If there's one bit of Gandhi gossip you've heard, it's that the man gave up sex. In The Story of My Experiments with Truth, he fills us in on his practice of brahmacharya, which means conduct leading one to God…and abstaining from sexual behavior.
Lust, he says, gets in the way of everything, including his relationship with his wife. To root it out, you have to not just abstain from sex but learn to control your other senses, too, reining them in instead of indulging them.
Questions About Lust
- What does brahmacharya mean? What plays into it in addition to giving up sex?
- What seems to inspire Gandhi to give up sex? Tell the story of what happens when his father is dying.
- Contrast Gandhi's views on sex, the senses, and the passions with those of the Romantics. What advantages and disadvantages might each perspective offer?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
People should give up sex to get closer to God.
Giving up sex isn't necessary for living an idealistic life.