For Optimal Health

Date: 19 Jan 2009 22:28:39 -0000 From: "Mahesh Rastogi" To: am-global@earthlink.net Subject: For Optimal Health Baba "Toma'r raune raun mishiye cale, yete ca'i sumukhe..." (P.S. 2368) Purport: Baba, by surrendering all the colours of my mind-- all the attractions and attachments of my mind-- by surrendering everything to You, I want to move on and on, by Your grace. Baba, I want to offer all my colours, desires, and longings at Your alter. My only desire is to move on the path, dancing according to Your rhythm, Your melody. But somehow always I am losing its tune. Baba, by Your grace, I am holding Your flag in my hand. You have given me the desire, energy, and duty to follow and spread Your ideology, Your teachings. You have instilled the feeling within me that even if no one else is coming along, still I will go on marching ahead on Your path. Baba Your grace is ever-showering on my entire existence. Baba, You are always along with me. And You are always giving me strength in my heart to march forward. By Your grace, You have filled my heart with Your inspiration and grace. For this reason, obstacles and hindrances are meaningless-- they never obstruct my forward movement. Baba, I was never alone in the past nor will I be alone in the future. By Your grace You are always along with me. And when You are along with me, then there is no question of fear. Baba, by doing Your work and singing Your song, I will go on moving on Your path of effulgence-- keeping You in my heart. Baba You are always with me, You are eternally sweet and gracious...

== FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH ==

Namaskar, As we all know, fasting, or upava'sa, is one of the significant and important gifts which Baba has graciously bestowed upon us for maintaining human health and leading a spiritual life. This entire letter discusses numerous aspects of the practice of fasting-- including the all-important point & practical method of how to break fast. Here following are many of the topics contained in this entire subject: Universal and Natural Law ~ Animal Existence vs Human Life ~ Nature's Perfect Remedy: Fasting ~ Animals follow Natural Law, Human Eat Mostly out of Greed ~ Fasting for Health: A Purifcation Process ~ AM's Approach to Fasting ~ Fasting and Longevity ~ Humans Know How to Break ~ System of Breaking ~ Wrong Breaking Invites Harm ~ Water Needed for Digestion & Whole Body System ~ Work of the Small and Large Intestine ~ Proper Cleaning Necessary ~ Use of Lemon Water ~ 'Rounds' for Breaking ~ Individual Needs ~ Gentle Process ~ Maintain Prama when Breaking ~ Warning and Guidelines ~ Stages of Cleaning ~ What and When to Eat ~ Taking Banana ~ Baba's Special Blessing ~ Baba's Complete System ~ Proper Interest and Care Needed ~ Optimal Health ~ Suggestions from Others ~ Healthy and Happy in All the Realms.

A WELL-ORDERED UNIVERSE

Parama Purusa has created this world in a well-balanced way. And within this creation there is both animal existence and human life, with a unique difference separating the two. Animals are fully bound by natural law. They have no option but to strictly adhere to the rules of prakrti; whereas human beings have been given freedom or dominion to make choices and exercise their will, within a certain degree. Yet nature itself has been made in such a perfect way that animals always advance and benefit from following natural law. In that sense animals are comparatively more fit and healthy than common human beings because animals are forced to follow nature's ways, while humans have some scope to go against natural law, should they desire. And this whole equation, with regards to animal life and human life, is especially true with regards to food and fasting.

FASTING: A NATURAL LAW

For example, when an animal gets sick, then in their natural way they refrain from taking food until they regain their health. And this refraining from ingesting food-- or fasting-- is the very tool by which animals heal themselves and recover from their sickness. So animals do not eat food for taste per se, but as a means of survival and recovery according to the dictates or laws of nature. So Parama Purusa has created this beautiful universe in such a way that everything goes on according to natural law. And within all this one system is there that if the body is not functioning properly then to cure oneself one special method is there known as fasting.

HOW HUMANS DO-- IMPROPER AS WELL AS PROPER

However humans are not bound by natural law, and in this materialistic era especially, common persons eat food excessively out of greed. When they see food, they like to eat it-- whether it suits them or not. But those human beings who are sensitive and following the codes of yogic life then they develop an inner sense of when to take food and when not. So when the body is sick then they do not like to eat food. And that is the natural system to cleanse the body, enhance its functioning and make it perfect and pure. And for thousands of years yogis have been following this approach. So by fasting, toxins and waste are removed; and the body is given opportunity to recover and ultimately reach to a higher state of functioning and wellness.

FASTING IN OUR MARGA

Hence in our AM yogic style of living, Baba has given the system of fasting whereby He directs us to observe ekadashii fasting. And some also fast on purnima and amavasya as well. And in both cases, whether 2 or 4 times per month, fasting creates a beneficial effect on the entire body. And by following this system of regular fasting the body gets conditioned to it. And then just before the next ekadashii arrives one can internally feel that another fasting is needed. But those who do not do fasting are deprived of the unique health benefits and instead their health breaks down and diseases crop up and their health problems get multiplied. So in the end they have no choice but to submit themselves to a local doctor and begin the process of taking medicine on a regular basis. So Baba has given fasting as part of Sixteen Points and Baba has also said that by following 16 Points one will increase the length-- and quality-- of their life. So there is a big difference between those who follow Sixteen Points and those who do not. Those strictly following points like fasting will get an extra 15, 20, or even 30 years of quality living. Thus, for optimal health fasting is needed.

ONE FINAL DIFFERENCE

So in their own ways, both animals and proper human beings do fasting. But one vast difference exists between the two on this topic. And that is that animals do not know how to properly break their fast whereas humans have been given the technique. And it is by breaking fast properly that the body is able to maximize the benefits of the fast. Unfortunately some are not aware how to break fast. Here the letter is getting long and the hour is late so this topic of how to break fast shall be taken up and emphasized in the very near future. Along with that these other points will also be raised: ~ System of Breaking ~ Wrong Breaking Invites Harm ~ Water Needed for Digestion & Whole Body System ~ Work of the Small and Large Intestine ~ Proper Cleaning Necessary ~ Use of Lemon Water ~ 'Rounds' for Breaking ~ Individual Needs ~ Gentle Process ~ Maintain Prama when Breaking ~ Warning and Guidelines ~ Stages of Cleaning ~ What and When to Eat ~ Taking Banana ~ Baba's Special Blessing ~ Baba's Complete System ~ Proper Interest and Care Needed ~ Optimal Health ~ Suggestions from Others ~ Healthy and Happy in All the Realms.

GREAT SIGNIFICANCE OF FASTING

Baba has included fasting as its own exclusive point in Sixteen Points. Baba says, "Observe fast as prescribed." (Point no. 8 of 16 Points) And in His supreme 'Secrets for a Long Life', Baba lists fasting as its own entry. Baba says, "Fasting at Intervals." (Point no. 5, 'Secrets Long Life') And furthermore in Yogic Treatment pointedly remarks how fasting helps restore the body to it balanced and natural condition. Baba says, "During fasting the body's organs get a good rest, and the healing process is more rapid." (YT, p.95) Namaskar, Mahesh

*************************************** Value of Nation

Baba says, "Preach the theory of one spiritual inheritance-- that every living being is the child of the Supreme Entity and that all the people of the world belong to the same family. This will have to be explained to all-- that there will be a clash between different nations so long as the feeing of nationalism exists." (PNS-4, p. 45)

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