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water
WATER CONSUMPTION AND HEALTH
Is 8 fluid ounces, 8 times a day the best advice?
When examining the classical medical literature for recommendations on drinking fluids, one encounters a few references to the advantage of drinking warm fluids, and to the potential adverse effects of drinking cold ones, and there are references to the advantage of drinking tea, but there is no mention of drinking fluids in large quantity. In a review of numerous works that include a discussion of rules for keeping healthy, food is extensively described and almost always mentioned in relation to its quantity, consuming beverages is rarely discussed other than in passing. In the English-Chinese Encyclopedia of Practical Traditional Chinese Medicine volume titled Maintaining Your Health (1) some advice collected from traditional works is passed on. Regarding drinking, two ancient books are quoted:
As the book Qianjin Yaofang [Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold by Sun Simiao; Tang Dynasty] puts it: those good at health care dine when they feel hungry and drink when thirsty. The book Zunsheng Bajian [Eight Commentaries Honoring Life by Gao Lian; Ming Dynasty] holds the same view that one should not eat until he feels hungry and not drink until very thirsty….
The Encyclopedia points out that in China the traditional beverages were tea and wine, and advice is given regarding how to make the best use of these, indicating their benefits but cautioning about drinking too much of either.
A modernized interpretation of an Ayurvedic recommendation, is this from the Maharishi Institute (2):
Drinking hot water regularly is a classical Ayurvedic recommendation for balancing vata and kapha dosha, strengthening digestive power, and reducing metabolic waste (ama) that may have accumulated. Boil a sufficient amount of unchlorinated tap water or (better still) mineral water in an open saucepan, for at least ten minutes. Keep this water in a thermos flask and take a few sips (or more, if you are thirsty) every half-hour throughout the day. It is the frequency rather than the quantity that is important here. To increase the positive effect you can add 1-2 slices of fresh ginger (or a pinch of ginger powder) to the water when boiling it.
A typical thermos is 1 liter, and there is no suggestion here that the full amount needs to be consumed in the day. In both the Chinese and Ayurvedic cases, the amount of water to consume is not specified, but consumption of fluids appears to be limited, regulated to some extent by actually being thirsty. In China, a practice similar to that of the Ayurvedic recommendation is followed: a thermos of hot water, used to pour over tea leaves, is relied upon to have small amounts of tea throughout the day. According to the Chinese view, it is considered best to have the tea between meals, not while very hungry, and not immediately after the meal (though it can be taken shortly after eating in cases where the meal was too heavy, in an effort to relieve the discomfort and aid the digestion of the food).
In the Quintessence Tantras of Tibetan Medicine (3) it is noted that there are three main beverages: milk, which opposes wind and increases phlegm; water which opposes bile and increases wind; and alcohol which opposes phlegm and increases bile. This description follows the Ayurvedic tridosha system (wind = vata or vayu; phlegm = kapha; bile = pitta). In Tibet, where there are vast areas without easy access to water, different natural water sources are recognized as having different benefits (or harm) for drinking:
The different types of water include rainwater, melted snow, river water, spring water, well water, lake water, and forest water. Rainwater is of supreme quality and the rest are successively inferior. Rain water is of indeterminate but pleasant taste, is invigorating and satisfying, has cool, light power, and is like nectar. Melted snow water comes in rushing torrents. It is very fine, cool water which is hard for the digestive power to withstand. Still calm areas of water [such as the lake and forest water] produce germs, elephantiasis, and heart diseases. Good water is that which comes from a clean area and which has felt the touch of the sun and wind….Cool water cures fainting, fatigue, hangovers, vertigo, vomiting, thirst, obesity, blood and bile disorders, and poisoning. Freshly boiled water increases digestive heat, facilitates digestion, cures hiccoughs, promptly cures distention of the abdomen, caused by phlegm, and cures asthmatic conditions, fresh colds, and infectious fevers. Cool boiled water does not increase phlegm and cures bile conditions, but if it is left standing for one day or more it acquires toxic properties and increases all three humors.
Consistent with certain ancient Ayurvedic suggestions, which differ from the modern one, the drinking of beverages is usually associated with meals and its quantity related to the amount of food consumed. The description in the Tibet tantras is: "One should fill two parts of the stomach with food, one with drink, and in the fourth part leave room for the fire-like equalizing wind, the decomposing phlegm, and the digestive bile." Of course, it is difficult to know what would constitute one-fourth part of the stomach, but the idea expressed here is to not eat until full, indeed, only half full, and then consume far less beverage than food, still not filling the stomach. Depending on the kind of food consumed and the type of humoral imbalance a person might have, different beverages would be recommended, which might best be taken at different times after completing the meal. At any rate, the quantity of the beverage to be consumed is not as critical as the type of beverage, and it is limited.
Some traditional health specialists caution about drinking too much water (or other beverages) with a meal, concerned both that digestive juices will be overly diluted and that the stomach will be overly filled, causing one to feel uncomfortable and tired. In his book Ayurveda: Life, Health, and Longevity (4), Robert Svoboda comments:
Water is essential for life, but too much water ruins health. The substances found in a humid climate tend to be full of humidity themselves, and so are "heavy" for digestion; they contribute too much water to the system, making it difficult for the digestive fire to remain hot enough to function efficiently.
Large parts of India have a humid climate, which is a basis for this wording. However, the concern is for foods that have a moist nature, wherever they might be grown, as well as pointing to the problem of consuming too much moisture through beverages. A similar concern is raised by Chinese physicians, who note that the "spleen" system is easily harmed by too much moisture, and then digestion is adversely affected, so eating too many foods that are full of moisture, or drinking a lot of fluids, would be considered potentially harmful.
By contrast, within the past few years, especially in America, millions of people have adopted the practice of carrying water bottles (often with expensive pre-bottled water) wherever they go. While these are often taken along when exercising (even if not vigorous or prolonged), water is also consumed copiously during sedentary periods. At modern offices, many workers go to the water coolers, not just to take a break but to fill up on the publicized daily water quotient, sometimes carting large mugs back to their desks. The bottled water industry reaps the benefits, with 4 billion dollars a year annual sales (in the U.S. alone) and growing. Where does this intensive drinking behavior come from?
Most people today can cite the 8 x 8 rule: drink at least eight ounces of water, 8 times a day: that is two quarts. Two quarts of total fluid isn't very much in a day, but sometimes another rule is imposed: caffeinated and alcoholic beverages don't count; some say nothing but water counts in reaching this total. Is this quantity of water really necessary? Is it advantageous? Is it really true that coffee and tea don't count? Did the Chinese, many of whom only drank tea but not water, shrivel up and die because the caffeine drained out all their fluids?
A few years ago, Heinz Valtin looked into the origin of the 8 x 8 rule and searched for evidence for it (4). He noted that (emphasis has been added):
No scientific studies were found in support of 8 × 8. Rather, surveys of food and fluid intake on thousands of adults of both genders, analyses of which have been published in peer-reviewed journals, strongly suggest that such large amounts are not needed because the surveyed persons were presumably healthy and certainly not overtly ill. This conclusion is supported by published studies showing that caffeinated drinks (and, to a lesser extent, mild alcoholic beverages like beer in moderation) may indeed be counted toward the daily total, as well as by the large body of published experiments that attest to the precision and effectiveness of the osmoregulatory system for maintaining water balance. It is to be emphasized that the conclusion is limited to healthy adults in a temperate climate leading a largely sedentary existence, precisely the population and conditions that the "at least" in 8 × 8 refers to. Equally to be emphasized, lest the message of this review be misconstrued, is the fact (based on published evidence) that large intakes of fluid, equal to and greater than 8 × 8, are advisable for the treatment or prevention of some diseases and certainly are called for under special circumstances, such as vigorous work and exercise, especially in hot climates.
He presented some examples of the lengths people will go to in order to get their water quota:
A colleague has told me he estimates that something like 75% of his students carry bottles of water and sip from them as they attend lectures; indeed, a pamphlet distributed at the University of California Los Angeles counsels its students to "carry a water bottle with you. Drink often while sitting in class...."
His search for the origin of the 8 x 8 rule turned up nothing concrete, possibly an off-hand statement from a nutritionist (who had commented on drinking at least 6 glasses a day), and no scientific basis or detailed analysis seems to be at its source. One possible origin point was this comment from a 1945 report by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council:
A suitable allowance of water for adults is 2.5 liters daily in most instances. An ordinary standard for diverse persons is 1 milliliter for each calorie of food. Most of this quantity is contained in prepared foods.
If one ignores the last rather important comment, that most of this quantity of water is in foods, you may get the impression that the Council intended that you need to drink 2.5 liters of water (the 8 x 8 rule leads to consuming 1.9 liters). At present, 50 years later, when all health authorities emphasize the need to consume plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, which are comprised mostly of water, it is easy to get the 2.5 liters per day without drinking copious amounts of water. Further, with advisories that sedentary women consume only about 2,000 calories per day, the suggested 1 ml/calorie translates to only 2.0 liters total water needed (again, mostly from foods); adding 1.9 liters of water through drinking glass after glass of it would simply double the recommended intake.
There are some obvious cases where higher fluid consumption would be important, such as for people who are perspiring profusely (due to exercise or hot weather or both, or even as the result of a feverish disease), those who are losing fluids due to diarrhea, and those who tend to form kidney stones.
DIURETIC DRINK MYTHS
The idea that drinking beverages containing natural diuretic substances, such as caffeine, actually drain fluid out of the body (i.e., creates a net loss in body water content) is simply a misunderstanding of the diuretic action. Mild diuretics found in ordinary foods and beverages may slightly hasten the removal of water from the body, but the mechanisms (osmogregulatory system) that maintain proper body balance of water, electrolytes, and other components prevent excreting more water than is taken in from all sources. The exception would be where there has been an unhealthy water build-up (edema): one could lose some of the excess without coming up against the natural barriers to dehydration. But for most people, drinking naturally caffeinated tea all day is not different than drinking water all day in terms of water balance, and this is the historical experience in China where drinking plain water was not a routine practice. People who avoid natural diuretic substances (such as caffeine) over an extended period of time may experience a water loss upon encountering these diuretics for the first day. The water balance will be restored again almost immediately with continued ingestion of the mild diuretics or with return to avoidance of them. While the original concerns about drinking beverages other than water were not based on actual data, more recent studies following up on this issue have been conducted to evaluate the potential role of natural diuretics, and, as Valtin relays, they show no significant effects (5). In a recent study, AC Grandjean and his colleagues observed the effects of different beverages on body hydration (6), in the discussion, they noted:
The purpose of this study was to measure, in healthy, sedentary individuals, the effect on hydration of two regimens, one that included drinking water as part of the dietary beverages and one that did not….In summary, the results herein are preliminary, but suggest that inclusion of plain drinking water compared to exclusion of plain drinking water in the diet for three days did not affect the measures of hydration used in this study.
PROBLEMS WITH DRINKING TOO MUCH?
Thus far, no health problems have been blamed on drinking too much water, at least, within the range recommended in the 8 x 8 rule. Some people may be draining their pocketbook by following this rule using fancy bottled waters, perhaps preventing investment in other, more beneficial, health practices. Other people may worry that they are not getting enough fluids when they curtail their water consumption in order to deal with "overactive bladder," a condition that is rapidly increasing in frequency of occurrence (it has been claimed that it affects 33 million Americans!). Some people, being cautioned not to drink anything other than water, may miss out on the benefits of the other beverages, such as high flavonoid and antioxidant content of fruit juices, tea, coffee, beer, and hot chocolate, or the protein and calcium in milk. Thus, the problem with the advice to drink copious amounts of water and avoid other beverages might be secondary and unanticipated effects of the advice.
Returning to the traditional advice, one might inquire why the suggestion is to only drink when thirsty (as per the Chinese system) or why drink a few sips regularly throughout the day (as per the Ayurvedic suggestion)? The Chinese proposal follows up on the Daoist concept that to live a healthy and long life one must do things in moderation and pay attention to nature and to the body signals. Thus, eating when hungry and drinking when thirsty, with only enough food and drink to satisfy actual needs for one's activities, fits that concept; consuming more that what is essential is seen as a defiance of nature. For the Ayurvedic suggestion of drinking warm water frequently (depending on the dosha imbalance, this could be room temperature water to quell fire, warmed water to disperse phlegm, or hot water to calm wind), the practice is seen as a mild stimulus to the digestive system to promote the elimination of wastes. Because of the strong reliance in this healing system on the idea of preventing accumulation of wastes, frequency of promoting elimination is considered important. When consuming the water, the amount of water is not the key to this approach, rather it is taking enough water to have an effect (which is just a few sips). If an ounce of fluid were consumed each time, every half hour for all waking hours (about 16 hours), that would amount to half the fluid volume of the 8 x 8 rule. Though many modern Ayurvedic commentators combine the 8 x 8 rule with the teaching about drinking warm water frequently, no traditional documents reflect that approach.
In the encyclopedia volume Maintaining Your Health, a concern is briefly mentioned about excessive tea drinking in relation to ingestion of its water component in too large a quantity, commenting that this can cause "overhydration, increase the burden on both the heart and kidney owing to the increase amount of water in the body, and effect the deficiency of vitamin B as well." High water intake may increase blood pressure temporarily (potent diuretics are used to counter hypertension); it remains unclear whether the high volume of water actually puts a strain on the kidneys. The B-vitamin issue is related to its water solubility and the fact that it can be flushed from the body with urination. However, the main concern expressed for drinking too much tea has to do with the pharmacological actions of the tea components, rather than the water.
SUMMARY
It is not the purpose of this article to suggest that people should cut back on their water consumption or should cease drinking water in favor of other beverages. However, one purpose of presenting this information is to challenge the advice that may be too freely given without understanding its origins and the potential to contradict other advice that may be even better. One of the current popular themes is to consume copious amounts of water and to avoid other beverages, particularly those which are perceived as having a potential diuretic effect. Many people may not need so much fluid consumption; some may do better with less, and some people may gain an advantage from drinking beverages aside from water, including those that contain modest amounts of caffeine. For example, risk of certain diseases, including cardiovascular disorders and cancer, are thought to decline with high intake of flavonoids; the primary flavonoid sources for most people are not foods, but beverages other than plain water, such as tea, wine, beer, and fruit juices. Therefore, it would be more appropriate to consider a wider range of individual requirements for health before taking the recommendations that have been heavily promoted by the bottled water industry. Certainly, for practitioners of traditional medicine who might wish to relay the long held traditions of Chinese, Ayurvedic, or Tibetan medicine, drinking large amounts of water does not appear to be consistent with the age old advice regarding health maintenance.
REFERENCES
- Xu Xiangcai (chief editor), The English-Chinese Encyclopedia of Practical Traditional Chinese Medicine, (volume 9, Maintaining Your Health) 1989 Higher Education Press, Beijing.
- Maharishi Ayurveda: http://www.tmscotland.org/mav/tips.html
- Clark B (translator), The Quintessence Tantras of Tibetan Medicine, 1995 Snow Lion Publications, Ithica, New York.
- Svoboda R, Ayurveda: Life, Health, and Longevity, 1992 Penguin Books, India, New Delhi.
- Valtin H, "Drink at least eight glasses of water a day." Really? Is there scientific evidence for "8 × 8"?, American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology 2002; 283(5) 993-1004.
- Grandjean AC, et al., The effect of caffeinated, non-caffeinated, caloric and non-caloric beverages on hydration, Journal of the American College of Nutrition 2000; 19(5): 591-600.
- Grandjean AC, et al., The effect on hydration of two diets, one with and one without plain water, Journal of the American College of Nutrition 2003; 22(2): 165-173.
May 2005
Classic Oriental Style: small cups for sipping small quantities of tea. | 
Modern Western Style: large mugs for gulping big quantities of fluid. |
Mostly Water. Eating the suggested five servings of fruit in a day provides large amounts of water. Many fruits are more than 80% water. | |
Promo for Drinking Bottled Water. The text reads: "Because water is so important, health and nutrition experts recommend drinking at least two liters of water each day. This makes bottled water a convenient way to assure that enough water is consumed at home, work, or wherever a person may be." | |
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interview tips 40+
By Nikita Garia
Looking for a job can be stressful, even more so for older executives.
- Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
- You are not too old to learn new tricks.
While 15 to 20 years of work experience are valuable, sometimes they can work against you. Recruiters may fear that you are too set in your ways and don’t have the flexibility needed for the job. They may also worry that you have lost your creative and passionate streaks with time.
Being aware of perceptions that recruiters might have of you can help you tackle them better ahead of your job interview. Human resources experts say you should draw attention to the benefits of hiring a more experienced person, such as having had greater exposure to unexpected situations and crises, and having better leadership and team-management skills.
Here are some interview tips for candidates who are over 40:
Show-off, stay fresh: If you have 20 years of work experience, you are likely have a lot of things to talk about in your job interview. But you may want to hold back.
“The employer is not interested in 25 great things you did, but in that one great thing that is relevant to the job,” says Harveen Singh Bedi, senior vice president of executive search firm Quadrangle, a unit of Info Edge (India) Ltd.
Highlight only those achievements that make you the best candidate for the job. Mention some achievements from the last year or two, or any fresh ideas that you helped implement recently.
“Don’t give the impression that you have been doing the same job everyday for 20 years,” says Ben Hawkes, a London-based executive at human capital management firm Kenexa.
Show that you are up-to-date with the latest developments in your industry by discussing the latest tools and techniques in the trade. You might need to attend conferences and read trade magazines in advance to gain this knowledge.
Show flexibility: Some recruiters might have the impression that older candidates are, well, too old to learn new tricks. Break that perception at the earliest opportunity.
Let your recruiter know how you have adapted to changing environments in the past. For instance, if you were part of a team that helped introduce new technologies at your previous company, share that information, says Mr. Bedi. If you are comfortable with traveling and relocation, show your willingness to do so.
Interviewers may try to gauge your flexibility by asking indirect questions. Be sure to let them know that “you don’t want to live a retired life,” says Mr. Bedi.
Name-drop, smoothly: Besides experience, you have hopefully amassed a large network of contacts over the years. This could help you score points over younger candidates.
Telling your recruiter about the people you know in the industry at various levels can be particularly helpful in jobs like marketing or finance, where networks can help add clients.
“If it is relevant, emphasize it,” says Mr. Hawkes. But be careful not to come across as someone who is bragging; that could hurt your chances.
Prove that you are tech-savvy: If you have to compete with younger candidates, it’s a must to be internet-savvy. If you don’t already have an account on professional networking sites like LinkedIn.com or Brijj.com, get one. And use it.
If you have enough time, consider writing a professional blog, perhaps about your industry. These tools can help you build a better profile.
“To a large extent there is a perception that (older people) are not tech-savvy,” says Suman Rudra, human resources leader for NCR Corporation India Pvt., a manufacturer of ATMs. You’ll need to shake off that belief.
Don’t be bossy: If you find yourself being interviewed by a recruiter who has just a few years of work experience, don’t try to overwhelm him or her with your experience — and don’t be bossy. “Don’t come across as a know-it-all,” says Mr. Hawkes.
Remember, no matter how old you are, you are still an interviewee. So, set aside your ego and “put your best pitch forward,” says Mr. Rudra.
Don’t lie about your health: While you have no obligation to disclose any health problem to your potential employer, don’t hide anything that could prevent you from fulfilling the job requirements.
For instance, if the interviewer tells you the job would require you to travel regularly but your doctor advised you against it, you should be open about it. If you don’t share this upfront and the company finds out later, it could be problematic. There is “no point in hiding your health issues,” says Mr. Rudra.
Readers, do you think your age affects your job interview? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
PURPOSE OF TEMPLE VISITS
Subject: PURPOSE OF TEMPLE VISITS MAY GOD BLESS US ALL
There are thousand and thousands of temples all over India in different size, shape and locations but not all of them considered to be in the Vedic way.
Generally the temples are located in a place where earth's magnetic wave path densely passes through. It can be in the outer skirt of the town/village or city,... even in middle of the dwelling place, or on a hilltop. The essence of visiting a temple is considered here. For every Srivaishnava, it is a must to pay a visit twice every day to the Vishnu Temples in their locations.In simple terms, these temples are located strategic to a place where the positive energy is abundantly available from the magnetic wave distributions of north/south pole thrust.
Because of its location where high magnetic values are available, the Main Idol is placed in the core center, and also because they place a copper plate written with some Vedic scripts, which is buried, beneath the Main Idol's placement known as "Garbhagriha" or Moolasthan, the copper absorbs the earths magnetic waves and radiates to the surroundings.Thus a person who regularly visiting a temple and taking clockwise rounds of the Main Idol's placement, automatically receive the beamed magnetic values absorbed in his body. This is very slow and a regular visit will make him absorb more energy. What scientifically it is known is positive energy.In addition, the Sanctum sanctorum is completely enclosed on three sides. The effect of all energies is very high in here.The lamp that is lit radiates the heat and light energy. The ringing of the bells and the chanting of prayers gives the sound energy. The fragrance from the flowers, the burning of camphor give out the chemical energy.The effect of all these energies is activated by the positive energy that comes out of the idol. This is in addition to the north/south pole magnetic energy that is absorbed by the copper plate and utensils that are kept in the Moolasthan known as grabagraham.
The water is used for the Pooja is mixed with Cardamom, Benzoine, Holy Basil (Tulsi), Clove, etc. are mixed that is known as "Theertham". This water becomes more energized because it receives the positiveness of all these energies combined.When persons go to the temple for the Deepaaraadhana, and when the doors open up, the positive energy gushes out onto the persons who are there. The water that is sprinkled onto the people passes on the energy to all. That is the reason why, men are not allowed to wear shirts to the temple and ladies have to wear more ornaments because it is through these jewels (metal) that positive energy is absorbed in ladies. It is proved that Theertham is a very good blood purifier, as it is highly energized. Hence it is given as prasadam to the devotees
Lost energy in a days work is regained this way and one gets being refreshed slightly. The positive energy that is spread out in the entire temple and especially around where the main idol is placed, are simply absorbed in one's body and mind, for those who take a regular clock-wise round circle every day.In addition at the temples they offer holy water about three spoons. This water is mainly a source of magneto therapy kind because usually they place the copper water vessel at the Garbhagriha. It also contains the values of cardamom, clove, saffron, etc to add taste and Tulsi (holy Basil) leaves are put into the water to increase its medicinal value! The clove essence protects one from tooth decay, the saffron & Tulsi leave essence protects one from common cold and cough, cardamom and benzoine known as Pachha Karpuram, acts as a mouth refreshing agents! This way, one's health too is protected, by regularly visiting the Temples .The entire thing just become more energized locally, that the visit and consuming the holy water and the other offerings are worth for the visitor's health and longevity.
Apart from the above facts, each and every round taken in the temple is just simply burning fats in human body and in those days people regularly visited temples and never used to get sugar complaints/diabetic! In addition to it the Vedic chanting helps visitors some refreshing feeling in body and mind thus achieving mental peace, which is the ultimate aim of every soul.And in those days, it was quite rare, you'll see persons with Sugar level high in their blood. In fact, the regular round trip to the temple itself protects one from increasing sugar levels.ADIYEN RAMANUJA DASAND NARASIMHAN
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
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RELIGION-RAMANUJAM'S GOLDEN SAYING ON VAISHNAVISM
SRI:
THE 72 GOLDEN WORDS OF RAMANUJA
Just before his departure from the world, Sri Ramanuja exhorted his disciples as to how to conduct themselves, towards one another, towards their Master and towards the world.
1. Make no difference between the worship you render to your Spiritual Teacher and to the Sri Vaishnavas
2. Have earnest faith in the teachings of the great Teachers of yore
3. Continue not the bondsmen of the senses
4. Do not remain content with the acquisition of secular knowledge
5. Delight in the study of the writings that glorify the Lord and his works
6. Once that your Master has opened your eyes to the Light of Lights, never again be seduced by the fatal charms of the senses
7. Learn to regard all sensations with equal indifference
8. Do not be too much addicted to the use of sandal, flowers, and sweet scents
9. Recite the names and glories of the servants of the Lord with as much delight as you would His own
10. Let it be engraven upon your heart that no one reaches the feet of the Lord sooner than he who ever remains devoted to the service of His servants
11. The wisest of men perishes hopelessly if he devotes not himself entirely to the service of the Lord and His Elect
12. Never regard the life of the Vaishnavas as a means to the end
13. It, verily, the Goal you should try to reach
14. Never address any servant of the Lord in other than respectful language
15. Whenever you cast your eyes upon a Vaishnava fail not to salute him first
16. Never sit stretched at your ease in the presence of the Lord, or His Elect or other holy men
17. Never sleep with your feet towards the house of the Lord, or of your Teacher or of the Lord’s Elect
18. As soon as you awake, recite the names of glorious Spiritual Hierarchy
19. When you approach a body of Sri Vaishnavas gathered together before the Lord, prostrate thyself before them, reciting the Two Truths
20. When the Vaishnavas are singing the names and glory of the Lord or of His Elect, worship them to the best of your might. But never get up in the middle and go away from their midst; this is the worst of sins against them
21. When you hear of a Vaishnava coming over to you, fail not to advance to welcome him. When he departs, accompany him a part of the way. A neglect of these rules of etiquette subjects one to grievous sin
22. Maintain thyself by taking himble service under Sri Vaishnavas. But to wait upon persons that have not been touched with grace, to frequent their houses, to put theirname before thine and seek thy livelihood at their hands this will, verily, degrade thee in no time
23. The moment you cast your eyes upon the temples of the Lord, the domes or the spires thereof, join thy hands together in profound reverence
24. Gaze not wonder-struck at the temples of strange gods, however beautiful they may be as works of art
25. Do not be amazed when you hear of the wonderful doings of strange gods
26. It is a great sin to interrupt and argue with the Sri Vaishnavas when they are engaged in the delightful task of reciting the glories of the Lord or His Elect or the Teacher
27. Do not cross the shadow of Sri Vaishnavas
28. Allow not your shadow to fall upon them
29. If you touch one out of the Faith, touch not a Sri Vaishnava before you are purified
30. If a poor Vaishnava salutes you first, treat him not with disrespect, for it is a great sin
31. If a Sri Vaishnava should salute you first, and say ‘I am thy servant’, show him not any disrespect; for it is a heinous sin
32. If you should happen to be aware of the defects of any Sri Vaishnavas – sleepiness, idleness, low birth etc.- proclaim them not to others. Keep them to yourself and give out only their good characteristics
33. Never partake of the Holy Water that had washed the feet of the Lord or of His servants, in the presence of the uninitiated
34. Never partake of water that had washed the feet of those who know not the Three Truths and the Three Mysteries
35. Fail not, at any cost, to procure and partake, every day, of the holy water that had washed the feet of those that follow in the ways of wisdom and are of [pure lives
36. Raise not thyself, in thy own estimation, to the level of the Lord’s Elect
37. If, by oversight, you happen to be defiled by the touch of an unbeliever, bathe with thy clothes on and purify yourself by the Holy Water that had washed the feet of the Sri Vaishnavas
38. Regard the Great Ones who are adorned with such virtues as dispassion, wisdom and devotion as Holy Beings that have assumed their last pure fleshy vestures; and serve them to the best of your might
39. Let not they mind dwell upon their birth, or any other detracting element, but look upon them as beings sent to you to serve and follow
40. Partake not of the Holy Water that had washed the feet of the Lord in the houses of the unbelievers
41. Nor offer worship to the idols of the Lord in their houses
42. But in the holy places sanctified by the presence of the Lord, do not hesitate to partake of the Lord’s offerings even in the presence of the unbelievers
43. If, in the presence of the Lord, a Sri Vasihnava should ask you to partake of the offerings of the Lord, refuse it not on the ground of its being a fasting day with you
44. Regard the offerings of the Lord as holier than the holiest; it burns all your sins. Say not “It is not pure; it has been offered by such a one”
45. Never extol thyself in the presence of the Sri Vasihnavas
46. Nor put another to shame
47. Let every moment of your time he occupied with singing the glories of the Lord’s Elect or serving them
48. Devote some portion of your day, say an hour at the least, to the singing of the Virtues of your Spiritual Teacher
49. And to the earnest study of the sacred writings of the Holy Saints ( the Alvars) or of your Teacher
50. Associate not with those that centre their affections on their own selves
51. Nor with the hypocrites who but assume the external marks of Sri Vaishnavas
52. Nor converse with slanderers and scandal-mongers
53. Free yourself from the sinof having conversed with the followers of other faiths, by talking with holy Vaishnavas
54. Look not upon those wretches, that insult and scandalize the Lord’s servants nor upon those tigers in human shape that have insulted their Guru
55. Ever seek the company of those that are Masters in the Science of the Two Truths
56. Avoid those that recognize other means of salvation; ever dwell with those that live out the Doctrine of Surrender (Prapatti)
57. And that are well versed in the Mysteries of Three Truths and the Three Secrets
58. Seek no the company of those that are ever intent on the pursuit of wealth and pleasure; but remain as much as possible, with those that are devoted to the Lord
59. If a Vaishnava should do you any harm, harbour no thought of evil against him, but keep thyself under control
60. If you should ever desire to win a seat in the house of the Lord on High, ever seek to benefit the Vaishnavas
61. The wise One that had taken refuge in the Lord should never engage in any undertaking that is against the rules of conduct for the Elect, though it might bring him great profit
62. Never partake of any food or use any sandal paste, flowers, betel leaves, clothes or drink until they have been offered to the Lord
63. Accept nothing at the hands of those that seek wealth and pleasure, though they offer it voluntarily
64. Partake of food prepared by people of pure birth and cleanlives
65. Offer not to the Lord objects that are pleasant in your eyes (unless they be specified as object to be offered)
66. But offer to the Lord only such things as are laid down in the Sacred Books
67. Look upon the food and the fragrant objects offered to the Lord, as objects purified by his acceptance, but never as things to be enjoyed
68. Perform the duties enjoined in the Sastras as service to the Lord
69. Spiritual suicide is brought about speediest and surest by disrespect towards those High Beings that ever remain in the contemplation of the Three Holy Mantras, the Eternal Life is attained speediest and surest by finding favour in their eyes
70. Know that service to the Lord’s Elect is the End and the Aim of your existence; their displeasure, in any way, brings about the death of the soul
71. You can recognize him as a permanent dweller in the lowest and darkest of hells, who regards the images of the Lord as mere blocks of stone; his Spiritual Teacher as a man like any other; the Chosen Ones as men of the world high or low; according to their accidents of birth; the Holy Water that washes away all sin as mere water ; the sacred Mantras as nothing but so many collections of sounds; and the Lord of All as in no way higher than the other gods
72. The worship of th Chosen Ones is more efficacious than the worship offered to the Lord himself; disrespect towards them is a sin more terrible in its consequences than an insult to the Lord; the Holy Water that had washed their feet is holier by far than what had washed His feet. Lay this to your heart and ever remain intent on the service of the Holy Ones.
“Lord of Wisdom”, said the disciple; “Deign to tell us how we may order our lives in future, till we quit this body”
“Be it so” replied the master, and he gave them the following Ten Commandments or Rules of Life.
1. One that had taken refuge in the Lord should never think of his future; for it is in the hands of the Lord; if he should trouble himself about it, the least degree, his having taken refuge is a myth and a farce
2. His present is the result of his past karmas; so he should never bewail it. A Vaishnava is to be free from any anxiety as to his present or future
3. Never perform your duties as Means to End
4. Regard them as so much service offered to the Lord
5. Study the Sri Bhashya and spread its teachings far and wide; this is service pleasant to the Lord. If you cannot do this
6. Study the Sacred Writings of Sri Sathakopa and the other Holy Saints and hand them down to deserving disciples; or
7. Spend your time in service to the Lord at holy places (feeding the hungry, supplying offerings to the Lord, lighting His temple, preparing beautiful garlands for Him, sweeping the temple and adorning it with beautiful figures in coloured powder etc.; or
8. Build a cottage at Yadavadri (the dearest spot to me on earth) and dwell there in perfect peace and content; or
9. Reamin where you are and having cast thy burdens on the Lord or on your Guru, ever meditate upon the meaning of the Two Truths; or
10. Seek out some Vasihnava, adorned with the virtues of wisdom, devotion and dispassion, who would regard you as something dear to him, as his own, efface all idea of egotism from your nature and obey his behests. This is the last and the only means : and I see none other.
:Lokaaha Samastaaha Sukhino Bhavanthu:
A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP
| A Good Night's Sleep |
| by Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra |
Recent research indicates that pervasive sleep deprivation can lead to more serious health problems than just a dull clouded feeling the next morning - including obesity, high blood pressure and diminished resistance to infections. While there is substantial awareness about the need for proper nutrition and exercise, many people tend to shrug off lack of sleep as not being of much consequence, and, as a result, go through life with both mind and body always performing at less than optimal levels. Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations For a Vata sleep imbalance, indicated by difficulty in falling asleep, I recommend a Vata pacifying diet. Favor foods that are warm, heavy and oily, and minimize foods that are cold, dry and light. Emphasize the sweet, salty and sour tastes, and cut down on spicy, bitter and astringent foods. Include poppy seeds in your diet; they are a natural sleep aid. Drinking a cup of herbal tea before bed can also be soothing. Apply a little massage oil to your hands and feet before you go to bed. In bed, practice deep, easy breathing to help you unwind. If you wake up feeling dull and lethargic, a Kapha sleep imbalance, favor foods that are light, dry and warm, and minimize or avoid foods that are heavy, oily and cold. Focus on spicy, bitter and astringent tastes, and reduce sweet, salty and sour tasting foods. Massaging hands and feet, especially the nail-beds, with a massage oil will help. A blend of aroma oils, properly chosen, can help create a relaxing, calming environment in your bedroom and help balance your mind and body even after you fall asleep.
A good night's sleep can not only help you stay alert, bright and focused the next day; it can also keep you healthy in the long run. |
Millions of people of all ages are affected by sleep problems, many with severe, chronic sleep deprivation. A round-the-clock activity-driven society has meant that many individuals habitually defer sleep to get other things done. "I'll catch up later," is, however, easier said than done. 
According to Ayurveda, sleep is one of the supporting pillars of life. Along with diet and lifestyle, sleep is critical to good health and well-being. Quality sleep acts as a rejuvenator of mind and body, enabling us to function at peak levels during our waking hours. Even powerful medicine is of little use if the fundamental pillars of life are not strong and solid.
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