Brahmacharya
Yama, the First Limb of Ashtanga, Part 4
By Baba Prayag
The next essential principle of Yama is possibly the most misunderstood. Before diving into the meaning behind Brahmacharya, please first consider the literal translation of the word. In Sanskrit, the root word “Brahman” refers to the One True Self, which we all eventually aspire to return to — that (re)union being the real goal of yoga. The second root word, “charya” means action, behavior, or conduct. When you put the two roots together we come up with the definition of “to behave like the One True Self.”
Now we will talk about what Brahmacharya doesn’t mean, and work our way back towards the beginning. Somewhere in our past, this word was translated to mean “continence” which often gets confused with “abstinence,” neither of which are accurate. Today, both words are typically used in reference to sex, with the main difference between them being that abstinence is an act, whereas continence is your ability to choose that act. For deeper understanding, it may be helpful to consider the inverse of continence, which is “incontinence,” meaning the act happens whether we want it to or not.
From here, one might wonder where the meaning of “continence” originated and how it got confused with Brahmacharya in the first place. As with many words in English, continence has its roots in Latin, with the original word being “continentia.” If there is one thing we’ve learned thus far, it is that one word can have several different interpretations depending on who you ask. In this case, we should consider the core meaning behind continentia. Back in the times when this word was in more regular use, it generally referred to the idea that the settlements outside the city walls or gates was considered to be part of the city itself, despite the obvious boundary or separation.
So what is the core meaning? Continentia can be easily understood as “that which is outside is the same as within.” This definition aligns more accurately with the concept of non-duality and the One True Self, where we know that we are not only individual human beings, but also part of the whole of humankind and even the whole of nature and, as we continue to zoom out, the universe beyond that.
Now we are able to return to the beginning, where we consider the meaning of Brahmacharya and how to practice it. Previously we’ve learned about Ahisma (non-harming), Satya (truthfulness), and Asteya (non-stealing), and if you’ve been paying attention, you’ll be able to conclude that with these things being the what, Brahmacharya is the why. You can almost use it as a mantra of sorts:
I practice Ahisma (non-harming) because I am (the One True Self)
I practice Satya (truthfulness) because I am
I practice Asteya (non-stealing) because I am
The reasoning behind this mantra is this — Why would you harm if any and all harm shall befall the whole universe? Why would you be untruthful if you already know all there is to know? Why would you steal if everything belongs to you and everyone else? Brahmacharya asks us to behave as if these things were true.
Hint: they are!
With peace and loving-kindness. Namaste.
