Ajahn Brahm shares some anecdotes about his experiences of challenging societal norms as a celibate monk, and discusses the benefits of being single or celibate. Overall, he suggests that religion should challenge us to think outside of the norm and that there is nothing wrong with living a different lifestyle. Human beings have a natural tendency to desire and be attracted to certain things, but we also have the ability to restrain ourselves from acting on those urges. This is known as "hiri otappa" or the fear of karmic consequences and a sense of conscience or shame. We must have some level of restraint in order to live a civilized life. Sometimes we may feel tempted to act in a certain way, but it is important to remember the potential negative effects and consequences of our actions.
