Health and Wellness, Indian thought and literature: Women Writings, Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, Yoga , poems
HOW TO KEEP OUR MINDS HEALTHY? Dr Sushil Rudra PhD Whether we are 20 or 80, it is always a good time to think about ways how to keep our minds healthy? People with strong minds live richer and more fulfilling life. The flowing list incorporates plenty of mental, physical and nutritional ways to keep our minds sharp throughout our lifetimes.Keeping our minds sharp is also a great way to help us be successful in one of the best online criminal justice programs or one paralegal program. We are sore to find some great ideas we can start doing today.● GET PLENTY OF MENTAL EXERCISESThe Brain can atrophy just like a muscle can take the following suggestions to give our minds a mental workout every day.Use Our Brain: There is a lot of knowledge up there. To put it into action. Doing tasks such as thinking through problems or avoiding the calculator for simple arithmetic is one way to exercise our minds.Crossroads: We purchase newspapers. There we can find crosswords puzzles each day. They usually get progressively more difficult as the week goes on, Culminating in the most challenging puzzles on Sunday. If we don’t get the newspaper, we can find many free crosswords puzzles online.Scrabble: We have to play Scrabble with our friends in person or play online. Scrabble is a great way to get our brains thinking.A regular habit of Reading. Read anything – Books, Magazines, the back of cereal boxes. Reading keeps our minds pumping, and we learn new things at the same time.News: Keep up with the current events and affairs. Whether our interest in politics, World News, or Sports news, or local small-town gossip, staying current with the news stimulates our minds.Puzzles: The problem-solving skill of working on puzzles help keep our minds sharp.Word – puzzles: Solve brain teasers such as anagrams, logic problems, or refuses. You can have fun with these puzzles anytime we have a few extra minutes.Video games: Another best thing is to play video games. Who said video games are a waste of time? Some video game playing can fight Alzheimer’s.Movies: Watch a thought-provoking movie. It will widen your brain capacity. It’s moreover enjoying. Entertainment and knowledge – both the things we can get from it. It also enhances our thoughts processes. So watch any movie when you are in a monotony.Improve Your Cholesterol: High Levels of LDL ( bad cholesterol) are associated with an increased risk of Dementia. Diet, Exercise, Weight Control, and avoiding tobacco will go a long way towards improving our Cholesterol levels.Consider Low Dose Aspirin: Some observational studies suggest that low dose aspirin may reduce the risk of Dementia., especially, Vascular Dementia.Care For Our Emotions: People who are anxious, depressed, sleep-deprived, or exhausted tend to score poorly on cognitive function tests, a poor score doesn’t necessarily predict an increased risk of cognitive decline in old age, but good mental health and restful sleep are certainly important goals.Start a New Hobby: You may start swimming or dancing or playing any games. These are very beneficial for cognitive enhancements. It also supplies mental strength.If we have a practice in smoking, let’s quit this bad habit. Tobacco is not only injurious to physical health but also harmful to mental health.Walking can improve our mental health: Walking is the best exercise. of body and mind. Every day 10 to 20 minutes of walking can enhance our cognitive impairment. At least 3 days a week we should go walking out.Avoid Fast Food, Processed foods, White Sugar, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils, Caffeine, Saturated Fat, Heavy Metals, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Alcohol, Environmental Pollutants.Supplement Your Diet The Brain – Healthy Way: Omega 3 Amino Acids are one of the best brain supplements we can take, helping stave off Alzheimer’s, Schizophrenia and depression.Take Green Tea regularly. Also, take B Vitamins, Vitamin c, Vitamin E, Water, Lecithin, Kombucha, Both are beneficial for mental health.Eat Healthily: Antioxidant, Fish, Avocado, Fruits and Veggies, Whole Grains, Olive Oil, Onions, Superfoods ( Berries, Blue Berries, Cooked Foods, Breakfast.
‘Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also harder to bear
– C.S Lewis
Why India is the most depressed country in the world? According to the World Health Organisation, India is most depressed country followed by China and the USA. China, India and the US are the most affected countries by anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, according to WHO.
We have discussed in the previous post how insurgency deeply affected the people of Kashmir and Seven Sisters of northeast.
A study reported in WHO, conducted for the NCMH (National Care Of Medical Health), states that at least 6.5 per cent of the Indian population suffers from some form of the serious mental disorder, with no discernible rural-urban differences.
Unemployment and poverty are the major reasons in the development of depression in India. After attaining higher education youths are unable to have a satisfactory job.
Lack of proper consciousness pertaining to mental health is another cause. I have told about insurgency and the activities of extremists in some provinces of our country. Unfortunately it is a consistent cause which our government has been facing for a uncertain periods.
I think there are several factors ranging from irregular income to domestic abuse causes depression to develop in individuals. Their ability to access counselling or medicine makes it even worse for them, often culminating in suicides
Though there are effective measures and treatments, there is an extreme shortage of mental health workers like psychologists, psychiatrists, and doctors. As reported latest in 2014, it was as low as ”one in 100,000 people”. The average suicide rate in India is 10.9 for every lakh people and the majority of people who commit suicide are below 44 years of age.
A study surveyed over 10,000 Indians to understand how they have been coping with the new normal.
According to the study, 26 per cent respondents were suffering from mild depression, 11 per cent were feeling moderately depressed, and six per cent were facing severe symptoms of depression.
“The last five months have been unexpected. The situation has taken a major toll on the mental health.
With the series of lockdowns, anxiety, job cuts, health scares, and the overall volatile environment, stress levels are at an all-time high.
“Copious amounts of stress can lead to depression. With the current lockdown and lifestyles drastically changing, we have seen that 43 per cent of Indians are currently plagued with depression and are learning to cope with it,” the study said.
To monitor the severity of depression in the respondents, the study relied on self-administered Patient Health Questionnaire or PHQ-9 (a form of primary care evaluation of mental disorders).
It took into account nine aspects of an individual’s daily routine, including interest levels in activities, appetite, sleep cycles, ability to concentrate, and energy levels.
“Our study indicates that an increasing number of people across the country are dealing with mental health issues triggered by the spread of the corona virus.
“The mounting uncertainty is the basis of the high stress index which can be controlled with a balanced diet, changes in lifestyle and appropriate sleep patterns,” said Vishal Gondal, Founder and CEO, GOQii.
Those feeling depressed complained of having little interest or pleasure in doing things, feeling hopeless, dealing with erratic sleep cycles, poor eating habits, low levels of energy, low self esteem, having trouble concentrating, being restless, and having thoughts of self harm.
“More than 59 per cent of the population said they had little pleasure in doing things these days, out of which 38 per cent have this feeling on a few days and 9 per cent feel so more than half of the days. Nearly 12 per cent felt this way almost every day in these times,” the study said.
It pointed out that more than 57 per cent of the respondents complained of feeling tired or having little energy through “at least some days in the last few weeks”.
“At least more than 15 per cent have this feeling more than half of the days. This leads to some people sleeping too much while some others have trouble sleeping.
“With the change in lifestyle, approximately half of the population is having trouble with their sleep,” the study said.
“At least 7 per cent of the population goes through this nearly every day while 33 per cent experience it on a few days,” it added.
Feeling hopeless, on the other hand, was not so common among the respondents. Only 10 per cent of them said they felt “down and depressed” more than half of the days or nearly every day.
The study suggested that adding exercising to one’s daily routine could help improve their mental health.
“Exercising can lead to endorphins (the happy hormone) which can help with depression. The more depressed you are, the more likely you are to not workout.
“But, it is important to cajole yourself into doing more things that make you feel happier,” it said.
In India, 30 per cent of the 103 million people above the age of 60 display symptoms of depression, according to a recent government survey. It estimated that 8.3 per cent of the country’s elderly population have probable major depression. This means, one in every 12 elderly person in the country have had depression.
The prevalence figure is 10 times higher than the self-reported diagnosed depression of 0.8 per cent in the elderly population, pointing at the burden of undiagnosed cases, the report said.
Among the people who are of 45 to 59 years of age, 26 per cent show depressive symptoms.
The first chapter of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) was conducted by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare between April 2017 and December 2018 on 72,250 older adults aged 45 years and above. The report was published on Wednesday.
More elderly women (9 per cent) have prevalence of probable major depression than men (7 per cent). Also, the figure is higher among rural residents (9 per cent) than their urban counterparts (6 per cent). The report also says that 10 per cent of the elderly population who live alone suffer from depression.
The study shows 3 per cent of all the elderly have some form of mental impairment.
Fewer people above the age of 60 who have 10 or more years of schooling (5 per cent) have depression than those with less than primary education (9 per cent).
Over a tenth of the elderly population have probable major depression in Madhya Pradesh (17 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (14 per cent), Delhi (11 per cent), Bihar (10 per cent), and Goa (10 per cent).
Among the older adults above the age of 45 years, over 60% were hospitalised at a private facility in the 12 months prior to the survey. The mean out-of-pocket expenditure in private health facility among the elderly is Rs 31,933 compared to Rs 71,232 among those aged 45 to 59.
The highest mean out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure is reported in the state of Arunachal Pradesh (Rs 10,368) followed by
Himachal Pradesh (Rs 3,477), Nagaland (Rs 3,288) and Meghalaya (Rs 3,152). Tamil Nadu (Rs 641), Gujarat (Rs 644), and Puducherry (Rs 645) reported lower mean OOP expenditure on outpatient care.
Around 6 per cent of the country’s elderly population live on their own while 5.2 per cent have said they have faced ill treatment at home in the one year preceding the survey.
With the WHO stepping up to encourage people to come forward and talk about depression and making the disease one of the main talking point of World Health Day, 2017. The condition is gradually making itself heard in mainstream conversation.
The government and other NGOs, also mental health workers are now trying to reach out to more people and asking them to come forward with their condition. It’s only then possible to further research about causes and solutions on depression properly.
Government should provide low cost access to mental healthcare and medicine so that the common people can be treated depression and get free it leading a joyful life.
Finding meaning in life through love and work and being socially connected are important
We became felt immense agony when we listened to a bright star in Bollywood ended his life owing to depression. When a young person who had many years of productive life left, who was a National Olympiad Winner in Physics, and who left a career in mechanical engineering to become a talented and popular actor, takes such an extreme step.
It’s a collective loss to the nation. He was also a budding entrepreneur. It is sad that a prodigious actor and an exceptional citizen is no longer with us.
Also read :
Life is sometimes filled with anxiety, internal conflict, disharmony, uncertainty and fear of the unknown. These thoughts give way to myriad feelings.
One tends to feel like a stranger to one’s self. COVID-19 has acted as a catalyst inducing angst in the life of individuals who are already stressed because of various factors and modern lifestyles.
There are many factors that cause stress in modern life. They include more engagement with technology and less with people; more focus on “success” (the ends) rather than the process of learning (the means); never-ending aspirations; relationship issues; impatience while doing tasks.
This is a generation looking for instant gratification; and too many choices and the limitations of the human mind to choose wisely.
With the bridging of gender inequalities, increase in employment of women, growth and development of urban and peri-urban areas, interference of the media and social media in every aspect of life, and disruption in the traditional joint family system, there is an underlying strain on the socio-cultural fabric. Some of this stress, if not handled well, can push human beings into depression.
Some interesting cases and studies throw light on the coping mechanisms for anxiety and depression. Viktor Frankl, who was detained in Nazi concentration camps, studied the source of depression and found that it is the lack of meaning in life.
Individuals who are able to discover meaning tend to achieve the will and strength to endure life.
That brings us to the next question: how do we find meaning in life? Meaning can be found in love and work. Love for fellow beings is what motivates a person to work or take action. If we can base our actions and work on a shared love for family members and society at large, we can find effective meaning in life. ‘The Art of Living’ involves managing the self for others.
We have already discussed about our great poet, Rabindranath Tagore who had to face depression and was going to suicide.
Read here: http://www.kalpatarurudra.org /Rabindranath and depression
Prescriptions for depression and anxiety can be found in the writings of Rabindranath Tagore. Tagore believed that being socially connected was an antidote to the mental estrangement that plague-affected people were undergoing in 1918.
Tagore was aware that such a wildly contagious disease was likely to cause panic among the students. He organised many events in the Ashram which ensured that social connections existed despite physical distance.
In an essay, he suggested that we generate bonhomie between the affected and those who were not, because the ill were not the enemy; the illness was.
For immunity from psychological suffering, what was required was a design of togetherness, which Tagore insisted was ingrained in the famous Rig Vedic dicta, Yatra Visvam Bhavati Ekanidam (where the whole world meets in a single nest) and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family).
Besides finding meaning in life, social connect is very important. I feel that positive and continuous communication is the key to end the misery of anxiety, depression and stress to achieve higher levels of well-being.
This is an earnest request to all the students and teachers who are under any form of stress, or tend to feel depressed, to reach out and talk to people, whether friends or relatives.
Generally a depressed person may not want to connect initially. Therefore, I appeal to family, relatives and friends to watch out for signs in their near and dear ones of persistent sadness, aloofness, loss of interest in activities and appetite, negative thoughts including about self-harm, and provide immediate support and connect.
We must not stigmatise the condition of mental health issues; it can happen to anyone. Instead, let us support our family and friends to tide over the difficult times with love and care. In doing so, we will overcome from this silent disease.
We have discussed depression in the characters of Ramayana and Mahabharata in my previous posts. Mental trauma perhaps didn’t occur to common folks. Before modern era, Indian common citizen was accustomed in simple living and high thinking.
Depression is the outcome of modern lifestyle and culture. Modern people are running towards physical amusement and worldly longings. They want to fetch limitless prosperity. Naturally when it’s not possible to earn, they are going through a mental trauma.
Especially Educated youths are in great trauma due to the unavailability of jobs. The security of women, economically and socially, are diminishing. Society is changing, so the new generation. They are choosing their life partner. So if it’s up to the mark, then fine. If not, it will be troublesome. Therefore, they have to face mental trauma.
Mental, physical and social health, are vital strands of life that are closely interwoven and deeply interdependent. Mental disorders affect people of all countries and societies, individuals at all ages, women and men, the rich and the poor, from urban and rural environments.
Depression is more likely following particular classes of experience – those involving conflict, disruption, losses and experiences of humiliation or entrapment. Many people living amidst the rages of conflict suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Today, we shall try to find out the depression in the people of Kashmir where the people had to face a long term insurgency.
To determine the characteristics of depression in the population in Kashmir where a low-intensity-conflict has been going on for the last two decades.
The non-combatant civilian population was surveyed. The Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale was used to measure symptoms of depression in community populations.
Due to continuing conflict in Kashmir during the last 18 years there has been a phenomenal increase in psychiatric morbidity. The results reveal that the prevalence of depression is 55.72%. The prevalence is highest (66.67%) in the 15 to 25 years age group, followed by 65.33% in the 26 to 35 years age group.
Females have an overall prevalence of 60 per cent while as males have 51.34 per cent. Significant difference in the prevalence of depression among males and females is in the age group of 36 to 45 years and 46 to 55 years who have p values of 0.005 and 0.013 respectively.
Females have a higher prevalence of depression in all the age groups than males and it is highest in the age group 26 to 35 years (68.66%). Females in the age group of 15–25 years also have similar prevalence rate of depression (68.64%). In males prevalence of depression is highest in the age group of 15–25 years (64.61%) followed by 62.65% in the age group of 26 to 35 years (62.65%).
The difference in the prevalence of depression among males and females is significant. Depression is much higher in rural areas (84.73%) as compared to urban areas (15.26%). In rural areas the prevalence of depression among females is higher (93.10 %) as compared to males (6.8%).
Mental health is an integral part of overall health and quality of life. Effective evidence-based programs and policies are available to promote mental health, enhance resilience, reduce risk factors, increase protective factors, and prevent mental and behavioural disorders.
Innovative community-based health programmes which are culturally and gender appropriate and reaches out to all segments of the population need to be developed. Substantial and sustainable improvements can be achieved only when a comprehensive strategy for mental health which incorporates both prevention and care elements is adopted.
0 World Health Organization has ranked depression as the fourth among the list of the most urgent health problems worldwide and has predicted it to become number two in terms of disease burden by 2020 overriding diabetes, cancer, arthritis etc.
The magnitude, suffering and burden in terms of disability and costs for individuals, families and societies are staggering . Mental disorders are universal, affecting people of all countries and societies, individuals at all ages, women and men, the rich and the poor, from urban and rural environments.
Mental functioning is fundamentally interconnected with physical and social functioning and health outcomes. The mental health is influenced by displacement through conflict and war, by stresses on families, and by economic adversity.
For the many persons who face uncertain futures (including those by conflict or disasters), the burden of serious emotional and behavioural disorders afflicts their lives. Many people living amidst the rages of conflict suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
At the dawn of a new millennium, communities and societies increasingly face situations of armed conflict. While this trend is apparent in different parts of the world, it is of particular concern to the South Asian region.
Violence is a phenomenon intrinsic to class-based societies which are inherently unequal and oppressive. Violence here may either take implicit forms in the manner of institutionalized oppression and inequality, or a more explicit form of state oppression through the use of state sanctioned institutions, such as the police, the military and courts.
It could even assume a more direct form, whereby civilians manage the task of a weakened state through militia groupings. Large-scale violence may also take the form of mass uprisings against the oppression of dominant classes. Civilians are increasingly being targeted in these episodes of contemporary violence.
To reduce military casualties, civilians are used as protective shields; torture, rape and executions are carried out to undermine morale and to eradicate the cultural links and self-esteem of the population.
Most civilians witness war-related traumatic events such as shooting, killing, rape and loss of family members. The extent of psychosocial problems that results from this mass exposure to traumatic events can ultimately threaten the prospects for long-term stability in society.
Despite growing evidence over the past two decades of the terror – both of the physical and mental dimensions of war upon civilians – much of post-conflict activity tends to concentrate on physical reconstruction – roads, bridges and buildings.
Moreover, even though psychological and psychic injuries can have more damaging, long-term consequences as other injuries from a situation of conflict, they remain undetected and distanced from any plans for rehabilitation. Partly this is because these injuries are difficult to fathom in terms of the enormity of scale and the delayed manifestation of symptoms which can sometimes take years to surface. Physical violence may be easier to identify, name and quantify than psychic or symbolic violence.
Kashmir has been regarded by many as heaven on earth. Its splendid beauty and hospitable population is legendary. Over the past 18 years Kashmir became associated with violence.
The objective of this study was to determine the characteristics of depression in the non-combatant civilian population of Kashmir where a low-intensity conflict has been going on for more than 18 years. Study was conducted during 2005–06.
Security concerns are amongst the dominant themes in the minds of people living in Kashmir. This owes to the fact that death, injury, destruction of property is the notable features of life here due to conflict, disturbances and turmoil for the last 18 years.
Many have suffered tragic incidents of a war-like situation, which by their nature are beyond the endurance of common man. Many are witness to bloodshed that is characteristic of such situation. Thousands of people have lost their lives or limbs, and thousands have been rendered orphans and widows. Scores have disappeared. A colossal damage to property is evident.
Many educational and healthcare institutions have suffered damages. Those who have survived all this, continue to be reminded of their vulnerability through the media of killings that make the headlines almost daily.
Moreover, with disruption of development works consequent upon warlike situation, added concerns are unemployment, poverty, relationships etc.
A vicious circle of events has been created comprising torture, disappearances, displacement, killings, ballistic trauma, etc. paralleled by a state of mind wherein grieving, insecurity, oppression, poverty, uncertainties of career and relationships etc. are the major themes.
• Modern Society and Mental Stress. • How to Overcome Depression?
• The Various Causes Of Mental Illness
Do you know that the modern world passing through a hectic schedule and almost all people are facing mental trouble due to that? As a result, stress and depression a silent pandemic is growing in the world.
Today’s modern society having a lot of painful diseases the most and dreadful one is mental stress and depressions.
We have lost so many dear and near one as recently spreading out the pandemic “ Covid 19”. Our colleagues, friends, relatives, known and unknown people are not happy because of demise of their parents, or their adjacent neighbourhood.
Not only Covid, modern times give us so many mental troubles though it has also provided us a comfortable life. In spite of that we are not happy and contented .
Stress – free life is not the consequences of modern life. More or less, we have to face mental stress and anxiety in our daily lives.
What is Stress?
Stress is the feeling of being overwhelmed or unable to cope with mental or emotional pressure. Stress effects everyone. All of us experience stress from time to time.
Why difference from other Diseases?
Mental health disorder is somewhat different from other diseases. There must be a cause behind any physical disease. It may be affected by any germ or viruses, but the cause behind mental disorders are not germs or viruses.
Cause Behind the Mental Illness:
Mental stress and tension creates underneath the mind a kind of panic, restlessness, fears of death, loss of property or money, insecurity in life and so on.
It generally borne out from the imbalance of body and mind. We can say that mental illness like stress, anxiety, depression – all these disease grow up from Psychosomatic disease.
What’s actually Psychosomatic?
The word “ Psyche “ means Mind and “ Soma “ means Body. The main role acts behind this disease is our competitive upbringing and fast growing modern lifestyle.
The more we are running to achieve success in love and life, the more we are forwarding towards a personal longing where there is a hope, the more we have to encounter with the uncertainty of lives, the more we are to face mental fatigue. The massive mental fatigue syndrome turns out to mental illness.
We sometimes relinquish it, but it gradually increases problems. Perhaps we may not able to get a sound sleeps. Busy scheduled, hectic workload might be the cause of mental disorders. We can’t keep pace with the massive routine of daily tasks. So the result is stress and anxiety.
Some Stories: Depression A Silent Pandemic:
Since ancient times people expressed their feelings of depression. Today, what we call as a disease of passion, – in which there is mental depression in one side, and other side is reckless amusement and worldly pleasure. We can find such restless minds, reckless amusement and pleasure and ultimately victims of depression in our mythology and history.
In Old Testament, there is a memorable story of depressing king. His name is king Sal. The great epic of Homer’s “ Illiad “, the Epic- poet describes a picture of suicide of Ajacks, which took place due to mental depression.
Four hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ, Hippocrates described about depression of mind. There he used a word “ Melancholia” in this description. Still we are using this word as a definition of depression.
Roman Doctor, Aulas Kornelious Selsus in his book “ Di Re Medicine” explained the cause of depression. He guessed black bile juice as the cause of depression. The origin of the Greek word “Melancholia” comes from it. ‘ Melan’ means black and ‘ Chol ‘means bile ( Pitto ).
In the history of ancient Indian medicine “ Ayurveda “, the wise doctors said that the sound health of body and mind depends on the balance of four physical juices.
We noticed so many descriptions of mental depression in our old manuscripts and epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. A lot of facts about suicide due to depression had been depicted there.
King Dasharath And Depression :
Like common people, King Dasharatha had to face depression three times in his gorgeous and stupendous life. King was attacked by depressions. First depression came to his mind when he incidentally killed a son of a blind parents.
Second time Dasharatha felt depressed when his most adorable and dearest hermit Rishi Viswamitra left from him along with his offsprings.
Third and finally, he became depressed when his two sons Rama and Laxmana left their kingdom along with Sita as they were exiled for fourteen years.
Ultimately, he became felt unwell due their absence. Melancholy was his companion unto the last breath. In Ramayana, it’s described that Dasharatha had been suffering from long time mental pain, sorrows, and the disruption of peace.
Even his father, King Aja died fifteen years after his wife, Indumoti’s untimely death. During fifteen years he had been suffering from depression. It’s due to melancholy. Grief and isolation wrapped him up for a long time. He did not have any foods and naturally had died unfed.
Depression The Silent Pandemic & Godly Man Rama :
Rama, the godly man was also attacked by depression when he was only 15 years old. In Ramayana, the poet describes the depressive state of mind :
Once the physique of Prince Rama was vibrant, now it turns into sicky, feeble and unfolding. He looks like a cloudy and depressed just like a draughted river. He has lost his glamour of physical body due to depressions. His bloody calm and quite face and his bright eyes turn into Teddy like a white padma.
Rama used to sit on padmasona ( yoga posture) keeping his one hand under the face. He is very thoughtful and sorrowful. He has not concerned about his daily activities. He is in deep sorrows and despair.
No one couldn’t understand why Rama is in this state of mind. His followers and nearer one asks him why he is in this state of mind? But Rama won’t reply to this question. Only being despair and depressed he ate something and very unconsciously do some work.
The modern medical science describes some characteristics or symptoms of depression like rickety, loss of appetite, unwilling to perform any work, forgetful mind, anxiety, lethargy, mood swings, over passionate or zero interested, not interested in moving anywhere, cloudy mind, absent of mind, sicky complexion etc. We see some similar characteristics in the appearance and attitudes of godly man, Rama.
This kind of sorrowfulness, melancholic attitude of one’s mind sometimes acts like a infective disease. We become involved in it and feel sorrow and pain.
Naturally when we see in film the melancholy appearance of the actor who is acting as Rama, we are saddened being involved. According to Aristatle, it’s called as “ Cathersesis”.
But the poet didn’t refer any incident for the cause of depression faced by Rama. There was no incident behind Rama’s depression. The Priest of the kingdom says that there is no worldly discontent of Rama. Anything, worldly consumption he had not willing to have. Or this state of Rama’s mind is neither for loss of anything, not for any accident, or sudden death of nearest one. This grief, suffering and sadness is from inner world.
We can’t get any sources of information about this melancholy. It’s different from the any other mental depression .
Ram Chandra again absorbed by the depression at the age of 18. The Raj – Vaidya Bashistha gave him some spiritual advice and Rama felt well.
It’s truth that when we are to face any trouble and become restless and depressed, reading Gita every day is a fantabulous remedy for a steady flow of positive energy. It calms our mind.
In this connection here I remember the wish of Rama. He expressed his willingness to take suicide several times.
When Ram Chandra came to know that his dearest brother made suicide sinking in deep river Saroyu, he became speechless and massively depressed. Ultimately he got suicide in the same river jumping in the deep water.
It proves the fatality of this silent disease. The story is not finished. The end of episodes is very saddestic. Everyone of Auyoddha became stunned by sorrows and melancholy hearing the demise of Rama and Laxmana.
Following two elders, Bharat and Shatrughna committed suicide afterwards in the same river. It’s an incident of mass suicidal cases in our history.
To be continued
Sound sleep is the source of energy. There is a saying that sleep well is all well. But we sometimes in our lives have to face sleep deprivation. Perhaps we become worried due to our health or someone near to us. Maybe anxious to have materialistic happiness, but couldn’t accomplish. Mainly anxiety is the root of insomnia. A haphazard lifestyle might cause sleep deprivation. So we can try to know about the need of napping and sleeping .
WHAT IS SLEEP?
” Abhava-pratyaya- alambana-vritti Nidra”
Sleep is a modification of the mind which has the cause of nothingness as its support. ( Yoga Sutra – Samadhipada ) Sleep manifests when there is a preponderance of Tamas. During sleeping, Sattva and Rajas subside and there will be no knowledge of the external world. Some Jogis think that there is a vritti shunya in sleep. But it’s not so.
As there is memory in us when we wake up and say that we slept soundly. We knew nothing. There ought to have been a particular kind of subtle wave in the mind during sleep.
Hence, it should not be understood that sleep is no transformation or vritti of the mind. If it were so, the remembrance: ” We slept well or I slept well” would not follow on waking, for we never remember what we haven’t experienced.
SLEEP IS THE TONIC OF LIFE:
Sleep is the best elixir and tonic of life . Sleep is nature’s tonic to refresh the tired body and mind. Sleep is a state in which the mind rests peacefully. The gets involved into its cause. The vrittis and Vasanas( desires) become dormant or latent. It ceases all its functions. The restless wandering mind gets rest. It’s a natural way of charging the mind with fresh energy and peace by allowing it to rest in its source. Hence, there is a temporary absorption of the mind in its cause during sleep.
An Indian yogi told in this regard that in sleep there is deep Tamas. Tamas overpowers Sattva and Rajas. Udana Vayu draws the Jiva from the waking state and makes it rest in Anandamaya Kosha or causal body.
Eventually, after a deep sleep we enjoy happiness and calm of mind. Get massive energy. Our mind becomes charged with affluent energies. Sleep is a Tamasic state because there is neither activity not awareness. The sleeping man is unconscious of the world outside. Even he has no consciousness of his being asleep.
But it’s a matter of pleasure that during sleep the mind and body change. The body, mind and nerves become vitalised and rendered fit for new activities. Man feels happiness, peace and also gets freedom from all pains and agony in sleep. Therefore, sleep is essential to keep the body and mind healthy and sound.
So without perfect sleep, we can not enjoy sound health of body, mind and nerves. Sleep refreshes and tones the brain and the nerves. Sleep is a balm that soothes the tired nerves and brains. It energises and vivifies the whole body and mind.
NEED OF RELAXATION FOR HEALTHY BODY AND MIND:
The mind and body need relaxation after the lapse of a particular time or after every series of actions done by the physical brain and mental bodies. A sick man is unable to get sound sleep due to his ailments. But if he gets the sleep he is much relieved. Lack of sleep intensifies the disease. The patient feels then as if his disease is aggravated due to sleeplessness. Further, sleeplessness itself is a disease. So sleep is indispensable to all.
Yoga is some postures to be performed in our everyday life for wellness of our body and mind .It is an way of Indian lifestyle decending from ancient culture when the people didn’t depend on medicine for disease – free life.The most prominent history of yoga system is Maharshi Patanjali’s ‘Yogasutra’. It was written some million years ago . Swami Vivekananda preached this yoga when he was travelling in the West.
¶¶ Swami Ji taught “Raja – Yoga to his western devotees to enlighten them about the power of the mind concentration which is the valuable gems – like knowledge of India . Among the forefathers whose contribution became the foundation of yoga system is Kapil(700B.C.) . The contribution of Kapil is called Samkhya philosophy. According to Kapil , the answer to all human problem is in samyak jnana (proper knowledge). In the absence of samyak jnana , the unfamiliar and peculiar happenings cause dukkha (sorrow). All troubles which affect the mind of an individual spring from three basic sources : 1. Nature ,2.Society, and 3. Self . In other words, the particular problem which strains and causes mental imbalance in an individual is either nature – oriented, society- oriented or self – oriented which have been termed as Daivik , Bhautik and Atmik by Kapil in his Samkhya philosophy.
SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE :
So , when the individual develops and acquires proper knowledge about Purusha(self) and Prakiti (Nature), then the peculiar happenings and causations in any of the three sources do not cause dukkha . This implies acquiring a scientific knowledge about rajas , tamas ,and sattva gunas, and all the tattvas (elements) of prakriti together with a knowledge about this composition, function and correlationship of sense organs ,action organs , mind ,intelligence and the totality of the Purusha (self). When the individual becomes so knowledgeable, he attains the power of overcoming pain , matains mental equilibrium and obtains pleasures, happiness and excellence in life.
It’s said that Samkhya philosophy did not show the method and process of obtaining the goal. It needed a comprehensive system in order to help the individual adopt and achieve what had been so rightly stated by Kapil. This system was propounded by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutra . Therefore, it is essential to understand what Patanjali had to say .
¶¶ The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali is a treatise on methodological process of obtaining the goal laid down by Kapil and add something more. Whereas Kapil emphasized acquiring of jnana which involves only the mind , Patanjali’s system of yoga, on the other hand, involves both body and mind . In this respect, the Purusha of Patanjali has to do two things simultaneously, that is , he most acquire samyak jnana and also he must practice yoga in order to achieve excellence of both body and mind . This way , by combining ‘jnana and practices’ together the individual would attain not only excellent health but would also be able to maintain a harmonious relationship between the mind and the body . Thus, we find that Patanjali’s yoga provides a better and more thorough answer to our problem of mental health than what is provided by Kapil.
¶¶ Since Patanjali’s system involves knowing and doing to, his method includes all those steps which are essential for obtaining the desired goal on both levels – physical and mental. These steps are eight in number. They are mentioned below together with their basic meanings and implications: Yoga (control and discipline) , Niyama ( rules, methods and principles), Asanas (making body postures), Pranayama (kriyas with air ) , Pratyahara ( avoidance of undesirables in taking actions, that is , knowing the proper actions), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (contemplation).
¶¶ Since these eight steps of Patanjali were not very comprehensively discussed in his “Yoga Sutra ” further works were necessary film covering them properly. In order to facilitate the practitioners, these steps were later grouper under different yogas according to their nature and substance. The yogas which cover all these steps are the following:
It covers Yama and Niyama and it is the science of acquiring proper knowledge.
It covers Asanas and Pranayamas and is the science of physical excellence.
It covers Pratyahra and is the science of act.
Covers Dharana ,Dhyana and Samadhi and is the science of concentration and meditation.
¶¶ HATHA YOGA : DEFINITION :
We generally practice Hatha Yoga which is comprised Pranayamas, Asanas ,Bandhas and Mudra’s. But don’t try to follow other yogas . Yama and Niyama is also very important for the yogic practitioners. Without proper knowledge of it , your journey towards perfection will not be fulfilled . Obviously, yoga is the practical part of religion. Yoga control our body and mind in order to attach with God . You can say it as the medium of attachment between man and God . So yoga means the method of joining man and God. Remember always, there are different Yogas for different minds, and if one does not suit you , another may .
CONCLUSION :
We are very busy with our regular activities. Everyone is having some personal issues which he or she has to manage . No other person can help him or her. It’s his burden . As a result, it affects their minds. Sometimes it turns beyond control .
WHY WE ARE STRETCHED ?
As a result , it is difficult to control your mind. Our lifestyle has been changed due to modern gadgets. We are either viewing Television programs or busy in net up to late night and used to getting up late at 9 O’clock in the morning. We don’t take our lunch in scheduled time. Perhaps we are accustomed in junk food . Have a lot of pressures in office or working place we are becoming highly stressed. Most of the modern generations are not happy with their job . Various kind of mental pressures gradually distract your mood and mental peace.
WHY WE SHOULD NEED YOGA :
We are going through a difficult time . Unemployment , corruption, endless needs , high aspirations – all these are causes behind it. Moreover, we don’t engaged in physical works , nor we do yoga or Asanas or any sports. Even we do not walk regularly because of modern vehicles. Ultimately , our body and mind is going to be distracted . We are being stressed deprived of peace of mind . Here is the need of Yoga ,Asanas and meditation .
Indian Yoga and meditation is the key source of energies, sound health and fitness. Meditation can improve your mental state . It’s sometimes advised by the Doctor. Only medicine couldn’t able to give you peace. It’s yoga and meditation which can help us to get rid of from all the mental and physical hurdles .
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