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Personal practices · On your own · Every day, from adolescence

For men

“Immediately upon reaching adolescence (in India, one reaches adolescence in between the ages of twelve and fourteen), males should start using Kaopiina (laungot́á) and should pull back the foreskin of the penis.”Caryácarya 3, “General Health Rules”

Watch how it is done
A man with a beard sitting cross-legged on the floor of a bright room, his hands folded, eyes closed in meditation

Why we do it

The aim of yoga is Supreme Consciousness

  1. 1

    The aim is Supreme Consciousness. The goal of yoga is far off, like a distant star system.

  2. 2

    The instrument to reach that goal is the mind. It is the subtlest part of us, so it is the only part fine enough to reach the aim.

  3. 3

    The method is meditation. Seeing a star takes a telescope pointed at it; reaching Supreme Consciousness takes the mind pointed at it. That is meditation.

  4. 4

    The preparation and care. A telescope has to be looked after, cleaned and set right to see the stars. The mind is the same. Every practice does this for the mind, directly or through the body, because the mind is connected with the body.

    See how it leads to the goal ↓

Reaching the goal through For men

These two points bring us to the goal through the body's vital fluid. The laungot́á protects the testes, and a clean organ keeps away the microbe that causes nocturnal emission, which wastes shukra, the essence that nourishes the brain and nerves. Preserved, it rises and strengthens the brain; a strong mind, not pulled toward the senses, can be held on the Supreme, and a mind held on Him becomes one with Him. That is the goal of yoga.

  1. 01

    Support

    Without a laungot́á, leaping about or a sudden blow may make the testes swell, with their ligaments and blood vessels.

    “Due to too much leaping about without wearing a kaopiina [laungot́á, a tight-fitting kind of underwear], or due to a sudden blow, the testes, along with their supporting ligaments and their blood vessels, may get swollen.”
    Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, “Hydrocele”
  2. 02

    Cleanliness

    Either the foreskin is kept pulled back or one is circumcised, so that nothing collects under it, and the area is washed and kept clean.

    “Water should be used after urination, and the genital organ should be kept clean, keeping the foreskin pulled back.”
    Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, “Nocturnal Emission”
  3. 03

    Against a disease

    If the organ is not kept clean, a microbe can breed there and cause nocturnal emission.

    “If the genital organ is not kept clean, a particular kind of microbe can start breeding and cause nocturnal emission.”
    Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, “Nocturnal Emission”
  4. 04

    Shukra feeds the brain

    Too much emission wastes shukra, the essence of the body that nourishes the brain cells and the nerves; the brain grows weak, and courage goes.

    “It is shukra that nourishes all the brain cells and nerves. Therefore, too much loss of shukra makes the brain weak; the memory becomes short; in adolescence one becomes mentally old; one suffers from palpitation in the chest for no reason; and courage and spiritedness are lost.”
    Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, “Nocturnal Emission”
  5. 05

    The lymph rises

    Preserved, the lymph, the first stage of this fluid, rises to the brain and strengthens it, and helps the innate qualities to develop.

    “For the proper development of innate qualities, an adequate amount of lymph is necessary. The lymph rises up and gets into the brain, thus strengthening it.”
    Idea and Ideology, “Life, Death and Saḿskára”
  6. 06

    A mind held on the Supreme

    A mind that is strong, and not running toward the senses, can be held on the Supreme. When it is not, the same disease follows.

    “The disease can occur when one lacks control over his thoughts or lacks concentration on the Supreme and lets his vrttis (mental propensities) run towards sensual experience.”
    Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, “Nocturnal Emission”
  7. 07

    One with Him

    A mind that sincerely meditates on the Supreme becomes attached to Him and comes to rest in Him. This is the goal.

    “Now when Parama Puruśa is the object of meditation, what happens? When the mind gets attached you become one with Parama Puruśa.”
    Subháśita Saḿgraha 19, “The Path of Salvation”

What it is

Two of the Sixteen Points are for males. From adolescence a male always uses a kaopiina, or laungot́á, a tight-fitting kind of underwear. And he is either circumcised or keeps the foreskin pulled back at all times; the area is washed and kept clean.

In the sources

“Males should either be circumcised or keep the foreskin pulled back at all times.”Caryácarya 2, “Sixteen Points”

“Males should always use kaopiina (laungot́á).”Caryácarya 2, “Sixteen Points”

The laungot́á

“Males must wear a Kaopiina (laungot́á), and there should be no other clothing on the body.”Caryácarya 3, “Ásanas”

How to put on a laungot́á

How to put on a laungot́áOpen on YouTube ↗
How to put on a laungot́á

The foreskin

Either the foreskin is kept pulled back, or one is circumcised: one or the other. Under the foreskin microbes and other micro-organisms accumulate, and in time this leads to disease, even to cancer. So it is very important that nothing collects under the skin. That is also why circumcision is done in different religions: to spare a man these consequences.

“The foreskin should be pulled back and the area washed and kept clean.”Caryácarya 3, “General Health Rules”

What a study found

A foreskin kept clean

  • A meta-analysis found circumcision in childhood or adolescence linked with a much lower risk of invasive penile cancer; in the two studies that could check, the protection disappeared among men who had never had phimosis, which points to a foreskin that can be drawn back and kept clean as the key factor.

    Larke NL et al., 2011, Cancer Causes & Control

Stories

  • New rules in Patna

    The year 1971 was a year of struggle, but this phase of trial and tribulations had its own importance in respect of organizational growth. By May Gurudeva had already moved from Ranchi to the Patna camp headquarters. One day while reporting was going on in the office, He said, “Now everyone must be very resolute and firm in observing certain sets of rules.” Prior to this, He had already mentioned, “I have to be stricter to further consolidate the organization provided that you all agree.” Thus, Bábá would sometimes become very formal, which never sounded very pleasant. But interestingly He would blend his resolute disciplinarians with His gentle nature making it fully acceptable for the people. On that day He introduced new rules to be followed for fasting and using the Laungot́á [a traditional piece of Vedic clothing worn like underwear for men]. … … Whenever Gurudeva gave any new set of rules to follow He blessed us with sufficient strength to observe these new rules. …Read the story

    — A monk at the Patna office, 1971, Ácárya Rudránanda Avadhúta, “Sharanágati”, “Chapter 19. The Beginning of 16 Sútras”

  • He followed them Himself

    … Bábá prescribed certain social norms for everyone so that people might elevate their daily existence to a divine life. And He followed those norms scrupulously Himself. Some of those prescriptions were set out in a series of disciplines called the Sixteen Points. … In jail, Bábá repeatedly discussed with us the far-reaching benefits of practising the Sixteen Points. These sixteen disciplines are aids for a sádhaka (spiritual aspirant). They help to purify the body and mind in preparing oneself for sádhaná (spiritual practices). They are: wash oneself with water after urination, men should be circumcised or keep the foreskin of the male organ pulled back, keep joint hair clean and oiled, use tight-fitting underwear (laungot́á), … These points ensure physical purity and well-being and rid the mind of wanton influences. …Read the story

    — A worker who shared Bábá’s years in jail, Patna, 1970s, Ác. Sarveshvaránanda Avadhúta, “My Days With Bábá”, “1.3. Strict Adherence to Sixteen Points”

  • Washed with soap

    … One such case was a block secretary (UBP). Bábá asked him, "Did you properly wash with soap your undergarments while taking your bath the day before yesterday? After your bath, I noticed you put on the used clothes again. Don't you notice that a garment soaked in sweat for more than twenty-four hours generates an offensive smell? You are a cultured, responsible person. What will others think of you, if you move among them with such a stench?" "Yes, Bábá," was the embarrassed reply, "the day before yesterday I could not wash it because I was in a hurry." He promised to follow the Sixteen Points with more sincerity after that. …Read the story

    — The general secretary at a reporting session, Lake Gardens, Calcutta, early 1980s, Ác. Sarveshvaránanda Avadhúta, “My Days With Bábá”, “17. Those Two Eyes”

What Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti said

  • “To keep the disease hidden from others out of shame is very harmful. Therefore, as soon as the symptoms become apparent, the advice of appropriate persons should be sought and acted on.”
    Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, “Nocturnal Emission”
  • “At the beginning of adolescence and youth, one has to acquire a correct knowledge about the arrangements that nature has made to meet the demands of human bodies and minds, because through such knowledge one can protect oneself from the onslaught of disease.”
    Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, “Nocturnal Emission”

Videos

  • Sixteen points 4. Simple way to cultivate manlinessOpen on YouTube ↗

    Sixteen points 4. Simple way to cultivate manliness

  • How to put on a laungot́áOpen on YouTube ↗

    How to put on a laungot́á

  • Sixteen points 2. Maintaining HygieneOpen on YouTube ↗

    Sixteen points 2. Maintaining Hygiene

  • Biological Science Behind Sexual RestraintOpen on YouTube ↗

    Biological Science Behind Sexual Restraint

  • Sixteen points 1. Practices strengthening the mindOpen on YouTube ↗

    Sixteen points 1. Practices strengthening the mind

Questions

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