What does Brahmacharya mean?
Brahma is the Ultimate and charya means “to follow”.
Literally translated, Brahmacharya has been said to be “a lifestyle adopted to enable one to attain the Ultimate Reality”.
A Brahmachari is one who lives Brahmacharya.
- Putting the acquired knowledge into practice does not cost any time !
- It is a change of view. It is a re-orientation.
- A cave in the Himalayas or a cabin in the high mountains is not needed.
The word “Brahmacharya” is Sanskrit. Sanskrit is the language in which the Holy Scriptures in Hinduism and also in Buddhism have been written.
Only who feels the inner urge to exercise brahmacharya in the most concentrated form, can/should go into isolation.
Strawberries!
It is not enough only to search for strawberries. You have to eat them as well !
Or as a Yogi said
«You think we yogis are doing some very high, fantastic, esoteric practice and if only you had the teachings you also could really take off ! Let me tell you, however, that there is nothing I am doing that you have not been taught. The only difference is that I am doing it – and you aren't.»
How to Find the Guru – the Good Teacher?
Brahmacharya also means: to live with the Guru. Thereby one accumulates the Divine virtues.
How to find the Guru?
Well, in one way or other you will meet him.
:-)
Perhaps the Guru will find you instead of you having to find him. ;-)
If “meet the Guru” is written in your karma it will happen. :-))
Where and how does a Guru live ?
Probably neither in an organization (or in a big ashram) nor will he maintain an organization. Holy men do not crowd people around themselves. The fittings and furnishings will be on a practical level. There is (almost) no decoration.
How to recognize the Guru ?
Perhaps the Guru is a “She” and not a “He”, but only a holy man can recognize a holy man. One can also recognize a Guru by his disciples. Look at his disciples and you will understand! One more thing: a Guru is responsible for his disciple – and not the other way round. He does not depend on the disciple’s money. He depends on nothing and anybody.
Maybe he has no disciples at all! This Guru is free of all responsibilities. Seek for this kind of Guru!
Certainly you will recognize him by his knowledge. Believe in knowledge and in the Holy Scriptures. – No blind beliefs in the Guru! In the course of time you will develop a fine sense of discrimination, in the same way as one can learn to recognize the medicinal herbs in a meadow (see table below).
How to get the Guru's knowledge?
She or He will give it voluntarily when the time has come and when you are ready to assimilate it. It will be free of costs. (Paying for admission to a public lecture or for a book is ok.) There will be no initiations, no rites and no degrees.
Salvation (illumination, moksha, nirvana) comes through knowledge and does not come by the presence of a person. Salvation means to listen (or to read), to understand and to live the Good News, brought either by a Guru or by the Holy Scriptures. Salvation lies in your own hands.
Is a Guru needed? – No.
We do not need any Guru nor a Master at all. We do not cling to a person; he will not save us.
But: A Guru ...
- may explain us the holy scriptures.
- We put them into practice.
- And God will have mercy.
| Who | When | What | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shankaracharya | 788 – 820 |
|
|
| Patanjali |
some time between 400 and 200 BC |
The Yoga Sutras | |
| Shivapuri Baba | 1826 – 1963 (137 years) | ||
| Chellappa Swami | ... – 1911 | ||
| Vivekananda | 1863 – 1902 | see download area | |
| Yogaswami | 1872 – 1964 | ||
| Ramakrishna | 1836 – 1886 | ||
| Ramana Maharshi | 1879 – 1950 | ||
| Swami Yogeshwarananda Giri | www.himalayanhermit.com | ||