As a Hindu I am aware of a few religious practices and traditions that attach a great value to Celibacy. It's almost like a celibate person like a monk sees a greater 'truth' and our society over here attaches great value for such 'spiritually uplifted' teachers.

In normal life it is possible that some of us have gone through a period 'without sex' may be due from circumstances like working overseas; a period of mourning; Asian cultural restrictions or from some other situations.

But what we mean by celibacy in this post is by choice or vow ‘in thought, spirit, intents and action’ even if it's for a limited period of time. This is quite different from drifting to absence of sex because we have not met the right woman (or man).

May be rising this topic in a dating site is rather 'naive' (and its okay if some of us are having a belly laugh reading) but my intuition tells me there is much more in this topic. For instance, a prayer appears to be more sincere when we have a mind empty from desires, or something like that. So if any of us have personal experience please share. For all you know, it could be an eye opener.

In my opinion, spirituality is our understanding of the universe and how we are connected to it. In other words, fathoming answers to the three basic questions of mankind...who are we, where do we come from and possibly why do we come here.

Now to search answers to the above questions, I don't think one has to be celibate. On the contrary, suppression of libido could become an obstacle.

People who attempted to know the truth by reaching higher levels of the mind through transcendental meditation may be successful being celibate because being celibate one has no responsibilities towards the family and thus no distractions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celibacy/

Celibacy (from Latin, cælibatus") is the state of voluntarily being unmarried, sexually abstinent, or both, usually for religious reasons.[1][2][3][4] It is often in association with the role of a religious official or devotee.[1] In its narrow sense, the term celibacy is applied only to those for whom the unmarried state is the result of a sacred vow, act of renunciation, or religious conviction.[1][5] In a wider sense, it is commonly understood to only mean abstinence from sexual activity.[1][5]

Celibacy has existed in one form or another throughout history, in virtually all the major religions of the world, and views on it have varied. Ancient Judaism was strongly opposed to celibacy. Similarly, the Romans viewed it as an aberration and legislated fiscal penalties against it, with the sole exception granted to the Vestal Virgins. Christians in the Middle Ages and in particular Catholics believed that celibacy was a prerequisite for religious office (clerical celibacy). Protestantism saw a reversal of this trend in the West and the Eastern Orthodox Church never adopted it. The Islamic attitudes toward celibacy have been complex as well; Muhammad denounced it[citation needed], but some Sufi orders embrace it.

Classical Hindu culture encouraged asceticism and celibacy in the later stages of life, after one has met his societal obligations. Jainism and Buddhism have been influenced by Hinduism in this respect. There were, however, significant cultural differences in the various areas where Buddhism spread, which affected the local attitudes toward celibacy. It was not well received in China, for example, where other religions movements such as Daoism were opposed to it. A somewhat similar situation existed in Japan, where the Shinto tradition also opposed celibacy. In most native African and American Indian religious traditions, celibacy has been viewed negatively as well, although there were exceptions like periodic celibacy practiced by some Mesoamerican warriors.[6]

As a Hindu I am aware of a few religious practices and traditions that attach a great value to Celibacy.

After reading about the 5 major religions of the world. I choose mine.
I came very close to being Zen Buddhist. Which also practices celibacy, that was picked up from Hinduism.
One of my siblings is Buddhist. Each of us chose our own & our parents answered everything they could or brought us books or took us to a library.

by choice or vow ‘in thought, spirit, intents and action’ even if it's for a limited period of time.

Yes..it must be completely voluntary. For the persons own interest or goal.
I have taken a few vows of celibacy. Never did I have a start or end date.

a prayer appears to be more sincere when we have a mind empty from desires, or something like that

Each time I made the decision. There was either something going on, or going wrong in my life. Or I was feeling a void or the absence of the presence of God.


Never: did I regret it.
I am a better, 'enlightened', person for it, with a better understanding of myself & also how small we are in the universe.

Hello Lukinfolov, I understand your point but as our discussions are on celibacy for a limited period of time, somewhat comparable to say what fasting is to prayers, request your indulgence.

I also agree what Sassy has pointed out in one of the references: "..it is preferable for people in their middle years."
So Cb is not for every one.

and thanks Sassy for sharing your experiences. Some phrases used sound like mantras: "..periods of celibacy enhancing prayers.."


and also for giving us an over-view which seems to imply that it does not matter what religion we subscribe to or even whether we understand "Creation"; Cb and prayers together have the greater influence on us. I suppose this would also appear as 'common sense' for the more religious among us.

Now if we are past the thought about Cb as a 'virtue or vice' then I would like to forward to the
"implied co-relations between Cb and emotional states."
Ah, the water gets murkier so if you have the patience..
Reasons for expanding this topic is stated towards end-of- post.

1. Emotional Centers:
When we undertake or slip into Cb a whole baggage of emotions seems to get shrugged off. Emotions like anger, fear and even sorrow seems to appear distant.

Recently, Mr. Malcolm Myatt of England, 68, said, “I no longer feel sadness after suffering a stroke in 2004”.


As we know on brain research, scientists have already mapped out the top layer, the cortex; in zones that specialize in activity skills like math or language although it is not certain that for emotions, believed to reside below the cortex, on the amygdala layer whether we have zones or centers specific to sorrow or anger; although plausible.
(is this correct?)

Yet, from our personal experiences i believe that few of us are capable of multiple emotions at any-one-time. In other words, our mind may be enveloped generally by only one emotion at a time.

And from the article in The Telegraph an interpretation could be that Mr. Myatt is not exactly able to switch off his laughter.
In other words the injured cortex area is not able to filter off his laughter impulses. This leads us to point 2.

2. Emotional Switches:
A hall mark of maturity seems to be slower emotions or impulsive reactions. Perhaps by aging but more likely that we have gained some degree of control including the choice on whether to get emotional at all. It's as if we now have emotional switches that we could turn on and off. (Sassy has mentioned TM which further enhances this sort of control, may be)

3. Emotional Amplifications:
Does amplification happen? By this I mean, there is this religious tradition, where a group of people taking Cb as part of en-mass ritual. This approach may create a church like environment within minds(?) and the holy chants changes tone - from merely mechanical to something more rejuvenating / healing perhaps?

We all have at some time surrendered to music but with hymns, any exhilaration could be viewed as a form of hallucinations or brainwashing; not?

Now for reasons for requesting comments: You see there is an annual tradition in South India where men take vows of celibacy for 40 days; trek over hills to a temple in a forested area. This tradition is now under threat since women's rights activists have demanded access to the temple and matter is now in court.

In fact, I posted a thread earlier and Igor Frankensteen had presented well balanced insights. But I may have erred since the view then was that of a contest between: Equal Rights and Religious Traditions.

As Cb is the dominant theme in this particular tradition I feel that in the din of 'equal rights' the voice of the pilgrim would be lost. If it interests you, the earlier thread is at: http://mingle2.com/topic/466955.

So thanks for reading and welcome your comments. and if you note some flaws - please do not hesitate.