Ponder a while !

 

                                        Ponder a while !

•           There is value in tradition because it has withstood the test of time.
•            A walk in the green fields refresh far more than rest ever could.Nature has the magic power of absorbing all fatigue.
•          Food are built by constant innovations, small and big contributions by mothers and grandmothers who ruled over centuries toiling in the kitchen, who kept not just the fires, and food warm but even our hearts.
•    A beautiful heart outshines all else. Do not become an ugly heart by entertaining ugly thoughts.
•    Each one of us has the healing power within ourselves if we are strong enough to invoke the Life Force within.
•    To understand life, we must stop treating organisms like machines and minds like codes.

An interesting riddle

  

                                    An interesting riddle

           The science of Yoga is indeed a riddle. According to it, when the mind is subject to the pulls of desire, anger, and other urges or emotions  the breath goes in through the left nostril, and goes out through the right. But when the mind is tranquil , and absorbed in noble thoughts it is the reverse. The inhalation is through the right nostril and the exhalation through the left. When there is no consciousness or when we transcend the mind, and are in a state of Samadhi there will be no breathing. The breath will be retained in the state of Kumbhaka. Then there is nothing to do, no activity.

New versus old

 

                                               New versus old

 

             Now with refrigerators , fruits, vegetables, and cooked food are preserved for days and even for months. There is nothing new about trying to delay the rotting of food. It was ingeniously adopted in ancient civilizations to preserve food, extending its shelf life and ensuring survival during times of scarcity when modern facilities were not there. Salting and smoking, drying and fermenting , even utilizing natural cool storage in caves or cellars and on blocks of ice layers are among the oldest food techniques.  To cite some examples:-Many archaeological and historical evidences in ancient books point out the usage of dried meat long ago in the Middle East; Salted fish goes back to the Sumerian; Fruits were preserved in honey by the Greeks. So the purpose being the same, methods vary a little. Even now, salting, smoking , drying and fermenting processes are followed. Nothing new, but old in new disguise.

Some thoughts to ponder over !

  

                                          Some thoughts to ponder over !

•     It is a wonderful way to approach life, to see the beauty and enjoy in the journey itself.
• Each day is a day for greatness. The Sun itself gives us a chance to do better by rising each day. Do not squander the chance to always strive for more.
• The world is a great moral gymnasium wherein we all have to take exercise so as to become stronger and stronger spiritually.
• Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. All children when they are young should be educated about their heritage so as to cherish and protect the same. When someone understand the history of their land, they develop a connection to it, a sense of belongingness, a sense of ownership.
• That is the beauty of human brain. It grows exponentially 

Nature’s wisdom and care

  

                                         Nature’s wisdom and care

   Nature’s creativity is beyond human comprehension.  Nature knows what her children need. She created each vegetable and fruit to grow and mature in specific seasons , keeping the health of her children, living beings in mind.

To cite another example how Nature provides each and every one of her creation with proper protective techniques. Camel if led into a beautiful garden, it looks for thorns only so the saying in Sanskrit goes. Why ? There is beautiful scientific reason behind this. The Camel’s favorite food is thorns. Everyone knows that Camel is a desert animal where green plants are not found. Camel relishes eating thorns and they do not harm its stomach or intestines because its saliva dissolves the thorns. The Camel drinks both fresh and salt water. It can even drink water from the Dead Sea and nothing will happen to it. This is because the Camel’s kidneys filter the water. They separate it from the salt and turn it into fresh water suitable for drinking. The Camel has two eyelids; one is thin and transport, the other thick and fleshy. When a sand storm starts in the desert, it closes its transparent eyelid to prevent sand from getting into its eyes. A camel can also change its body temperature; If it is cold, its temperature increases. If it is hot in the desert , its body temperature decreases. Their humps  are filled with fat, which provides them with energy when food is scarce. They are good at conserving water, allowing them to survive and travel long periods without drinking. The qualities that this beautifully animal possess are impressive. Not only this animal, but every created thing in this world whether stone, plant, or worm or anything is blessed with unique qualities for survival and for some benefit in maintaining the cycle of Nature.

The marvelous nature has a voice to listen and wisdom to share. When she has taken care of everyone of us, it is our bounden duty, rather should be a pleasurable duty to take care of her. This means appreciating and respecting the natural world  understanding its interconnectedness , and recognizing the importance of conservation and sustainability.

        

Music as Therapy

 

                                Music as Therapy 

       In this advancing age of science, the world is forwarding towards non pharmacological aspects for healing various ailments. Even without the tag of therapy,    even with mere listening the power of melodious music vocal or instrumental , to bring about joy, and deeper state of relaxation to mind is well known and based on experience.From time immemorial, humming sonorous sounds while doing works was a daily routine inbuilt in people, whether while carrying big loads or doing repetitive works as it takes off monotony and takes off the burdensome feelings, bringing about relaxation to the mind and body. They might not have musically trained. But humming rhythmic sounds is inborn trait in human beings.

Recent studies have suggested that the music whether vocal or musical can be particularly effective in neuro degenerative cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, autism. The clinical studies have shown that  music therapy is helpful for people with depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, stress and even cancer. Suggestions are going on to introduce listening to music for patients in hospitals.

Music has been an ancient part of Ayurveda. Music in India dates back thousands of years to the Gandharva veda ( Gandharvas are celestial group devoted music and dance ). Great composers of  Indian ( Carnatic ) classical music have attempted music therapy for many years. Thyagaraja , a Carnatic music maestro, composer and vocalist,  whose songs are saturated with yearnings for Lord Rama , brought a drowned devotee to life with his composition. Mutthuswamy Dikshitar, another one of the famous Trinity of Carnatic music graced by Lord Subramanya, he himself an ardent devotee of the Goddess , through his song brought rain to drought stricken place in South India. It is said that the great Hindustani classical musician Tansen could create rains and fire just through his music. Pythagorus, Aristotle, and Plato were among the first philosophers to consider the healing and transformative power of music. In 1877, through phonograph, doctors were able to use music as sedative or distraction in the operating room.

Ancient healing  method like Ayurveda suggests music therapy as one of the healing methods. Music therapy advocates that different sounds ( Nada ) creates some vibrations in space which lead to many different healing effects in the human body. The bodily humours ( doshas ) Vata, Pitta and Kapha and mental qualities ( Gunas ) Rajas and Tamas (  Rajas denotes passion, action, and restlessness, Tamas signifies inertia, darkness, and ignorance) are balanced by music therapy by primarily acting on the mental qualities.

Life - A gift and a fulfillment

 

                               Life-  A gift and a fulfillment 

•         In a garden, so many flowers varied in color, smell and use. Yet each has its own unique beauty and never aspires to become another. That variety enhances the beauty and value of the flowers and the garden. So is in life. People have different talents to achieve. Therein lies the fulfillment.
• You must believe you are gifted with, and for something and that this thing, at whatever cost must be attained. You can make it happen.
•  Believe in yourself. You can touch the impossible.
•  A dream becomes a goal when action is taken towards its achievement.
•  Always hope for the best. Face and enjoy the obstacles as a challenge as in your favorite game and work towards it. You will be crowned with success.
• If your mind can conceive, if your heart can believe it, then you can achieve it.
•  Life is a gift. Life is a unique art. You are the artist. Realize this. Don’t waste it. Every moment of it is for , and about creating yourself.  That is the fulfillment!