One day Jogin found the Master alone and asked him, “Sir, could you teach me how to conquer lust?” “Chant the name of Hari [Lord], then it will go,” answered the Master. This simple remedy did not convince Jogin. He thought that the Master did not know any practical method and had prescribed something useless. “Moreover,” he thought, “so many people are repeating the name of Hari. Why does lust not vanish in them?”
The next day Jogin went straight to the hathayogi, and while he sat listening to the yogi, Sri Ramakrishna arrived. The Master took Jogin’s hand and asked Jogin to follow him. While they were walking towards his room, the Master said: “Why did you go there? Don’t do that. Your mind will only stick to the body if you learn those techniques of hathayoga. It will not thirst after God.”
Jogin again doubted Sri Ramakrishna. He thought that the Master had discouraged him from visiting the hathayogi to keep him from running away. However, he thought again: “Why don’t I do what he told me to do and see what happens?” Later Jogin said: “Thinking thus, I took the name of Hari with a concentrated mind. And as a matter of fact, shortly afterwards I began to experience the tangible result mentioned by the Master.”
—–
….. When Jogin was taken to the bridal chamber immediately after the ceremony, he began to chant God’s name even though the bride’s female companions laughed at him.
Jogin and his wife never slept in the same bed. Soon after the wedding, he went to visit his wife’s home. After supper, he went to the roof and walked there the whole night instead of going to bed. The next morning he returned home before anyone got up. Later, Swami Vivekananda remarked, “If there is anyone amongst us who has conquered lust in all respects, it is Jogin.” (Source: God Lived with Them)
Real austerity is based upon these three principles: First, take refuge in the truth. Truth is the pillar to which you must always hold while performing any action. Second, conquer lust. Third, renounce all cravings. Observe these three principles. That is real austerity, and the greatest of these is to conquer lust. It has been declared in our scriptures that he who practices continence for twelve years can easily attain God. This is the most difficult task. I can tell you from my own experience that it is not possible to meditate properly unless you keep continent. The craving of lust is very subtle, and extremely difficult to control. That is why a spiritual aspirant must always be careful in associating with the opposite sex. Through continence a special power is stored up in the brain. If a man becomes established in continence, he will begin to see the expression of God everywhere. But remember, it is not possible to practice continence without devoting yourself to the practice of japam. — Swami Brahmananda (Source: The Eternal Companion)