Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c8.85

v1.c8.85

of Brahma who take their pleasure in the Truth, ever bridle their senses, and keep wholly continent. Continence that is practised burns up all that is evil, especially in the Brahman, for the Brahman is called a fire" (xiii, 75.35 ff.). Divine in the word's deepest meaning is this virtue, but it is not an easy one. Thus in xii, 214.7 ff. we find: "As to that form of Brahman (the divine Absolute and First Cause, the Ātman) called Chastity, it stands higher than any of the virtues (religious ordinances); through it we come into the highest Being, into the Featureless, the Unconnected, which is taken out of the realm of sound and sensation, which, through the ear is hearing, and through the eye seeing, which as speech proceeds from speaking, and which is without manas. Let a man make the firm resolve of (this Brahman, of) spotless chastity, through the channel of the buddhi. He that lives wholly therein reaches the world of Brahman, he of the moderate life therein reaches the gods, and he that is with knowledge, who only gives himself up to the lesser practice of it, is born again as one that stands out among the Brahmans. Hard indeed is chastity. Hear, then, the way from me. The passion that has kindled and risen let the twice-born one keep under. Let him not give ear to speech of women,¹ nor gaze upon them, when they are unclothed. In some way or other through the sight of them passion may take hold of the weak man. If passion arises in him, then let him undergo mortification.² If he is in great erotic straits,³ then let him put himself in water.