Can You Live a Happy Life Without Sex?

One of the most challenging and confusing matters in today’s life, especially for the youth, is that of sex, sexuality and

celibacy

. We are becoming increasingly conscious about our lifestyle choices and the decision to engage in or abstain from sexual activity has come to gain great prominence. We are becoming more and more aware that this particular decision has a great effect on the nature and quality of our lives, and therefore it is necessary to educate ourselves thoroughly on this matter.
As far as the connection of sex and happiness is concerned, there are multiple views.

In the context of worldly life, sex is often seen as a pleasurable activity, which can temporarily relieve stress and give a sense of satisfaction. From a

spiritual viewpoint

however, it is celibacy that is highly valued as the path to eternal, unshakable bliss. Even amongst various spiritual disciplines, some place much stress on the practice of celibacy as a compulsory component of life, while others, like Akram Vignan, encourage individuals to choose the path of Brahmacharya (celibacy) with right understanding, such that one makes this choice willingly, and not as a result of compulsion. Do you know Akram Vignan can open the door to infinite bliss? Read
In order to understand why celibacy is so revered, we must first understand the meaning of happiness. Now, happiness again can be of two kinds - the worldly happiness, and the eternal, permanent happiness. Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan explains that worldly happiness stems from the fulfillment of our worldly aims. For example, if we study hard for an exam and get good grades, or if we finally go on a holiday we have been saving up for, we feel happy. But does this kind of happiness last? What happens if we fail the next exam, or get robbed on the holiday? That very happiness turns to pain. That is the nature of worldly happiness and sexual gratification belongs to this category.
Eternal happiness on the other hand, is permanent and immutable. It does not depend on external circumstances, and therefore remains immune from the tides of change. Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan explains that such happiness, the eternal bliss, can only be achieved with the realisation of the Self, the knowledge that one is nothing but a pure Soul. And celibacy is a necessary condition for this realisation. As long as one indulges in the sexual act, one cannot hope to realise the true nature of the Self. This is because enjoying sexual activity causes a veil of ignorance to cover the light of the Atma (Pure Soul). This veil pushes us further and further away from the bliss that comes from the knowledge of the Self.

This means that the kind of pleasure or happiness one gets after the sexual act is in reality, both transient (does not last long) and deceptive (the sense of pleasure almost invariably results in some or the other form of pain). Thus, not only can one live happily without sex, freedom from sexual impulse is necessary to experience true, eternal happiness.
But it is very difficult to get rid of the sexual impulse, particularly in this day and age. In any case, one cannot hope to achieve this state all by oneself. Only one who has experienced complete celibacy, can point in the right direction and kindle the lamp of Self-knowledge that would burn away the hindersome sexual impulses. This is where Akram Vignan comes into picture:

In this kaliyug, current era of the time cycle characterized by a progressive decline in spiritual knowledge and moral deterioration, it is very difficult to practice brahmacharya. Our Gnan is the ocean of bliss and therefore one’s practice of brahmacharya is possible. What is the reason for abrahmacharya and sexual indulgence? It is due to the fire of inner restlessness and discontentment. By working all day long constant inner burning restlessness arises. To quench this fire of restlessness and discontent within, one indulges in transient pleasures of sex. Because of this Gnan there is not a problem for you for moksha but if there is brahmacharya along with it, the resultant bliss is boundless and eternal. There is endless bliss of the kind that the world has never experienced before.
However, while difficult, it is not impossible to make efforts towards Brahmacharya. Pujya Dada Bhagwan explains that one must understand and analyse sexuality as it really is. If one were to see all the ways in which it is unpleasant, filthy, one will automatically be repelled from sexual thoughts. By carefully observing one’s mind, speech and actions, one can identify all instances of sexual indulgence and then by doing heartfelt pratikraman (asking for forgiveness), they can wash away any and all forms of sexual desire, and also make sure they do not further sow seeds for abrahmacharya (non-celibacy).
The light of Self-knowledge that kindles during the Gnan-Vidhi makes this observation possible, and the constant guidance of the Gnani thereafter ensures that one does not stray away from the path of celibacy. Thus, with the help of Gnan and under the guidance of the Gnani, one can live a very happy life, free from the torments of sexuality, in the pure, permanent bliss of the Soul.
Read more about celibacy here
By: Dada Bhagwan