Ritual purification

[Goldemar]

I believe this material world in which we live to be an inherently impure place and that we should ritually purify ourselves on a regular basis.

I perform a ritual ablution under running water every morning and evening, and before my daily prayers, and immerse my whole body under running water every Sunday and after having had sexual relations or had any sexual discharge/emissions. My wife also immerses her whole body under running water after she has completed her menstrual period.

Do you perform any ritual purification as part of your religious practice? If so, why and what do you do?

I'm not wishing to debate anything here, just want to learn what others do in their religions.

 

[Ashoka]

I take ritual baths on the full moon. It's supposed to be a cleansing ritual, and it makes me feel refreshed.

 

[Kenny]

I believe this material world in which we live to be an inherently impure place and that we should ritually purify ourselves on a regular basis.

I perform a ritual ablution under running water every morning and evening, and before my daily prayers, and immerse my whole body under running water every Sunday and after having had sexual relations or had any sexual discharge/emissions. My wife also immerses her whole body under running water after she has completed her menstrual period.

Do you perform any ritual purification as part of your religious practice? If so, why and what do you do?

I'm not wishing to debate anything here, just want to learn what others do in their religions.

Our purification is two-fold.

1) Recognizing the spiritual cleansing efficacy of the blood shed on calvary (Heb 10:22 "Further, since we have a great High Priest set over the household of God, let us draw near with true hearts and fullest confidence, knowing that our inmost souls have been purified by the sprinkling of his blood")

2) And then the washing of our minds with the word of God. (Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word)

We do this constantly

 

[Brickjectivity]

I sometimes watch very stupid science fiction movies that make me laugh. Certain ones do. They're meant to be serious, but sometimes they crack me up. If I am sad sometimes this helps. I recommend Aeon Flux and Starship Troopers. This does not work for everyone.

 

[Sand Dancer]

How does ritual purification differ from a daily shower? Serious question...

 

[Goldemar]

How does ritual purification differ from a daily shower? Serious question...

So the ritual ablution I perform morning and evening and before my prayers involves me washing particular parts of my body in a particular order with the intention that I am doing it to remember God and to purify myself of the defilements/impurities associated with living in the material world.

The full body immersion is a lot like a shower but with the above intentions. Ideally it would be done in flowing water, I.e. like a baptism in a river, but not living near a river which allows me to do that on a regular basis, I make do with a shower.

 

[The Hammer]

How does ritual purification differ from a daily shower? Serious question...

Probably intentions?

 

[Aupmanyav]

Do you perform any ritual purification as part of your religious practice? If so, why and what do you do?

I am an atheist, so no purification rituals for me, though a bath is a daily practice, sometimes two (one in the evening after coming back from work. I am a retired person, so do not need a second bath).
My wife is a theist and she takes a bath as soon as she gets up and then engages for half an hour in her worship.
But real Hindu purification is more than that. It is a meditation, getting mind free from worldly affairs and concentrating on the spiritual. Water is sprinkled on every part of the body and what that part does is remembered and abandoned in mind. Legs, arms, abdomen, heart, mind. Worship of deities begins only after that.

 

[Aupmanyav]

How does ritual purification differ from a daily shower? Serious question...

See the previous post.

 

[Ashoka]

Probably intentions?

Intention is key for me, personally. Sometimes it's relaxation, sometimes it's to attract certain things. Sometimes it's just because I had a long day and want to relax.

 

[syo]

I don't do rituals.