Health Is Wealth!!!

I was listening to a talk by a very well known Swamiji yesterday about Holistic Health.I have made an earnest attempt here to put down whatever little I managed to understand and retain of the talk.
"Man initially squanders his health in search of wealth,then squanders his wealth in search of health"!!
This is so very true and we see it happening all the time.We generally tend to not bother about our body as long as we are fine.Only when we there is discomfort, are we reminded of our body and realise that it is necessary to take care of our body in order to remain healthy.

"Dharmartha Kama Mokshaanam,
Aarogyam Moolam Utthamam,
Rogaas Tasya Apahaarthara,
Shreyaso Jeevitasyaha."

To achieve all the four goals (Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha)of life material and spiritual,it is very important to have good health.
Health is the basic resource of all actions.All actions are possible only if we have Good Health.To earn money,to enjoy all forms of entertainment,to perform noble actions,we need to maintain good health.
To attain Moksha requires Karma yoga ,which is again based on health.To gain knowledge of scriptures from a guru Good health is required.
It is a general misconception that reading scriptures and involving in religious activities are only for retired people.As one even nears the retirement age,(many times even much earlier)all health issues crop up.We find we are unable to sit down.So it is important and essential that we start at an early age itself.
It is a Fundamental Truth that Health is the Basic Resource.
Once health is lost 'Shreya',all the Four Purusharthas are robbed away and the very survival is a threat.
Our body is a gift from God and so it is important to take good care of our body.
We never recognize the value of health when it is there, we recognize it only when it is lost temporarily or permanently.
The scriptures advise us to recognize and respect our health.Not only that,scriptures do not limit health to only physical health,they also talk of psychological and intellectual health.According to the scriptures all the three are inter connected and complimentary and hence a lopsided approach will never be successful.

Chapter 6--17, of Baghwat Gita emphasises four disciplines to be taken care of to maintain physical health.

'Yukta Viharasya Yukta Chestasya karmasu
Yukta swapnava bhodasya Yogo bhavati dukhaha'

The first discipline is the 'Aahara' or food that we take.Krishna says it is very important to maintain quality, quantity and frequency of the food we consume.The emotional and intellectual health depends very much on this.
The second discipline is 'Vihara' meaning movement or regular exercises.It is very essential to exercises regularly because 'it is always better to give time voluntarily for health rather than forcibly give double the time for ill health.'
The third discipline is work or occupation.It is better to choose occupations that do not violate health rules and not be overly attracted by money that a job offers.
The fourth discipline is proper rest.This is very,very important for rejuvenation.If a person does not get proper sleep his efficiency will come down.
Whoever is able to maintain these four disciplines only they can follow their material as well as spiritual goals, and Krishna says Yoga will be successful only for such people.
Maintaining mental health is relatively tougher, it is important not to be afflicted by disturbing emotions.If the emotions take hostage of the mind, then the mind is tense,sick and preoccupied and so is not available for constructive work.
A healthy mind is that which knows to manage disturbing afflictions, like fear, anger, anxiety,hatred and so on.All these emotions can stifle and immobilise the mind.It is a fact that emotions can never be avoided,in fact it is joy of the mind to continuously generate emotions.Managing emotions is a very important exercises in maintaining mental health.
Emotion is 'Energy in motion',and it is extremely powerful.The humaneness of a human being is because of emotions and so Krishna tells Arjuna,emotions cannot be avoided and one who can handle,withstand,survive and continue living is an integrated person and that person deserves to be called 'Naraha'.
Scriptures go further and also give tips to manage emotions.
Here too four important tips are given.

The first and very important step in managing emotions is communication.
There is no need to silently suffer, emotions can be carefully controlled by communication.Emotional outburst is not a remedy for emotional suppression's,it is like jumping from frying pan to fire.A well thought out communication always helps, because generally people do not plan to hurt.We manage to get hurt because of our peculiar condition,so it is better to communicate that we have a problem.People are usually surprised or many times even feel bad that their action has hurt.
The second step is expression of our emotion elsewhere to a friend, relative or even God.Express emotions either in spoken or written form, treat God as a personal friend and this is highly useful. Many great saints like Thyagaraja, Purandaradasa etc poured all their emotions to GOD.
The third step is neutralisation.If communication is not possible then we could try to diffuse the emotion within.All emotions are in the form of thoughts and cannot continue without co operation, just like a cycle requires continuous pedalling. Emotions arise because of a person or event .The arrival is not in our control,and living the emotion and recreating the situation repeatedly will only result in spoiling our health. Will power can disengage the thought pattern,and change the thought, so never allow the emotion to continue.Counter thinking is the neutralisation method.'I am distressed, I am de-stressed' 'Pratipaksha Bhavana'...
The next step is Dilution.
Bhakti ,take guidance from GOD.Internalise god,insurmountable pains can be overcome by keeping God in the heart.He will be our shock absorber.God is waiting to enter our hearts if we are willing.When the burden of emotions is shared by God then we can bounce back and take charge of our life and start Living.

Will continue with intellectual health in the next post.

Till then.............

Jai Guru Dev!!!!