You can beat the Evil Inclination indirectly. Submitted by User Tuvia.

Indeed, wasting seed is prohibited by the Torah, and it is a serious prohibition. But it is different than other negative commandments. The Torah tells about Er and Onan who “wasted (seed) on the ground,” and that it was “bad in G-d’s eyes.” (Genesis, XXXIX, 7-10) Nowhere, however, in the Bible is it written, “Thou shalt not waste seed.” The reason is that (if this sin becomes a habit) it is impossible for one to control himself by telling himself, “No!” This Inclination cannot be battled directly, with self-control, by resisting. Through direct battle with the Evil Inclination, a person will succeed for a limited period at best, but afterwards will fail again and again. Actually, this Inclination feeds off Thought. Any thinking or mental preoccupation with masturbation – even about resisting the desire for it – even about stopping the sin – even about feeling guilty – stokes the fires of the Evil Inclination.¹

What, then, can be done? The answer is that this Evil Inclination can be beaten indirectly.

• Control Prohibited Speech. Seed and Speech are both products of Thought. The less one’s thoughts are expressed in prohibited speech, the less one’s thoughts will result in wasted seed. The less freedom of speech, the less freedom in masturbation. Control of one will build control of the other. So, study the Sefer Chofetz Chaim and acquire control over gossip and slander. Control other types of prohibited speech also, such as vulgar language, lying, hurting people’s feelings, etc.²

• When the desire for masturbation comes, fight it with all your faculties. But if you fail, G-d forbid, forget about it, just as you forget about what you ate for breakfast. The more you think about it, the worse it will be. You need to develop a “split personality” about this matter: After a failure you forget it as if it’s not important, but in every other way you oppose it with all your ability.³

  (This was the hardest part for me. –Submitter)

Other Useful Torah Lessons

• Keep away from everything that arouses the Inclination for wasting seed: pornography, sexual fantasy, a roaming eye – whatever affects you that way. Concerning these things, the Torah does⁴give an explicit negative commandment: “Be on your guard against anything bad.” (Deuteronomy, XXIII,10) This teaches us “…that one should not think thoughts in the day and come to an emission at night.” (Avoda Zara, 20b)

• We bless Hashem every day that he “girds Israel with strength.” The commentaries explain that “girds” indicates the belt that separates the private parts below from the heart and mind above and refers to the trait of Tzniyus (personal modesty). Tzniyus gives Israel strength. It helps in many ways and includes a number of things. In general, it means being sensitive about private matters. First of all, any part of the body normally covered by clothes should be kept covered, except in a place where it is necessary and normal to be uncovered. This is an effective fence for shmiras habris. It is also a great way to remind yourself that you’re never alone; Hashem is always there. Hashem tells us “…what is good: …walking modestly with your G-d.” (Micah VI, 8) Personal Modesty reminds you that you’re with your G-d. Of course He is inside the person’s clothes with him anyway; still, keeping one’s body covered is a reminder and an expression of the fact that he is not alone. This realization is also good for shmiras habris. Tzniyus also means keeping away from unnecessary involvement (talking, looking, reading, etc,) in private matters, such as sex or elimination, especially in a dirty way.

• We must be selective in our recreation and enjoyment. Certain kinds of “fooling around,” like wildness, silliness, or pushing the boundaries of propriety, can lead to sexual laxity. Rabbi Akiva tells us in Perkei Avos (III, 17), “Joking and light-headedness get a person used pattern a person’s behavior to immorality.”

• Improvement must be step by step. Serving our Creator is like climbing a ladder. One must climb a ladder step by step.⁵ The Talmud teaches, “A person should always occupy himself with Torah and Mitzvos (the commandments) even with an impure motivation; for a pure motivation will grow out of an impure one.” (P’sachim, 50b) If one tries to skip steps on a ladder, what will happen? He will fall! (Hashem loves each one of us more than we can imagine. So, what do you think He would say to us when we go one step up the ladder? He would encourage us and validate us – as would all our friends who love us – as we ourselves would for our friends whom we love. He wouldn’t say, “So what? One lousy step! You should have been higher on the ladder already anyhow!” So, love and praise yourself for every step up the ladder – even a step up after failure. Tell yourself, “That’s the way!” Realize also that the difference between one step on the ladder and another could be the difference between throwing off G-d’s yoke and accepting it to a degree. Quite a difference. – Submitter)

• Torah study weakens every Evil Inclination. G-d says, “I created the Evil Inclination; I created its antidote: Torah study.” (Kidushin, 30b)

• The study of Mussar (inspiration for self-improvement) leads to Fear of G-d. Fear is the only character trait that can stand against the Evil Inclination, as Rabbi Chanina, the priestly assistant, said, (Pirkei Avos, III, 2) “Were it not for fear …, people would eat each other up alive!”

• Don’t give up. Despair is the strongest tool the Evil Inclination has.⁶