Baths
The Simple Pleasure of a Bath
Some people may think that the best things in life are expensive, rare, or complicated. They may chase after exotic experiences, luxurious possessions, or ambitious goals. However, a certain wisdom exists in focusing on simple and reliable pleasures that satisfy us. These pleasures are easily accessible and do not depend on external factors. One such pleasure that fits into this category is taking a bath.
A bath is a beautiful way to unwind and relax after a long day. It allows us to be uncovered and cosy, to rejuvenate our mind and body, and to reconnect with our natural state. During the day, we cover ourselves in clothes and accessories and at night in blankets and sheets. But when we are in the bath, none of that is necessary. We can return to our nakedness as we were born in water, sucking liquid in our mother’s womb. The bath reminds us of our origins before we were thrust into this hostile world.
The best way to take a bath is to start with cold water, which should be lukewarm at first. We can dip our hands in the water and slowly pour it over our head, dip our feet in, and then immerse completely. As we dip in or pour buckets of water over our heads, the water will surge up around the sides. But, in no time, we get used to it. Once we are in, we can lie back and wash our feet, ankles, calves, knees, pelvis, abdomen, chest, hands, arms, elbows, neck, head, and hair in that order. We start with our feet, whether with buckets of water or immersing in a pond or a pool.
The pleasure of a bath is not only physical but also intellectual. The bath is an ideal place to think. New and innovative ideas pop into our brains when we are in the bath. It is better than meeting and thinking rooms in corporate offices. We rest our brains with water, and suddenly, bigger thoughts land unexpectedly. The warm water nulls the nervous, repetitive habits of the mind. We do not think about trivial matters but about the big picture.
Baths are also a part of many cultures and religions. They have symbolic meanings of cleansing, purification, and renewal. Many people submerge themselves in holy water as a ritual of faith or devotion. For example, some Christians are baptised in water in a church, some Catholics bathe in hot springs or water wells, some Hindus dip in the Ganges River, and some Muslims perform ablution before prayer. These practices show how water and bathing can connect us with something greater than ourselves.
I have enjoyed baths throughout my life in different places and contexts. I bathed in the sea when I was in a boarding school growing up, and with my parents and siblings, I bathed in hot springs in Sri Lanka. As a teenager, I bathed in the rivers and water sprouts when I toured with my friends during school holidays. My day was incomplete without a bath at the water well at my home growing up, where I bathed, pulling water from a metal bucket on a string.
In my secular life and as an adult, I have continued my love of the seawater bath on the beaches of Dubai as a young man and as a father in Australia with my kids. In Japan, where I travelled for work, I had communal baths, not concerned about my nakedness, just like my growing up years.
Baths are one of the simple pleasures that I cherish and appreciate. They make me feel good physically, mentally, and spiritually. They are easy to do and do not require much effort or expense. They are a reminder of who I am and where I come from. They are a source of joy and inspiration for me. I bathe twice daily, in the morning and before bed. They are my mandatory ritual from a young age.
Nothing brings me more joy than a simple bath.
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