As for bathing, it appears to me that Baha'u'llah is actually endorsing what we now call a "shower". The (nearly) bottom line of this passage is:
"If the bather, instead of entering the water, wash himself by *pouring it upon his body*, it shall be better for him and shall *absolve* him of the need for bodily *immersion*."
Yes, but isn't that talking about the foul water from the Persian baths? I don't see clean water showers as having anything to do with what Baha'u'llah is talking about there.
Additionally, I feel that to bathe means to wash, or cleanse. Not necessarily to immerse ones self.
Well, just after the injunction to bathe "bodily immersion" is referred to. The part you cite seems to be only in reference to the foul water in the Persian baths. So in this passage I don't see the meaning you do.
Regards,
David
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