The Role of Purifying Oneself in Modern Religion
Whether it’s doing good, caring for others or being mindful of one’s own psyche, almost all religions have some focus on purification and doing good. Self-development can be observed a host of different forms from learning new skills to creating positive habits and attitudes, and many spiritual systems encourage this in a variety of ways.
In this article we intend to look at this a little more closely; taking some of the world’s most popular religions, we are going to analyse some of their most notable purifying acts or ceremonies. Some have a focus on purifying one’s own body and others on material things, though even for those who aren’t religious, there can be plenty to learn from the reasoning behind these rituals and beliefs.
Christianity: Foot washing – Purifying Attitudes
Christianity is one of the world’s most widely followed religions and incorporates a range of different rituals and activities related to purification. One of the most recognisable is the act of foot-washing which has slowly grown in prominence over time, though is more often talked about than actioned in the modern age.
It is believed that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper which, based on historical evidence, wasn’t necessary as their feet would already have been washed by the servants in the household before entering. As a result, it’s believed that this act was intentionally done to emphasise humility and humbleness regardless of your station. Today, foot washing is considered an act which displays one’s understanding that we live in a world of sin and can always be striving to do better for our neighbours and ourselves.
Islam: Zakat – Purifying Wealth
Islam is built upon a set of tenets known as the Five Pillars of Islam. These tenets include a sacred pilgrimage, daily prayer, fasting and profession of faith, though what we will discuss today is the pillar known as Zakat. Zakat, meaning alms, directly translates to ‘that which purifies’ and is an annual obligation for all Muslims to donate a portion of their wealth to the poor and needy.
The intention of this donation is to purify one’s wealth and worldly possessions by using a portion of it to benefit others who need it most. There are a host of rules surrounding how much Zakat should be paid and what your total wealth consists of, which is many Muslims use Zakat calculator resources to assist in the calculation. Regardless, this tenet of the Islamic faith is responsible for a huge portion of charitable activity each year and as it is compulsory, it keeps the concept of charity and generosity in the minds of those who take part.
Hinduism: Bathing – Purifying Body and Mind
Hinduism, as an extremely spiritual religion, features a range of beliefs surrounding purity and cleansing. There are specific places and times of day which are considered purer than others and most Hindus also believe that the body itself, both internally and externally, can be considered an impurity. This is part of why regular washing plays a major role in Hindu activities, founded upon the belief that water, especially from the Ganga River, can free the mind and liberate the body and spirit.
There are suggestions that you should wash more often depending on your status, with bachelors bathing once a day, married people twice and saints three times. Furthermore, with an intrinsic belief in karma, it is also believed that washing in the Ganga River can wash away past karma – resetting past mistakes and allowing you to move forward. There is definitely something to be said about bathing being therapeutic and helping worth through one’s issues. These religious attitudes surrounding purification can be learnt from. Whether religious or not, understanding one’s place in the world and staying aware of it through purifying acts can help you live the best life possible. It might be worth taking portions of these beliefs and adopting them into our own lives to see how they affect us.
