Common steps and sub-activities

Warm baths

The aim of the warm bath is to firstly take advantage of the benefits of Lying Down. Thus by being horizontal our autonomic system and nervous system no longer have to work like crazy trying to keep us upright. Then, the additional objective is to create an environment for our body in which the sensations from touch [5 senses] are minimised. Although this will not necessarily produce a spiritual experience in its own right, combined with other sensory deprivation techniques and ‘befuddling’ techniques to still the function of Reason, we may get some very pleasant experiences.

Background

This technique has been used historically by a number of systems – the Romans used it and it is part of the system of Shinto for example - hot tubs were used in both the houses of courtesans and in the houses of the Geisha.

Okumura Mosanabu – Beauty after the Bath and Cockerel c1730
The cockerel is symbolic – see Cock

Method

The aim is to copy as far as possible the sorts of approaches used in commercial isolation tanks, but perhaps in a less scary way. The isolation tank provides sensory deprivation of several senses, by using total darkness, water of blood heat, Epsom salts that enable you to float without any sensation of touch and furthermore no smell and then complete silence in the tank.

This can be reproduced as long as you have a big enough bath.

These two babies have not got it right [their parents are to blame of course]. In the first case the baby on the left is in too small a bath and is employing no means of cutting out the light or noise, though she seems to be floating quite well. It also looks as though the water is far too hot. The baby on the right is a little better off. The bath is bigger so she could float if she had been allowed to and the sunglasses will help to cut out the light . But she can hear, so sound has not been blocked out and the little lass has been given a float aid that will only serve to stimulate her sense of touch – especially where it hits her nether regions. The toy would only serve to stimulate her and thus make relaxing and losing the sense of reason and memory very difficult – so toys, ducks and water pistols are not a good idea.

So how does the aspiring mystic achieve the ultimate spiritual experience using a warm bath?

They would run a LARGE full length and wide bath full with water of blood heat and keep the water gently trickling in or heated at that temperature [I am assuming you have an overflow to take all the cooling water away].

They would add bath salts, a lot of sea salt or Epsom salts to help them become buoyant. These can be scented, if it is not too distracting and the scent is continuous and unchanging, their purpose is to make the water more buoyant.

They would don soft muffler type ear phones to block out sound.

They would use a very soft pillow to support their head and help eliminate any worries over falling asleep and drowning!

They would reduce all lighting to perhaps a small flickering candle or candles.

There would make sure that there were no smells of cooking or chlorine or similar things to stimulate them.

Then they would watch the candles

Bliss.

How it works

If you lie in a warm bath as I explained you have helped to minimise the sensations one receives from the autonomic system as it struggles to keep you upright, and from the nervous system as it attempts to send and receive all these messages. You will also be helping still at least one of the 5 senses – the sensations coming from the sense of touch. If you remove sounds and smells you will also have reduced other input. In other words, you have minimised the input from the 5 senses.

Observations

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WHAT AND WHERE IS HEAVEN?

VISIONS AND HALLUCINATIONS