4👑☸ Cattāri Ariya-saccaṃ 四聖諦
1. The most frequent meaning in the suttas, Brahmacariya refers to The holy life, spiritual life of
☸Dharma taught by the Buddha.
SN 45.39 Brahmacariya is defined as
👑8☸, fruit is 4 stages leading to arahant.
SN 45.40 Brahmacariya goal is destruction of
3am😈🌱.
2. Celibacy, chastity, both physical and mental, i.e. not even having lustful thoughts. Breaches of brahmacariya use physical violation as determinant (see
Vin).
2a.
AN 7.50 Methuna (sex): In this sutta, the Buddha shows how extraordinary and extreme his true definition of the celibacy aspect of brahmacariya is. Not only is a single thought of lust a breach of celibacy, but even any delight in
5kg five strands of sensuality of nonsexual nature is considered a breach.
3. Meanings (1) and (2) are not mutually exclusive. (1) includes (2), in order to culiminate in the 4 stages of awakening.
4. The pre-Buddhist meaning of 'brahmacariya' can be aptly summed up in these two suttas: Buddha describes the spiritual life of ancient Brahmans that would lead to rebirth in the Brahma world.
AN 5.191 Soṇa and
AN 5.192 Doṇa.
Also see the suttas under the 'details' section of
4bv☮️.
Brahma-cariya
living the holy life [of Dharma], celibacy, chastity, living like the God Brahma
PED definition
: Brahmacariya (neuter) [brahma + cariya] a term (not in the strictly Buddhist sense) for observance of vows of holiness, particularly of chastity: good and moral living (brahmaṃ cariyaṃ brahmāṇaṃ vā cariyaṃ = brahmacariyaṃ Pj I 151); especially in Buddhist sense the moral life, holy life, religious life, as way to end suffering, Vin I 12, 19, renouncing the world, study of the Dhamm
All the suttas with 'Brahmacar' in the title
AN 4.25 Brahmacariya: is not lived for deceiving, flattering people... but for releazing dispassion, cessation.
AN 7.50 Methuna (sex): brahmacariya here is referring to celibacy, conversation with brahman on 7 increasingly strict definitions of celibacy and what makes it im-pure (a-parisuddhaṃ).
AN 8.2 Ādibrahmacariyapaññā [Paññā]: eight causes and reasons that lead to acquiring the wisdom fundamental to the brahmacariya spiritual life,
SN 45.37 Brahmañña 1–2, Brahmacariya 1–2 brahmañña (life as a brahmin) defined as
👑8☸, fruit is 4 stages leading to arahant
SN 45.38 Brahmañña 2 brahmañña (life as a brahmin) defined as
👑8☸, goal is destruction of
3am😈🌱
SN 45.39 Brahmacariya 1 defined as
👑8☸, fruit is 4 stages leading to arahant
SN 45.40 Brahmacariya 2 defined as
👑8☸, goal is destruction of
3am😈🌱
SN 55.2 Brahmacariyogadha: The Culmination of the Spiritual Life: 4 things that make one a stream enterer
buddha talks about ancient brahmans compared to brahmans of his time (lax and corrupt by comparison)
AN 5.191 Soṇa
AN 5.192 Doṇa [Doṇabrāhmaṇa]
defn.: celibacy
the state of abstaining from marriage and sexual relations.
What is the difference between celibacy and abstinence?
Although many people use “celibacy” and “abstinence” interchangeably, there is a difference between the two terms. Abstinence usually refers to the decision not to have penetrative sex. ... Celibacy is a vow to remain abstinent over an extended period of time.
defn.: chastity
the state or practice of refraining from extramarital, or especially from all, sexual intercourse.
What is an example of chastity?
The definition of chastity is a quality held by someone pure, modest or celibate. A virgin is an example of chastity. Faithful married couples are examples of chastity. ... The boy's friends laughed at him when he took a chastity pledge and promised to not have sex.
Note that ‘brahmacariya’ goes much farther than ordinary defn. of ‘chastity’ and ‘celibacy’
Not even having a thought of lust is the
EBT definition of brahmacariya, avoiding sex and any kind of physical or mental sexual activity. Ordinary defintions of ‘celibacy’ and ‘chastity’ tend to use physical activity to determine status. EBT buddhism focuses on the mental causes that can preempt physical manisfestations of lust,
kāma 💘💃. (sutta refs?)
Why practice brahma-cariya (celibacy)?
(This reflection by Ajahn Jayasaro is from the book, Stillness Flowing, (pdf) p.82)
The Buddha taught that on the path to enlightenment, sexual desire can, and eventually must, be completely transcended.
To this end, monks undertake an absolute form of celibacy in order to isolate and reveal the impermanent, unsatisfactory and impersonal nature of sexual desire, and thus uproot identification with it. The weight of the Discipline is thrown behind this practice by making intentional emission of semen one of its most serious offences (saṅghādisesa).
If committed, it necessitates a period of penance and rehabilitation that is deeply embarrassing to the transgressor (he has to, for instance, publicly confess his offence to the Sangha on every day of the penance) and inconvenient for the community of monks. Even if he stops short of masturbation, a monk who makes the slightest deliberate attempt to excite himself sexually or physically relieve sexual feelings, commits an offence nonetheless (albeit of a less grave nature).
He is given, therefore, absolutely no choice but to face up to the tension of lust. Until insight arises, a monk must be sustained by patient endurance, wise reflection, calmness of mind and confidence in the value of struggling with such feelings.
references
https://www.reddit.com/r/Buddhism/comments/lg9stx/what_is_the_difference_between_sutta_defn_of/