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Part 1: Importance of Ojas in spiritual Sadhana
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Brahmcharya increases Ojas. Ojas is reflection of vitality of life. Ojas is spiritual energy that is stored up in the mind (Physical aspect in brain is glia matter that nourishes neural networks). By sublime thoughts, meditation, Japa, worship and Pranayama, the sexual energy can be transmuted into Ojas Sakti and stored up in the mind. This energy can be utilised for divine contemplation and spiritual pursuits.
Anger and muscular energy can also be transmuted into Ojas. A man who has a great deal of Ojas in his mind can turn out immense mental work. He is very intelligent. He has a magnetic aura in his face and lustrous eyes. He can influence the people by speaking a few words. A short speech can produce a tremendous impression on the minds of hearers. His speech is thrilling. He has an awe-inspiring personality. Sri Sankara, an Akhanda Brahmachari, worked wonders through his power of Ojas. He did Dig-Vijaya and held controversies and heated debates in different parts of India with the learned scholars through his power of Ojas. A Yogi always directs his attention to the accumulation of this divine energy by unbroken chastity.
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Part 2: Importance of physical aspects of Ojas
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To gain this mental pre-requisite of spiritual life, physical aspects of Ojas needs to be understand. In Ayurveda, Ojas-dhatu (Not mental Ojas तेज) is mentioned as essence of the blood and lymph chyle. The terms are Rasagata Ojas and Raktagata Ojas. Reproductive fluid (Semen), serum, blood are Ojas-carriers. The male and female reproductive elements form the essence of the body as a whole, and the Ojas, which is abundantly found in these protoplasmic cells, is the the purest and most concentrated essence churned out of food. According to Charaka, the muscle of the heart along is chiefly associated with this energetic substance (2 to 3 tablespoons of clear-yellow pericardial fluid are present between two layers, which lubricates the heart’s movements within the sac.) which possesses both cooling and heat-making virtues.
When this pericardial fluid is passed off with the urine, person gradually loses strength, flesh, and healthy glow of face. In Bhavaprakash, Rishi said that health and strength reside latent in the Ojas dhatu as butter lies latent in milk. Activity of heart and development of reproductive fluid is largely dependent on Ojas-dhatu.
It is important to maintain Ojas-dhatu in body. When it is depleted, diabetes like life-style diseases resurfaces. With diabetic conditions, it is difficult to continue spiritual sadhana.
Ojas-dhatu represents vital fluids in our body, including semen, pericardial fluid, glia. Learn to live life in such a way that you can preserve Ojas as much as possible.
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Action items:
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• Do not partake heavy and cooling food
• Do not partake food abounding in acids and salts
• Do not partake carbonated beverages
• Do not over-indulge in sleep, sex and luxuries
• Do not neglect exercise of mind and body
• Do take corrective natural medicines
When these habits are not taken care, extra fat, phlegm and flesh accumulate in body, which interferes with working of Vayu which causes the Ojas to be displaced from its proper place and is pushed to bladders. The diseases is called diabetes. (This is as per Charak)
