Brahmacharya

Brahmacharya is a mental statue. It is undoubtedly helped by abstemiousness in all respects. But diet plays the least part in giving one the necessary mental statue. Not that wrong diet will not hinder progress. What I want to say is that the right diet taken in moderation is not the only thing in the observance of brahmacharya though it is undoubtedly one of the necessary thing. Indulgence of the palate will be the surest sign of a weak mental state which is repugnant to brahmacharya. The sovereign remedy for the observance of brahmacharya is realization that the soul is a part of the Divine and that the Divine resides within us. A heart grasp of this fact induces mental purity and strength. You should therefore read such books as would enable you to grasp the central fact, cultivate such companionship as would constantly make you think of the Divine presence and follow all the directions given about fresh air, hip-baths etc. in my book entitled Self-restraint v. Self-indulgence. And when you are doing all these things regularly and industriously, do not brood over all that happens, but have confidence that success is bound to attain your effort.