Dharmacharya

In Tibetan: (chos spyod)

Depending on the context, Dharma may signify:

(1) World-Supporting Order, Divine Revelation Universal Law, Justice, Righteousness, Virtue. (2) Any action performed in obedience to this, that is, Spiritual Practice, Spiritual Belief, Religious Observance, Holy Duty, etc. (3) The Spiritual Merit obtained by adhering to the above.

A life lived according to Dharma is called Dharmacharya from Dharma (Righteousness) and Charya (Conduct), and is also known as Shivacharya, Brahmacharya or Sadacharya (Sat-acharya). It must not be confused with Dharma-Aachaarya which means Teacher of Dharma. A strict follower of Dharma is known as Dharmacharin.

Although Dharmacharya may apply equally to all Spiritually-motivated actions performed by man, it is often used to denote "Proper Conduct (Sat Aachaara)", that is to say conduct according to Universal Law (Dharma). Eating proper food, being kind and compassionate towards all living creatures, refraining from unjustified violent acts, etc., would qualify as Dharmacharya.

More specifically, Dharmacharya means proper conduct in respect of sexual relations.

Generally speaking, actions of a sexual nature are either performed or abstained from. Dharmacharya covers both situations. Celibacy or abstention from sexual activities is regarded as proper conduct (dharmacharya) in the case of monks (sannyasis) who have taken a Vow of Renunciation of worldly life (Sannyas) and are therefore expected to honour that vow.

Lay people, on the other hand, are permitted and even expected to enter into relationships that include natural activities such as sexual intercourse, within certain rules.

Source: [1]