A Wisdom Archive on Vow of celibacy

celibacy: Complete sexual abstinence. Also the state of a person who has vowed to remain unmarried.
See: brahmachari, brahmacharya.

(See also: Celibacy, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul )

Brahmachari (Sanskrit) A Brahman ascetic; one vowed to celibacy, a monk, virtually, or a religious student.

 
(See also: Brahmachari, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary,  )

Naisthika-brahmacari - one who accepts a life-long vow of celibacy.

 
(See also: Naisthika-brahmacari, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul )

Complete celibacy is the master-key to open the realms of elysian Bliss. The avenue to the abode of Supreme Peace begins from Brahmacharya or purity. Brahmacharya is the vow of celibacy in thought, word and deed, by which one attains Self-realisation or reaches Brahman.
 
From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.
 

Read more here: » Brahmacharya: What Is Brahmacharya?

Breaking Past Life Vows and Pacts
Many of us have had past lives in monastic environments, religious orders, secret sects and so on. Some of us will have made strong vows in the name of God with much emotion and determination, believing that they were right, and perhaps they were for us at that time. A vow made with strong intent carries over into other lifetimes unless a time limit is specified, which is usually not the case. We may have made vows of chastity, celibacy, poverty, silence, suffering, cleanliness, purity, everlasting love or of vengeance against someone who hurt or tricked us. All these prior vows are limitations that can constrict our souls and restrict our freedom.
 

Read more here: » Past Lives: Breaking Past Life Vows and Pacts

 Brahmacharya is the vow of celibacy in thought, word and deed, by which one attains Self-realisation or reaches Brahman. It means control of not only the reproductive Indriya but also control of all senses in thought, word and deed
 
From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.
 

Read more here: » Brahmacharya: Importance of Brahmacharya - Yoga and Sex

Hinduism and Celibacy
Hinduism considers celibacy (brahmacharya) as an important virtue and an essential aspect of spiritual life. In ancient India, students who were engaged in the study of the Vedas and Brahman were exhorted to observe strict celibacy. Since control of desires was considered essential for self realization and sexual desire being the ultimate of all desires, observation of celibacy became an important feature of Hindu spiritualism. The idea that a student of Brahman should be a strict celibate became so ingrained in the mind of people that over a period of time the word Brahmacharya became synonymous more with the idea of celibacy than with that of the study of Brahman.
 

Read more here: » Hinduism and Celibacy: Hindu view on Celibacy

The Five Precepts
Buddhists undertake certain precepts as aids on the path to coming into contact with ultimate reality. Laypeople generally undertake five precepts. The five precepts are:
 
1.    I undertake the precept to refrain from harming living creatures (killing).
2.    I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not freely given (stealing).
3.    I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.
4.    I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech (lying, harsh language, slander, idle chit-chat).
5.    I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness.
 

Read more here: » Buddhism Beliefs: The FivePrecepts