Baba
16 Pts: Backside cleaning
Note: This letter is only for those who have reverence for Sadguru Baba Shrii Shrii Anandamurti ji and try to follow His Ananda Marga ideology.
Namaskar,
To clean their toilet bowl, people generally use a huge amount of water. That brings a feeling of satisfaction that indeed the toilet bowl / commode is clean. No one tries to clean their toilet bowl by only using dry papers. Because they know that paper alone will not rid the toilet of the residue. Water is needed to clean the toilet.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Yet when the moment comes to cleanse their own backside of that same sort of waste, people only use toilet paper. As if toilet paper can do the job - when in fact it cannot. That is the contradiction and poor hygienic sense of so many of our so-called first world people.
We are left with this following quagmire: Namely that when animals do not wash their backside with water and when humans also are not doing, then from the perspective of hygiene what is the practical difference between the two. Unfortunately, this is the sad state of affairs in some areas.
Water not used at all in some populations
Many of our brothers and sisters living in so-called first-world nations never cultivated the habit of using water to wash their backside. Still today, most in our "developed" nations continue with this unhygienic approach of using toilet paper - in place of water. Even more tragic is that inhabitants of certain so-called third world countries have begun emulating everything that the so-called developed world does - including using toilet paper. That has grown to such an extent that even certain people who were using water in the past are now resorting to the use of toilet paper. Yet this approach of using toilet paper is neither hygienic nor healthy.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
During His Holy advent Baba has given the dharmic approach in each and every sphere of life. And in that course, He has given the point that how and when water should be used:
Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, "After urination, wash the urinary organ with water". (1)
Baba has carefully guided us how we are to wash after urination - and the benefits of this teaching are wide-ranging and helpful in all realms of life. So common sense says when you clean the front side with water then naturally the backside should be cleaned with an even greater amount of water.
The complete seeds of welfare in all spheres
As we are all aware, Sadguru Baba graciously introduced Sixteen Points just prior to the jail period and Emergency, as He wanted everyone to be prepared and ready to deal with the dangers and difficulties to come. Or to say more strongly, by this way we Ananda Margiis will be able to overcome and annihilate the demonic forces.
If anyone visited Baba in jail and told Him about the problems and difficulties sadhakas were facing, Baba's standard reply was to be strict in Sixteen Points: "By that way everything will be alright and you will be victorious." And here is Baba's stated guideline.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Ananda Vanii says, "Be firm on sixteen points. Unite all the righteous forces. All the tall talks of the evil forces will be silenced." (2)
Ananda Vanii says, "... In order to march ahead on the road of human welfare, we will have to strengthen ourselves in all the arena of life. The complete seeds of welfare in all the spheres – physical, mental, moral, social and spiritual – are embedded in the sixteen points. Hence be firm on the sixteen points." (3)
Sufficient water over the entire pubic region
Each and every point of 16 Points is beneficial for our physical, psychic, and spiritual development. And all points help a sadhaka do better sadhana. Because a healthy body and a strong mind are needed to do sadhana. Without a well-maintained body, sadhana will be disturbed. While a sentient body will help the mind rush up towards Parama Purusa.
As a reminder, for maximum benefit of point #1, it is absolutely necessary to slowly pour a sufficient amount of water over the entire pubic region. That means using a full liter or more of cold water.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Conclusion
As Anand Margiis, we should be keen to follow all of Sixteen Points, including point #1. Otherwise one will be dirty and miss out on the grand benefits of adhering to Sixteen Points.
Ananda Marga ideology states, "The more rigidly you follow the 16 Points, the more your mental strength will increase. It will increase so much that it will be more powerful than the collective mental strength of 100,000 people. In a psychic clash they will have to concede victory to you...The more rigidly you follow the 16 Points, the more psychic strength you will acquire. It will not take you long...Such development will lead to not only 100,000 people surrendering before you, but the entire universe." (4)
Ananda Marga Caryacarya, "The mutative force is a hundred thousand times more powerful than the static force, and the sentient force is a hundred thousand times more powerful than the mutative force; hence you should not be afraid of any force in the universe." (5)
Namaskar,
In Him,
Janak / Jason Tyler
Note: With the initial outbreak of the coronavirus in March 2020, in some so-called first world nations, people’s overall panic led to a mad rush for toilet paper. The stores sold out in a flash, and toilet paper became known as “white gold”, as it was so hard to find. This led to greater anxiety amongst the people. Those following Sixteen Points were completely spared from this tension and distress. Verily, each and every point of Sixteen Points holds deep meaning and relieves sadhakas of so many difficulties, in all kinds of circumstances.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
~ In-depth study ~
Here are some techniques for newcomers to transition into using water for cleaning:
(a) Some feel unnerved by manually pouring and splashing water with the bare hand so in that case one can use form fitting gloves (like surgical gloves) to use as a barrier.
(b) A bidet or automatic water cleansing system can be used - see more about this below.
(c) Use the right hand when eating and touching food, and only use the left hand for cleaning the backside etc.
(d) Sadhakas must control vrttis of repulsion and repugnance to deal with this issue.
Water cleansing slowly becoming more common - 1
Wikipedia states, “The first "paperless" toilet seat was invented in Japan in 1980. A spray toilet seat, commonly known by Toto's trademark Washlet, is typically a combination of seat warmer, bidet and drier, controlled by an electronic panel or remote control next to the toilet seat. A nozzle placed at rear of the toilet bowl aims a water jet to the anus and serves the purpose of cleaning. Many models have a separate "bidet" function aimed towards the front for feminine cleansing. The spray toilet seat is common only in Western-style toilets, and is not incorporated in traditional style squat toilets. Some modern Japanese bidet toilets, especially in hotels and public areas, are labeled with pictograms to avoid language problems, and most newer models have a sensor that will refuse to activate the bidet unless someone is sitting on the toilet.” (Courtesy of Wikipedia)
Water cleansing slowly becoming more common - 2
Wikipedia states, “In France, toilet sanitation was supplemented by the invention of the bidet in the 1710s. With the improvements to plumbing in the mid- to late 19th century, the bidet moved from the bedroom (where it was kept with the chamber pot) to the bathroom. Modern bidets use a stream of warm water to cleanse the genitals and anus. Before modern plumbing, bidets sometimes had a hand-crank to achieve the same effect. The bidet is commonplace in many European countries, especially in Spain (30%), Portugal (70%) and Italy (95%), in some South American countries (Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, 90%), and also in Japan where approximately 72% of all households have a form of "electronic bidet" or spray toilet seat. Bidets are also very popular in the Middle East. Although the bidet was invented in France, the use of water for anal cleansing is a rare practice in France. In fact, most toilets in France are separated from the bathroom with no access to water whatsoever, a concept desired for the ability to use the toilet and the washroom simultaneously by different people.”
“In the US, UK, and Australia, bidets are not yet as popular as in continental Europe and the Middle East, but are slowly becoming more common. Attachable stainless steel or plastic bidets that are fixed to existing toilets are gaining popularity as they are easy to use and inexpensive. Immigrants from Asia tend to use a combination of methods - initial wiping with toilet paper combined with water cleansing or wet wipes - to adapt to their new country where wet toilets are not seen as desirable.” (Courtesy of Wikipedia)
Submerge in water & quickly the urge comes
Here are some further thoughts and reflections on the efficacy of the first point of Sixteen Points.
Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, "After urination wash the urinary organ with water." (6)
The whole purpose behind this initial guideline of Sixteen Points is to clear all the excess urine from the urinary tract. And to achieve this fully, one must pour plenty of cold water on the entire genital area. Then the bladder and the entire urinary tract will contract thereby releasing all the urine from the system.
To produce this desired effect, one can pour as much as 1 full liter or more of cold water on the urinary organ and pubic region at the time of urination. The entire genital area should be properly covered with water & hence cooled. That will certainly release any remaining urine from the body, even if one does not have the urge to go anymore.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Think of it this way: Most of the time people do not feel the need to urinate before getting into the swimming pool, pond, river, bath tub, or bathing etc, yet once people submerge themselves in the water then quickly the desire comes to urinate. This is due to being immersed in cool water. That is why smart people will always use water before going in the pool and clear the bladder fully, then the desire will not arise once in the pool.
And here the point is that when urinating, the application of cool water will ensure that the urinary tract is completely emptied and cleansed.
Our wrong for not helping them
Actually those common people not aware about using water are not to be blamed. It is never anyone's fault for being downtrodden, ignorant, or dirty. Rather it is our fault for not bringing them onto the path of light.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Because Baba always guides us we should never blame those innocent people from certain parts of the globe for their "backwardness". Because it is our wrongdoing for not helping them to develop. When some people could not develop a proper sense of hygiene, those citizens should not be blamed. Just we should take care to show everyone the proper way.
References
1. Point #1 of Sixteen Points
2. Ananda Vanii #44
3. Ananda Vanii #45
4. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 7, An Exemplary Life
5. Caryacarya - 2, Miscellaneous, Point #5
6. Caryacarya - 2, Sixteen Points, Point #1
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Is some place more spiritually important
You might have heard some people say that, “This place is very good for sadhana.” Especially you will hear this in Ananda Nagar, Jamalpur, Tiljala, Ranchi etc. They like to create the feeling that in order to get a special blessing you have to come in Ananda Nagar, Jamalpur, Tiljala, Ranchi etc and sit under that particular rock or tree etc. And then only sadhana will be best. Because that place emanates a spiritual vibration. Baba’s below teaching debunks this idea.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “To differentiate between different places for sádhaná, to consider one place more suitable than another, or to regard a particular spot as good and another bad, is to divide Brahma. Every place in this creation is the manifestation of the Supreme Cosmic Entity (Brahma), and to call one place good and another bad is to attribute these qualities to Brahma. If sádhaná is based on the consideration of good and bad, it will never be possible for one to develop the feeling of oneness with the rest of creation. One will never be able to love others as oneself. To Brahma every place is the same, and sádhaná can be practised anywhere.” (1)
If some place is isolated or a natural setting and there is no pollution of any kind, then that is suitable for sadhana in comparison to a noisy bus stop that smells like an open sewer. That is based entirely on the environmental qualities. The above teaching debunks the myth that some place is spiritually important whereas other places are not.
Reference
1. Ananda Marga Elementary Philosophy, Why Are People Afraid of Intuitional Practice?
== Section 2: Links ==
Recent postings
Other topics of interest
