Asceses, or restrictions, are present at life of almost each person even if he does not suspect about it: to earn money, it is necessary to go to work to gain knowledge, it is necessary to devote much time to books, etc. Many people for the purpose of self-improvement, self-development and clarification consciously resort to restrictions of various plan. However for the correct performance of an ascesis it is necessary to understand accurately, what is it, what purposes and results of similar actions.
Asceticism, or ascesis
Ascesis call conscious, humble and voluntary adoption of certain corporal, intellectual inconveniences and restrictions. The main focus is placed in words "conscious, voluntary acceptance", otherwise performance of an ascesis brings sufferings, pain and all complex of negative emotions. For example, if the person consciously decides to limit himself in food, consumerism, communication and other — it goes to it for the good, contributes to the spiritual development and clarification of a karma.
If the person experiences material difficulties, cannot normally eat or equip the life — it is the forced ascesis interfaced to pain and suffering. Asceticism do not consider restriction during wars, any social and natural cataclysms because cause feeling of injustice, deprivation and helplessness in people.
Asceses are present at many cultures and the religious directions, except Judaism and others less widespread. In a wide word meaning the asceticism is such way of life at which the luxury, fast pleasure, connivance to the weaknesses and desires is limited. Synonyms of asceticism it is possible to call modesty, abstention and humility.
Important! It is necessary to understand accurately that the ascesis is not end in itself, it is only the tool for personal development, improvement and growth.
According to Hindu philosophy, asceses can be carried out in clemency, passion and ignorance:
- In the first case of the practician does well to the person who practices it, and for the benefit of all others.
- If the ascesis is executed in passion, finding of material benefits, money, respect and the status, often deceptive and by unfair means was its purpose.
- Practice, executed in ignorance (nonsense), mean cruel tortures and self-flagellations on purpose something to prove to others.
Types of asceses
According to the Buddhist doctrine and yoga, restrictions can be physical and mental therefore allocate three main types the practician: restrictions of a body, mind and speech. Usually it is simpler to observe body asceses, than asceses of mind and language. At the modern rate of life it is rare when it is possible to slow down, to avoid a stressful or conflict situation, in time to bridle the emotions.
Bodies
This type of practice is obviously opposite to modern vital values, habits and aspirations. The ordinary person uses a lot of the efforts at work to have an opportunity tasty and variously to eat, have a rest on Friday evening, to have many beautiful fashionable things, etc. At observance of a corporal ascesis on above-mentioned pleasures the restriction is imposed.
At observance of corporal asceses it is important to adhere to the main principle — not to do much harm to a body. That is any corporal restrictions should not worsen a physical state, to deliver intolerable diskofort and pain. Physical restrictions cannot be equated to self-torture and self-flagellation. At the corporal level the asceticism is shown in the following:
- clean food without the poisoning, toxic substances and flesh of any living beings;
- regular physical activity in moderate quantities;
- early rises;
- observance of the daily mode;
- ablution by cool water;
- visit of the holy sites;
- the maintenance of a body and clothes in pure, tidy look;
- external simplicity.
Whether you know? The Indian hermits of the sadhu as an ascesis subject the bodies to trials: can stay for years upright, dry up the extremities, do not wash or are starkers, long starve. The purpose of such tight restrictions is to show that the inner world prevails over material.
Speeches
This type of practice also is extremely relevant in the modern world in which for exchange of thoughts not only oral speech, but also messages, calls is used. And even if we are silent, our mind all the same constantly stays in internal dialogue with itself. It is obvious that in our words there is huge force and influence both on others, and on own destiny.
Speaking it is rough, malicious and with hatred of people will predict on himself misfortune. Idle talk leads to dispersion and loss of energy, and kind pleasant words are capable literally "to revive from ashes" that to whom are directed.
The verbal ascesis has the following manifestations:
- to speak only with those who are ready and want to listen to you;
- not to speak in vain;
- to tell only the truth;
- to avoid in izrekaniye of criticism, condemnation, malignant gossip;
- it is bad not to speak about others for eyes;
- not to gossip;
- not to interrupt the interlocutor and not to argue;
- not to raise the voice;
- not to seek to convince the person of the correctness;
- to learn to listen and hear the interlocutor;
- silence — the main condition of asceticism.
The highest degree of asceticism is an ability sincerely (!) to pronounce kind words in the most difficult situations, to speak softly and quietly, without rage of roughness.
Mind
Observance of this restriction is extremely difficult for two reasons: first, our mind constantly stays in the movement, analyzing, remembering, planning and considering something. Secondly, in an age of modern technologies in a day the ordinary person absorbs a huge number of information, and not always voluntarily or consciously. The most part of this information has no true value and only litters our consciousness. Therefore it is especially useful to practice a mind ascesis, though it is difficult.
The intellectual ascesis requires observance of the following conditions:
- control of the emotions and feelings;
- perception only of kind, useful information;
- reading sacred texts, prayers;
- disposal of arrogance, arrogance;
- the aspiration to slow down or stop internal dialogue.
Whether you know? Contrary to the widespread myth that women boltlivy men, the Mexican scientists together with researchers of the USA proved the return — representatives of both sexes say per day approximately identical kolichstvo of words: 15 000-16 000. However men tend to ask more often than women questions.
For what they are necessary
Having understood who such ascetic and what practicians of an ascesis are, it is important to understand the purposes and possible "fruits" of similar restrictions. Regularly practicing voluntary refusal of habitual comfort, it is possible to achieve the following results:
- Cleaning of a karma. With each executed ascesis the small knots of a karma will be untied, the karma will be gradually cleaned from debts in the past and the future.
- Stimulation of vital energy, increase in potential.
- Fulfillment of desires, finding of material benefits.
- Will power training.
- Improvement of a physical state.
- Clarification of consciousness from information garbage, revaluation of values, priorities.
- Disposal of destructive qualities of character: greed, greed, arrogance, self-interest, egoism.
- Ability to live in the present moment: without worrying about the future and without being obsessed with the past.
So, the main goal of ascetic restriction is a spiritual clarification and growth, reorganization of consciousness on higher level, finding of control over the desires and passions.
It is known that some ascetics (especially in India and other Asian countries) resort to extremely tight restrictions which remind mockeries at the body and mind more. Tsl of similar tortures — approach of the nature to divine. But the ordinary person does not have sense to repeat such victim, the level of consciousness and living conditions absolutely different.
For successful achievement of an ascesis, also use meditation, namely mantras of Ohms, Har, Shanti, Ganesha, the Mahajana
How to practice asceses
Practice of an ascesis will bring benefit only if it is executed voluntarily, without fear and experiences, readily to overcome any difficulties. It is very important not to allow fanaticism — the ascesis in that case turns into torture and does not yield any results and if they are — that temporary. Besides strict restrictions can beat off desire to repeat practice at all.
Be guided by such rules:
- It is better to finish simple and incontinuous practice, than to break strict restriction.
- You see off practicians regularly.
- Learn to be udovletverenny in time and after the practician.
- Think over the practice: its duration, conditions and other.
- Whenever possible try to speak to nobody about intentions to make an ascesis if it is not shown in interaction with society (for example, restrictions in food).
If you in practicians of asceticism the beginner, can resort at first to already existing and well described practicians — for example, day of Ekadasha, that is dry hunger. It begins exactly for the 11th lunar day, practice has accurate duration, rules of an entrance and an exit. Christian posts are also asceses. However you remember what attempts to arrange a post under the desires (for example, to invent more tasty fast dishes) also level all advantage of restriction.
Features of spirituality
In Ayurveda it is considered that the man and the woman have different energy: men's is operated by the Sun, and women's — the Moon. The sun is responsible for activity, determination, physical manifestations while the Moon — for the psychoemotional sphere and an intuition. Therefore asceses for women and men will differ.
Important! Performance of men's asceses can develop roughness, callousness in the woman and to dull truly female lines. This rule works also concerning men. Therefore it is so important to understand a predanznacheniye the practician.
To men
Men's asceses, first of all, concern the corporal plane. Carrying out body asceses, the man is capable to increase solar energy, to gain strength for new fulfillments. So, men's practice consists of the following restrictions:
- Early rise (about 3-4 o'clock in the morning).
- Douches by cold water.
- The physical exercises, often difficult, with use of force.
- The maintenance of the body and clothes in pure, severe looking.
- Restriction in material comfort.
- The strengthened, long work.
- Restrictions in food.
- Circulation on foot, barefoot.
To women
Female asceses concern generally intellectual and verbal planes. Observance of these the practician is capable to make the woman of softer, to fill her being with love, to increase vital energy, to force "to shine" from within. As a result the advantage of an ascesis will be shown not only for the woman, but also for her family and an inner circle.
Female practicians are based on such principles:
- Conscious love in all household chores (cleaning, cooking, washing).
- Requests for the help if it is necessary.
- Stay in good relations with people around.
- Occupations needlework.
- Care of the body, hair, skin, nails.
- Manifestation of compassion, love for others, disinterested aid.
When performing practice of the woman have to avoid starvations, tortures of the body physical exercises and Spartan conditions. The basic is the spiritual growth and love. Also the ascesis at the woman is shown in implicit submission and service to the husband. It is very important not to perceive this position as humiliating or slavish. Only when the wife submits to the spouse, she can reveal really in family, create comfort and a cosiness what in reply will get immense love and generosity of the husband for.
True asceticism: how not to get to a trap
Often people practice an ascesis, being guided by incorrect motives. For example, many seek to refuse nicotine, alcohol or meat on a bet or to prove the coolness, to earn respect and recognition. If the ascesis is executed up to the end, admire the person, the Ego at the same time is inflated to the infinite sizes, consciousness grows dim, the person sticks in nonsense, vanity and ignorance why cannot realize all abnormality of the actions. Result from similar practice exactly zero.
The ascetic way of life is not the aspiration to become indicative sacred and correct, to be held in high esteem. Also you should not consider that, suffering, you deserve material or other benefits, fulfillment of desires and so forth. Practice of an ascesis helps to clean mind, to learn to hear itself and to understand that really important and it is necessary for you. Regular practicians save the person from thoughtless consumerism, learn to live by the own principles, but not imposed society.
Practicing asceticism, avoid a facade, do not do of yourself the victim, do not try to cause compassion or admiration. Understand for yourself — why you need practice what you want to reach by voluntary restriction, what your true motives.
We hope that now your understanding of what is asceticism and who such ascetic, became deeper and accurate. If you did not practice conscious restriction, can begin with small — vigorous rise with the sunrise. Accustom themselves to be conscious in the everyday actions: acts, thoughts, words, in the choice of food and clothes. Listen to the true requirements — over time you by all means will notice how the quality of your life increased!