Brahmacharya
Brahmacharya, a Sanskrit word meaning celibacy, is often referred to as “Semen Retention" in the modern world. The author uses these terms interchangeably.
The word 'Brahmacharya' is a compound Sanskrit word that can be split as 'Brahmani Charyathey iti'. The word 'Brahman' means the Almighty Lord, while 'Charathi' means to surrender and perform as per His wishes, so as to soon attain self-realization. One who practices the same is called a 'Brahmachari’(Celibate), immaterial of what his marital status is.
The concept of abstinence from sexuality in thought, word, and deed is a by-product of Brahmacharya that helps one achieve this surrender and not Brahmacharya itself.
'Brahmacharya' is a state of body, mind, and consciousness in which a man essentially adopts a state free from sexual thoughts, actions, and attitudes for recreation. It is a state adopted by man to free oneself from the dualities of earthly life and embrace the unipolar state of 'Ananda' or bliss, whose best representation is the Blessed Lord.
In the case of a married householder, sexual activity assumes righteousness when indulged with the following objectives:
1. In producing wanted offspring.
2. In creating a healthy marital bond with newlyweds during the initial period of wedded life.
As a wedded couple progresses in time through their marriage, nature ideally programs them to rely less on sexual activity in maintaining this marital bond and shift to more substantial parameters such as kindness, true love, understanding, companionship, and togetherness.
Thereby, while a single unmarried Brahmachari(Celibate) is required to abstain from all forms of sexuality, a householder or 'Grihasta' is allowed sexual contact only with his wife to produce wanted offspring (procreation and not recreation). A householder wishing to adopt the 'Brahmacharya' mode of life should work towards achieving this state of mind and action in his marriage, whereby he acquires the same benefits a single unmarried true 'Brahmachari' begets in his path of self-realization.