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Showing posts from March, 2007

Diet cycles in Ayurveda

The Theory of Natural hygiene is the basis of the diet cycles in Ayurveda or the ancient science of medicine. We need to ingest, excrete and assimilate what we eat and drink. Therefore we divide the day into three eight hour cycles for the same. Excretion or detoxification is the key to good health. This starts occurring from 4am to 12 noon. Therefore in this period it is mandatory on our part to consume foods which are easily digested and put no or minimal strain on the digestive system and at the same time make us alert and energetic for the day to begin. This is best done by fruits and fruit juices alone. Fruits consumed on an empty stomach get digested and emptied from the stomach in less than half an hour and give instant energy and alertness to the body. From 12 noon to sunset is the time for ingestion. A meal containing raw vegetable juice, raw salad, sprouted salad and steamed vegetables is an ideal combination. In the evening a repeat dose of fruits along with raw unsalted nu

Yoga & Orthopedics

Yoga & Orthopedics By Dr. Vispi Jokhi M.S. Orthopedics I would like to share with the reader my journey in the field of Yoga, which began eight years ago and will continue till my innings on earth is over. Yoga or union of mind, body and soul is truly India's gift to the world and today the sad fact is that we seem to be importing Yoga back from the West rather than exporting it. As an Orthopedic Surgeon, physical fitness was certainly high on my priority list, however the hectic life of Mumbai made me look for quick fix solutions. Gymnasiums, free hand exercises, brisk walks, swimming all came into my life, but with limited results. Often they became workouts, which left me tired instead of raising my energy levels. My scripture reading gave me an idea about the ancient system of Hatha Yoga of Patanjali and about the importance of all the eight limbs of Yoga. But my "scientific mind" in its arrogance was under the impression that Yoga was merely a series of contor

Viveka

Viveka or Discrimination The most natural thing that we do as soon as we meet a person or a situation in life is form an opinion based on our past experience. This is what we call being judgmental. Is Viveka or discrimination the same as judging or different? It is actually a judgment with a difference. On earth man is on top of the chain of evolution because he has the faculty of discrimination which gives him the power to choose between right and wrong, good and evil. It is correct use or abuse of this faculty which enables him to reach the sublime heights of divinity or plunge into the depths of despair. Most of us live in this world superficially as slaves to our senses and fail to look at ourselves and persons around us as manifestations of the divinity which pervades each and every object. That is the reason why we have connotations like fair, tall, elegant, smart, good looking etc. seen as positive attributes and the opposite as negative ones. We tend to select our fri

Responsible Actions

Responsible Actions by Dr Vispi Jokhi By Dr. Vispi Jokhi August 25, 2006 In the humdrum of daily life we do many things, which seem trivial, innocuous and insignificant but adding them up they can have a Force Multiplier effect. I have no claims to be a preacher but in the spirit of karmayog I try to make every decision on the basis of three questions. Is my action ethical? By this I mean is it morally correct? Is it a truthful, non-violent, unselfish act? Is my action ecological? My action must be least harmful to mother earth. In fact it should conserve mother earth. Is my action empowering? All the changes I bring into my life must enable me enhance me spiritually and take me on the path to freedom. Quoting the first verse of the Isha Upanishad: The Lord is enshrined in the hearts of All. The Lord is the Supreme reality. Rejoice in Him through renunciation. Covet nothing, All belongs to the Lord. Thus working you can live a hundred