Ananda Marga: Difference between revisions
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=== Hair === | === Hair === | ||
Joint hair (under the arms and in the crotch) should be maintained (not cut or plucked). This hair should be cleaned daily. A little bit of oil should be applied afterwards, and the hair may be combed. This practice helps to regulate the vital energies (''práńáh''). It strengthens the nervous system by maintaining a balance of body heat. The oil also serves as a natural deodorant. | Joint hair (under the arms and in the crotch) should be maintained (not cut or plucked). This hair should be cleaned daily. A little bit of oil should be applied afterwards, and the hair may be combed. This practice helps to regulate the vital energies (''práńáh''). It strengthens the nervous system by maintaining a balance of body heat. The oil also serves as a natural deodorant. | ||
=== Underwear === | |||
Wear appropriate underwear. For men, this means a special loincloth, called a ''[[wikipedia:Langota|langota]]''. For women, this means panties and brassiere (or tight-fitting vest). This practice protects the sexual organs and prevents unnecessary stimulation of those organs, thereby reducing the sexual drive and enabling higher expressions of love that originate at the ''[[wikipedia:Anahata|anáhata cakra]]''. | |||
=== Constant cleanliness === | |||
Before meditation, meals, and sleep, perform ''vyápaka shaoca'' (half-bath). This is done by first washing (with water) the genital area, second hands up to elbows and legs up to knees; then, taking a mouthful of water, splash water on the eyes and face at least twelve times. Finally wash the ears and the neck. If your stomach is empty, you may also do ''násápána'' (flushing the nostrils with water). This practice gives a sense of freshness and energy, lowers blood pressure, and improves eyesight. | |||
=== Bath === | |||
[[Image:Pp-all-no arrows.jpg|thumb|220px|right|upright|Bath mantra]] | |||
Take a full bath at least once a day. In a very hot climate, take a full bath at least twice a day. Before drying the body, face the sun or a bright light, and perform the bath mantra (''pitr yajiṋa''). The associated gestures express the spirit of the mantra while ensuring that the rays of light are absorbed evenly throughout the upper torso. This practice amplifies the benefits of [[#Constant cleanliness|half-bath]] and promotes humility and spirituality. | |||
=== Food === | |||
Both body and mind require food. Hence, food may be either carbonic or non-carbonic. In both cases, appropriate food should be consumed. | |||
The three categories of food are: | |||
* ''Sáttvika'' – Sentient (good for both body and mind) | |||
* ''Rájasika'' – Mutative (good for either the body or mind and neutral for the other) | |||
* ''Támasika'' – Static (bad for either the body or mind) | |||
The rule is to eat in moderation, preferring ''sáttvika'' food and avoiding ''támasika'' food. It should also be kept in mind that there may be some variations from person to person and climate to climate. | |||
This practice strengthens both body and mind. It also enables the second stage of [[neohumanism]], spirituality as a principle. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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* {{cite book|title=Neohumanism in a Nutshell, vol. 1 |last=Sarkar |first=Prabhat Ranjan |year=1987 |publisher=Ananda Marga Publications |location=Kolkata |ISBN=81-7252-184-7}} | * {{cite book|title=Neohumanism in a Nutshell, vol. 1 |last=Sarkar |first=Prabhat Ranjan |year=1987 |publisher=Ananda Marga Publications |location=Kolkata |ISBN=81-7252-184-7}} | ||
* {{cite book|title=Neohumanism in a Nutshell, vol. 2 |last=Sarkar |first=Prabhat Ranjan |year=1987 |publisher=Ananda Marga Publications |location=Kolkata |ISBN=81-7252-184-7}} | * {{cite book|title=Neohumanism in a Nutshell, vol. 2 |last=Sarkar |first=Prabhat Ranjan |year=1987 |publisher=Ananda Marga Publications |location=Kolkata |ISBN=81-7252-184-7}} | ||
{{refend}} | {{refend}} | ||