Vedic Marriage is not for Sex (Certainly not for Homosexuality!)
September 18, 2010 by Madhudvisa dasa
Filed under ISKCON
Please do not be worried. Our movement is essentially for spreading this chanting of Hare Krishna world wide. And the main responsibility of my disciples is to follow the four regulative principles and chant 16 rounds without fail. Please worry about that first. (Srila Prabhupada)
Hridayananda dasa Goswami is one of the greatest spiritual authorities in today’s ISKCON. He took the post of author of the “Bhaktivedanta Purports” for the completion of Srimad-Bhagagavatam after Srila Prabhupada left our material vision in 1977. For such a post one must be a pure devotee of Krishna on the topmost platform, a person Bhagavata, otherwise it is not possible to write commentary on the book Bhagavata. If he is not a person Bhagavata then his commentry on the book Bhagavata is useless and worse than that misleading.
Although as devotees we may have many anarthas [unwanted desires] and we may sometimes fall from the proper standard, we have to know what the proper standard is and we have to know if we are not following that standard we are fallen and in such a fallen condition we can not make spiritual advancement nor can we help others make spiritual advancement. We need that much honesty at least. If we are not even chanting our rounds and following the principles we are fallen and we have to recognize it and do everything in our power to recover from our fallen condition.
“For everything you want to learn, you have to take some penance voluntarily, so we have to give up something in the beginning. Just like we advise, “no illicit sex, no intoxication, even up to smoking cigerattes and taking tea.” So for one who is accustomed to these habits, for him to give up immediately these things, it becomes a little painful. Therefore one has to become tolerant, “Never mind, I will have to become free.” Just like to become cured from some disease, we agree to undergo sergical operation although it is very painful, tolerate. Similarly, we have to learn toleration although there will be some pain. That is called titiksavah.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam lecture Nov. 24, 1974)
The way to recover from our fallen condition is to accept the process of saddhana-bhakti, Krishna consciousness, as it has been taught to us by Srila Prabhupada. To begin this process following certain basic regulative principles is necessary. These principles are not optional. If we refuse to follow these principles there is no question of advancing in spiritual life. The four regulative principles are: no illicit sex life [this means sex only in marriage and then only for the purpose of having a Krishna conscious child], no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication. In addition we must agree to chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra daily. Accepting these basic principles is the beginning, they pave the way for our advancement in Krishna consciousness.
“We have to be very cautious in executing our spiritual duties by observing the rules and regulations and regularly chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. If we neglect doing this, we will eventually fall down. We must rise early in the morning, bathe, attend mangal-arati, worship the Deities, chant the Hare Krishna mantra, study the Vedic literatures and follow all the rules prescribed by the acaryas and the spiritual master. If we deviate from this process, we may fall down, even though we may be very highly advanced.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.8 Purport.)
Hridayananda Maharaja’s conclusion is:
“Given the need to balance strict varnashrama with liberal spirituality, I believe that ISKCON should recognize and encourage monogamy among all its members of whatever orientation, and that such recognition and encouragement should take appropriate forms that achieve both purposes: the maintenance of varnashrama and the encouraging of spiritual sincerity.”
He is recommending formal recognition of homosexual relationships and it seems he believes introducing “liberal spirituality” (whatever that means) into ISKCON is important.
“Simply if the standard of our routine work is maintained very nicely, that is if we steadfastly perform our daily program of rising early, cleansing, chanting 16 rounds, holding kirtan wherever we are at least twice daily, reading, worshipping the Deity, going on Sankirtana, like that–if this routine work is always done nicely and never neglected, then our all success is guaranteed in whatever we do. But if this, our regular Krishna consciousness program is allowed to slacken, then everything else we try will fail. That is the simple formula for success.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to Kisora Feb 5, 1972)
Krishna recommends:
“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” (BG 4.34)
To understand these perplexing issues we have to find a pure devotee of Krishna, a self-realized soul, surrender to him and render service to him, then if we inquire from him submissively he can give us real knowledge, because he has seen the truth.
We have Srila Prabhupada, he is certainly a self-realized soul and he has seen the truth, and he has given us perfect guidance on all issues including this one. If we hear from him submissively, surrender to him and render service unto him he will give us real knowledge.
The exact same position Hridayananda has recommended for ISKCON was taken by some Christian churches in the seventies, they were marrying same-sex couples.
“Even the priests have become licentious, and thousands of priests are going to the hospital to cure their drinking habit. They are sanctioning homosexuality. In a Christian newspaper I read about a priest even performing marriage between two men. So outside of this Krishna consciousness movement, I don’t find any group of ideal men. Therefore, if you want to help society, you must learn from us how to train men of ideal character.”
So the business of ISKCON is to train men of ideal character. Not to accept members who are engaging in illicit sex and are not prepared to even try to give it up…
“It is not my opinion–it is the verdict of the sastra[scripture]. Opinion–what is the value of opinion when the people are like dogs and asses? What is the use of taking the opinion of an ass? This vox populi–taking the opinion of the public–is degrading modern society. If the public is composed of drunkards, smokers, meat eaters, gamblers, and woman hunters, then what is the value of their opinion? Why take the opinion of fourth-class men? What Krishna says–that is the standard. Krishna is the supreme, and His version is final. No other opinion is allowed. When I introduced the principle “No illicit sex life,” I didn’t ask for opinions–”It must be done.”
“You are working with the public, and we are also working with the same people. We take the same people–those addicted to drinking, addicted to prostitution, addicted to meat eating—and we make them into saintly persons. So our method is practical. You can see what their previous history was, and what they are now. You must train up one class of men like them—men of ideal character.
“Our program is not vox populi. We are saying only what the authoritative scriptures say. If you actually want to do social welfare, then you must take to the standard formula as given in the scriptures. In the Bhagavad-gita Krishna explains how one can become peaceful–a first-class man. But if you don’t accept His authority–if you’d rather follow public opinion–you will never be successful. You want to make a peaceful society, but you do not know how. Therefore you must adopt this process of Krishna consciousness. If anyone–even a madman–agrees to follow our principles, then he can become peaceful. He can become a first-class man.
“In the sky there are so many stars, but there is only one moon. In terms of percentage, the moon is nothing. But in terms of its value, the moon is far more important than all the stars combined. So in our Krishna consciousness movement, our aim is to educate a few men of ideal character. If you and other leaders of society support this movement, you will be performing the highest social welfare. (Srila Prabhupada conversation with social worker, May 1975)
The purpose of Krishna conscious marriage is NOT to satisfy lust. If a man and a woman marry in Krishna consciousness that does not give them any facility for illicit sex. Sex is only for the purpose of bringing nice Krishna conscious children into the world. So a grhastha couple is permitted to have sex only for this purpose. So marriage in Krishna consciousness is NOT a facility for engaging in illicit sex in any way, shape or form.
“Generally the girls desire a good husband and a good home, children, that is their natural propensity, so we want to show some ideal householders also. But the proposal that marriage will solve the question of lust, is not practical. Neither wife should be accepted as a machine for satisfying our lust. The marriage tie should be taken as very sacred. One who marries for subduing lust is mistaken. Because lust cannot be satisfied simply by indulging in sense gratification. It is compared to trying to extinguish a fire with a large amount of petrol. For the time being the fire may appear to be extinguished by pouring a large quantity of petrol, but petrol is so dangerous that at any time, it can be in flame. So to subdue lust is a different process. Then you will have to take to Deity worship. I am sending herewith one copy of the process of Deity worship. Krishna is Madan Mohan. You have already stated in your letter, it is very nice, that you would much prefer to channel all your desires to Krishna, and you ask me how it is possible when enveloped in maya, seeing only material forms. You have also written to say that if you can see the Absolute Beauty which is all-attractive, then you could not help but be attracted and would scorn mundane beauty. This is the actual remedy. So you may take immediately to the Arcana, the Deity worship. Kirtanananda Maharaja has also begun Deity worship in New Vrindavan and Pradyumna knows how he is doing and similarly, in New York, Brahmananda is now engaged in Deity worship. The process is a little difficult in the beginning, but once habituated, it is not at all difficult. So apart from the marriage proposal, you may immediately take to Deity worship. I am sending herewith one copy of the process of Deity worship, compiled by Brahmananda, that will help you and Pradyumna also knows, so combined together you immediately begin Deity worship as Kirtananda and Brahmananda are doing, and I am sure this process, helped by your regular chanting, will kill Mr. Lust, rest assured. Of course, when you begin, I am at your service always, and give you suggestions and ways and means to make progress in the Deity worship, but you can immediately adopt this principle.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to Hayagriva October 7, 1968)
So we find Srila Prabhupada’s advice and Hridayananda’s advice apprear to be radically different. Maharaja seems to be suggesting that “devotees” may continue to engage in illicit sexual activities, but with only one person, and in this way they will gradually advance in Krishna consciousness. His advice is to continue to feed the lust with a limited amount of illicit sex and hope it will gradually go away. In reality lust will not go away by this process at all. As Srila Prabhupada has so graphically described this is like pouring a large amount of gasoline on to a fire to try and extinguish it.
Maharaja’s advice may appear very nice to many “devotees” who don’t want to follow the regulative principles and still want some standing as devotees in Krishna consciousness. The apparent purport of his statement is everyone, heterosexual and homosexual, may continue with illicit sex but with only one person and in this way they will make gradual advancement in Krishna consciousness. This is very dangerous advice indeed. Those who follow his advice will not make advancement in Krishna consciousness at all. The effect of accepting his advice will be devastating on their spiritual lives.
“We don’t want disciples. I never collected disciples. I never compromised that ‘You can do whatever you like, and you become my diciple.’ No. ‘You have to follow the regulative principles.’ This morning I accepted so many… ‘First promise whether you are going to do this. Then I initiate.’ This is my policy. If I would have said, ‘No, you can do whatever you like and give me some money, I shall give you mantra,’ then you would have seen millions. But I accept very selected disciple, not that anyone, everyone comes, and I accept disciple. No. He is first of all trained up for six months. Then, when he is able to promise to follow the regulative principles then I accept. This is stricture. It is not that everyone comes, ‘Give me thirty-five dollars. I give you mantra, and within six months you become God.’ I do not do like that. (Srila Prabhupada conversation May 20, 1975)
The whole basis of the argument of recognizing homosexual marriages is that hetrosexuals have the facility for illicit sex in marriage so why should homosexuals miss out. This is a completely baseless argument. There is no facility for sex life in Krishna consciousness whatsoever except for the purpose of having God-conscious children. So there is no basis for this arguement whatsoever. Krishna conscious marriage is not for sex.
“A Krishna conscious marriage is not based on sense gratification but rather mutual cooperation between husband and wife for making advancement in spiritual life and also for raising Krishna conscious children. It is said in the Vedas that one should not take on the responsibility of parenthood unless he can deliver the child from the repeated cycle of birth, death, disease and old age. So in this way mould your life in the service of the Lord and be happy.” (Srila Prabhupada letter to Babrubahan March 4, 1971)
“Regarding your wish to be married with a Krishna conscious family, that is nice. You will have a nice, fixed-up wife, and you will be happy working hard for Krishna together. I never discourage marriage, providing it is for Krishna’s service and not for simply sex life. It is always meant for a higher purpose. In God’s creation there is male and female even in the spiritual world, and there is purpose for such creation. The purpose is so that male and female may join together, not for sex-life, but to glorify the Lord. From Srimad-Bhagavatam we learn that in Vaikuntha the women are much more beautiful in their figure, smiling, dressing, etc., but the men and women there are so much attracted by the chanting of Hare Krishna that they do not get any sex impulse even by intimate mingling. Here also we sometimes get very good example, because when our nice boys and girls are dancing together in chanting Hare Krishna at least for the time they forget about the sex impulse. This is perfection of life, to be so much attached to Krishna that all insignificant pleasures are utterly forgotten. (Srila Prabhupada letter to Uddhava Feb 18, 1969)
“A devotee, therefore, should execute his devotional services with full energy, endurance, and confidence. He should perform his scheduled duties, he should be pure in heart, and he should serve in association with devotees. All six of these items will lead the devotee to the path of success. One should not be discouraged in the discharge of devotional service. Failures may not be detrimental; they may be the pillars of success. One must have good faith in the regulative principles followed by the self-realized souls, and one should not be doubtful about the ultimate result of such devotional service. Rather one must go on executing his prescribed duties without hesitation, and one should never be influenced by unwanted association.” (Light of the Bhagavata 43)
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Your servant
Madhudvisa dasa
Dear Madhuvisa Dasa,
Sorry I went out town for week. I wasn’t trying to ignore you. Thank you so
much for sending me out some news letter. I really enjoyed reading them
You know I never knew what Dharma meant until now. It was the news letter
you sent on Sunday March 1st. Thanks so much for keeping me informed.
All Glories To You,
Raquel
Jai Prabhupada !
I find it incredible that you can clarify and write so much on any subject, Madhudvisa dasa. I wonder how “GALVA” reacts to this. How can they argue ? They can’t.
P.S. Can you recommend a Manusmriti pdf file i can download ?
Hare Krsna !
Loard Krushna is the Real Hero of the world. Coz of KRUSHNA three questions were came in my mind and my heart after then my spiritual journey was started.
These questions are
WHO I AM?
WHY I AM?
WHERE I AM?
KRUSHNA NAME ONLY MAKE ALL THE PEOPLE HYPNOTISED. SO MANY AUTHOR WROTE ABOUT KRUSHNA AND IN ALL THE BOOKS WE FIND NEW. EVEN KRUSHNA’S EVERY WORD IN GITA WE MEET NEW KRUSHNA.
Excellent write, Prabhu.
One submissive reply,though, there’s room for interpretation on Maharaja Hrydananda’s statement and inferences seem there, yet if “celebacy” were added, aspects of his opinion may be functional.
your servant, ccd
Hare Krishna Prabhu,
PAMHO. AGTSP. Thank you kindly for this. We have to stand up for the truth and it’s very clear what Srila Prabhupada has written. It’s sad that things are degenerating so much. And the root is our following the process Srila Prabhupada has given.
Once again, thank you very much for this.
Your servant,
sakshi-gopal das
Hare Krishna Prabhu jee,
Out of these four regulative principles are: no illicit sex life [this means sex only in marriage and then only for the purpose of having a Krishna conscious child], no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication. In addition we must agree to chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra daily.
Three can be accepted by any true devotee but if he is married its will be very challenging to have sex only for the purpose of having a Krishna conscious child.
Hare Krishna!
Im trying to follow krishna conscious but do not feel that Im progressing enough at the moment Im not chanting enough and not rising early in the mornings Im a little more inspired now after reading some articles on the internet but Im also in a dilema about spiritual life and material life I would look forward to having a wfe in future for female company and regulated sex but now I realise this is material thinking and it should be avoided and I should be more determined towards celibacy
Hare Krishna Lee
At the moment you are a single man so you should practice brahmacary, celebacy. But some time in the future you may get married and have a wife and family. There is nothing wrong with this. If you can avoid it and remain brahmacary that is better, but if you have the desire for a wife and family and that desire remains even though you are seriously practising Krishna consciousness, then it is better to find a nice devotee wife and have a family. Otherwise if you make a false show of renunciation then you will fall down from this some time in the future as we see happening with so many gurus and swamis.
But for the time being you should try seriously from Brahmacary, that is for every young man, even if in the future you may get married. If you have been a strong Brahmacary then there is a much better chance that you will be able to regulate sex in married life. Krishna conscious married life is also a sort of Brahmacary. Because marriage in Krishna consciousness is not for sex. A husband and wife in Krishna consciousness are only permitted to have sex for conceiving a child and then only once in a month at the time that is most likely for the conception to take place.
Marriage in Krishna consciousness is for raising nice God-conscious children and to give protection to the devotee women and to give the devotee men the family life they desire in a Krishna conscious way. It is not about sex and it is not maya.
To progress in the beginning you have to perform austerity. It means that even though you don’t feel like getting out of bed early in the morning you have to decide to do it. You need to convince yourself of the importance of getting out of bed early in the morning [I suggest you try for 3:30 AM, not later than this] and get a loud alarm clock and set it so it rings and get up in the morning when it rings and take bath and start chanting Hare Krishna maha mantra. If you get up at 3:30 you can chant all your 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra and do some reading and have all this done by the time most of the people are still getting up.
It is just a habit you need to train yourself to follow. If you go to bed at 9:00 PM and get up at 3:30 AM that is 6.5 hours, more than enough sleep for anyone.
Without performing some austerity like this you will never really make much tangible advancement or get any real taste for Krishna consciousness. Krishna sees how sincere we are. He knows if we actually want to surrender to Him and serve Him, or if we just want to make a show. And he will reciprocate with us accordingly. So we have to become serious.
But the real thing is we need to approach Krishna through His pure devotee. So don’t try to approach Krishna directly. We need to worship and serve Krishna’s pure devotee, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, because if we please Srila Prabhuapda, Krishna will be pleased. So please make a very determined plan to read all of Srila Prabhupada’s books and try to put the things you hear from Srila Prabhuapda into practice in your day-to-day life. In this way you will very quickly make advancement in spiritual life and you will gradually understand what Krishna wants you do do with your life for Him…
Now you should be determined to practice brahmacary and avoid female association as far as possible. And in the future, as you advance more in Krishna consciousness, you will understand what to do in this regard.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
\
Hare Kridhna,
Thanks for your news letters, I am 59yrs old and lost my wife two and half yrs back due to breast cancer. After that i started looking for a companion in life. But could not suceed into it. Then i started to do Krishna Bhakti. I do daily 16rounds of krihna chants. But still mt mind id not sarisfied by life . I want to join ISCON society to serve the God by living in some Ashram. Can you guide me in this matter.
Hare Krishna,
Girdhar Gurha
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa,
AGTSP
You wrote above: “A husband and wife in Krishna consciousness are only permitted to have sex for conceiving a child and then only once in a month at the time that is most likely for the conception to take place.”
This is very debatable subject and not accurately true.
For anyone close to medical science will know that in MOST cases it takes more frequent sex relations to conceive.
Ovulation in females isnt something that is easy to track every month at the so called “probable day of fertility” . It might be days before or days after the famous “12 to 14 days after the cycle” , and even then it often varies from month to month.
In case of me and my husband for example…We are both healthy and fertile but we didnt get so desired child ( even the sex life was a bit more frequent that one month at a specific day) , till the last year when doctors said we should simply have sex every 48 hours from 8 to 20 day of cycle. In most cases pregnancy occures when last expected and thats interesting phenomen .
And they emphasised psychology factor of stress for conceiving when people have sex with only one in mind – To get pregnant , and how contra-productive it can be. Better effect would is dont stress over conception and simply ENJOY the moment.
In my case , 6 months after practicing the doctors advice and put the dates mostly aside i got pregnant and last month we got a healthy baby boy.
One the most important thing in that boy’s life is that he will have KC to be offered to him as a wonderful life option , but not forced. We all choose for ourself ,so to prematurely say that we have sex ONLY and EXCLUSIVELY to have KC children is a bit too much , for we never know what our kids are going to be after all.
P.S.
Im not here advocating free sex love . Though i personally think there must be a line where someone else can tell you what to in bed (as long as you dont live in bramacari ashram but with your family ) .
The thing is that i am trying to reach the point that there is many devotees couple who desire a child and who desperately want to follow the regulation about their PRIVATE life. They dont need to have medical knowledge, and all they know is maybe what they heard from devotees about how to lead their married life. Very sad is to know that some of them could end up to think that they are barren , that they cant have children , and give up. Believe it or not , those cases exist, for i personally know one couple and im sure they are not the only one . If they only seeked some medical help or consulted a specialist ….
For the end of my post :
Krishna gave us the tools for making children ,and its not something official without intimacy and care ,it should never be like you think of your dinner when you make love to your partner just to avoid to enjoy ..
If we could only learn how to transfer our thoughts like this when hate comes to out mind , not love.
If we only stick up to other things mentioned few times in sastra that are far more important .
Great enough is if we are monogamous and that we have regulated relations within each other only . Better we dont destroy love and intimacy for the sake of learned aversion and official touch in marrieage. its not what ISKCON needs as a society at this time , and some leaders already started to see it already.
ys
Devi dasi
lord krishna is the spoken power,listening power,phisecal and intangival power of woprld krishna is seeing always human works if human do good work aswellas help needy human or animal or tresure of nature then he rewarded in the krishna’s court and prize name is heaven
Dear Devi Dasi Mataji,
Hare Krishna.
AGTSP!
I read your post with interest and feel compelled to write a few words.
Firstly, the decision to practise or not to practise is the decision of the individual. That’s free will. However, the fact or stipulation of the scriptures and the spiritual teachers or acaryas have to be stated clearly for those who wish to live their lives under the directions of such teachers.
What Madhudvisa Prabhu had said regarding the husband and wife in Krishna consciousness are permitted to unite for the purpose of conceiving a child is simply a restatement of the point made in the scripture and given by our founder-acarya, Srila Prabhupada.
Once a month, several days after the start of the menstrual cycle of the wife; chant 50 rounds on that day; for the purpose of getting a Krishna conscious child, etc.
The whole aim is for setting the right consciousness for the living being who will be sent to the womb, and for us to realise that material life is not our natural life and is troublesome.
Of course, giving the child the opportunity to grow in Krishna consciousness as you suggested is excellent, but the nature of the child, that we are inviting to the womb is a science – technically known as garbhadhana samskara..
So, yes.. we have the right to follow or not to follow..but clearly stating the Vedic stipulations should not be taken as a compulsion to others.. those who wish to follow the Vedic culture have the right to know what has been laid down by the Lord and His representative. Our preference to follow or not to follow should not be made as the standard…. it is the lack of education of this that makes people think it’s an impersonal process.. it’s not an impersonal process.. but it’s not based on lust.. it’s based on love for the Lord and His pure devotee..
It’s interesting you mention the advice of doctors because modern medical science is second guessing half of the time. If you ask them about karma, there is hardly a clue. And the process of begetting children is closely related to that..
I hope you would consider these points, if you like; and if not, just ignore this post.
Thank you and warm regards. Congratulations on the birth of your son, and kind regards.
yours in service,
sakshi-gopal das
Tusti d.d.
September 9,2010
What devi dasi said is important. I agree with her. It is difficult for the young devotes to be so strict but still they can be sincere ones in they service to Krishna. But I hope that gradually they will be able to follow this principle. Of corse it is important no doubt but even Srila Prabhupada said that out of four regulative prinsiples most important to chant 16 rounds.
Maintaining an uncompromising standard is just as important as forgiveness and encouragement to assure the spiritual health of a devotee.
After initiation you are bound to follow the guidance of the spiritual master. Srila Prabupada has made it clear that there is nothing wrong with sex, as long as it is to produce god concious children.
I cannot understand why Devi Dasi feels that this is a personal choice after initiation. This is wrong and clearly goes against the promise made in front of the spiritual master at the time of initiation.
Regards. Pari.
If one is not willing or able to follow the orders of the spiritual master, do not become initiated.
If someone is initiated and is unable to maintain their vows, they should exhibit a mood of humility and repentance, and honestly confess ones weakness while striving for purification. One should not exhibit pride and defiance, egotistically demanding that the regulations of spiritual life be loosened to conform to their lapsed spiritual practice. This is known as Dharmasya Glanih. Such “preaching” is very destructive to the society of devotees and is an exhibition of the mode of ignorance.
śruti-smṛti-purāṇādi-
pañcarātra-vidhiṁ vinā
aikāntikī harer bhaktir
utpātāyaiva kalpate
“Devotional service of the Lord that ignores the authorized Vedic literatures like the Upaniṣads, Purāṇas and Nārada-pañcarātra is simply an unnecessary disturbance in society.”
According to Rupa Goswami in NOI 1, upasta vegam (the pushing of the genitals) must be controlled before one can be a spiritual master. It is shocking that so many self appointed spiritual masters online are freely advising others that controlling the genitals is unnecessary.
Here is a quote from Srila Prabupada on Dharmasya Glanih:
Dharma, religious principle… Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā, yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata [Bg. 4.7]. Glāniḥ means polluted. “Wherever there is pollution in the matter of discharging religious principles, I come down.” Tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham. “Then I come down to settle up things.” So Kṛṣṇa came for this purpose, to settle up or to purify dharmasya glāniḥ, pollution in the matter of discharging religious principles. Therefore, as soon as there is pollution, means there is a class of men who have polluted. They are called duṣkṛta, sinful. When there is increase of the number of sinful persons, there must be pollution in the system of religious life. This is the way. If everyone is following religious principle, everyone does not commit any sinful activity, so at that time, there is no chance of pollution in religiousness.
SB lecture 5.24.74 Rome
Hare Krishna…I have a question.
For men, is “intentional emission of semen” wrong if one is a devotee?
Yes. Of course it is. That is illicit sex. It is very bad for a man to loose semen. That means you loose your strength, your intelligence, your determination…
why Srimad Bhagabt Gita is not a subject in our education system fully.
Grihastha Ashram
The Vedic social model is composed of four varnas(occupational divisions based on personal qualities and activities) and fourashrams (progressive life stages of spiritual growth). Within thisvarnashram system, marriage is known as grihastha ashram.
“Srila Vyasadeva was a householder, yet his residential place is called an asrama. An asrama is a place where spiritual culture is always foremost. It does not matter whether the place belongs to a householder or a mendicant. The whole varnasrama system is so designed that each and every status of life is called anasrama. This means that spiritual culture is the common factor for all.”(Srimad Bhagavatam 1.7.2 Bhaktivedanta purport.)
The four purusarthas (human goals) of grihastha ashramare summarised as follows.
Dharma (religious principles).
Artha (economic development).
Kama (sense gratification).
Moksha(liberation)
.
“The four principles of life allow one to live according to religious principles, to earn money according to one’s position in society, to allow the senses to enjoy the sense objects according to regulations, and to progress along the path of liberation from this material attachment.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 4. 22. 34 Bhaktivedanta Purport.)