, you know, I try and follow everything you say." But I lose touch 
with my desires because I do everything out of habit and I've found that 
if I try and think every moment, "What does my soul want?" that I'm able 
to follow your teachings a lot better because I keep my desire pure.
  
    [MASTER]:  I think I have given reply very straight and you have not 
followed it. The very view stated in your purpose is due to that. If you 
cannot live up to what He says, you have no power within yourself. You're 
losing, you're very loose with that. These things should not be thrown in 
the face. That is due to lack of doing your diary. Like a hard taskmaster, 
don't spare yourself. He within you does not spare even me, I tell you! 
Of course, God bless you. This means that there's a very strong vigilant 
watch to be kept. By mentioning myself, it means that son of man must fall 
down unless he has got some boost above, some sheet anchor within him. I 
am giving you something very true, a very basic thing to which you pay 
little care or nothing. We are already given up to sensual desires, 
enjoyment, in one way or another. So long as we are just stuck fast there, 
how can we rise above it? There should be some discipline. If a doctor
comes to you, you have got fever and he says don't take any solid food, 
you have to live up to it. This is the path of discipleship I am 
explaining to you. You have to be very careful, but if you live up to it 
for a certain time in a particular way that will become your habit. And 
you will live longer for it; in that way it will turn into nature. You 
won't be able to do otherwise. 

So why not make the best use of the habit of the mind, you see? Do one 
thing today, tomorrow, a day, month or so, then? Then naturally you will 
have the trend of the mind to go there. Make your mind a friend, you see. 
"All right, let us do this." When habit is formed, then you're saved. 
Mind has the tendency to bring you back to earth, that's all. And a clod 
of earth which you throw in the air maybe with very much force, that will 
come down to the earth; that's her origin, earth, you see. Candle is 
lit, flame will go up; even up-turned, then it will go up. So long as we 
are bound down to the outgoing faculties, our thoughts, our thinking, 
our consciousness cannot rise. That will become habit. Once we learn how 
to rise above it and have the higher inkling, every day have that bliss, 
naturally mind won't like to come down. We have to work for it. Some 
boost or some capital is given; that is a great concession. But maintain 
it.

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