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Growth Online		 Inner Secrets to Health & Well-being
 Knowledge Base
by Roy Posner and MSS


Cause of Illness
(top)

Overview

Thoughts of Sri Aurobindo on Cause of Illness In The Body
Sri Aurobindo, the Indian sage and seer, has some profound insights into the nature of illness. Here are some quotes*:

... Attacks of illness are attacks of the lower nature or of adverse forces taking advantage of some weakness, opening, or response in the [person's] nature, -- ... they come from the outside 

... When a force is thrown on you or a vibration of illness, it carries to the body this suggestion. A wave comes in the body -- with a certain vibration in it, the body remembers "cold" or feels the vibration of a cold and begins to cough or sneeze or to feel a chill -- the suggestion comes to the mind in the form "I am weak, I don't feel well, I am catching a cold."

... This is how illness try to come from one person to another -- they attack, by a suggestion like this or otherwise, the nervous being and try to come in. ... There is a sort of protection around the body which we call the nervous envelope -- if this remains strong and refuses entrance to the illness force, then one remains well even in the midst of plague or other epidemics -- if the envelope is pierced or weak, then the illness can come in.

... The envelope pierced, they attack the subconscient mind in the body, sometimes into the vital mind or mind proper -- prepare the illness by fear or thought of illness. The doctors themselves say that in influenza or cholera in the Far East 90% get ill through fear. Nothing to take away the resistance like fear. But still the subconscient is the main thing.

... The suggestions that create illness or unhealthy conditions of the physical being usually comes through the subconscient -- for a great part of the physical being, the material part, is subconscient, i.e. to say, it has an obscure consciousness of its own but so obscure and shut up in itself that the mind does not know of its movements or what is going on there.

... All ill-health is due to some inertia or weakness or some resistance or wrong movement there [in the individual]...

... It is true also that one must bear illness with calm, equanimity, endurance, even recognition of it, since it has come, as something that had to be passed through in the course of experience.

... [After an attack of influenza:] The first thing to do is to keep throughout a perfect equanimity and not to allow thoughts of disturbed anxiety or depression enter you.  What you have to do is to remain calm and confident and not worry or be restless -- be perfectly quiet and prepared to rest as long as is needed. There is nothing to be anxious about; rest, and the health and strength will come.

... The lack of vitality which easily comes as a result of modern civilization is therefore a very strong contributing cause. Moderns have not the solid nervous system and the natural (as opposed to the artificial and morbid) zest of life that their ancestors had.

[relating it to the modern era] ... But certain diseases have greatly increased in spite of advance in hygiene -- influenza, tb, venereals, [various cancers], etc.

... Allopathy, homeopathy, naturopathy, osteopathy [etc.] all are only outward means, and what really works are unseen forces behind.

[re cure] ... medicines are an element but only one and that the psychological element counts as much or even more ...

... And important is the doctor's optimism and self-confidence, ... and  confidence, hope, helpful atmosphere he can inspire in and around the patient. I have seen it categorically that a doctor who can do that is far more successful than one who knows Medicine better ... 

... As the body consciousness becomes more open to the Force, this frequent stress of illness will diminish and disappear.

... When the illness becomes pronounced and chronic in the body, it is necessary often to call in the aid of the physical treatment and that is then used as a support for the Force....

* from book Letters on Yoga (pp. 1563-1589)

 

Illness and One's Psychological Condition

Illness and Psychological Disturbance
The primary cause for illness is psychological disturbance, not infection. (MSS)

Unbalanced Psyche Attracts Illness
A weakened or otherwise unbalanced psychological state attracts illness. 

Tension and Stress Create Illness
Mental tension and psychological stress are subtle factors. But they can have deleterious effects on the body as surely as physical factors such as bad air, impure water and harmful substances. (N. Asokan, MSS)

Illness and One's Growth and Development
 Illness is caused by the differential between one's current psychological condition and the condition necessary for the next stage of one's development. It is often there in the negative attitudes, which can be identified and overcome. Add an opening to the Force, and one is likely to obtain vibrant health.

Ego and Illness
Egotistic movements on our part can contribute to illness.

Attacks of Illness
Attacks of illness are attacks of the lower nature or of adverse forces taking advantage of some weakness, opening, or response in the person's nature, coming from the outside. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo) 

Fear and Disease
In the 1930s, US president Franklin Roosevelt said that the only thing to fear is fear itself. He was referring to the terror people were experiencing as a result of the collapsing economy of the Great Depression, and the trust people should have in the government and society by putting their money back into the banks. Today we have similar fears, not only in financial matters, but in our concerns about our health. The situation with the H1N1 virus is a case in point, as we see panic rising in many quarters.

The Mother said that 95% of all illnesses are psychological in origin. I.e. there is some wanting quality of our being --perhaps a negative attitude or a misguided belief -- that opens us to the vibrations of illness. If we were to understand what is wanting within us, or otherwise take to calm and inner faith, we would not attract illnesses, or if we did, the case would be mild. If we also open to the spiritual Force when such fear of illness arises in our thoughts and emotions, then 90% of all illnesses can be avoided.

And yet the society itself is also gripped by fear, as the media plays off the nervousness and unease of the people, not realizing that it does a disservice in propagating fright and panic. But then the society around us is a reflection of our own individual consciousness. Whether negativity comes from within or without, we need to be vigilant of fear-laden and other negative thoughts and emotions.

In the final analysis, Roosevelt's maxim holds true today as it did back then: especially when it comes to illness. Fear breaks down the outer sheath of our physical being that protects us from illness, allowing the disease to enter. However, if we remain unmoved by that fear, and open to the spiritual Force that is increasingly in the atmosphere, we can enter a room of virulent contagion and not be effected one iota.

 

On Fear and Infection
 One is weak when fear of infection grips him. His body falls ill, catching the infection more out of its vital fear than as a process of infection.

 

On Cause of Cancer
The Mother says cancers express the vibration of greed.

 

On Curing Cancer for the World
The best we can do for humanity is to conquer this vibration of greed in ourselves by offering it to the spiritual Force, invoking Its power of transformation.

 

Apple CEO's Possessiveness

Steve Jobs is an innovation genius and true individual, but he is possessive, probably due to the fact that he was raised as an orphan. This makes him unwilling to let other companies sell products with his OS, as Microsoft did in the past, and Google Android is doing now. In this way he intensely controls his life and his business.

Perhaps future Apple leaders will shift away from this effective short-term but problematic, even disastrous long-term approach.

Some of the psychological and spiritual bent have even suggested that if Jobs gave up his possessive tendencies, his health would dramatically improve.

Pain and Ego
Pain is the joy of breaking out of ego. (MSS, paraphrase)

 

Illness and Effect of Others

Organization is Discipline of Living; & Its Absence Enables Illness
 Organization is discipline in action, and that to live, discipline is quite indispensable. I said that the body's whole functioning is a discipline, and if there is a part that no longer wants to follow the discipline - out of revolt or incapacity or ... for any reason - if it stops following the discipline, you fall ill. (The Mother)

Ill-will, Goodwill, and Health
Ill will targeting somebody can cause ill health. Good will can equally have a recuperating effect on a patient. (N. Asokan, MSS)

Resentment Attracts Illness
Resentment on the part of those we have offered our help can attract illness (e..g a lump or back pain).

Attacks of Illness
Attacks of illness are attacks of the lower nature or of adverse forces taking advantage of some weakness, opening, or response in the person's nature, coming from the outside. (Paraphrase of Sri Aurobindo) 

 

Other Causes

Mental Ossification and Ageing
 Mental ossification speeds up the ageing of our body far more than the passage of years.

Illness, Aspiration, Soul, and Old Age

When the mind loses its curiosity, the vital loses its zest for life or the body fails to generate excess energy, it means the soul has decided that it cannot use this embodied being any more. Then OLD AGE sets in, senility follows, ailments get lodged in the body. As long as the mind wants to learn or the vital wants to live or the physical is energetic or the soul wants to use the being, there is neither old age nor death. It is possible to arrive at such a situation even at a young age. (MSS)

Modern Sedentary Life Creates Illness
The physical exertions of primitive man kept his health robust and hardy. The comforts and sedentary life of civilized times have lessened the need for physical exertion. Unfortunately this has weakened his constitution and led to rising incidences of diabetes, heart diseases and caesarean deliveries. (N. Asokan, MSS)

Disturbance of Subtle Currents of Energy and Ill-Health
That acupuncture delivers cure to some people is a proof of the truth that there are subtle currents of energy that flow through our bodies and that disturbances in these currents can cause disorders. (N. Asokan, MSS)

 

That Which Intensifies Illness

Worry, Attention to Illness Energizes It
Man worries so much about an ordinary problem of his that it is energised by his intense attention and possesses him as an octopus. It is the same with diseases.

Overconcern Increases Problem
The more you concern yourself with a pain or illness, the more it will grow. The same principle applies to a negative emotions, attitudes, or false actions.

 

Subconscious Accepts, Reinforces Illness

The Human Subconscient and Illness
Humans consist of their physical bodies, their vital/emotional being, and their minds. Each of these can be subdivided. Above mind is spiritual mind to supermind to Being. In the horizontal plane of human consciousness there is the surface in the outer, to the Subliminal, where positive subtle thoughts culled from the universal rise to the surface guiding us in the right direction, to the Evolving soul in the inner where ego is abolished, we experience the greatest delight of being, and where we are more fully connected to universal forces. There is also in the inner an inconscience (unconsciousness) that is in fact the very inflexible, rigid, unchanging basis of matter, as well as a somewhat less dark subconscient aspect within (that bounds us to illness and is the cause of troubled sleep), that is also evolving. We can say that when we bring the superconscient, i.e. the superconsciousness, the Divine Force and Powers within us to evolve the subconscient resistance parts of our inner being, we are overcoming the greatest in-built resistance to our evolutionary potential.

Subconscient is Unevolved Part of Our Being that is Support of our Illness
 Consider the realm of our psyche he called the "subconscious." On analysis we see that Freud has given us a rather narrow interpretation of this inner realm of the individual. Our own interpretation is that the subconscious (which we actually refer to as the "subconscient") is an unevolved realm of our consciousness that is constantly throwing up influences to our surface being in the form of subtle sensations, emotions, feelings, thoughts, and ideas. Unfortunately, most of the influences that originate from the subconscient are quite negative. That's the case because the subconscient is an unconscious and unevolved part of our inner being; a kind of vestige of our primitive heritage. For example, a good deal of the fear we experience in life wells up from this realm. Or, when we sleep and wake up tired and exhausted in the morning as a result of incessant, draining dreams, we know we have spent time travelling in this unconscious realm. Also, in the course of our days when we feel pessimistic, or things seem hopeless, or we sense that there is no way out of a situation or a difficulty, you know that the subconscient is sending up its negative impression to our surface thoughts and feelings. Perhaps most negatively the subconscient is the part of our being that reinforces our physical illnesses. Have you ever felt a cold coming on, and suddenly you think to yourself "oh no, not a cold?" Well that's the subconscient influence of fear and pessimism at work, reinforcing and solidifying the possibility of the illness. The subconscient has this overall negative nature because it has built in memory of millennia of human suffering, disease, and death. It sends up pessimistic, negative, fear-laden messages intent on overcoming the positives that occur on the surface. Its message is that anything positive on the surface is but a temporary distraction and waste of time because we will all end in disease, death, and destruction.

Needless to say the subconscient part needs to be changed and transformed into something greater if the human individual is to emerge out of his current limited consciousness. It would certainly be a big step in human evolution if we could learn to recognize the influences of the subconscient in our lives, and then take conscious actions to transform this unconscious part of our inner being. That would certainly be an admirable goal for those pioneer individuals who wish to be forerunners of a new evolved human race.

 

How Illness Enters Our Being

Method Illness Enters the Body and Fear Increases Its Intensity
Illness enters externally through the subtle physical body sheath, and then if penetrated and accepted by the person spreads. The fear of an illness increases its intensity.

Thoughts of Sri Aurobindo on Cause of Illness In The Body

... Attacks of illness are attacks of the lower nature or of adverse forces taking advantage of some weakness, opening, or response in the [person's] nature, -- ... they come from the outside 

... When a force is thrown on you or a vibration of illness, it carries to the body this suggestion. A wave comes in the body -- with a certain vibration in it, the body remembers "cold" or feels the vibration of a cold and begins to cough or sneeze or to feel a chill -- the suggestion comes to the mind in the form "I am weak, I don't feel well, I am catching a cold."

... This is how illness try to come from one person to another -- they attack, by a suggestion like this or otherwise, the nervous being and try to come in. ... There is a sort of protection around the body which we call the nervous envelope -- if this remains strong and refuses entrance to the illness force, then one remains well even in the midst of plague or other epidemics -- if the envelope is pierced or weak, then the illness can come in.

... The envelope pierced, they attack the subconscient mind in the body, sometimes into the vital mind or mind proper -- prepare the illness by fear or thought of illness. The doctors themselves say that in influenza or cholera in the Far East 90% get ill through fear. Nothing to take away the resistance like fear. But still the subconscient is the main thing.

... The suggestions that create illness or unhealthy conditions of the physical being usually comes through the subconscient -- for a great part of the physical being, the material part, is subconscient, i.e. to say, it has an obscure consciousness of its own but so obscure and shut up in itself that the mind does not know of its movements or what is going on there.

 

 

Illness and Our Progress
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Illness and Our Growth

Illness and One's Growth and Development
 Illness is caused by the differential between one's current psychological condition and the condition necessary for the next stage of one's development. It is often there in the negative attitudes, which can be identified and overcome. Add an opening to the Force, and one is likely to obtain vibrant health.

Learning from Illness
When we are ill, there is an inadequate or unbalanced amount of energy generated in our being. It is indicative that something is amiss. To correct it we need to know the inner source of the imbalance. [We can thus use illness as a means of inner and outer progress.]

 

Illness and the Sanction of the Soul

Illness and Sanction of Soul
Serious illness has the sanction of the soul; enabling its further evolution through this or another body.

Physical Illness, Personal Evolution, and The Sanction of The Soul
-From the deepest consciousness one perceives that a state of [serious] illness was a necessity, often a willed necessity by the soul in order to go faster on the path -- to save time, to gain lives. 

-At a deeper level still we can view illness from the point of view of the evolution of the individual, even the very soul and spirit of the person. Our research indicates that sometimes the body is following the lead of our soul. What we mean is that the soul of the individual is always aware of the individual's progress or need for progress in life. If it sees that the individual is unable to make the progress through emotional, psychological and other forms of development by the individual, then the body can fall ill, sanctioned by the soul, to help the individual make psychological, inner progress through the suffering of the illness. In this case the individual would get an illness that has as its purpose the growth and development of that person, and that evolution of the person through illness is sanctioned by the individual soul/spirit. The individual then learns the deeper lesson that the incident of illness is trying to teach him. One then evolves as a result.

Illness, Aspiration, Soul, and Old Age

When the mind loses its curiosity, the vital loses its zest for life or the body fails to generate excess energy, it means the soul has decided that it cannot use this embodied being any more. Then OLD AGE sets in, senility follows, ailments get lodged in the body. As long as the mind wants to learn or the vital wants to live or the physical is energetic or the soul wants to use the being, there is neither old age nor death. It is possible to arrive at such a situation even at a young age. (MSS)

 

 

Illness and Yoga

Illness and Yoga
Yoga begins deeply when the body falls ill. Its first symptom is headache and stomach disorders. (MSS)

 

 

Benefit of Illness

Illness and Opening to Truth
Body falling ill indicates the heart opening to Truth in a vast way. (MSS)

Untitled
 All negatives are positives in disguise.

 

Purpose of Illness in Creation

Purpose of Illness In Creation, and The Transformation of Humans
 Another question that arises is why is there illness, suffering, and death in the first place? The creation came about as the result of the Absolute's need to embody the divine force in physical forms. In order to create the greatest multiplicity of forms the Absolute manifest in forms positively and negatively in the cosmos. As the cosmos, the earth, and humanity developed, this diversity in duality can be seen in our physical bodies, our feelings and emotions, and in our minds. The duality of the physical body shows up as health and sickness, life and death. The forces of duality and its reinforcement through Nature keep these dualities intact. 

Gradually, however, through our evolution we will evolve as a species to overcome the negative aspect of creation in our bodies, leading to overcoming of illness, disease, and the eventual possibility of endless life through the power of our will and consciousness. 

We will surely see great improvements in medicine that will help us become healthier. However the ultimate determinant of perfect and endless health may be through the bringing into our being the powers and influences of a spiritual Force, which can transform humans from out of their current necessity of illness, suffering and death. (For more on the workings of this force and its role in the transformation of individuals, click here.)

 

 

Inner Methods of Controlling Illness
(top)

Overview |  Modification of Psychological Status | Not Accepting Illness at the Outset

Using the Spirit | Integral Approaches
 

 

Overview

Thoughts of Sri Aurobindo

... It is true also that one must bear illness with calm, equanimity, endurance, even recognition of it, since it has come, as something that had to be passed through in the course of experience.

... [After an attack of influenza:] The first thing to do is to keep throughout a perfect equanimity and not to allow thoughts of disturbed anxiety or depression enter you.  What you have to do is to remain calm and confident and not worry or be restless -- be perfectly quiet and prepared to rest as long as is needed. There is nothing to be anxious about; rest, and the health and strength will come.

... Allopathy, homeopathy, naturopathy, osteopathy [etc.] all are only outward means, and what really works are unseen forces behind.

[re cure] ... medicines are an element but only one and that the psychological element counts as much or even more ...

... And important is the doctor's optimism and self-confidence, ... and  confidence, hope, helpful atmosphere he can inspire in and around the patient. I have seen it categorically that a doctor who can do that is far more successful than one who knows Medicine better ... 

... As the body consciousness becomes more open to the Force, this frequent stress of illness will diminish and disappear.

... When the illness becomes pronounced and chronic in the body, it is necessary often to call in the aid of the physical treatment and that is then used as a support for the Force....

 

Body Cures Itself
Man believes that illness can be cured only by medicine while we must believe that the body cures itself. (MSS)

 

Restoring Our Physical Health
 Energy is the source of everything in the universe. So too, all of the forms in the universe release energy to survive. We humans release physical energy when our bodies take to movement. We release vital energy when we are stirred by our emotions; when there is a will and drive to accomplish something; and when we interact with others. We release mental energy when thoughts enter our mind and when we think. And we release spiritual energy when we connect to our deeper spiritual selves or to the transcendent spiritual reality, or we move to selflessness and self-givingness.

When we are ill, there is an inadequate or unbalanced amount of energy generated in our being. It is indicative that something is amiss. To correct it we need to know the inner source of the imbalance. More often than not, there is a psychological issue at play -- e.g. a wanting habit, attitude, emotion, etc. Attacks of illness can also come to us externally from adverse forces in the environment, including the influence of others through the subtle plane.

Once we discover what that is, and then make the concerted effort to overcome the limitation, the right quantity and balance of energies are restored in our being, enabling the body, the psyche, the emotions, the spirit to become well and whole again. Interestingly the restoration of health can literally happen instantaneous to the discovery of the source of the problem. That is life responding at the physical/bodily level to our change of consciousness within.

 

Discovering the Inner Cures for Illness
There are levels of illness that have roots from the most outer physical to the psychological down to the very level of the soul and why we are here on earth. To know the level at which illness originates is difficult, for then we would have to know every part of our being. That takes a great, no monumental effort, whether it be the individual who is ill or the healer who is trying to heal. To know thyself can take a lifetime, and then there are endless degrees.

Therefore, in theory every person can heal themselves, and every healer can know how to heal any individual. But the true cause, the true knowledge, and the right cure of the illness (and of life for that matter) would have to be in place. That will take many centuries to come about, because what we now know of life barely scratches the surface. Even doctors know very little except the obvious; the material symptom; and a mechanistic, material cause, not the root of the matter.

An illness indicates an imbalance of some sort that has an inner cause. To discover what that is would certainly be helpful -- both for our consciousness and our well-being.

One man I know of keeps breaking down in the form of fatigue, exhaustion, headaches, etc. It is primarily due to too much thinking. Given his natural propensities, he has overworked himself at the level of mind, and therefore needs to balance it with some other type of work, initiative, activity, exercise, etc. that will restore the balance. At the point he does, health will improve, and, ironically, life will provide him with the profound life lessons he seeks mainly through thought.

It turned out that Karmayogi helped this individual understand his personal imbalance, even though he sometimes fell back and repeated the same thing. As a result, his body broke down again in creative, new ways. When it became severe, he sought the advice of doctors. But when they examined him, they were baffled and found nothing. That's because the cause was inner. Naturally, they could find no inner cause, nor, as it turned out, any outer symptom!

Karmayogi tends to know the causes of our illness if we present him (or his agents) with the facts. (So does Mother, if we sincerely offer it up to her to let us know the truth.)

Steve Jobs had the unbalance of being too absorbed in technology and gadgets, missing the higher life and consciousness that he was (ironically) familiar with. His disposition was also argumentative and possessive (he was an orphan), amidst his multi-dimensional technological genius. A slow, fatal illness was the result.

People suddenly pass away or spontaneously incur some dreaded disease, even when there is no propensity to do so in one's family. It turns out that Jobs' biological parents are still living into their 80s.

When higher consciousness opportunities avail themselves, and we don't take it, then our inner being is not pleased. It wants improvement, lest the subconscious will evoke illness to demand it.

People around us will know the inner cause of our outer difficulties from different angles. We too will know several of them; though we will tend to suppress their veracity. The spiritual teacher can perceive the inner cause very quickly. Whether we want to follow their advice, or even ask for it is up to us.

One woman I know with diabetes has all the knowledge of the conditions and causes, yet is reluctant to change her habits. It is there in several generations -- both the disease and the dispensation towards unchangeability. 

We are fixed beings. But Life is change; progressively so. The difference between the two is disequilibrium. It manifests through our troubles -- as accidents, illnesses, failures, etc.

Human choice is ours. When the WILL TO CHANGE can match our understanding of the outer conditions and the inner causes, there will be real progress.

Our fixidity, the chains of the physical consciousness, the downpull of the subconscious, our limiting attitudes, etc. keep solutions at bay; keep the disequilibrium intact. The choice is ours to bring it back into Harmony.

Discovering the Inner Cures for Illness
There are levels of illness that have roots from the most outer physical to the psychological down to the very level of the soul and why we are here on earth. To know the level at which illness originates is difficult, for then we would have to know every part of our being. That takes a great, no monumental effort, whether it be the individual who is ill or the healer who is trying to heal. To know thyself can take a lifetime, and then there are endless degrees.

Therefore, in theory every person can heal themselves, and every healer can know how to heal any individual. But the true cause, the true knowledge, and the right cure of the illness (and of life for that matter) would have to be in place. That will take many centuries to come about, because what we now know of life barely scratches the surface. Even doctors know very little except the obvious; the material symptom; and a mechanistic, material cause, not the root of the matter.

The Human Body Needs to Be transformed for Illness to Be a Thing of the Past.

".. all the worlds, even the vital world, everything depends on the attitude, and if you are in contact with the Divine, everything is fine, there's no problem, but this (Mother touches her body), this physical suffering -- cancer and all those things -- it's so concrete: it HAS to change, it has to change. It can't be considered something one must "see in a different way." It actually must change. You understand what I mean? 

... In all other domains, it depends on the attitude; here [the physical] it doesn't depend on the attitude... the FACT has to change, ... Because the world, the material world as it is, it is a FRIGHTFUL thing.

...for the transformation to be genuine, the body ALSO has to attain a harmony above -- above all illnesses and accidents.

It is the only part. The other parts of the being can be transformed, can transform their consciousness while remaining what they are -- but the physical body needs to change." (The Mother)

 

 

The Mind of the Cells
 Several decades ago, the French author Satprem wrote a book called 'The Mind of the Cells.' It was his interpretation of the experiences of Mira Alfassa -- later known to her followers as 'The Mother.' In the book, Satprem documents the life long pursuit of The Mother to transform her body in order to permanently overcome pain, disease, and even death itself. Satprem's book was entitled 'The Mind of the Cells' because in the process of experimentation and discovery involving her body, The Mother began to realize that the cells had a consciousness of their own, and if their 'perceptions' could be reoriented, they would not decay, and fall into disease, illness, and death.

Today if we look around, we see that science may soon be able to overcome several forms of illness, including heart attack and stroke -- leaving only cancer and other major forms of atrophy to be resolved in the future. It is said that individuals could live well into their hundreds as a result. One pioneering technologist even believes that it may be possible to live to 1000 or more through the wonders of modern science. I for one certainly do not doubt that possibility.

And yet, The Mother's approach to the transformation of the body's capacities was entirely different; and I believe, will prove to be far more effective in the long run. And it is for this reason: the effort she made is in fact the direction that the human body itself is evolving towards. Slowly man's greater consciousness is beginning to have an impact on the cellular matter that makes up our physicals bodies. The Mother's effort was an experiment to speed up the process; to overcome tens of generations of evolutionary change in a single lifetime. Though she succeeded only in part, she identified most of the subtle cellular constraints that need to be overcome.  

Her approach was to enable unending life by changing the programming of the cells through the influence of the higher consciousness of the spiritual Force. By opening to the wider power and energy of that Force, the inbuilt programming of the cells, which now subscribes to the inevitability of suffering and decay, gives way to a wider 'understanding of possibility', including the belief and faith in its own unending health and immortality.

Even now, we are beginning to see the power we have over the body's illness. We have come to understand that the body often falls ill because a person is unwilling or unable to make a certain psychological change necessary for that individual's personal growth and progress. As a result, the body falls in. If that person, however, crosses over that threshold and makes the necessary life change -- perhaps a change in an attitude, or taking to a new level of psychological strength, or takes a new unprecedented action -- the body can relent and health is restored. This is but one of several insights into the subtle nature of health that others are discovering around the world. Of course, many are aware of the power of the Spirit to heal. Done in the right way, and with the widest understanding of the Spiritual Reality and its various powers, there can be ultimate effectivity through this approach.

It is then only a matter of degree for the tissues and cells themselves to become conscious and readjust their programming to believe in their possibility of unending longevity. As our bodies become conscious to their own possibility of unending health and life, they may evolve themselves and achieve what they have come to perceive.  Yes, we can use medicines and genetic engineering to accomplish similar results, but it would not be the more fundamental evolutionary change that The Mother was after. We have not become more mental and spiritual beings because of technology, but as a result of a development in understanding and consciousness.

So while I encourage all scientific developments that try to improve the conditions for the physical body -- even those whose outcome might be unending life through technology -- I believe that it does not address the fundamental issue of our physical existence; how to reverse the functioning of the cells from its current status of disbelief to one of belief in unending health and existence. It is then just a matter of our becoming more conscious at various levels, which extends to the cells of our body, which then shares that wisdom and perception.

When we take up that challenge and learn to utilize the Spirit to alter the mindset and belief systems of our own selves, extending to the Mind of the Cells, then we will be creating the conditions for a permanent end to suffering, illness, decay, disease, and even death itself. It seems to be an inevitable part of our evolutionary destiny.

 

Modification of Psychological Status

Reversing Psychological, Ego Deficiency

Many fall ill due to a psychological or ego deficiency. Discovering and reversing that can have a great positive effect; even cure instantly.

Overcome Inner Limitation to Overcome Health Problem
 A person's health can immediately take a turn for the better when a deep seated attitude, habit, prejudice, or opinion is changed. Overcoming the offending weakness, releases the block of energy in the body, which enables the body to heal rapidly.

Psychological Control Over Physical Well-Being 
 A human's health and well-being is far more determined by his psychological makeup, whether conscious or unconscious, than the effect of microbes, viruses, etc. When one gain's mastery over one's inner psychological thoughts and feelings one is able to gain a mastery and control over the well-being of the body. (This is the real frontier of medical thought and practice.) If the right emotional, attitudinal, psychological factors are in place for that individual, he is far less likely to be fall into or remain in a state of poor health. 

For example, a person's health can immediately take a turn for the better when a deep seated attitude, habit, prejudice, or opinion is changed. Overcoming the offending weakness, releases the block of energy in the body, which enables the body to heal rapidly.

An individual was having intense neck pain for months. He decided to overcome his reluctance to confront his boss with a situation in which he was not being dealt with fairly. Five minutes after the meeting, the pain of six months completely went away.

(This is not to say that here are no outside influences on his body. For example a chemical carcinogen can cause cancer in the body. Anyone ingesting foods that contain it in high enough dosages is susceptible to it. In addition, there are other obvious forces of nature at work. Most prominently at this point in human evolution humans are afflicted by deterioration and death in old age. There is also the effect of our genetic makeup passed on by previous generations on our current health. Then there are the forces of physical nature, such as natural catastrophes. We are only suggesting that having the proper consciousness dramatically reduces one's propensity for illness in the course of one's lifetime.)

 

Trace Inner Cause of Ailment to Eliminate It
 What happens to us around us is a reflection of what is inside us. We call this Inner-Outer Correspondence. We can see this phenomenon at work as it relates to our health. We can trace a physical ailment to a wanting capacity or character weakness (attitude, habit, opinion, desire, etc.) inside ourselves. 

Try this as an experiment. Take any minor ailments like a cut or headache, or gas formation. Then think about what aspect of your being (limiting attitude, action, response, etc.) can be correlated to the minor ailment.  You will see that this effort that locates their cause can in of itself release energies to heal the cut a day earlier, make the ache in the head vanish in a trice or belch out the gas. 

Once you see the results of this correlation, you can follow the same idea with more serious ailments. 

 

To Get Rid of Disease
Find out psychological cause and offer it to Mother. See how the illness relates to one's growth. Practice CHEEFULNESS, POSITIVE ATTITUDE, and extreme PATIENCE when ill. Don't focus on the illness, as it gives it more strength. Offer at all points to the Mother.

Right Attitudes
-There is no greater support for physical health than having a positive attitude.  Elimination of fear, doubt, anxiety, depression, and restlessness can really help one's health.  Letting the mind and heart dwell on positive thoughts and feelings is a great support for physical health.

-We can say that in life we are all from time to time tested by influence of the physical Nature. In particular the qualities we need to have to deal with these tests are plasticity, cheerfulness, and fearlessness.

Cheerfulness & Happiness Brings  Health
A cheerful disposition helps to keep the body healthy and young. Happiness energizes the body and makes it more resistant to disease and disorders. (N. Asokan, MSS)

Overcoming Habits, Acting from Knowledge, that Avoids Illness
The body acts from habits, making for rigidity. He who acts from knowledge, finds his body more supple. To raise the level of the act and to act form the rules of the spirit, the body becomes so flexible that diseases find it hard to lodge in the body. (MSS)

 

Not Accepting Illness at Outset

Don't Accept Illness At The Outset
 It is human nature to immediately react to the first onset of a pain by saying "Oh I have a cold," or "Oh I have a tooth problem," and so forth. If you can catch yourself immediately jumping to such a conclusion when a pain comes for the first time, you can literally eliminate the pain from turning into any sort of real illness.

Reacting to your illness in this way encourages the "consciousness" of your own body to suddenly feel a sense of its own importance, causing it to want to assert itself further by giving off more pain. It is not unlike a child who is given more positive attention when he is acting foolishly. 

As soon as a pain begins try to ignore it, or if it is persistent, try to remain absolutely still inside for a few moments (allow no thoughts and feeling s within yourself). The pain should decrease a good amount within a very few moments. For example, when a sore throat first comes on note how it seems to be coming in from the outside.  Then remain very very still, not reacting to or giving in to the onset of the attack.  After a while the throat will clear, preventing any possibility of further illness. 

(Yet another technique that can work is to actually yell at the cells of the body that are in an uproar. Just as one would need to be strong with an out of control child, one can yell at the out of control body cells, ordering them to calm down.  E.g. "You must stop that throbbing, and calm down." We have seen this approach work many times!)

Also, if you are beginning to feel ill, avoid rushing out and telling anyone; especially your doctor!  

Don't Focus On Illness
In most cases, the more you focus on your ailment, the worse it will get. 

Calm on Onslaught of Pain
Whenever you feel a physical pain, do not react to the sensation with any mental or emotional feelings. Keep calm, and then begin to ignore the pain completely. Don't mention it to someone else, especially a doctor.

Proper Attention to Illness
Trivial disorders are likely to get aggravated if too much attention is paid to them. On the other hand symptoms of dangerous disorders if ignored can lead to fatal conditions. What should be taken note of and what should be ignored requires a firm sense of discrimination. (N. Asokan, MSS)

The Calm that Can Overcome Continuing Effect of Onslaught of a Pain
In our observations of life, we have noticed that if one feels a sudden pain, and then intensely focuses on and reacts to that pain, it will invariably intensity. If, on the other hand, one were to control one's reaction, --  such as not giving into the fear or worry that normally accompanies such an experience --  then the pain has a tendency to rapidly recede on its own. For example, let's say you feel the first symptoms of a cold coming on. If, instead of reacting to this onslaught and giving in to your fears, you remain calm and put your mind at rest, in an hour or two there's a good chance that when you observe yourself again, you will realize that you never had any symptoms after the original onslaught

This is surely very different from our ordinary view of such situations, in which we place our trust and faith in the 'reasonable' view of science that tells us that once microbes enter, the illness is inevitable. Instead, our psychological shift or transition away from obsession with pain, and withdrawal of fear, moved us from negativity to the positive. In terms of life response, we see how shifts or transitions in our psychological perceptions, in our consciousness can alter the inevitability of negative. From a deeper consciousness still, we would have never reacted in any way to the onslaught in which case the problem would have disappeared instantly. Perhaps it would have never come into being in the first place. Again, we see that the level of our consciousness determines whether something is negative or not.

Overconcern Increases Problem
The more you concern yourself with a pain or illness, the more it will grow. The same principle applies to a negative emotions, attitudes, or false actions.

Worry, Attention to Illness Energizes It
Man worries so much about an ordinary problem of his that it is energised by his intense attention and possesses him as an octopus. It is the same with diseases.

Negative Response to Overreaction
A calm detached and non-reactive condition is certainly a fine psychological position from which to face the world. Roy Sir's coinage of the term "Beingness" is somewhat unique as I do not find it in Sri Aurobindo's or Mother's writings. Anyway it is an apt coinage to describe what he has put forth and his examples are very relevant to the point he is putting forth.

I have seem many incidents of what overreacting leads too. Small disturbances get blown up into big quarrels simply because the concerned parties overreact and make much of petty misdeeds. When a Serbian nationalist killed the heir-apparent to the Austro-Hungarian empire it got blown up into such a big issue that the result was the outbreak of world war one which lead to the death of millions of soldiers and civilians.

Petty physical aliments like a mild fever or headache will disappear on their own in a few hours if the concerned individual chooses to ignore the discomfort. I have seen the ailment getting markedly worse when the patient takes it seriously and goes to the doctor in an agitated manner and demands relief.

Something in the human personality responds in an exaggerated manner to contacts of the outside world. It may be the vital's love of drama. If the vital can be trained to absorb the shocks and touches of the outside world in a reasonable and composed manner it will help us attain the calm and detached condition described as "Beingness" by Roy sir in a big way. (N. Asokan MSS)

Method of Telling the Body to "Shut Up"
-The Mother calls our body the noblest of instruments. At the same time, it is stupid, She says. Body is docile. It wants to obey. Its faith and humility are touching. That is what Mother says of Her body. Its obedience is unquestioning. Whatever the mind says, the body does. And the mind is often perverse. Obeying mind's perverse orders, body falls ill, is Mother's definition.

So, when there is any ailment, She advises us to speak to the body, 'You idiot, shut up!' several times. When spoken strongly to, the body, overcoming its earlier behaviour of utter obedience, begins to quiet down. The ailment disappears. People laugh at hearing this, but also out of fun practise it a few times. Invariably the ailment vanishes. It is surprising, but they forget it.

-'Shut up, you idiot!' is one of Mother's humourous ways of drawing our attention to our long accumulated layers of Mind that are steeped in superstition. (MSS)

 

Using the Spirit

Power of the Spiritual Force to Heal

-The spiritual Force can overcome any illness. Aspire deeply for its removal, and call in Her Force saying 'They Will Be done." he more intense, even desperate, the greater the result.

-The supramental power and Force has unprecedented ability to heal in the world. Learning to channel that power can cure illness very reapidly.

The Curative Power of the Spiritual Force
When there is illness, remain calm, and gently call in the spiritual Force. It will have a curative effect, especially if one is patient, cheerful, and positive. It will seem like a miracle, but it is the infinite, creative, and dynamic power inherant in that Force.

Spiritual Power Over Health
A descent of spiritual peace and light can have a remarkably curative effect on the body. When medicines fail to deliver, many religious minded people try to invoke these through prayer. (N. Asokan, MSS)

Untitled
Faith in the spiritual Force heals all.

Faith in the Divine that Cures
Man believes that illness can be cured only by medicine while we must believe that the body cures itself. As a compromise, we take medicines. Instead of the 10 doses, the body cures itself in 2 doses. To have full faith in [the divine] Mother is to fully believe that She will cure us and She WILL cure us. As Mother advises we must be fully ready to take all the medicines. What happens is that one is cured by not going to the doctor at all or quickly cured after going to the doctor but that disease never comes again. (MSS)

Curing Neck Pain through the Force
 There is a also physical pain in the neck due to the bone in the spine wearing out. Doctors advise a brace for the neck and care in the movements. A lady, a native of Pondicherry, developed such a pain. The pain became acute. There was no remedy in medicine.

She found the pain unbearable. Though a native of Pondicherry, she knew nothing of The Mother. Recently she heard of Her and began to develop faith in Mother. She found that no prayer to Mother fails. It was surprising to her. Her knowledge of The Mother was that She was a powerful deity. Her experience confirmed it.

Her mind had not gone beyond that, nor was there any curiosity to inquire. Once someone gave a flower to her husband. For about ten days her husband brought that flower home. A friend explained to her what Mother has said about flowers. That talk strayed to Prosperity flower. She vaguely recalled that that flower was the one her husband had been bringing earlier, called nagalingam, 'Prosperity'.

Her beauty parlour was a modest one. Suddenly she remembered that during the ten days when 'Prosperity' was coming to her, her parlour was giving her Rs. 1000 per day.

Faith in the Mother sprouted. She wanted to pray to Mother to get rid of her neck pain. The faith overlooked the opinions of some doctors who had given it up. She sat in meditation one day. As she went in deeply, she found a powerful force entering her left hand. It frightened her. She got up and left the place. In spite of the fright, something in her longed for that experience again.

It was the Force entering her body. She resumed the meditation. Again the Force entered. It was alternatingly frightening and fascinating. There was no pain in the neck now. It was unbelievable! The pain in the neck left her once and for all. In her life it was a miraculous incident. The Force that enters can frighten people, as it is very strong. But the fascination will be greater and will overcome the fright. The human in us is frightened; the Soul in us is receptive and enjoys the touch of the Force. (MSS)

Consecration Ends "Illness"
A woman had an x-ray done indicating a possible growth in her chest. She had faith and decided to consecrate the return visit to the doctor. The doctor, completely baffled, told her that his new reading of this very same x-ray (not a new one) revealed a completely normal condition.

Centered in Spirit One Enjoys the Greatest Health
Health is a priceless possession not only in advanced age but at all stages of growth, and to be centred in the Spirit is the surest way of enjoying the greatest health. (MSS)

To Get Rid of Disease
Find out psychological cause and offer it to Mother. See how the illness relates to one's growth. Practice CHEEFULNESS, POSITIVE ATTITUDE, and extreme PATIENCE when ill. Don't focus on the illness, as it gives it more strength. Offer at all points to the Mother.

Not Accepting Negative Views of Surroundings
 The Mother says: "First do not have extravagant ideas or a depressing education on the disease. Naturally, if you live in surroundings where there are morbid ideas and people pass their time recounting disastrous and catastrophic things, then you may think wrongly. And if you think wrongly, this reacts on your body. But the body is quite confident. I have seen others whose family has drummed into them since the time they could understand, that everything is dangerous, that there are microbes everywhere, that one must be very careful, that the least wound may prove disastrous, that one must be altogether on one's guard and take great care that nothing serious happens So, they must have their wounds dressed, must be washed with disinfectants, and there they sit wondering: "What is going to happen to me? Oh! I may perhaps get tetanus, aseptic fever etc etc and they get what they want."

Naturally, in such cases one loses confidence in Divine and the body feels the effects keenly. Three fourths of the body's resistance disappears. But normally, naturally, it is the body which knows that it must remain healthy, and it knows it has the power to react.

So all that we have to do is not to think of it and consecrate that thought."

So first stop thinking that you will be in the group of hundreds who got that flu. And think that you will be the in the group of lakhs who didn't got that flu. Think of Mother whenever such thought comes. (Ramesh for MSS)

Curing Illness through Prayer and Faith
When devotees of the Force fall ill, they pray for a cure. Whether it is allopathy, ayurveda, or other method is immaterial. As a rule, they place greater faith in the Divine and secondarily in the drug and the physician. A cure invariably comes. Learning to look on the physician as an instrument of Grace has proved effective in most cases, maybe all cases. Our experience is that few have total faith, which can even dispense with the necessity for the treatment in the first place. (Paraphrase of MSS)

Limits on Praying for Cancer Cure for Others
Regardless of what some churches say to the contrary, generally, it is not advisable -- its even dangerous, since ALL diseases are contagious -- to pray for the cure of others. There are exceptions, such as one's child or dearest love one. In all cases the best possible results are attained when the patient himself prays.

On Cause of Cancer
Mother says cancers express the vibration of greed. Therefore, the best we can do for humanity is to conquer this vibration in ourselves by offering it to Mother and invoking Her power of transformation.

Clearing the Negative Energy
Mother gives a simple solution for cleaning the negative energy. Imagining the Mother's white or Sri Aurobondo's blue light above your head and then let the light descend into your body cleaning away all that is not your true self and fill with Mother's energy. (Ramesh, paraphrased)

Call Peace to Overcome Pain
Calling peace into yourself is also a way to reduce physical pain. When a pain occurs, quiet your mind, and don't let it give sanction to the pain (i.e. don't give in to such thoughts and feelings as "Oh no not again" or "Now I have to go to the doctor"). Then call in Peace into yourself for a few moments. Relax. Then watch the pain ease or even disappear. This is also a great technique for reducing stress.

The New Freedom of the Body to Decide Its Fate 
 Unlike other parts of the human being we can say that the body has the least freedom to decide its own fate. We can say that we have mental freedom; e.g. wee are feel to feel as we wish; and we have vital freedom; e.g. we can feel as we wish. However the body does not have this determinism to decide its fate. It is not conscious enough to do so. However with the descent of the Force into the body, the cells of the body feel that it is its own master, that it is autonomous. If it becomes ill the will of the cells of the body can decide to get better. This is a more conscious will. This can occur when the spiritual Force descends into the body. So if one opens to this Force on a regular basis then a connection is made between our mental will and this physical will so that the cells of the body can better respond to the will of the mind. Now the body determines if it is going to better or worse, our mental will over it is almost nil. If the body's cells becomes more conscious by opening to the Force, a system is now available to overcome illness. 

The End of Suffering and the Spiritual Evolution of Man
The great spiritual teachers and avatars in history have confronted the issue of suffering in a variety of ways. Krishna who was to his followers God incarnate said that suffering was part of the Divine plan - i.e. it served a useful purpose in creation. Buddha was shocked by suffering and death, and saw life as impermanent as a result. He therefore sought a way out of this state by moving within where he found permanence in the eternal-like bliss of Nirvana. Jesus said the way out of suffering was Love. However, the church turned him into an icon of suffering -- i.e. that he suffered for our sins so that we could live in life after death heaven without suffering.

Each of the insights of these great beings are profound; yet each inherently are lacking in something. Krishna has the most profound view, though suffering and pain still remains unsolved. Buddha addressed suffering head-on, but found no solution other than being detached from it in silent bliss within. Jesus' followers twisted his message; that the end of suffering could only be found in heaven, not on earth.

The Indian sage and seer Sri Aurobindo agrees that suffering is part of the Divine plan - i.e. it creates more diversity/multiplicity through which Divine action can unfold. But he also acknowledged that we needed to overcome, abolish suffering, disease, and death in life once and for all. He said that this was accomplished by bringing the Spirit into the becomings of life; by opening ourselves to the spiritual Force which would overcome all human limitation, including suffering and death.

As he indicated, this Force is the Creator power that enabled a universe to emerge from a Divine Source and Reality, and it also available to us to overcome the limitations of life, including disease, suffering, and death. When we open to that Power, they begin to quickly give way. Sri Aurobindo thus brings the evolutionary spiritual process of Creation to bear to overcome the limitations of humanity, ushering in a new stage of life on earth. He links consciousness and spirit to the modern evolutionary evolution to overcome suffering in life. He asks us to bring the spiritual Force and Being into the becomings of our life to transform humanity.

The Doctor Who Has The Inner Vision Of The Patient's Illness
 From the deepest consciousness the doctor can perceive that a state of illness was a necessity, often a willed necessity by the soul in order to go faster on the path -- to save time, to gain lives. This is one example of bringing a higher consciousness to the situation. He can also understand the importance of peace, of opening to the spiritual Force, and other aspects of higher consciousness. If that same doctor can also have perfect medical knowledge, knowing all that they know about the human body and the way to cure it, he will bring a magnificent service to the patient. (Paraphrase of The Mother; The Agenda Volume 5, September 26, 1964)

Overcoming Phobias through the Spirit
 Fear is an emotion. No one likes it. When fear acquires a reality, i.e. a personality and rules the person, then we say he suffers from a phobia, though both words mean the same. Being in God is indefinable security. Being away from God, in ego, causes fear. Man does not seek the security in God. He seeks that security in his family, friends, and society.

To be accepted by the society, to be adored by the family is security. To be left out by the society, to be despised by our own family causes loneliness. Loneliness in weak people generates fear. The fear of the known is heavy. The fear of the unknown is crushingly heavy, as it can crush one out of his existence. One clearly feels that one can be free of this phobia only when his life quits his body.

Medicine has a way of offering some relief for some time. Generally any of these reliefs for a period leads to aggravation of the fear, the symptoms reappearing more strongly. The opposite of phobia is security. An affectionate family offers an admirable psychological sense of security. Popularity which is social acceptance creates a sense of social security.

Innate GOODNESS and the belief in it often brings an expansive smile to the lips, as that native goodness is the source of psychological security. Beyond the family, society, and ethics lies spiritual security, the knowledge that one is a Spirit inside. Well, that is something for the sages. We are not rishis or sages. During times of stress of phobia, if one takes to meditation and goes in dwelling on the idea that he is a Spirit, the relief is instantaneous, tangible and will last longer than what one gets otherwise.

A Blessing Packet is prasad [i.e. blessed] from the Divine Mother. It carries Her power. Put it on the stomach before going to bed and keep it there during sleep. There will be no fear during the sleep. Should this experience give you the touch of spiritual security, understand the when the idea that Spirit is real, The Mother is real, is accepted by the Mind, the phobia will go away forever. Claustrophobia is one such dreadful fear. The Blessing Packet carries The Mother's presence.

It gives sure temporary relief. If the Mind moves to the IDEA that the Mother is Spirit and desires to seek it, the relief is instantaneous and lasting. One can accept the Spirit which is powerful. But one can feel the several grades of relief and choose what he prefers. Mantras of any description can have a similar effect. As long as MAN seeks the Spirit in one form or another, relief of some level is sure. (MSS, slightly modified)

Need of Healthy Body for Spiritual Aspirant
Spiritual aspirants also need to keep their bodies fit and strong. Otherwise the pressure of incoming spiritual forces may be too strong for a weak and unexercised body to bear. (N. Asokan, MSS)

The Mind of the Cells
 Several decades ago, the French author Satprem wrote a book called 'The Mind of the Cells.' It was his interpretation of the experiences of Mira Alfassa -- later known to her followers as 'The Mother.' In the book, Satprem documents the life long pursuit of The Mother to transform her body in order to permanently overcome pain, disease, and even death itself. Satprem's book was entitled 'The Mind of the Cells' because in the process of experimentation and discovery involving her body, The Mother began to realize that the cells had a consciousness of their own, and if their 'perceptions' could be reoriented, they would not decay, and fall into disease, illness, and death.

Today if we look around, we see that science may soon be able to overcome several forms of illness, including heart attack and stroke -- leaving only cancer and other major forms of atrophy to be resolved in the future. It is said that individuals could live well into their hundreds as a result. One pioneering technologist even believes that it may be possible to live to 1000 or more through the wonders of modern science. I for one certainly do not doubt that possibility.

And yet, The Mother's approach to the transformation of the body's capacities was entirely different; and I believe, will prove to be far more effective in the long run. And it is for this reason: the effort she made is in fact the direction that the human body itself is evolving towards. Slowly man's greater consciousness is beginning to have an impact on the cellular matter that makes up our physicals bodies. The Mother's effort was an experiment to speed up the process; to overcome tens of generations of evolutionary change in a single lifetime. Though she succeeded only in part, she identified most of the subtle cellular constraints that need to be overcome.  

Her approach was to enable unending life by changing the programming of the cells through the influence of the higher consciousness of the spiritual Force. By opening to the wider power and energy of that Force, the inbuilt programming of the cells, which now subscribes to the inevitability of suffering and decay, gives way to a wider 'understanding of possibility', including the belief and faith in its own unending health and immortality.

Even now, we are beginning to see the power we have over the body's illness. We have come to understand that the body often falls ill because a person is unwilling or unable to make a certain psychological change necessary for that individual's personal growth and progress. As a result, the body falls in. If that person, however, crosses over that threshold and makes the necessary life change -- perhaps a change in an attitude, or taking to a new level of psychological strength, or takes a new unprecedented action -- the body can relent and health is restored. This is but one of several insights into the subtle nature of health that others are discovering around the world. Of course, many are aware of the power of the Spirit to heal. Done in the right way, and with the widest understanding of the Spiritual Reality and its various powers, there can be ultimate effectivity through this approach.

It is then only a matter of degree for the tissues and cells themselves to become conscious and readjust their programming to believe in their possibility of unending longevity. As our bodies become conscious to their own possibility of unending health and life, they may evolve themselves and achieve what they have come to perceive.  Yes, we can use medicines and genetic engineering to accomplish similar results, but it would not be the more fundamental evolutionary change that The Mother was after. We have not become more mental and spiritual beings because of technology, but as a result of a development in understanding and consciousness.

So while I encourage all scientific developments that try to improve the conditions for the physical body -- even those whose outcome might be unending life through technology -- I believe that it does not address the fundamental issue of our physical existence; how to reverse the functioning of the cells from its current status of disbelief to one of belief in unending health and existence. It is then just a matter of our becoming more conscious at various levels, which extends to the cells of our body, which then shares that wisdom and perception.

When we take up that challenge and learn to utilize the Spirit to alter the mindset and belief systems of our own selves, extending to the Mind of the Cells, then we will be creating the conditions for a permanent end to suffering, illness, decay, disease, and even death itself. It seems to be an inevitable part of our evolutionary destiny.
 

Also See Thoughts on Spiritual Methods of Achievement in Life

 

Integral Approaches

Idea of Pure Health that Overcomes Illness
Our body due to atavism believes in illness. When the Idea of pure health generates in the Illumined Mind, it can travel down to our body and replace its faith in illness, thus abolishing illness forever.

Health and Goodness, Right Behavior
Health is mainly due to goodness inside.

When we are in a status to manage our selves, we ignore health and think that this can be managed later.

When we ignore our body's request to attend to a problem we invite trouble which can be life long.

Basically we ignore the ancient wisdom of being good and doing good to others, and we give importance to how we are outwardly, hence we are inwardly hence creating a conflict in our own thought process.

Honestly we know that we are not what we need to be and we differ from what we must be doing in our life in terms of goodness, and also often ignore The Mother's presence and indulge in activities that are against what She teaches us.

When this state of goodness inside is affected , signs of deterioration shows up. 

That is the reason why our ancestors told us that we must think only good, and when bad thoughts comes, we must replace with good ones.

Negative with Positive etc...

In our [Indian] mythology they say bad thoughts precedes self destruction.

This is very true and also in case of health.

Health by itself is just not correct clinical readings like what many of us think. It is being dynamic, good, peaceful, stress free, confident and have the ability to respond rightly to any life events.

When health is not perfect we may not be able to properly respond to life events as our thoughts will not be healthy or positive.

Hence to develop good health, developing a positive outlook and always surrender to The Mother. Seeking her help when we are helpless helps a lot.

I feel this is universal and reason why our ancient RISHIS lived hundreds of years without any diseases or YOGIS in the HIMALAYAS are believed to have lived very very long life. It is because of streamlining thoughts and inner self.

The Mother and Kamayogi always say that the outside world is a reflection of our inner world; hence if we want change the outer, we need to change the inner.

This brings abundance and many positive results including providing the very best of health. (Ramanan)

Overcoming Serious Illness
 If you do have a very serious illness try to do the following:

-   Remain as calm as possible. This will help you create the underlying conditions for recovery.

-   Try to maintain a positive attitude. This will also help you create the underlying conditions for recovery. This is very important.

-   If possible, try to understand the psychological problem, attitude that is at the heart of the current illness. Now make an effort to change that attitude.  Also, remember in the past when that attitude showed itself, and try to reverse the situation in your mind. Hope for positive changes in relation to this attitude in the future.

-   If you have a psychological or spiritual discipline, such as prayer, use it. Stay positive and have faith in your discipline, and in the future outcome of your prayer. Watch for signs of positive development, even if the were not exactly what you were praying for.

One's Internal and External Life
He who lives in tune with nature lives a long life and it is a healthy life, too. One's external life can be in tune with the environment. His inner life too can be of the same vibration of the external surroundings. That inner life is known as character. Personality is a better description. (MSS)

Determinants of Good Health
One's level of stress, attitudes, level of consciousness in general, level of consciousness as it relates specifically to the body are of equal, if not greater importance, in maintenance of general physical health.

Ayurveda and Human Health
In Ayurveda they say there are 3 types of bodies each person carries and when any one is affected it results in diseases.

It is 1. Anna Maya Kosam 2. Pranamaya Kosam 3. Manomaya Kosam

Anna Maya Kosam is physical body which is built and maitained by ANNA or food.

This gets affected due to dietary imbalance or indigestion.

Many a times medicines and dietary adjustments cures this problem

Mostly our ALOPATHY attempts to cure these problems only

2. Pranamaya Kosa is the one which is built die to energy around our body and these are made of electrons or electrical energy which is proved scientifically

When there is a block in the flow of this energy it results in severe problems and can also lead to problems in annamaya kosa or physical body. Reiki and other healing methods, I think cures this problem.

3. Manomaya Kosa - Our thoughts

When our mind is affected both annamaya and pranamaya are affected.

Hence our ancestors told us to keep good thoughts and maintain it.

When thoughts are good and positive it takes care and in many cases addressing these issues have cured many diseases including diabetes and BP problems

Hence our ancestral wisdom is something amazing.

Pranayama gives energy through regulating our metabolism through right breathing habits and in fact our elders have proved that our thoughts become positive and more effective through right breathing habits.

Mother's light has miraculous effect and it cures. It gives ready relief.

This sets your physical imbalance of energy right and mother is the force of energy and many a times thinking mother generates enormous positive energy.

Hence health is about having a holistic approach and having all good practices and addressing health from this direction. (Ramanan)

 

Outer Approaches to Health
(top)

 

Some Tips on Healthfulness
 --Build Up Your Energy for Healthfulness -- The more energy you have the more likely you are going to be in better health. Anything that builds up your energy is healthful,; anything that reduces your energy is unhealthful. Specifically energy can be released in yourself -- by learning a new skills or niche, by keeping a general positive attitude, by changing a bad habit or poor attitude (this is an important one!*), by shifting our focus to others, by speaking less and more softly, by "calling" energy, by prioritizing our life activities, by eating right, by exercising, and by eliminating energy wasting activities, amongst others.

*A person's health can immediately take a turn for the better when a deep seated attitude, habit, prejudice, or opinion is changed. Overcoming the offending weakness, releases the block of energy in the body, which enables the body to heal rapidly.

Thoughts on Higher Levels of Energy

--Take Care of Yourself for Healthfulness -- Get the proper amount of rest; eat a healthy diet; and get some exercise. Avoid unnecessary stressful situations and environments. This is, of course, common sense!

--Reduce Stress for Healthfulness -- Most people believe that we become ill because we catch a virus. In fact, recent studies have shown that 60-90% of all illnesses are the result of stress. Moreover, there are even indications that non-bacterial, non-congenital forms of cancer and other diseases are also caused by lack of mental tranquility.

A simple suggestion to reduce stress is it to try to keep calm when stress is all around you. The more stressful your surroundings, the more one should go deeper within to find a place to remain calm. Second, take any actions in your life to reduce stress. Consider exercise, meditation, prayer, or other disciplines to reduce stress. Finally, consider reorganizing your priorities in life to reduce stress.

--Quality of Sleep for Healthfulness -- Getting the proper hours of rest, i.e. sleep, is important. Just as important is the quality of the sleep; i.e. its true restfulness. One can go into dreamless sleep of pure consciousness if one silences the mind, and calls in peace before sleeping. We can also learn from our sleep. Most dreams are mish mashes that don't mean much of anything, though there are instances where we can learn from the dreams. The overwhelming majority of nightmares are not premonitions of some sort. Very infrequently they are however. It depends on the inner capacities of the individual.

--Thoughts on Healthy Diet

Supermeal for Diabetes

Supermeal that not only helps with diabetes, but completely cures it: 

Super Meal menu/foods:

The five live foods that heal diabetes:

1. Super Carb: vegetables, plant foods - example: spinach, broccoli, asparagus, apples, celery, mushroom, seaweed, bitter melon, kothamalli etc.,

2. Super Protein: lean protein - example: tuna fish, salmon fish, beans, lentils, lean meat like - chicken meat, eggs.

3. Super Fats: omega fatty acid rich food - example: olive oil, walnut/hazelnut/almonds etc., nuts, ricebran oil, pumpkin seeds,

4. Super Liquids: filtered water, water from raw juices, green tea, herbal tea. AVOID TAP WATER.

5. Organic whole grains: sprouts, barley, oats, brown rice.



The five dead food to AVOID:

1. Refined flour
2. Refined sugar
3. Hydrogenated oils or trans fat: examples - margarine, fried foods, chips etc
4. Saturated fat: animal meat - like beef, pork, mutton, cow milk, cow cheese.
5. Alcohol or drugs or tobacco

_____________

Your super meal plate, would have a combination of Live food that cure.

The amount of food is around:

Super carbs: 30 to 45% of your food.
Super Fats: 25 to 35%
Super liquid: 16 to 24 ounces - AVOID SODA
Super Protein: 20 to 30%
Plus whole grain.

Internet Gives Vast Access to Knowledge More than the Doctor

-Internet now makes available to a patient a vast knowledge, which only experienced doctors possess. Internet gives the patient the knowledge of a disease which often patients do not share with their doctors. In certain minor diseases which the doctor rarely comes across, the patient can have a far greater information than his doctor from the Internet.

-Imagine the clients having as much knowledge as the professional has. A doctor may feel his patients are doctors. (MSS)

Benefit of Organic Farming
Organic farming has proved that those fed on its produce are immune to epidemic or endemic diseases. (MSS)
 

On Medicine, Vaccination, Doctor's Approach, Etc.
(top)
 

Body Cures Itself
Man believes that illness can be cured only by medicine while we must believe that the body cures itself. As a compromise, we take medicines. (MSS)

Self-Confidence Makes Medicine Medicine
The effectivity of medical treatment depends as much on the effectivity of the medicines as on the self-confidence of the patient. (N. Asokan, MSS)

Trust Makes Medicine Medicine
 That placebo medicines are able to restore health as much as real medicines shows the power of trust. The patient believes that the medicines will deliver the cure and the belief activates the curative powers of the body even in the absence of support from drugs. (N. Asokan, MSS)

On Medicines
Medicines are probably necessary for the most acute conditions. However, for lesser conditions medicines may be less necessary. In fact, our observation is that if an individual with a minor to midrange illness takes only a small dosage of the prescribed medicine, it may be enough to help in the healing process. 

Through thousands of years the human body has believed in and received relief through the healing power of medicine. This belief has passed down through the years into the very fibers of our "body consciousness." That is, the body itself (as opposed to our mental knowledge) "believes" in medicines. So when the body is given medicine the body knows it should try to get well. If that's the case, then even a small dosage of the prescribed medicine will trigger the body's belief in the healing power of medicine. The body then begins to get well. It's not so much the medicines that cures us to get well, but the recognition of the body of the medicine that turns the tide. 

This leads to an even more astounding realization that it is the body's "will" to get will that ultimately determines if a person gets over an illness. The body has a will in its cells (the body mind?) that is different even than the will of our conscious mind and its thoughts and our feelings and emotions.

There is also the possibility of the mind gaining control of the body will to reduce illness. Beyond that there is the utilization of the force of the higher consciousness to gain control over illness.

Though Vaccination Has Been Helpful, It is a Hindrance for Those Taking to Spirit
Vaccination saved the world from smallpox. The man who discovered a vaccine for polio was awarded the Nobel Prize. Plague killed a third of the population in England. Plague too met its death at the hands of modern medicine. Today most of the fell diseases of the world are extinct or nearly so. Even in poverty stricken India, similar measures have raised longevity from below 40 to above 60 years. This is a cardinal service. When people speak against memorization as a method of teaching, we are told all the stalwarts in the arena of world politics, especially Indian politics are the products of a system of which memorization is an essential part. It is true that memory is a great desirable power with astonishing results that astound us.

But as a tool of teaching, it is more a bar than a help. Vaccination introduces the disease into the system and thus creates immunity. Therefore, Mother does not approve of it. Those who live by Spirit rise above the need for a defence system in the blood. Their consciousness rises to a level where no disease can attack them. They are naturally immune to any disease. No immunity is called for, for them. Immunity is needed by those who are vulnerable to attack of diseases. To introduce a disease into such a healthy physical system is undesirable. That will weaken their natural resistance. Immunization is not for people who frequently invoke the Spirit. (MSS)

The Doctor Who Has The Inner Vision Of The Patient's Illness
 From the deepest consciousness the doctor can perceive that a state of illness was a necessity, often a willed necessity by the soul in order to go faster on the path -- to save time, to gain lives. This is one example of bringing a higher consciousness to the situation. He can also understand the importance of peace, of opening to the spiritual Force, and other aspects of higher consciousness. If that same doctor can also have perfect medical knowledge, knowing all that they know about the human body and the way to cure it, he will bring a magnificent service to the patient. (Paraphrase of The Mother; The Agenda Volume 5, September 26, 1964)

Faith in Doctor
We trust the doctor, because we have faith in doctors. We trust the medicine the doctor gives, because the doctor says it will work.

Doctor's Limited Perception of Illness
An example of ignorance expressing in life is a doctor only perceives a very limited solution because he is only addressing the surface problems of the patient.

Calm on Onslaught of Pain
Whenever you feel a physical pain, do not react to the sensation with any mental or emotional feelings. Keep calm, and then begin to ignore the pain completely. Don't mention it to someone else, especially a doctor.

How the Doctor, Scientist Should View the Science Behind the Field of Medicine

The Future of Medicine is Health, Integralization
Medicine should take to health, not merely curing diseases.
As medicine has resorted to specialization, now they must seek integralisation. (MSS)

The End of Medicine as a Profession through Vital, Mental Balance
Nature protects Man initially by its vigour.
Such a life had a longevity of ten years which is seventy years now.
Man giving himself the same protection Nature has given will lack the instinctive natural balance that maintains the equilibrium of energies.
In the accomplished yogis of certain schools, this balance was spiritually restored.
They cannot die a natural death by decomposition.
Coming from above spiritually it is called iccha mrithyu, death at will.
This is a balance and an equilibrium, not an integral one.
The supramental Being has that integral balance.
He is not born of a physical body, nor is he nourished physically.
Man has all the knowledge today to offer himself this balance in other levels.
The yogic balance was physically achieved long ago.
There is enough yogic knowledge to create a vital, mental balance.
Should it ever be achieved, medicine as a profession will be non-existent. (MSS)


Other
(top)

The Nature of the Body

The Changing Nature of the Body
Because every moment you're actually changing your body, reshuffling, exchanging its atoms and molecules with the rest of the universe, and you're doing it faster than you can change your clothes. In fact the bodies, which you're using right now to sit on the chairs, are not the bodies that you came in with a little while ago." Walt Whitman wrote: "Every atom that belongs to you as well belongs to me." And this is not a poetic metaphor, it's a fact. So if you think you are your material body, you certainly have a bit of a problem: Which one are you speaking of? (Deepak Chopra)

 

Cleanliness, Sanitation

Cleanliness, Sanitation, and Human Health
Cleanliness and health are positively related. Rising improvements in public sanitation have led to sharp reductions in mass epidemics that use to decimate populations in the past when public hygiene was low. (N. Asokan, MSS)


Obesity

Modern Sedentary Life Creates Illness
The physical exertions of primitive man kept his health robust and hardy. The comforts and sedentary life of civilized times have lessened the need for physical exertion. Unfortunately this has weakened his constitution and led to rising incidences of diabetes, heart diseases and caesarean deliveries. (N. Asokan, MSS)

On Obesity
In the West, prosperity makes them eat, rather overeat. About a third of the population is believed to be obese. For the first generation that came out of poverty, eating is irresistible. (MSS)

Obesity and First Generation Out of Poverty
Poverty consciousness becoming Prosperity consciousness has one generation of obese individuals in between... Generations that have missed food, compensate the loss when food is available. (MSS)

Obesity and First Generation Out of Poverty
The first generation that comes out of poverty tends to be overweight, as they finally have food in abundance. Then future generations become more educated and are better able control themselves and so weight comes down. In US Hispanics and Blacks who moved out of poverty became fattest. Educated next generations are having less of an eating problem. Similar for Indians in India. This is for overweightness in general. Fast food diet and other factors contribute to the quality of the food and therefore diabetes. Understanding the social causes of obesity and diabetes, including poverty, is a key to dealing with the problem. It indicates the psychological motivations and lack of control that drive gluttony.

 

Alcohol and Drug Abuse

The Legacy of Bill Wilson
Bill Wilson was a stockbroker in New York in the 1920s and 30s. He was a hard driving man; a compulsive stock speculator who turned to drink to keep his nerves intact. His intoxication became so extreme that he embarrassed his family, was often completely out of control, and frequently was found drunk on the floor of his home or on the streets of the city. His wife was often ready to leave him, and yet she stayed after endless incidents because she loved him. After awhile it became unbearable for her too as his bingers embarrassed friends and family. A few times he was taken away to the hospital and he was held down like a mentally deranged patient. She had even considered putting him in an asylum. He had now come to the end of the line.

One night he fell asleep in a drunken stupor. He felt he was going mad and that his life was over. Suddenly he woke and a bright light appeared all around him, as a sense of peace overwhelmed him. That peace stayed with him, and in one day he gave up alcohol completely.

He had such a profound experience that he tried to convert other alcoholics on the street with his new found faith, but failed utterly. His failure almost set him back to drinking since the cause of drinking in the first place was in part a fear of failure, amongst other things. Now he was failing again.

One day his boss asked him to go to Akron, Ohio to settle some financial affair. He was reluctant to go on one day notice, but went anyway. At night after the meeting he was edgy because of the intensity of the meeting. He had not taken a drink in six months. But now he saw a lounge in the hotel lobby where he could find women and drink, but somehow managed to control himself, and avoided going there. Finally, he could bear it no longer and went into the lounge. But when the bartender asked him what he wanted, instead of asking for a drink, he asked for 20 nickels. He then used those coins to call people who were members of a local church to see if they would simply talk to him. No one wanted to talk to him. Finally he found someone who would listen, and he hurried over to meet this man. It was a doctor (Dr. Bob Smith) who himself was a newly reformed, but only tentatively cured alcoholic. (The life response to his control and his decision to make the call to find someone to talk to appeared to me as the pivotal event that enabled his great accomplishment, and established his legacy.)

That night they discussed their experiences. It was a catharsis for both of them in that now they could talk out their problems on common ground. The conversations went on for days. As a result of this they met others who were afflicted, and talked with them casually as well. They too very much enjoyed the experience. He and his new doctor friend stayed in Akron and talked with many others. Finally a group was established there with regular meetings where drunkards could talk over their problems. The group then spread to other likeminded groups here and there around the country. This movement took on a life of its own, and spread like wildfire. This association spread throughout the world, until today where there are now 40,000 locations in over 100 countries. It is the AA, the Alcoholics Anonymous organization.

What struck me the most about this dramatization of Bill Wilson's life in a film was the fact that these two men simply needed to talk about their situations. They did not want treatment or religion, but conversation with a similarly afflicted individual to discuss their common hurt. The conversations gave them a feeling of support which engendered trust and gave strength, enabling members to better deal with their problem. That very need for casual conversation among like minded individuals in an anonymous setting was the very basis, the ultimate value that enabled AA to spread and succeed. It was that simple a method.

What these two had experienced together multiplied thousands of times over, becoming a phenomenon around the world. Life had responded to their intensity which spread and met a need of society. They were both the pioneers and guinea pigs who had to go through a terrifying ordeal in their lives to find the right method; which was simply talking over their addiction among fellow addicts.

In a way it seems no more a solution than a man discussing his problems with a friend or a psychologist. The difference was that the ability to simply talk to another with the same problem was the right method that became the salve that could enable a happier life; one unfettered by the torment of addiction. 

 

Illness and Old Age

Overcoming Habits, Acting from Knowledge, that Avoids Illness
The body acts from habits, making for rigidity. He who acts from knowledge, finds his body more supple. To raise the level of the act and to act form the rules of the spirit, the body becomes so flexible that diseases find it hard to lodge in the body. (MSS)

Illness, Aspiration, Soul, and Old Age

When the mind loses its curiosity, the vital loses its zest for life or the body fails to generate excess energy, it means the soul has decided that it cannot use this embodied being any more. Then OLD AGE sets in, senility follows, ailments get lodged in the body. As long as the mind wants to learn or the vital wants to live or the physical is energetic or the soul wants to use the being, there is neither old age nor death. It is possible to arrive at such a situation even at a young age. (MSS)

 

Gaining Knowledge by Being Open as We Grow Older
Your comparison of youth and age is very true and insightful. Young people have the energy, enthusiasm, openness and sense of adventure without the knowledge to use them to best advantage. Older people have the knowledge born of rich life experience which generates wisdom, but usually lack the openness and spirit of adventure to utilize that knowledge properly. Why is that?

Experience generates knowledge, but not always. It generates knowledge when we are willing to learn from our experiences, recognize our own errors and deficiencies and alter our behavior accordingly. In Pride & Prejudice, Darcy, Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet show the willingness to learn from their experiences, whereas Mrs. Bennet, Lydia, Wickham, Collins and Lady Catherine blame others for everything that goes wrong and insist on repeating their old patterns of behavior till the very end.

When we are receptive to learning, experience can generate knowledge of great value. But at the same time it often generates a sense of self-importance and fortifies the ego. Older people assert their superior knowledge as well as their right to be treated with greater importance. Each successful experience in life generates knowledge, but it also generates a sense of accomplishment which the ego appropriates as its own. When the soul aspires, the Divine responds with luck and Grace that the soul delights in. At the same time the ego tries to misappropriate the accomplishment, claiming it as its own and taking credit for what has been achieved, elevating its own status and importance.

This is true even when we fail in life. The soul gains as much knowledge from failure as from success, often greater knowledge that leads to its growth. But the ego despises failure and feels abused. It seeks to compensate by blaming others for its failure or discovering some explanation that affirms its superiority. Lady Catherine proclaims that had she ever learned music, she would have been highly accomplished. Her ego converts her failure into a sense of superiority.

It is not age that makes people closed. It is the seeking to reinforce our own value, our seeking for security instead of adventure, our ability to assert and exercise power over others, our bitterness at the achievements of others that makes us feel inferior in comparison.

The remedy for aging is to acquire greater self-knowledge as well as greater knowledge from each experience. Human Nature is ignorant, dark, false and filled with impurity and imperfections. Self-knowledge reveals to us more and more of our own imperfections, ignorance, selfishness, falsehood and incapacities, which only Mother can overcome. When we are sincere, each experience generates greater knowledge that we can use for accomplishment along with greater self-knowledge that we can use to overcome the ego.

When we are sincere to Mother, the more we progress, the more we learn and the more humble we become. Sincerity and humility keep us always open to Mother. (MSS)

 

Miscellaneous

Methods of Increasing Our Levels of Energy in Life

Facial and Skin Indicators of Health
Bright faces and shining skin are excellent indicators of health. When these two are there claims and pronouncements about ill-health are likely to be false. (N. Asokan, MSS)

Utility of Pain as Warning Mechanism
Pain is an unpleasant sensation that we would like to get rid of permanently. But it is nature's warning mechanism of injury and as such it plays a very positive role. (N. Asokan, MSS)

Illness and Ill-Will
One fascinating conclusion of our research is that often when an individual has a sharp pain or feel unwell it can actually be caused by another person's ill-will toward us. This is of course a difficult phenomenon to document, but that has been the experience of many individuals who participated in our research. For example one person gets a sharp pain somewhere and then another person (who in this instance has a hostile will to our beliefs or calls to us at a time of distress) suddenly calls on the phone or appears at our doorstep. (This is not to suggest that others are the only cause of our illness or pain. Needless to say this topic will require greater research to understand the outer causes of illness, the inner psychological causes of our illness, and the occult trans-human causes of illness.)

In the book Lady Anna by Trollope, Lady Anna suddenly gets sick after days of admonition from her mother against her marrying someone of a lower station. The mother even half-seriously says: "I will kill you if you marry this person." Even this angry thought, not truly intended literally, creates the illness in the other person. 

Health and Well-Being

-    A weakened or otherwise unbalanced psychological state attracts illness. 

-    Illness enters externally through the subtle physical body sheath, and then if penetrated and accepted by the person spreads. The fear of an illness increases its intensity.

-    The mind can try to control the propensity to illness through psychological improvement. Ultimately however only the Supramental consciousness can control illness, which has even deeper roots in the subconscient of the individual. 

-   The inconscience of the body makes transformation of the physical the most difficult of the three planes. It is obstructive, is tamasic, tending toward inertia, has a fixed nature, wants to repeat its same actions continuously, doesn't want to change. It is only the control of mind or greater still through the power of sprit and the Force that it can change. (MSS)

Health is Secured at All of the Physical, Vital, Mental, & Spiritual Levels of Our Being
-Health is very important for all, but no one thinks of it until he falls ill. When we are ill, we only think of getting rid of our illness, and do not so much consider restoring our health.

-One who is chronically ill or in old age dwells on health as it is a precious possession to him. Even when such people, by a fortunate turn of events, enter a state of health, they forget it.

-Health is a greater measure in treating a disease then the partial symptoms by which young doctors rush a patient into surgery or treatment. The origin of health is highly laudable values, more than good nutritious food. Food is a physical part, one part of the four - mental, vital, physical, and spiritual. The values one upholds govern his whole being. Right values lead a man to avoid unhealthy food.

-Health is a priceless possession not only in advanced age but at all stages of growth, and to be centred in the Spirit is the surest way of enjoying the greatest health. (MSS, extracted)

Spiritual Peace in Old Age
What can enable security in old age? It is Spiritual Peace. It overcomes loneliness, sense of failure, and other psychological afflictions of the elderly. It is also true for the young. Spiritual peace is Ultimate Security. (based on a thought of MSS)

Untitled
A cancer patient who is told by his benevolent doctor that he has no cancer releases his mental energy of belief and it cures his disease.

The Greater Respect Shown to the Invalid is Indicator of Evolution of Society
Moving from gross physicality to subtle mentality is to civilise oneself. The 20th Century has witnessed the latest expressions of such symbols of civilisation. One of them is mankind is awakening to the fact that an invalid is really not an invalid but one who faces a greater challenge from the physical social environment.

All over the world governments have recognised the necessity of supporting their existence. They are given preference in the field of employment. Laws have come to compel public utilities such as airports to design their buildings so that a wheelchair can always be accommodated at entrances. The progressive nature of a nation can be measured by its attitude towards an invalid population. Presently it is done as a concession to the invalids. A better step will be to recognise such accommodation as their natural right because there is a higher truth about them. The oppressed of all nations are slowly emerging into their own.

Though this too is done as a concession, there is a little more awareness now that it is their due. In recent decades, there has been a spate of apologies for sins of omission in the past centuries beginning with the ostracism of the Jews and ending in the dropping of nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Negroes of the USA, the untouchables of India were socially oppressed. Invalids are oppressed by Nature or biologically handicapped.

Spiritually, one is born with no eyesight or a crippled arm because his soul has chosen that experience. When one part is not functioning, the other parts become more sensitive and efficient. Since the soul has chosen that experience, it is not right for us to despise or neglect such a person. (MSS)

Errors in Health Systems Corrected by Computers; Unwillingness of Institutions to Change
Interns work long hours, miss their sleep, have to take important decisions in emergencies. As against a normal work week of 40 hours, they go up to 80 hours ordinarily, or occasionally to 130 hours. The wrong diagnosis in ICUs is up to 39%. It is a surprise that in these advanced nations, even in sophisticated hospitals, the capacity to change, change for the better is little. There are some hospitals which abound in errors in prescriptions, often leading to fatality.

The computer was introduced and 86% of such errors were eliminated. This is their own experience. Still, the resistance to avoid these errors, the unwillingness to change old habits, is great. Any new invention corrects to a very large extent, even up to 90% the errors of an old method.

The ills of such hospitals can be minimised or eradicated if computer is introduced to prevent them. They know that pilots double check before they enter their planes, but are unwilling to adopt similar measures. A machine - computer - cannot err, where a man out of laziness or forgetfulness errs. In this sense, the computer is a boon. The scope of introducing the computer is vast. E.g. the 40% wrong diagnosis can be fully avoided if computer crosschecks the diagnosis.

Man can be tense in the ICU, not the machine. Man forgets many related aspects, the computer will not. To avail of a comfort is to be civilised. To do so for purposes of saving lives is to be human. Avoid the errors, usher in Prosperity. (MSS)

Organization is Discipline of Living; & Its Absence Enables Illness
Organization is discipline in action, and that to live, discipline is quite indispensable. I said that the body's whole functioning is a discipline, and if there is a part that no longer wants to follow the discipline - out of revolt or incapacity or ... for any reason - if it stops following the discipline, you fall ill. (The Mother)

 

TO BE CATEGORIZED

 

Health, Well-Being

General

Overcoming Our Attachment to; and Cures for Ill-Health

As we all love to have sympathy from others, long for recognition from them, our attitudes toward ill-health is one form we give to that. The truth is we are attached to our ill-health. Therefore, if you give up your attraction and attachment to your ill health, it will leave you. Don't sympathize with it; don't give it attention, and do don't expect recognition from others for having it. Each time you think of it, you strengthen the illness, for we know that whatever we put our attention on gets energized.

Also keep in mind that the inertia of the body loves ill-health. It wants us to be idle. Therefore wake up in yourself a will to conquer. Not a mere will in the mind but a will in the very cells of your body.

The body is cured only if it has decided to be cured; when it has rejected ill health by itself, and not forcefully by the mind and mental will.

It is always helpful to determine if there are external ill-wills, and therefore avoid them; or ill-wills inside yourself.

On the positive side, retain a greater peace and quietness in your body, which will give you the strength to cure. Call down Peace. Call to the Divine "Peace, Peace, Peace, etc." (Thanks to Karmayogi, and Ramesh Kumar)

 

Level of Values Subscribed to and Human Health

The origin of health is in highly laudable values, more than good nutritious food. Food is a physical part, one part of the four - mental, vital, physical, and spiritual. The values one upholds govern his whole being.

Right values lead a man to avoid unhealthy food, excess food, food for taste, food for filing the stomach etc. Ethical values in character and behaviour and personality keep body young. Concentrating on higher values, higher approach, higher behaviour, higher efficiency, by mind, body and vital is the surest way to have healthy illness free life. Because it is all concentrating on Spirit. (Paraphrase of Karmayogi)

 

Catching Another's Illness

When you are vitally receptive to another person, you easily catch their virus-based illness; even at a distance.

 

Exercise Needs of the Body as Basis of Spiritual Practice

A reader Asks: Is there a minimum daily duration of physical exercise that is recommended for the beginner (of spiritual practice) to prepare the body?

Answer: Do all things for the body that make common sense; what is best for you. Your own body knows best. Listen to its (positive) needs, and follow in that direction. There are no fixed rules for the body, other than that which generates health and well-being.

 

 

Imbalance and Ill-Health

On Steve Jobs Demise

Karmayogi indicated that Steve Jobs' obsession with technology (computer and otherwise) caused his life lose balance, and thereby become imbalanced. That imbalance showed up as cancer that put a premature end to his life. He said that had Steve Jobs taken to the Mother and learnt about Life Response he would have learned that moderation and balance in all aspects of our life is essential for long-term sustainability, and that knowledge could have prolonged his life by another 20 or 30 years. (paraphrase of N. Ashokan for MSS)

 

Pain

External and Internal Cause of Physical Pain

A physical pain is due to a disequilibrium of energy. The source can be external, such as other consciousnesses affecting you; or it can be internal, such as imbalance of some sort inside yourself; or in combination. This can be a fertile and revealing field of scientific, medical, psychological, life movement, and spiritual inquiry. (2009-2011 Q1)

 

 

Other

The Purpose of Sleep

The purpose of sleep is to connect back to the spiritual Source and Being in order to experience It's absolute stillness and peace, refreshing and energizing us for the new day.  (2009-2011 Q1)

 

Immortality of the Body, the Inner Psychological Being

Sri Aurobindo indicates that there can be immortality in the body, as well as in the vital and mental being. Immortality for our body is the capacity to have an ever-sustaining physical life, or more particularly the ability to live as long as one wishes. That is possible if the consciousness of the physical cells respond to the influence of the spiritual Force.

Immortality for our inner psychological being is to come in touch with and completely identify with our True Self; our Evolving Soul within. From that poise, we feel that we are infinite beings, have lived before, are living infinitely now, will further transform in future births, and settle into one immortal life on earth as fully developed spiritual beings -- in a single continuous and progressive stream of existence.

Also by identifying with our evolving soul, we experience the timelessness of the Eternal Source in the passing of time, which makes our lives seem infinitely vast in length, scope, and power. (2009-2011 Q1)

 

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