Baba
Milita bath
Namaskar,
As we know, Baba guides us that collective bath is a key element of our social functions and festivals. Here are some salient points to ensure collective bath is done properly - in accordance with Sadguru Baba's teachings.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Does not mean mixed-gender swimming pool
In Ananda Marga, collective bath does not mean that males and females bathe together. Bathing is done very discreetly and separated by gender, unlike in materialistic societies where commonly males and females reveal a maximum degree of bare skin and go swimming together, i.e. half-naked or even fully-naked.
So the body is more covered during the collective bath in our Ananda Marga system than when co-eds frolic and swim together in materialistic communities. There is a stark contrast between the two. Our manner of collective bath is gender-separated and upholds the dignity and sanctity of our spiritual values, whereas the materialistic approach to collective swimming etc is sensual and degrades the mind.
Unfortunately, materialism teaches that matter is everything so materialists do not have any higher pursuits. That is why they always try to derive pleasure from the various senses. They cannot imagine anything beyond that. And the most dominant propensity is the sex propensity. That is their goal post. Materialists desire to feed all the senses, but the ultimate goal is sexual enjoyment. They do not have anything in their misguided belief beyond sexual pleasure. That is an unfortunate state. That is why everything in materialistic countries is dominated by sex. Bathing is included in that degenerated flow. That is unfortunate. We should not follow that degrading path. Our path is from humanity to divinity, and the path of materialism is from humanity to animality.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
People enter into Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha from that general, materialistic society. So they bring their outdated detrimental philosophy and way of life into Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha. In areas dominated by pseudo-culture, in the name of collective bath, some so-called margiis unaware about Guru’s teachings may jump in the swimming pool with the opposite sex etc. Now let’s come to the main point of gender-separated collective bath.
Upward flow of mind
In our collective bath system, the spiritual flow is maintained as the mind may continue to rise from the muladhara cakra to the sahasrara cakra. In contrast, in materialistic swimming parties etc, the mind gets completely degraded - from the sahasrara cakra to the svadhisthana cakra - whether one wishes to admit this or not.
Step-by-step approach
In collective bath, males and females go to different sections of the building when doing collective bathing indoors. If the weather is warmer they may bathe outside by the river or lake. If done outside, males will go to one secluded part of the lake or river, and females will go to a completely different section of the river or lake that is hidden and out-of-sight. In either circumstance, in this gender-separated system, particular parts of the body will be discreetly covered. The covering will be loose enough so one may wash properly. By this way, females are neither naked nor exposed in their collective bathroom or outdoor bathing area. Nor are males naked in their collective bathroom or outdoor bathing area. Both maintain proper dignity in their gender-separated settings.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
If one is bathing alone in a private / locked bathroom, then one need not cover themselves. The covering is used for all avenues of gender-separated, collective bathing - whether indoors or outdoors. We should preserve the sanctity and keep the mind flowing from lower cakras to higher ones. That is the 1st step.
Conclusion: benefit
Sadguru Baba has given the system of collective bath to foster feelings of unity. People of diverse backgrounds come together for festivals and social gatherings etc, and by participating in the very sentient programs of collective bath, dharmacarka, collective meal, games and sports, and collective dances (kaoshikii and tandava et), a strong bond is formed. This brings feelings of closeness, amity, and friendship. People think about the welfare of others. Participants feel linked with one another and that helps greatly in the formation of one human society.
Even those whose ancestors have been fighting court cases for generations will cultivate a friendship with one another by joining in collective programs. By this way so many social ills can be easily solved. In the general society most of the problems arise because people do not care about others. They do not know each other and are fearful of one another. Collective social programs, like collective bath, are the solution as that brings people together.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
In various countries people organise scout camps or boot camps to gain the skills needed to work and live collectively with others. The same thing happened with a margiis who attend collective programs. And those who do not go to retreats, DMS, or DC etc, may not develop feelings of unity with others. Whereas those who go feel that inherent connection and unity that they are part of something great. That is the central idea.
Namaskar,
In Him,
Prapatti
(Paula Gallagher)
Here are more of Baba's guidelines about collective bathing.
~ In-depth study ~
Develops feeling of affinity
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Collective social functions. Many social problems arise due to lack of magnanimity, such as not properly understanding or respecting the views of others. This not only keeps people apart, but also makes them hostile to each other. People come together in different festivals and social functions which foster mutual bonds of unity. When they participate in such activities and remain engaged in the same type of collective action, they develop the feeling of temporary affinity. Ananda Marga encourages these types of social functions. Collective bathing and collective meditation on special occasions are as good as common social functions." (1)
A great unifying force
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "Collective social functions: Many of the ills of society develop because people do not care to know other members of society. This may not only mean ignorance of the condition and difficulties of others, but also leads to intolerance and a lack of interest in the affairs of the other members of society. Common social functions bring different members of society together and are therefore a great unifying force. By performing certain functions collectively, all the members are engaged in doing the same thing for some time, and this brings about a feeling of unity and interest in others."
"In Ananda Marga such common social functions are especially encouraged. Milita snána [collective bathing] and dharmacakra [collective meditation] provide grounds for common social functions in the physical, psychic and spiritual fields. Common participation in such functions is a very great unifying force. The participants in such functions will have no intolerance for each other, and will instead get more united. Such functions are, therefore, a great unifying force." (2)
Part of our celebrations
Ananda Marga Caryacarya guides us, "Collective bath with snána mantra, twice collective Iishvara Prańidhána and Varńárghyadána, collective noon and night meals, merry celebrations, spiritual conferences, annual meetings of workers, children’s sports, and procession with táńd́ava dance." (3)
References
1. Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell - 4, Our Social Treatise
2. Prout in A Nutshell - 2, Social Psychology
3. Caryacarya - 1, Social Functions and Festivals
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Really a thief?
Ananda Marga ideology says, “We deduce conclusions just from whatever
we observe in this external phenomenal world. We should try to see the
subtle cause behind the crude phenomenal world, but we do not see it.
For instance, a particular person stole something, and when we say,
“Thief! Thief!” people will start beating him. If we try to inquire
about the reasons for the theft, we may come to know that he had been
hungry for the last three days. And how are we treating him? We are
beating him rather than giving him food. So we should think and try to
find the noumenal cause behind the phenomenal world. If he was hungry
and so stole, then we are more responsible for that theft than he,
because we failed to build up society, so that he had to remain hungry.
So we must see, and try to find the noumenal cause behind the prima
facie observable world. If we are intelligent beings, possessing
intellect, we must discover the noumenal cause. It is not proper to
arrive at conclusions from mere observation of outward expressions.”
“In some places today, a person’s hand is cut off if he engages in
stealing. With a little thought it can be seen that this is not at all a
humanistic recourse to eliminate stealing. We must seek the noumenal
cause behind all actions.”
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtamt - 12, Towards the Noumenal Entity
== Section: Hindi Quote ==
मैं तुम लोगों के साथ हूँ, मैं help करूँगा” बाबा
“मैं तुम लोगों से कहूँगा, तुम लोग अवश्य साधना-मार्ग में मज़बूत रहो | जन-सेवा करो, Supreme Command के अनुसार चलो | तुम लोगों की जय होगी | परमपुरुष से मदद अवश्य मिलेगी | और जो मनुष्य अपने कर्त्तव्य के सम्बन्ध में सोचते हैं, अपने कर्त्तव्य में मज़बूत हैं, उनकी जय नहीं होगी, तो जय किसकी होगी ? और, मैं तुम लोगों के साथ हूँ, मैं help करूँगा |”
[मार्गी लोग एक स्वर से---"बाबा बाबा बाबा !"]
तुम लोग घबड़ाओ मत, डरो मत, परमपिता की सन्तान किसी दुनियावी चीज़ से नहीं डरेंगे | तुम लोग निडर होकर आगे बढ़ते रहो | मैं तुम लोगों के साथ हूँ |”
[मार्गी लोग एक स्वर से---"बाबा बाबा बाबा!"]
[यह प्रवचन-अंश, बाबा के कैसेट से सीधे लिखा गया है । बाबा का यह असली प्रवचन, अमृतोपदेश है। आनन्दमार्ग हिन्दी पुस्तकों में छपे प्रवचन तो नक़ली प्रवचन हैं, असली नहीं हैं -- बंगालीकरण (बँगलाइजेसन) के तहत उनकी बर्बादी की गई]
Reference
1. हिंदी अप्रकाशित, घटाकाश, महाकाश, मैं Help करूँगा, Ghat'a'ka'sha, Maha'ka'sha, Main Help Karunga', NP, GD 1 January 1967
== Section: Bangla Quote==
“যখন মানবিক স্বার্থে, মানবিক কল্যাণের জন্য, এমন কিছু তৈরি করতে হয়, যা সহজে হয় না, যা ক্বচিৎ কখনও হয়, যা মানুষ জাতিকেই ঢাক্কা দেওয়ার জন্য যে অস্তিত্বের বা যে ভূতি অত্যাবশ্যক ৰলে গণ্য হয়, সেই সময়ে পরমপুরুষ কি করেন ? না, তিনি নিজের সৃষ্ট ক্ষণিকটা পাঞ্চভৌতিক উপাদান সঙ্গ্রহ করে নিয়ে একটা শরীর নিয়ে নেমে পড়েন | দিই ধাক্কা, দেৰ ধাক্কা, ধাক্কা দিয়ে এই মুমুর্ষগুলোর মধ্যে প্রাণ জাগিয়ে তুলৰ, প্রাণের চাঞ্চল্য এনে দেৰ | এ ভাবে কুড়ে নিয়ে, এই ভাবে, অলসতার মধ্যে তাদের মূল্যবান মানব জীবনের অপচয় হতে দেৰ না | তিনি যখন এই ভাবে নিজেরই মানস সৃষ্ট ক্ষণিকটা পাঞ্চভৌতিক উপাদান, ক্ষিতি, অপ্, তেজ, মরুৎ, ব্যোম নিয়ে, নিজেই পৃথিবীতে নেমে আসেন, মানুষ সমাজে, ভাবের জোয়ার আনৰার জন্য, সেই অবস্থাটাকে ৰলা হয় মহাসম্ভূতি |” (1)
Reference
1. ১৫ জানুয়ারী ১৯৮০, v17-15
