On cold showers
My studies on Buddhism are like pieces of the puzzle, clicking in their places. Its not like discovering something new, or proving theorems. Its more like gathering small pieces, making the whole picture.
In Nov 09 I’ve stumbled upon cold showers. I’m practicing contrast shower in the morning (waking up at 0500) for, and despite being very helpful to wake up, for some reason it’s also helpful for meditation.
Cold showers were applied in the psychotherapy since its very beginning. There’s also Shinto “water Misogi” practice of lustration, when practitioner was standing under the cold waterfall. With my own positive experience, this combination has attracted my attention.
The answer to “what is cold shower and what is it doing” turned out to be simple and obvious. Misogi is considered to be a kind of meditation, and it is exactly so.
In the morning, after the sleep, our mind is clouded even more than during the day. It lacks awareness badly. Cold shower brings that “here and now” feeling to us, awakening and momentarily concentrating on our skin sensations. Brings us to very current moment.
To use cold shower more effectively, when turning it on, release everything. Let everything go. Just feel it. For a moment, just be there.
Eventually, you’ll find this moment amazing.
