Brahmacharya: Creating Healthy Boundaries
Many of us are finally settling after the New Year’s hustle and truly preparing for what’s ahead in 2023. Our creative juices are flowing and we’re eager to get started on new - or continue with old - projects we’ve been eyeing for awhile but set aside as some of us hibernated during the cold and short, winter days. This newfound energy is promising yet can lead you back into the same cycles of pushing yourself too much or taking too much for your own good.
Recently, brahmacharya has been translated into celibacy and chastity. However, the fourth of the Yamas encourages its disciples to restrain from life’s temptations and instead focus the energy of creative passion to be directed towards a place of self-awareness, in order to lead them to Brahman. In The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, sutra 2.38 states, “when a yogi is established in divine conduct, great vitality is acquired.”- when we learn to prioritize how and where we use our potential and higher power, we find Brahman, the creator, higher power or God. So when we are constantly distracted or mislead into something or someone that is taking all our energy, brahmacharya sets a strong foundation on how to stay in control and focused on the end goal which we’ll continue to dive into during this deep dive into the 8 Limb Path of Yoga.
“When a yogi is established in divine conduct, great vitality is acquired.” - The Yoga Sutras, 2.38
Naturally, winter is a time to rest and recharge for the upcoming spring renewal, resulting in more productivity. Yet, we push ourselves to work constantly without proper breaks and may not always get to take an actual, well-deserved vacation. Let’s face it, Americans don’t seem to ever stop. The need for more and what’s new has pushed a rather spoiled mindset in younger and older generations alike where everything has to be instant gratification and more or bigger is considered better.
“Brahmachary, on one level, fundamentally means to move from being a compulsive human being to a conscious one.” - Sadhguru
What would happen if we could pause before every action to contemplate whether it would augment or deplete us? Work can be a conduit to increased energy and vitality yet it could also be a complete drain. A relationship can be an expansive channel for heightened life force or it can be an immense weight dragging us down.
“Everything that exceeds the bounds of moderation has an unstable foundation.” - Seneca
We need to become more aware of how our choices impact our daily lives and whether or not they uplift or deplete our vitality. It’s important to recognize times we engage in a depleting pattern and take steps towards a more life-enhancing way of being. Walking the path of moderation takes flexibility and the discipline to adjust our energy management based on each individual situation we encounter.