Logos 468
It is the sexual act that perpetuates conditioned existence in this material world, which is why God advocates celibacy or continence.
The spiritual world, which represents three quarters of the Lord's energy, extends beyond the material universe. It is especially meant for those who are never to be reborn or return to the material universe.
However, those who remain attached to family life and who do not strictly observe the vows of celibacy, must remain in the material universe.
The greatest benefit that can be conferred on man is to educate him to detach himself from the sexual life, for it is this alone that perpetuates, life after life, the conditioned existence in matter, holding the soul captive in a material body.
A civilization which does not advocate any sexual restriction is to be regarded as degraded, for it creates a climate in which it is impossible for the soul to escape from the prison of the material body. Birth, old age, sickness and death are all part of the material body and are opposed to the very nature of the spirit soul. But as long as the attraction for sense pleasure is nourished, the distinct soul is compelled to perpetuate the cycle of successive deaths and rebirths or reincarnations on behalf of the material body: a mere garment subject to the laws of wear and tear.
Family members and those who have deliberately broken the vow of continence will not have access to the kingdom of immortality. The virtuous heads of families, the fallen spiritualists, may be elevated to the higher planets of the material universe, which is one-fourth of the total manifestation, but again, they will not gain access to the realm of immortality.
Those who have broken their vow of continence are called abrhad-vratas. Those who spend a period of celibacy, continence and study of the sacred texts under the tutelage of a spiritual master are also called brahmacaris, those who have withdrawn from the family circle are called vanaprasthas, and those who have adopted the order of renunciation are called sannyasis; they cannot hope to achieve their ends if they break their vow of continence.
Brahmacaris, vanaprasthas and sannyasis have no desire to be reborn, and therefore should not in any way secretly indulge in the carnal act. The spiritualist who thus lapses may redeem himself by taking another human form in the bosom of a virtuous family, a wise scholar or a wealthy merchant, and thus hope to rise again, but it is better to attain the highest perfection, i.e., immortality, as soon as the human form is obtained; otherwise, the whole mission devolved on man will be a complete failure.