CORONARY HEART DISEASE

CORONARY HEART DISEASE
TRADITIONAL INDIAN LIFE STYLES CAN PREVENT CORONARY HEART DISEASE, YET
WE SQUANDER MONEY TRYING TO CURE IT.
In India nearly 24 million people suffer from heart ailments and at
least 20 million have diagnosed hypertension. In USA, with a quarter of
our population, 40 million have diagnosed heart disease and 60 million
have hypertension. Yet, ironically the very life style that western
cardiologists today recommend to prevent coronary heart disease is the
one that Indians are increasingly abandoning, writes Padma Ramnath in
'Business India' (Aug 30 – Sept 12, 1993).
Dr. P. A. Kale, Professor of Cardiology at the G.S. Medical College, KEM
Hospital, says that coronary heart disease has climbed the 'charts' from
14th to 4th.
In India, the incidence of coronary heart disease is found even among
those below 40 years. The causes for heart disease are smoking,
hypertension and high levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and blood
sugar stress. In Western countries they are found more among the aging
population.
Dr. B. K. Goyal, Dean of Bombay Hospital, after a 10-year study of
coronary heart disease has noted 16% incidence among the young – four
times the rate in western countries. Tobacco use and the high stress of
urban life are considered the main cause of this high incidence. Dr.
Goyal recommends that youth should have an awareness of the causes of
heart disease right from school level.
Women are equally prone to coronary heart disease, as they too have to
face the stress of life, trying to balance family responsibilities with
their work in the office or factory.
There are some myths about coronary heart disease, one is that normal
ECG rules out coronary heart disease. However changes are often
reflected in the ECG only when there is acute or chronic deficiency in
blood supply to the heart. Again in a supine ECG, at least 65% angina
patients will show a normal profile. Only a stress test can rule out
coronary heart disease.
Another myth is that blocks showing up in coronary angiograms
immediately warrant bypass surgery. Nuclear radiologists suggest a
thallium study instead of an angiogram.

Published in the July 2010 edition of Yoga & Total Health Magazine.

MYSTICISM IS MYSTERIOUS

MYSTICISM IS MYSTERIOUS
Sant Kabir had no bias about religion. He spoke of self – existence,
spiritual consciousness to be reached by removing the veil of
ignorance.
He did not believe in preaching as this put one on a higher pedestal.
One's life should be an example to oneself.
Guru Nanak spearheaded the concept of spiritual reality, devoid of
attributes. Such trends begin from 14th century with Jayadev, Trilokana,
Namadwa, Ramananda, Raidas, Kamal Dhanna etc.
Like the transcendental, ecstatic union with the deity, contemplation
and communion, consciousness of beyond, following the real (from
Abl-al-Haqq, exalted state of consciousness, coming face to face with
reality, intuitive apprehension or silent enjoyment with God etc. were
spoken of.
There are more concepts and words like Kaivalya (aloofness), Mahabhava
(great feeling), Mahabodha (great understanding), Mahalaya (great
absorption), Mahasunya (great void), Nirvana (extinction), etc. that are
attempting to grasp what is beyond words.
Sometimes methods are equated with mysticism, trance like deep
meditation, spiritual discipline aiming at union etc. Mysticism is a way
of feeling leading through intuition to illumination. The fact is that
mysticism is subjective. It is a study and interpretation of the mystic
himself and his behavior and belief, thoughts and his evolving
consciousness.
Dr. S. N. Dasgupta defines mysticism as a theory, doctrine or view that
considers reason to be incapable of discerning or realizing the nature
of the ultimate truth and at the same time believes in the certitude of
some other means of arriving at it. It is intuitively experienced
knowledge.
Dr. Jayadeva.

Published in the July 2010 edition of Yoga & Total Health Magazine.

SEMINARS ON BHAVAS IN SPAIN H. Sequeira

SEMINARS ON BHAVAS IN SPAIN
H. Sequeira

Sadhaka J. started practicing Yoga to come out of severe depression
nearly 30 years ago, and built up a giant printing press (printing on
plastics, metals, cars, electrical appliances and so forth. He was a
happy man. He was doing his duty/dharma fully, to family and employees.
But last year was a debacle. Most of his customers vanished. There was
no money in the kitty to pay the employees. The printing press is about
to close down.
Spain has the worst recession in Europe. Nearly 20% unemployed. Among
the new job seekers from college and technical institutes, 35% could not
find employment. Spain is in a depression at present and to come out of
it nothing simple can help.
We have been conducting seminars on Bhavas sporadically since the
pioneering work of Dr. Jayadeva and the able team at The Yoga Institute
nearly 20 years ago. But this year we decided to go all out and conduct
various seminars on Bhavas in different provinces of Spain, where nearly
20 senior teachers and over 50 instructors are conducting regular yoga
classes.
With the senior teachers we started working on booklets on Bhavas during
the last year. There was some trepidation whether we could do justice to
the theme. But the students (many who had lost their jobs, businesses
and had heavy loan to pay) took to the Bhavas like ducks to water.
Moreover, there was bonding through Bhavas. Far flung groups of students
were brought together. We tried to create unity among them, tried t- o
knit them together. Bhavas became the glue. Through unity strength
aisvarya was shared.
Thus we conducted Bhava seminars in Ordizia in the Basqueland where Dr.
Maria Jose, Senior sadhaka , has helped thousands during the last 30
years in 'Casadelaindia' a magnificent setup guided by the Government of
India and governed by a Board of the University of Valladolia and the
Embassy of India; in Vitoria in a new Center set up by a senior Sadhaka
Vazquez; in Santander in the marismas, where Epi, a senior teacher
conducts classes for dozens, en Torrelavega where Cefe (another senior
teacher) conducts regular classes), en Cacicedo (a junior Javier, who
helped prepare the texts along with another Javier – a senior), there
was splendid response; and finally in the magnificent Franciscan Retreat
House in Aranzasu, a national seminar on Bhavas was
conducted.
MAGNIFICENT RESPONSE
From feedback on site, as well as later entries in Bhivalog …. an
exchange web site, where students make entries for others to read, we
found that the effort was worth it. Our grateful thanks to The Yoga
Institute, to Mrs. Gauri Patanjali Yogendra, to Deepak Gupta, to
Niranjan Gogia and many others who helped in preparing the texts on
Bhavas.
"The Bhavas are helping us to cope with the distress we are going
through" is a common entry in our Bhavalog. And we might add grow
spiritually to learn to grow with myriad crisis that the Spanish are
facing now during these trying times, where things are disintegrating
fast.
The Bhavas are not a miracle but for the Spaniards Bhavas are working
like miracles to come out of deep depression and face life
squarely.


Published in the April 2010 edition of Yoga & Total Health Magazine.

UP HILL, DOWN HILL

UP HILL, DOWN HILL
Tek Mirchandani
Rita smoothly drives her new car up the hill in prestigious location,
where some of the Bollywood stars stay. Her recently renovated flat
reflects her somber personality and good taste. Life is comfortable,
finances sound and a maid to serve.
The lady has time on hand, teaches yoga to a group of ladies in her
drawing room totally vacant but only with white mats spread on the white
marble floor. The learners listen to her talks and practice Asanas and
Pranayamas.
Rita is always appropriately dressed with official or social gatherings.
The mobile phone is an instant connect for her to complete domestic
chores, goodness of activity and keep in touch with her young daughter
to fulfill her needs and guide her if need be so far so good. But ----
but ---- what lies behind that soft smile of understanding, kindness and
an attitude to give, no one will ever imagine!
She was happily married with an educated background and necessary
comforts, a prospering husband and a doting daughter -----. The world
was beautiful!! Her husband, one day while driving down the hill, had a
massive heart attack and sudden death. The dream world turned into stark
reality, alone and with a hard situation to handle.
The training at The Yoga Institute had made her to recognize the right
values in life and provided strength to her. Slowly but surely, she has
successfully taken full control of her and daughter's life, while the
world around her, continued to be in a strange chaos.

Filler:
ic man came to Sadhu Vaswani and said to him, "You say God is Love, God
is Mercy. Why is it that your God stands by and watches while there is
so much violence and suffering in the world ?
Sadhu Vaswani pointed to a table – cloth. At the back of the cloth. At
the back of the cloth was a mismatch of crisscrossed stitches, with
knots and ties and tangles. It all looked so untidy. But when the cloth
was turned right side up the man saw on it beautiful embroidered words
'God is Love.'
Published in the September 2010 edition of Yoga & Total Health Magazine.

THE SWANS

THE SWANS
Tek Mirchandani
Every visitor, who came and settled in their drawing room, looked around
for the environment ambience. Finally stopped for a brief moment to
admire the pair of White Swans displayed on the glass shelf along with
other artifacts.
The birds were small, made in white porcelain, but cute enough to catch
every eye and enquire from the hosts as to how was it that the pieces
were small but yet aroused the curiosity of the onlookers.
The truth was that the couple had not bought the pair themselves. It was
a friend, who during one of his foreign trips to San Francisco, saw them
at Fishermen's Warf and bought as a befitting gift for his friends, as a
remembrance. However the receivers never inquired or imagined the
reasons as to why the swans were a present – that too a couple.
The friend who had gifted the beautiful birds, had quietly watched the
host couple at close quarters. Handsome, always well dressed, forever
eager to render social service at the Institute. Be it counseling the
patients who came to seek relief from pain or imparting training to
would-be teachers.
The students were trained to artfully present plays, skits and other
programs that were staged on Sunday morning Satsangs.
The admirable couple, busy with their separate professional lives and
bringing up and training their young daughter, worked and walked with
such harmony, that they were truly comparable to swans and no less.
Anyone with a keen observation would never miss the splendid qualities
of a couple so outstanding. How could words be used ?
The friend expressed his sentiments and appreciation by presenting them
an appropriate gift – The Swans.



Published in the April 2010 edition of Yoga & Total Health Magazine.

A LONG STANDING QUESTION Dr. Patanjli J. Yogendra

The Story that Stirs
A LONG STANDING QUESTION
Dr. Patanjli J. Yogendra
It was Billy's 6th birthday. He had often told his parents that what he
wanted was a pet dog – and he wanted it more than anything else in the
world. His parents pondered over this request and finally decided to get
him a dog as a birthday present.
So on his birthday when he got home from school, he was surprised to see
a full grown saint Bernard standing in the middle of his room. Billy
walked around the huge dog, being careful not to get too close.
His parents who were watching from a distance found this strange. "Is
anything wrong?" asked his mother. "No", said Billy. "Just tell me one
thing. Is he for me or am I for him?"
Little did Billy realize, he had raised a long standing question. A
question debated in all cultures of the world. Well, is the world for
our amusement, are we playing an integral role in its functioning. Do
we sit back and witness all that is going on, or do we roll up our
sleeves and get down to doing things to try and help out. Certain
schools of philosophy would have us believe that firstly the world is
illusory and non-existent and it is as it is for our benefit and
ultimate liberation. Certain other culture would propound that never
mind about the creation and destruction of the world, just the fact that
you have been put in it means that it is your duty to help the needy and
relieve their suffering. Some others would say that we should do our
duty in any given situation and not worry about its outcome. Still
others would have us reach certain state of enlightenment where we see
unity in all diversity.
The problem remains unsolved. I too am pondering over this question as I
conclude this article.


Published in the July 2010 edition of Yoga & Total Health Magazine.