Spiritual Code and Restraints

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 36

The next 10 years constituted the third stage known as Vänprasthäshram or the period of retirement. During that period a person used to stay in a place of retirement, where one can calmly pursue attainment of spiritual capability. Association of spouse was not precluded in that endeavor. They, however, used to avoid sensual involvement, because indulgence in such activities is prone to thwart spiritual pursuit. At the end of that period, the people were supposed to lead the rest of their life in total renouncement. That was the last stage known as Sanyastäshram.
While considering the above four fold division of the life span, it should be remembered that the division indicated a mode, not the rule. Nothing is to be taken as hard and fast about it. It was conceivable that Brahmacharyashram could terminate earlier in some cases and the persons would embark upon Gruhasthäshram before attaining the age of 25. Similarly, it is also possible to visualize cases where Brahmacharyashram might be prolonged and the entry to the next stage may take place later.
Moreover, every one was not necessarily required to undergo all those stages one after another. Since celibacy was and is still considered a great virtue and is vital for spiritual pursuit, those capable enough could adopt and even at present go for renunciation straight from the student life. Such people observe celibacy for the entire life and are called Bälbrahmachäri. In India and other South Asian countries there are lots of such people even now and they are highly respected there. There are also some people, who gain detachment during the family life. Thereupon, they renounce their family life and adopt the monastic code. They are then supposed to observe celibacy for the rest of their life.
It would be seen that of those four stages, the period covered by first two stages is most significant. That is the period of growth and performance. Maximum importance is therefore attached to that period in all the civilized societies. Observance of celibacy is necessary and is an acceptable part of life during the first stage. Let us therefore consider the extent to which sexual instinct can be overcome or regulated during the second stage.
We, human beings, (as well as most of other animals, birds etc.) are endowed with five organs, with which we can experience the senses of touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing. We are therefore termed as Panchendriya. There are, however, less developed beings, which are equipped with four, three, two or only one single sense. That single sense happens to be the sense of touch and is possessed by all the living beings.
A cursory glance at our life can indicate that most of the events simply happen of their own. There are various unforeseen forces at work and we do not have control over them. Those forces are termed as Karmas by virtue of which the worldly beings, inclusive of ourselves, have been undergoing the cycle of birth and death since the time immemorial. As such, we must have obtained many different types of life from time to time ranging from one sensed to five sensed beings. But never did we have a life without the sense of touch. Our contact with that sense has thus been very close and continuous.
The cycle of birth and death that we have been undergoing also indicates that we might have so far led a more instinctive type of life and might have stayed attached to various