== IMPROVING SADHANA-- PART 10 ==
Namaskar,
On this grand planet, most people never get any proper teachings in their
life.
Baba says, "Even after getting human life, only a few get the opportunity
to listen to dharmika discourses." (AV-3)
So being Ananda Margiis we have been blessed with the special grace of Baba
as He has bestowed upon us all the teachings of dharma and encapsulated
them in His wonderful gift of Sixteen Points.
POINT #6 OF SIXTEEN POINTS
Here following then is one of His dharmic guidelines of the 16 Points:
Baba says, "Bathe according to the prescribed system."
(Point #6 of Sixteen Points)
So, as we all know, bathing is an important aspect of our spiritual life.
In particular, proper bath rejuvenates and revitalises our entire
existence. And it does this primarily by both cleaning and cooling the body.
Here are some other specifics about our practice of bathing.
SOME SPECIAL GUIDELINES FROM BABA
Baba says, "When taking a bath, all parts of the body, in particular the
arm-pits and groin, should be cleaned properly. Soap, oil, and comb should
be used every day. The body hair should never be cut, especially in the
armpit and pubic region."
In our daily routine, invariably we move our arms and legs to perform
various tasks. And by this movement, frictional heat gets generated--
especially at the joints. Yet the human body cannot remain healthy when
excess heat is generated in those areas. To combat this, nature has
provided a very good system: During puberty hair grows in those joint areas
and that helps to dissipate the frictional heat, thus allowing the body to
naturally cool itself. And this is especially beneficial for the glands.
The question may then arise that if joint hair is so important then why is
it that babies and children do not have hair on their joints also-after all
they generally born with hair on their head.
And the reason is that children's bodies are not fully developed, and that
includes their glandular system as well. So for them when their joint areas
invariably become heated from their various activities then it does not
have a negative effect on their glands-- as those glands have yet to be
developed. Thus children have no real need for hair in their joint areas.
But for teenagers and adults it is extremely important.
NATURE'S WONDERFUL WAY
The thing is nature does everything in its own special way-- according to
the proper timing. For example when babies are born they do not have teeth.
And that is best. Because in those early years all their nutrition comes by
sucking the mother's breast. And if infants had teeth it would infringe
upon and negatively affect that natural process. But later on when time
comes for those same young children to start eating solid food then
according to nature's way those children develop teeth. So nature arranges
everything in the proper time.
In the same way joint hair grows on the human body exactly when it is
needed-- not too early and not too late, just at the perfect time.
FULL BATHING SYSTEM INCLUDES MAINTENANCE OF THE JOINT HAIR
So for teenagers and adults joint hair satisfies a particular and special
function within the body system; because that hair is needed for the
all-around balance and health of the body.
But some people-- in their ignorance-- cut the hair of the joints thereby
inviting various diseases which result due to the improper functioning of
the glands. And in addition when the glands get overheated the sex vritti
also becomes active-- if not dominant.
For all these reasons Baba has included within our bathing system the point
to keep the joint hair clean by oiling and combing it on a regular--
daily-- basis. By this way the glands will function properly and the body
will maintain optimal health.
So part and parcel of our bathing and cleaning process is paying proper
attention to the joint hair. Here again is Baba's pointed guideline.
Baba says, "When taking a bath, all parts of the body, in particular the
arm-pits and groin, should be cleaned properly. Soap, oil, and comb should
be used every day. The body hair should never be cut, especially in the
armpit and pubic region."
Namaskar,
Ishvara
Note 1: SYSTEM FOR TAKING BATH
As everyone is aware, here following is Baba's basic guideline for bathing.
Baba says, "First pour water on the navel. Then wet the region below the
navel by splashing water from the front. Then pour water from behind.
Thereafter pour water on the crown of the head in such a way that it
trickles down over the backbone. Then bathe all over." (CC-3, p.1)
Then of course Baba has also given other points such as (a) Using a proper
cleansing agent, (b) Using a scrubber, (c) Using cool or cold water, (d)
Bathing in a seated position, (e) Not using hot water, (f) Not using
artificially scented soaps etc.
Plus, of course, afterwards we are to recite our "Pitr Purus'ebhyo namah"
mantra along with the proper mudra(s).
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Why Sadhana is Difficult
Baba says, "When we engage our minds in crude thoughts, our minds lose
their capacity for subtle thinking. When our minds constantly entertain
animal-like thoughts, that is a sort of crude thinking. Conversely, when we
think subtle ideas, our minds distance themselves from mean or petty
thoughts. A person can keep his mind engrossed in a crude thought up to a
certain limit, which limit depends upon his mental constitution. If a
person is told to think of his pet dog for twenty-four hours, that person
will surely be able to think of the dog for some time, but after that
period, he will feel bored and start contemplating something else. It is a
psychological fact that that person's human mind will not be able to keep
itself engrossed in the crude thought of a dog for a long time. Likewise,
if an ordinary person is asked to contemplate subtle ideas for a long time,
his mind will feel repulsed after some time, because his mind is not used
to adjusting itself to subtle vibrations for a long time. Thus the human
mind functions within a limited scope of actions of certain specific types
and durations. Here also the mind has to function within certain
limitations, certain bondages..."
"Human beings represent a mixed state of animality and divinity. We can
say human beings are like a stage between water and land, that is, on the
one side there is land, on the other side there is water. The path of human
life extends along the subtle midline between the two. Standing on this
delicate precarious line, most human beings lean towards animality: because
human beings carry over the full experience of past animal life, but they
do not have the experience of divine life...but once they do gather courage
to move forward, they realize the greatness of that path of eternal bliss."
(SS-21, p.29)
Note: In His above teaching Baba is revealing the reason why doing sadhana
is difficult for some people. Here the whole point is that people like
activities according to their psychic standard. People like to do what
their mind is habituated to thinking about. That is why very crude people
like the company of drunkards and drug addicts; and that is why strong
sadhakas like to spend hours and hours in meditation. Because the mind
moves according to its accustomed pabulum. So if one is in an inbetween
stage then they will not like the company of drunkards nor will it be easy
for them to do sadhana. Because their mind is neither very crude nor
habituated to that subtle practice of meditation. And if one does not
practice sadhana then they will just continue to involve in their regular
activities-- not progressing at all on the spiritual path. So it is
important to note the mind is dynamic; it can change. Through ardent
practice one can train the mind by doing sadhana and then it will become
more and more accustomed to being in that sublte state. Evenutally it will
become fully habituated to doing sadhana. This is the natural law. Because
as the mind gets more accustomed to subtle things then it will naturally
move towards sadhana.
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