>>14020722
He discusses list within the first 100 pages, and the rest is broadly relevent since it has to do with self-control, overcoming desire etc.
'Practice of Brahmacharya' by Sivananda is also good
Poets have exaggerated the beauty of ladies. They are misguided persons who put young
men on the wrong path. Descriptions like “damsels with bewitching eyes”, “face like the moon”,
“rosy cheeks and honeyed lips” are false and imaginary. Where is the beauty in the dead body, in
old women, in sick ladies? Where is the beauty when a lady is infuriated? You are aware of this
and yet you cling to their bodies! Are you not confirmed fools! This is due to the force of Maya.
How mysterious is the power of Maya and Moha! The beauty of a woman is false, artificial and
decaying. Real beauty is undecaying and eternal. The Atman is the source of all beauties. His
beauty is everlasting and undecaying. It is ornaments, silken clothing with fanciful borders,
dressing of the hair with golden hairpins, flowers, application of powder to their faces, lipstick to
the lips and unguent to their eyes that lend a temporary decoration and artificial glittering to the
women. Deprive them of their face powders, their ornaments and gaudy dress, and ask them to
wear a simple white cloth without any border. Where is the beauty now? The beauty of the skin
is a delusion only.
Poets describe in their fanciful, passionate moods that honey flows from the lips of a
young, beautiful lady. Is this really true? What do you actually see? The stinking pus from the
sockets of the teeth that are affected with dreadful pyorrhoea, the nasty and abdominal sputum
from the throat, and foul saliva dribbling on the lips at night—do you call all this as honey and
nectar? And yet, the passionate, lustful and sex-intoxicated man swallows these filthy excretions
when he is under the sway of excitement! Is there anything more revolting than this? Are not
these poets culpable, when they have given such a false description, when they have caused great
havoc and damage to passionate young men?
Behind the shining skin there is the raw flesh. Behind the smiles of a young lady are
hidden frown and anger. Behind the rosy lips lie germs of diseases. Behind the gentleness and
kind words are hidden harsh words and abuses. Life is fleeting and uncertain, O passionate man!
Realize the beauty of the Atman in the heart. The body is the abode for diseases. The net of
affection in this world is strengthened by long indulgence. It has entwined its thick knotted twine
around your neck. Minus skin, minus dress, minus ornaments, woman is nothing. Just imagine for a
moment that her skin is removed. You will have to stand by her side with a long stick to drive
away crows and vultures. Physical beauty is superficial, illusory and fading. It is skin-deep. Do
not be deluded by external appearances. It is the jugglery of Maya. Go to the source, Atman, the
beauty of beauties, the everlasting beauty.