saucha
Cleanliness is next to godliness. John Wesley
I was initially confused about why cleanliness is the first practice of niyama but have since realized that Bhakti is about making everything a temple for the divine to dwell in. This includes the body, the mind, the home, the garden, and the surroundings. When everything is clean and pure the mind is also clean and pure and receptive to the divine. So a significant part of my day, nearly 2 hours is spent on cleaning and gardening. This sets the tone for the day.
Cleaning
Cleaning is never done. There is always something to clean and put in order. It is a never ending process. The cleaning should be done with a sense of devotion and with a sense of service to the divine. Each moment of cleaning is an opportunity to meditate.
- Clean the dirtiest place first.
- Start inside and then move outside.
- Make a list of all the cleaning that needs to be done and prioritize it.
- Home Repairs are included in cleaning.
- Pick one big cleaning task each day to tackle.
Books:
Gardening
Gardening is also a part of saucha as it is about keeping the surroundings clean and beautiful. Gardening is a way to connect with nature.
Books:
- Golden Gate Gardening
- The New Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide