If you asked the average male how long they could last without sex, the answer would most likely be a few months at the most.
So if they heard how long Savyasaci Das has gone without getting some, I'd expect a few lads would be knocked right off their feet.
That's because the life coach and travelling monk has been celibate for more than 20 years - and he reckons it's done him the world of good.
Content creator Penuel The Black Pen invited Savyasaci, who is better known as Savya The Monk, on his podcast Konvo to discuss what it's like living without sex for over two decades.
Advert
In the YouTube clip, which was first uploaded in August this year, Savya explained that he was inspired to become celibate by another monk who had done it for seven years.
Discussing the reasoning behind his decision, he said: "There's a subtle energy, a potency that is found in semen and when the semen is retained, then it nourishes the body.
"It nourishes the brain tissues, it allows one to have better memory and some enthusiasm on the spiritual level.
"To make one drop of semen takes about 40 drops of blood, so the system is worked to produce this sort of element that carries life."
Savya explained that staying away from sex allowed him to 'discipline' both his mind and senses, as if you take lust out of the equation, 'more than half of the job is done' already.
"The chief agitator for the mind and senses is sex desire, so there's two ways to deal with that," the monk said.
According to Savya, blokes can get into a committed relationship which results in marriage and devote themselves to one partner.
However, he believes sex with your spouse should be 'for procreation only' rather than pleasure if you are trying to keep a lid on your desires.
If you don't fancy that, you could go with option two and take a leaf out of Savya's book by joining a monastery, vowing not to marry and becoming celibate.
He admitted it wasn't 'smooth sailing' when he first began his journey back in 2002, but he realises how beneficial celibacy has been to him in hindsight.
"Now, I feel very fortunate that I got on this path," Savya continued. "It's really shed so much unnecessary burdens in my life."
He went on to tell Penuel that he intended to stay celibate for the rest of his days after the podcast host asked him whether he had considered having children in the future.
Savya explained that due to his beliefs as a monk, he has already 'adopted the whole world as his family', so he doesn't feel as though he is missing out.
"You could say I have children across the world...I'm guiding people inspiring them and being there for them throughout the difficulties of life." he added.
The monk then made it clear that he didn't expect people to follow his path to the letter, but said he simply wanted to raise awareness of the benefits a celibate lifestyle can bring.
He explained that love comes way above a person's sexual desires anyway and isn't dependent on physicalities, saying that it's 'even stronger and sweeter' than rolling around in the sheets.
"Sex then just becomes a minor detail of a deeper relationship," Savya concluded.
The topic of celibacy has been brought into the spotlight over the last few days, as I'm A Celeb star and N-Dubz singer Tulisa revealed she hasn't had sex for three years.
She told her campmates on the ITV show: “I’m not an overly sexualised person.
"For me, it’s all about the connection and the emotions that I feel with someone and then wanting to express them in that way."
So if you're stewing over whether you should hop on the celibacy train, why don't you take a look at this expert's breakdown of the mental and physical impacts of it.
At the end of the day, whether you're bonking or not is your business - so just chose which sounds best for you.
Topics: Sex and Relationships, Lifestyle, YouTube
Olivia Burke