Health = Pujya Gurudev

Health

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

Personal Spirituality - 1 Health [In this serial, we present Poojya Gurudev Pandit Shriram Sharma’s thoughts on the various problems that we confront in our day-to-day life and how to tackle them. All personal problems can be classified into the following five categories: health-related, mental, financial, familial, and spiritual. We begin with the health related problems. - Editor] Today's man is swamped by problems. The rich, the poor; the wise, the dull; the sick, the healthy — each has his own set of complaints. The pain of the hungry and the overeater is different, but both still suffer. Likewise, there are many types of problems in the world, each of which may be drastically different, but while their causes and natures may seem different, their root cause is the same: a lack of the spiritual perspective. If one fully understands the implications of this, then one solution presents itself to a variety of problems. Like darkness disappears in the presence of light, problems will disappear with the advent of spirituality. Of course, there are always temporary solutions. 

However, spirituality is the only permanent one. For example, indigestion causes blood impurity, which in turn gives rise to other diseases. Quick remedies can provide immediate relief, but the only permanent solution is to cure the indigestion itself. After all, how can one place a bandage on every spot of chickenpox? The best solution is one which both purifies the blood and prevents tomorrow's complications. Flies and mosquitoes are born in dirty environments, but it is not practical to attack each one. They will only appear again. If the dirt is not removed, they will keep on appearing. The only way to remove them permanently is to remove the conditions which create them. Man incarnates upon the earth to learn and grow spiritually. Every problem is like a red light to make him aware that he is doing something wrong. If he lives his life with dignity, he will not spend it struggling with problems, and there will only be one goal in front of him: to manifest his full potential. Man is plagued by physical weakness and disease. Why is this problem for him? Countless animals are born and die without a hint of this plight; only domesticated creatures suffer from such problems. 

Everyone must face old age and eventually die, but each life should be a healthy one. However, man's indiscipline in diet and lifestyle brazenly violates the rules of nature. Mindlessly consuming junk food for satisfaction of taste buds, without regulation or discipline, taxes the capacities of the stomach. The resultant indigestion causes a host of other problems. Sage Luqmaan was correct when he said, "Man digs his own untimely grave with his tongue." Indeed, man burns his own source of energy, as easily as melting ice. People who will continue their bad habits such as indiscipline and laziness cannot escape nature's punishment. They must endure the consequent ill-effects. Ailments cannot be cured by the magic of medicine. If it were possible to be healthy even after leading such an undisciplined life, rich people and doctors would have gained perfect health. 

However, this is not the case. If one expects continuous healthy life, adoption of a natural lifestyle is the only solution. This problem can only be addressed by eating and living in a disciplined fashion. It can be said that reducing one's sensual desires and regulating one's lifestyle is a form of spirituality in physical life. For the body, spirituality is nothing but self-restraint and self-discipline. If this is done with discernment and foresight, one will never be weak and sick. In order to stay healthy one has to follow these guidelines of physical spirituality. The day he realizes this and implements it in his life, the bane of sickness will never befall him.

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma