Sunday, June 22, 2008

Sixteen Points

Sixteen Points [1]

Point 1 - After urination, wash the urinary organ with water

Water should be poured over the genital area after passing urine. Pouring cool water over this area counteracts this heat build-up and causes the muscles to contract, thereby entirely emptying the urinary bladder. The reason for this practice is because any residual urine in the bladder can cause a glandular imbalance and result in disease, excessive sexual stimulation, and general wastage of physical and mental energy

Point 2 - Males should either be circumcised or keep the foreskin pulled back at all times

If possible, males should be circumcised. This prevents many diseases and maintains all-round cleanliness. If not circumcised, males should clean and pull back the foreskin regularly, so as to prevent the accumulation of urine sediments

Point 3 - Never cut the hair of the joints of the body

Hair under the arms, on the legs and in the pubic area should not be shaved. It grows naturally to provide a balance in body heat and is important for good health. Joint hair (armpits and genitals) should be cleaned with soap daily and oiled with coconut oil

Point 4 -Males should always use kaopiina (laungota)

Males should wear a laungota (Yogic Underwear) to protect the genital area, prevent excessive sexual stimulation and divert the seminal flow.

Women should wear bra and underwear to protect the genital area, prevent excessive sexual stimulation and prevent infections

Point 5 -Do Vya’paka shaoca as directed

Vya'Paka Shaoca (Half Bath) This practice is done before meditation, meals, and sleep. To take a half-bath one systematically cleans certain areas of the body with cool water, the genital area, knees, calves, feet, elbows, lower arms, mouth, eyes, nose, back of the mouth, throat, tongue, ears, and back of neck. This is done to prevent build-up of body heat; it also helps relax the body creating an ideal calm state for meditation

Point 6 - Bathe according to the prescribed system

Bath A full bath should be taken at least once a day. Cool water (all water used should be no higher than body temperature) should be used unless one has a cold. If one does have a cold, lukewarm water should be used in a closed area.

Point 7 - Take only sattvika (sentient) food

Food “Eat sentient food instead of mutative food. Never eat static food." The reason for this is that mutative foods contain stimulants and static foods requires one to kill an animal and is unhealthy for the body. Meals should be eaten at regular times throughout the day.

Point 8 - Observe fast as prescribed

Upavasa

Members of Ananda Marga should fast the eleventh day after the full or new moon (Ekadshii), and should not eat food or drink water during this time. "Fasting generates willpower" and "generates empathy with the sufferings of the poor and also of animals and plants. A sick person might not fast.

Rules for keeping Ekadashi Upvaas

1) One should not eat any cereals ("Ann" in hindi) like rice, pulses, wheat etc. & salt.
2) If possible, one should stay on water. Drinking luke warm water or lemon-mishri (crystalized sugar) water is very good as it cleanses the hidden undigested food in the body.
3) If one feels hungry, then one can take milk & fruits. Only banana can be taken with milk. Other fruits should not be eaten with milk (therefore no strawberry shake, mango shake, chickoo shake etc.). One should not eat food like "sabudana", potato chips, fried food, etc.
4) One should think that he/she is keeping this vrat to please God & to progress further in "sadhana".
5) One should observe self-control.
6) One should do more of maun-japa (repeating the name of God in mind) in the day time.
7) One should do more of Dhyan & Bhajan by keeping awake for a longer time in the night.

Point 9 – Do sadhana regularly

Sa'Dhana' This word defines the conscious effort that a person takes to achieve the goal of enlightenment. "An aspirant enters the realm of Sadhana by receiving initiation into the process of meditation." This initiation is important to the life of a spiritual seeker as he/she learns about meditation, which is made up of a system of six lessons. Meditation is taught by an Acarya, or teacher and it should be done twice a day. As well as meditation, Sadhana is also made up of other spiritual practices. 33

a) Madhuvidya (also called Guru mantra) - It is the second lesson in Ananda Marga's system of meditation. It should be performed before sleeping, eating, meditating, and bathing. 34
b) Sarva'tmaka Shaoca - Meaning "all round cleanliness." A person's body, clothes, and environment should be kept clean. A person should keep their mind clear. 35

c) Tapah - Meaning service. Sarkar outlines four services and one should try and perform all four types of service everyday. 36

1) Bhuta Yajina - "Service to the created world." One should be kind to animals, plants, and inanimate objects. 37
2) Pitr Yajina - "Service to ancestors." 38
3) Nr Yajina - "Service to humanity." There are four different ways to perform this: physical labor, giving financial support, physical strength and courage, and using one's intellectual strength. Paincaseva (five services) should be done daily and can be accomplished by either distributing free food, selling cheap vegetarian food, distributing clothing, medical supplies, or books and educational supplies. 39
4) Adhya'tma Yajina - "Spiritual Service." An internal form of service throughout the day and during meditation. 40

d) Sva'dhya'ya - To understand spiritual materials fully. By reading Sarkar's books, one is able to clearly understand what the goal to reach for is. By reading, one is also able to understand one's own spiritual experiences. 41
e) Asanas (Innercises) - These yoga postures should be done twice a day (morning and evening). 42
f) Pashas and Ripus - Individuals acquire eight pa'shas (bondages) as they interact with the world around them. These bondages are shame, fear, doubt, hatred, pride of decent, pride of culture, egoistic feeling, and hypocrisy. There are also six internal bondages, which are physical desire, anger, greed, attachment, pride, and envy. To control the internal bondages, Sadhana is used and Yama and Niyama are used to control the societal bondages. 43
g) Kiirtan - A spiritual dance that should be done before Sadhana. This dance loosens the body to help the ease of movement and also helps create a calm state of mind. 44
h) Pa'incajanya - Every morning at 5 a.m. one should follow the yoga routine of kiirtan and sadhana. This is the time when spiritual elevation can be optimized. 45
i) Guru Saka'sha - This means to be near the Guru. At dawn, when one rises, one should think of Guru and do internal service to him. 46

Point 10 - Observe uncompromising strictness and faith regarding the sanctity of the Ista (goal)

Ista means “goal." It is the goal of the Absolute, which is personalized for us. "No negative remarks against the Guru should be tolerated and duties given by the Guru should be followed. "

Point 11 - Observe uncompromising strictness and faith regarding the sanctity of the Adarsha (Ideology)

A'darsha means ideology - the path on which a person moves towards the goal. A person should not compromise with the ideology nor allow others to ridicule it without making an effort to explain [their] position properly and logically. One should read Baba's books and become competent in the spiritual and social philosophy of Ananda Marga

Point 12 - Observe uncompromising strictness and faith regarding the sanctity of the Supreme Command

Supreme Command

This is the "fundamental guidepost for all Margiis to follow." One should follow the Supreme Command strictly.

Point 13 - Observe uncompromising strictness and faith regarding the sanctity of the Conduct Rules

Conduct Rules - One should strictly follow the Conduct Rules. These rules help during Sadhana by helping keep one's ideation. Understanding and following of Yama, Niyama, the 15 Shiilas (Social Conduct rules), the Supreme Command, the One Point Local (one should not compromise the sanctity of Is'ta, A'darsha, the Conduct Rules, and Supreme Command) and the 40 Social Norms as per carya’ carya part 1, 2 & 3


Point 14 - Always remember the contents of your oaths

Oaths

Every morning one should remember about the oaths that they have taken and make the conscious effort to put them into practice

Point 15 - Regular participation in the weekly dharmacakra at the local jagriti should be considered mandatory

This is the weekly dharmacakra (collective meditation). If one misses Dharmacakra, one should go to the jagriti (house of spiritual awakening) and perform sadhana that day. If jagriti is also missed, a meal should be missed and given to a needy person

Point 16 - Observe C.S.D.K. (Conduct Rules, Seminar, Duty, Kiirtana)

C.S.D.K - Each letter stands for a practice that will help increase one's knowledge of Ananda Marga as well as reinforce their spirituality.

C. Conduct Rules: One should know and follow these rules.

S. Seminar: One must attend seminars and retreats available in the vicinity.

D. Duty: Any duty that is given by one's acarya or another superior should be done happily.

K. Kiirtan with Kaoshikii & Tandava : Kiirtan should be danced everyday. Tandava should also be danced by men twice a day and Kaoshikii by women. Tandava should not be done by woman

Reference:

1 Ánanda Márga Caryácarya Part 2 by Shrii Shrii Anandamurti

Caryácarya is the samája shástra (social treatise) of Ananda Marga. These three volumes set out both the organization and the cultural basis of the Ananda Marga movement.

Part 2 gives many guidelines for conduct in a progressive society i.e., a society of individuals moving towards the Supreme.

http://shop.anandamarga.org/books/sarkar/cc2.htm