Why Sex Is Forbidden for a Saint?

[A question by Shri Hrushikesh]

Swami Replied: Sex is not forbidden for saint because the sainthood (Sanyasa Ashrama) comes in the end of the life after gradually travelling through the three previous ashramas, called Bramhacharya, Gruhastha and Vanaprasta. The duty of the saint is to preach correct spiritual knowledge to humanity. The saint shall not reject the sex due to forcible effort. The rejection to sex must come spontaneously due to total diversion to God. Any preacher shall not suppress his sexual activity because sex is also a normal biological need of the body like hunger, thirst and sleep. The preacher should not feel hypocritic in giving impression to the public that he is beyond the sex-need. In such case, let him prove to be beyond hunger, thirst and sleep also! People are giving unnecessary importance to sex and always try to hide it. It need not be hidden, which is depicted even on the walls on the temples. It is just a biological need and also good for extending the humanity. A spiritual preacher need not pose as if he conquered the sex, which is unnecessary for the disciples. The disciples require the preacher to give perfect spiritual knowledge, which will lead them into correct path either in the spiritual life or in worldly life. In the ancient days, the preacher used to go to disciples along with his wife. Legal sex is not sin at all and moreover, it is considered as merit and sacred (dharmaaviruddhah… Gita). Even people fast by force, which is not correct. If the devotee forgoes meals immersed in the subject of God, that is real fasting (Upavaasa). If the devotee forgoes sex immersed in God, that is real bachelorhood. People take lot of tiffins and say that they are fasting! People awake the whole night on Shivratri festival by playing cards and seeing cinemas! If the devotee does not sleep being immersed in the devotion of God, that is the real forgoing sleep (Jaagarana). Sage Vatsayana wrote a book on sex intending it for the sake of legal sex only. But, we see a different angle whenever we hear the name Vatsayana Kamasutra.

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