Tread Softly – Sathya Sai Baba’s Teachings on Nature and the Environment
Health of Body, Mind, & Spirit – Chapter 5
Tina K. Schweickert
“Health is the essential prerequisite for success in
all aspects of life, for realizing the four ideals that should guide
humans-namely, moral living, prosperity, fulfilling beneficial desires, and
liberation from grief Everywhere man seeks to live happily and peacefully, but
happiness and peace are not won from worldly activities. The body that yearns
to be happy and secure is subject to disease, decay, and death. The Dweller,
the Self, within the body is however not born, nor does it die. It is the Atma,
God. The body is the temple of God. Hence it is the duty of man. to keep the
temple in good condition. Health is necessary for gaining this world and the
next, for earning worldly and other-worldly progress, and to realize the very
purpose for which the Self has embodied itself in this human form, namely, to
become aware of its. source, the Paramatma. In order to attain this goal, the
ideals of righteousness, prosperity, moral desire, and release from grief have
to be practiced with the help of a sound mind in a sound body”.
–
Sathya Sai Baba
Sathya Sai Baba tells us that virtuous living and a
purified mind. are essential ingredients for leading a spiritual life, which
benefits ourselves and all beings. What does it mean to live virtuously? And
how can we possibly purify and focus a mind that seems to have a "mind of
its own?" He tells us that first we must possess the urge to fulfill the
quest for spiritual wholeness. This desire must exceed in intensity any other
desire we have. The quest for material wealth, human relationships, individual
recognition, or whatever we might wish for must be overridden by the desire for
spiritual wholeness. Faith in the form of divine Love and its counter part,
self discipline, are both needed to stay the course. Without either one or the
other, the quest, no matter how greatly desired, is bound to fail.
Sathya Sai provides the breath of Love to stimulate
our desire to walk the spiritual path and the encouragement to stay on track.
As you will see, this chapter provides specific guidance on maintaining health
of body, mind, and spirit so that obstacles to spiritual awareness may be
minimized. The benefits of such a lifestyle are twofold: enhanced spiritual
progress for the individual and a heightened sense of human compassion, which
helps all beings.
“Food habits are of primary importance when health has
to be secured and maintained. When these are not regulated, health suffers.
"No restraint, no success" is the axiom. Restraint, controls, limits
have to be observed at every step. One should restrain the wild
adventuresomeness of the tongue. Among the eight million four hundred thousand
species of living beings, all except humans live on food as provided by Mother
Nature. Only man strives to make such food more palatable, more attractive to
the senses of sight, touch, and smell by boiling, frying, freezing and mixing,
grinding, and soaking. The consequence of this greed is illhealth and
debility.”
–
Sathya Sai Baba 1982
“While taking food, you must always ensure that you
take only such items that you can easily digest. Never consume food that you
cannot digest. Just as you sit down happily for taking food, so also when you
get up after taking your food, you must feel happy and light. Some people sit
for food with a light stomach and get up with a heavy stomach after eating a
bellyful. This is not the proper method of taking food”.
–
Sathya Sai Baba 2004
“Meat and alcoholic drinks take a heavy toll on man's
health, causing many a disease in him”.
–
Sathya Sai Baba 1994
“Today, let it be anyone, whether one deems himself a
devotee or not, one should give up meat eating. Why? Meat eating promotes only
animal qualities. It has been well said that the food one consumes determines
one's thoughts. By eating the flesh of various animals, the qualities of these
animals are imbibed. How sinful is it to feed on animals, which are sustained
by the same five elements as human beings! This leads to demonic tendencies,
besides committing the sin of inflicting cruelty on animals. Hence, those who genuinely
seek to become devotees of God have to give up onvegetarian
food. Calling themselves Sai devotees or devotees of Rama and Krishna, they
fatten on chicken. How can they be deemed Sai devotees? How can God accept such
a person as a devoted Therefore, whether they are devotees in India or outside,
they should give up meat eating from this instant.
The water that one drinks is life-giving. It
issues from the head of Shiva. It is sacred. Instead of such wholesome drink,
it is wrong to drink intoxicants. It makes a man forget his true nature.
Alcoholic drink is utterly obnoxious. It degrades the addict. It makes him
forget God. The drink addict is not conscious of what he says or does. The very
sight of such a person is revolting. The drink evil has ruined innumerable
families. Alcoholics have caused misery to their wives and children by wasting
all their money on liquor. Of what use to the world are such derelicts?
In addition to liquor, many are addicted to smoking
tobacco. Today, cigarette smoking is the cause of many diseases like asthma,
lung cancer, and heart ailments. The evil effects of smoking can be easily
demonstrated. If a whiff of cigarette smoke is blown at a handkerchief, the
doth turns red at the spot. If smoke can cause such damage to a piece of cloth,
how much damage will it do when it gets into the blood stream? It ruins one's
health and shortens one's lifespan. Therefore, those who aspire to become true
devotees of God have to give up meat, liquor, and smoking.”
–
Sathya Sai Baba 1994
“Birds and beasts do not suffer from the cardiac and
digestive ailments to which man is prone. The cause can be traced to the
natural food that the animals consume, unlike human beings who consume all
sorts of fried and cooked items of food, being slaves to the palate. Modern man
consumes many artificial foodstuffs and a variety of
alcoholic drinks, which are injurious to health. Birds and beasts lead natural
lives, while the artificial lifestyle of man today takes a heavy toll on his
health. When man observes moderation in diet he can be saved from most
diseases. In the entire range of God's creation, man alone is endowed with the
faculty of discrimination. It is this faculty that sets him apart from
animals. Man should exercise his discretion and discrimination in regard to
food habits.
The progress of the universe is bound up with the
progress of man. Any amount of development in the areas of scientific,
economic, and social spheres will not be of much use without mental
transformation. How can we bring about this transformation? It is by
restraining passions and emotions. Since mental tension is most detrimental to
man's health, man should learn the art of controlling his passions and
emotions, which cause stresses and strains. It is also essential to keep our
mind serene and peaceful while eating food. We should not indulge in discussion
of topics that will cause agitation and excitement and disturb our mental peace
while we are taking food. Mental tension is responsible for ill health. We
should also avoid viewing TV, video, etc., while eating food, because they may
cause mental disturbances.
Today there is pollution in everything such as the air
we breathe, the water we drink, the sounds that are jarring to the ears, and
the food we consume. Because of this all-around pollution, man's health is
affected. Apart from this, man's mind is also polluted, making him susceptible
to diseases. Man should make an earnest endeavor to lead, a serene and pure
life. He should realize the truth that trou hies and turmoils are temporary,
like passing clouds. There is no sc9pe for agitations to arise if one realizes
this truth. One who realizes this truth will not allow the mind to be swayed by
the passions of anger, cruelty, etc. Passions yield only temporary satisfaction
but cause serious emotional disturbances. Hence, it is imperative on the part
of man not to yield to any unbecoming passions while taking food. The
observance of the three P's, namely, purity, patience, and perseverance,
vouchsafes permanent happiness and good health free from diseases”.
–
Sathya Sai Baba 1994
During my regular meditations, I often witness the
effects that eating poorly or being in tense situations can have on being able
to experience peace and serenity. I may have been in a crowded, noisy
restaurant the night before and eaten food prepared by someone who didn't take the care one would
take at home. Or perhaps I was at a social function and joined in drinking wine
with a meal-wine which may have contained sulfites and other impurities in
addition to the alcohol. Sometimes my husband and I eat our meal while watching
the evening news, and we all know how disturbing that can be.
In our modern world, there are many opportunities to
take in negative energy and less than wholesome food. My meditations are not as
fruitful when I experience the after-effects of taking in such food or being in
a tense environment. I may also experience harsh dreams instead of being in a
receptive state where I might experience a love-filled "Baba dream".
By tuning into ourselves at a deeper level, we can better understand the
harmful effects such activities have on our mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing.
“The consumption of large quantities of fat is the
cause of cardiovascular diseases. Doctors advise against the consumption of
fatty food stuffs, which cause increase in weight resulting in susceptibility
to cardiac diseases. The presence of toxins also inflicts equal damage. So, one
should eat in moderate quantity the right type of food and avoid intoxicating
drinks to safeguard his health. The intake of food should be gradually reduced
after crossing 50 years.”
–
Sathya Sai Baba 1994
“One should realize that food materials as offered by
Nature are really more beneficial. When heat is applied, they lose the vitality
yielding components and cannot confer strength and efficiency. The person ages
fast and loses the sprightly ness of youth. Catering to the cravings of the
tongue and swallowing heavy foods three or four times a day can only add to the
heap. Only regular and limited intakes can enable a person to discharge one's
duties.”
–
Sathya Sai Baba 1982
“Eat in moderation and live long:' This is the advice
handed down through the ages by the seers of the past. This advice is seldom
heeded. People fill themselves with such large quantities of food that they
find it hard to rise from the eating plate. Ruining their digestive system by
consuming heavy, rich foods, the affluent are proud when they host costly
banquets. Those who know that physical health is the greatest treasure take
great care to eat only sathwic (pure) food.
Uncooked foods, nuts and fruits, germinating pulses
[edible seeds of legumes] are the best. Use these at least for one meal, say
for dinner at night; this will ensure long life. And a long life is to be
striven for in order that the years may be utilized for serving one's fellow
beings”.
– Sathya Sai Baba 1982
I became a vegetarian when I was 18 years old. At the
time, I was dating the man who became my first husband. A vegetarian himself,
he encouraged me to become one as well. But I didn't begin taking the big step
until I read Francis Moore Lappe' s Diet for a Small Planet. In this book, she
clearly made the case that growing animals for food is a travesty on the
environment. The amount of water, land, and grain needed to grow and process
cows can much more efficiently be used to feed people directly - at far less
cost to the environment. In addition, the pollution associated with intensely
crowded feedlots harms the water quality of streams arid rivers. And,
scientists have shown that methane released from feed lot cattle is a
significant greenhouse gas, which adds to the problem of global climate change.
This knowledge stirred my budding environmental
consciousness, and my life-long habit of eating meat became less appealing. I
was working in a grocery store snack bar at the time. When we ran out of sliced
roast beef for sandwiches, it was my job to go to the meat locker for more. The
air inside was cold and smelled of raw flesh. Carcasses dangled everywhere from
hooks in the ceiling; it was difficult to avoid bumping into them. Once, while carrying
beef to the slicer, blood ran down the front of my neatly pressed white apron.
It was appalling. This was the last straw-I gave up meat forever that day.
Fish, however, remained a part of my diet until I came
to know Sai Baba' s teachings. Before then, I rationalized that it was possible
for me to catch and prepare a fish for eating. My conscience therefore did not
suffer from eating something I wasn't prepared to kill myself. And I felt that,
as a life-form, fish were somewhere between plants and mammals. To me they were
not as sentient not as aware, as large-eyed mammals or mother hens who we can
imagine caring for their young or crying out in pain. But Sai Baba says that
eating fish is not healthy for the mind, because it can lead to unhealthy
thoughts. And, certainly, toxicity can be higher in fish due to the
accumulation of toxics through the food chain. Of great importance to me was
that I came to more fully understand and appreciate the sentient nature of fish
and the negative impacts on ocean and river ecology from harvesting them.
Sathya Sai makes it clear that it is harmful to take
an animal's life in order to satisfy one's palate-an animal who has its own
life and its own reason to live. Animals were not born merely to become food
for humans. They hold their own unique place in Nature, just as humans do.
Historically, there have been times when humans depended on the killing of
animals for their survival. But for many this was done in the spirit of
gratitude to the animal for giving up its life for this purpose. The consuming
of such meat was closely associated with the hunting-the awareness of the act
of killing was clearly related to the act of eating.
For the most part, today's meat eater has no
association with the animal nor with the act of killing it. It is a horrid, but
"necessary," act carried out by someone unknown in a faraway place.
The act of purchasing the neatly packaged meat and preparing it has no relation
to the animal or its fearful death in the slaughterhouse.
Where is the gratitude? Where is the compassion for
the care of the animal or its mode of death? Did the cow, pig, chicken, or
sheep suffer? Does it matter? I am hard-pressed to understand how people who
are otherwise civilized, intelligent, kind, and compassionate can continue to
justify their demand for meat.
There is yet another reason to avoid meat. You are
what you eat. And, in eating animals, one absorbs their tendencies as well. The
violent nature of killing and the fear experienced before death is also
absorbed.
The non-meat eating individual naturally tends toward
a calmer, gentler mind. From my own experience, I have found this to be true.
My two boys were raised vegetarians. Though only two and one-half years apart,
they never physically fought one another and rarely disagreed. They had almost
no aggressive tendencies. As young adult men, they still fully embrace their
vegetarian diet. Health-wise, both boys have grown relatively tall and strong.
Though I was often warned by family and friends that being vegetarian would
threaten their ability to grow and thrive, it appears they have maximized their
growth potential and that no harm has come from their non-meat upbringing. Now
they both have chosen partners who also embrace vegetarianism.
I can see little reason for not being vegetarian in
modern times. We have tremendous choices for healthy vegetarian food-much more
today than were available even 20 years ago. So many benefits to individuals,
society, all beings, and the environment would accrue if the majority of humans
stopped eating meat. Sathya Sai' s teachings speak so clearly about the value
of living as a vegetarian.
“. . . with meat the body will get the proteins, but
mental proteins will not be there. If you are keen on spiritual life, eating
meat is not worthwhile. There is another spiritual reason. When you kill an
animal you give him suffering, pain, harm. God is in every creature, so how can
you give such pain? Sometimes when someone beats a dog he cries, he feels so
much pain. How much more pain then in killing. Animals did not come for the
purpose of supplying food for human beings. They came to work out their own
lives in the world. When a human being is dead, the foxes and other animals may
eat the dead body, but we have not come for those that eat the body; we have not come for
that purpose. Similarly, man eats the animal, but the animal has not come to
provide man with food. But man has taken to eating meat as a habit.”
–
Sathya Sai Baba 1999
“Meat is not good for the spiritual life, which needs
"mental proteins;' and also because it means making an animal suffer and
be killed. The animal has not come to provide man with food. But a little milk,
butter, and cheese are acceptable because no harm is done in obtaining them.”
–
Sathya Sai Baba 1998
“You should not misunderstand and misinterpret what I
say. It is my duty to convey to you the truth as it exists. Today, the reason
the human population is increasing is because of the attitude of the people.
For man to eke out his living to fill a small tummy of his, God has created
plenty in the world. He has created a large amount of rice, a large amount of
fruit, a large amount of wheat. While such good food has been created by God,
yet man goes and eats meat and fish”.
–
Sathya Sai Baba 1977
The award-winning environmental analyst, Lester Brown,
makes the point that eating lower on the food chain is especially important to
counteract the impact of a continually exploding human population. In his book,
Plan B: Rescuing the Planet under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble, he
says:
Paralleling the effort to quickly stabilize population
size is the need for the world's affluent to eat lower on the food chain and
lighten the pressure on the earth's land and water resources. In a country
where starchy subsistence diets - prevail, as in India, annual grain
consumption per person is roughly 200 kilograms, or a bit over a pound a day.
At this level, nearly all the grain must be consumed directly to meet basic
caloric needs, leaving little for conversion into animal protein. At the other
end of the scale is the United States, where grain consumption per person
exceeds 800 kilograms per year. Of this, only a small part is consumed directly
in the form of bread, pastry, and breakfast cereals. The bulk is eaten
indirectly as meat, milk, and eggs.
Unfortunately for most Americans, consumption of
fatrich livestock products is excessive, leading to numerous health problems.
(Brown 2003, 147)
In the more affluent countries, especially the U.S.,
the number of people. who are overweight or obese is. exploding. What is
particularly troublesome is the number of young people who are putting on fat
at an early age. What used to be a rarity when I was young is now a commonplace
occurrence. How will we deal with the long term consequences to individuals and
the costs to society and the environment from this generation of overweight
children consuming more and needing more medical attention throughout their
lives?
It's easy to see that a lifestyle based on a healthy
diet which includes eating lower on the food chain, along with adequate
exercise, benefits not only the individual but society and the entire natural
world.
“Research has revealed that non-vegetarians and
alcoholics are more prone to heart ailments than vegetarians. If the vegetarian
food consumed is balanced and wholesome, it should contain liberal amounts of
vitamin C and vitamin E, which are available in vegetables like carrots. The
presence of these vitamins prevent heart ailments in large measure. Every
effort should be made to keep the human body healthy. Health is wealth. The
acquisition of wealth cannot be enjoyed by a peson with poor health. Health is more important because it gives physical
and mental strength.”
–
Sathya Sai Baba 1999
“It is a heart-rending sight ·to see cows being
slaughtered to serve as food for man. The cow has been worshiped as mother in
Bharath (India] since ancient times. Cowslaughter is repugnant to the culture
of this country. The provision of drinking water to the people and putting an
end to the killing of animals for food are two prime needs for the country to
regain its pristine glory. Violence in any form is evil, and to kill innocent
animals is tantamount to blatant savagery. I bless the Prime Minister (of
India) and expect him to get these two things accomplished during his tenure”.
–
Sathya Sai Baba 1999
The decision of whether or not to eat meat is an
essential one to consider in life. It's been my experience that the issue
brings out a passionate response from both meat eaters and vegetarians. When
people first learn that I am vegetarian, the most common response is, "I
don't eat much meat." Why would they say this? Is there a glimmer of
guilt, a bit of the conscience that initiates such a response? I assume so. But
if a dialogue ensues about whether people should eat meat, the emotions are
aroused. Meat eaters may defend themselves, and vegetarians may expound on the
health and moral values of their path. In the end, nobody wins, but an
undercurrent of animosity may be created. I have found it best to quietly
accept the difference in food preference and say nothing unless asked, then say
as little as possible. One's decision to eat meat or not is very personal and
will likely not change in an argumentative exchange.
For those treading the spiritual path, there should be
little argument about the importance of being vegetarian. Here is a summary of
the benefits:
(1) Disciplining the mind:
achieving success in winning over the addictive craving for meat.
(2) Purifying the mind: being
free from the guilt and trauma of killing sentient beings for food.
(3) Raising the vibration:
moving away from consuming heavy foods to consuming lighter foods, allowing one
to experience closer proximity to the vibration of bliss, Ananda.
(4). Living longer: with properly balanced vegetarian diet and exercise,
one can be healthier, be of service longer, and be less of a burden on society.
(5) Avoiding waste: vegetarians
require far less natural resources, which is better for all of Nature.
(6) Protecting the environment:
lands currently being used to grow cattle feed could be converted to producing
other crops, such as corn for ethanol production which would help diversify
energy sources and reduce environmental harm.
(7) Practicing compassion:
animals produce complete proteins, which makes them a nutritious food. But
dairy products also contain these proteins and can be provided in a
compassionate way for the animals and the environment.
(8) Being happy: Swami often tells us to ,,Be happy." Vegetarians
are happy in the knowledge that they are free from the burden of taking
countless lives to satisfy their palate.
We all know that an important counterpart to healthy
eating is proper exercise. Sathya Sai Baba believes the best way to achieve
this is through work. However, he acknowledges that many people in today's work
world must sit or stand for long periods. Therefore, other activity is needed
to maintain good health. Sai Baba is also a strong advocate of team sports for
its health and social benefits. And, he urges doctors to be actively involved
in helping their patients understand that regular exercise is necessary to
maintain good health.
“Some people do not do any physical exercises and lead
a sedentary life. My advice to office, goers and students is that it is good
for them to commute by cycle at least five or six kilometers a day. This
cycling exercise is very useful not only for maintaining health but also for
reducing the expenditure incurred on automobiles. Another advantage is the
avoidance of accidents. Moreover, it serves to reduce atmospheric pollution
caused by the release of harmful fumes from automobiles.”
–
Sathya Sai Baba 1993
“Everyone needs a healthy body for a healthy mind,
filled with good thoughts. It must be recognized that sports and music have
been designed to confer health and happy ness on humans. But physical fitness
alone is not enough. Mental health is equally important. Together with the
gross physical body, everyone has a sukshma sarira (subtle body). One has to take good
care of this subtle body also. For this, spiritual exercises will have to be
performed that help one to realize the Divine.
There are three benefits to be derived from sports and
games: team spirit, mutual understanding, and joy. Even if people speak
different languages and differ in their habits and cultures, in the field of
sports they have a common bond, a spirit of camaraderie.”
–
Sathya Sai Baba 1991
One sacred duty of the doctor is to advise persons on
how to preserve health and prevent disease. The doctor has to be vigilant in
society to discover and suppress every tendency in food habits and recreational
activities by which diseases are developed. The dress worn by humans, the
houses where they live, and the areas where they are situated have to be tidy
and clean. The food that is taken has to supply all elements needed to keep the
body strong enough to resist illness. Even if it falls short a little in this
respect, health can be maintained if it is unpolluted, pure, and holy.
“The atmosphere breathed in, the water taken in, the
ground lived on, the animals and plants that surround-all have maleficent
microbes that may cause illness if the mind and body are not equipped with
powerful resistance armor. Exercise, bathing, washing, cleaning, etc. are
prescribed for this purpose. The body is the boat on which we voyage across the
ocean of samsar (worldly life), and it has to be kept trim and sea-worthy. The
voyager too has to be strong, confident, and courageous”.
–
Sathya Sai Baba 1980
Throughout Sai Baba' s life, He has demonstrated a
strong interest in reforming medical practices, including setting the example
for providing free services to needy patients. He often points out the failings
of modern day medical practitioners to holistically treat the patient in a
spirit of love and compassion. He has said much on this subject; following is
just a sample.
“Try earnestly to live long, without falling into the
hands of medical practitioners. When they. give you one injection, they keep
another ready to counteract its reactions! While trying to cure one disease,
they cause a dozen more. Moreover, the drugs they recommend are mostly
spurious, since manufacturers want to amass a fortune by hook or by crook. Most
illnesses can be cured by simple living, simple exercises, and by intelligent
control of the tongue. Live long so that you can witness the career of the
Avatar for years and years.”
–
Sathya Sai Baba 1982
“Man is leading an artificial life today. One should
understand that one is not merely the body but a combination of body, mind and
Spirit. In the Gayatri mantra, "Om Bhur Bhuvah Suvah" is the first
line. In this" Bhu" refers to matter, that is the body; "Bhuvah" refers
to the Prana Shakthi [Life Principle), which animates the body; and
"Suvah" refers to Prajna Shakthi (Awareness or Conscience), which
acts through radiation. Hence man is made up of Prajna \awareness), Prana (the
vital life force); and the body (the material substance). The doctors should
not consider only the body but should take into consideration the Prana and
Prajna Shakthi, which is the radiation energy that promotes wisdom. Vibration
is the expression of the Prana. In every action, there is a vibration which is
in between the consciousness and the physical body. We should see that the mind
is not influenced by any external "force" but by the internal
"source;' which is Prajna or integrated awareness.
Esteemed Doctors! You
must strive to ensure long and healthy life for the people. In my view a godly
life is more important than mere longevity. What is the use of a selfish person
leading a long life without rendering service to society? Only those who serve
society and the nation should have a long life. The essence of the Eighteen
Puranas of Vyasa was given by him in the motto, "Help ever, hurt never:'
It is true that
doctors generally work with devotion and dedication. It will be better if they
develop more devotion toward God instead of being concerned with earning
money. Obviously, money is needed to carry on worldly life, but there should be
a limit to the acquisition of money. The use of money should be properly
regulated. When one does not observe restraint in daily life, one is a prey to
disease. The body is governed by limits and controls. The temperature should be
98.4°F, neither more nor less. The blood pressure should be 120/80; any increase
or decrease spells illness. Doctors should not compete with one another in
earning huge sums and acquiring more and more possessions. They should render
free service to the needy and the poor. The spirit of sacrifice is the hallmark
of true education. Money earned should be usefully spent in a spirit of
sacrifice.
I wish to give a word
of advice to the doctors. While you are examining the patients, you should have
smiling faces and talk to the patients sweetly. If you check the pulse with a
grim face, the patients may collapse, fearing that there is something radically
wrong. Some patients even dread the very sight of a doctor who approaches to
examine. This is not good. Doctors should infuse courage in the patients and
speak soothingly radiating compassion and love. The kind approach of the doctor
will have greater healing effect on the patients than the medicine itself.
Doctors must instill courage in their patients. Swami wants more hospitals to
render free treatment to the poor. Doctors should cooperate and work with
unity.
The manner and mien of
the physician are more effective in drawing out the latent sources of strength
in the patient than the most powerful drug. A prayerful atmosphere of humility
and veneration will go a long way to help the cure. We may say that the behavior,
the voice, the mien of the doctor count for fifty per cent of the cure; the
drugs and their efficacy manage the other half.”
–
Sathya
Sai Baba 1980
I think we can all identify with Sathya Sai's advice
on medical care, especially here in the West. Many of us long for a doctor who treats the whole person and is more
interested in preventing disease than assigning a cure. Today's emphasis on
expensive pharmaceutical fixes is becoming more and more of a financial
burden, especially for the elderly. And, Most doctors seem to rely on
prescribing drugs as their predominate curative method. Few patients would
disagree with the need for reform of medical practices.
Healthy individuals
make for a healthy society. Just as we need to understand and practice good
discipline in eating, exercise, and mental control, so we need to consider how
our who treats the whole person and is more interested in preventing disease
than assigning a cure. Today's emphasis on expensive pharmaceutical fixes is
becoming more and more of a financial burden, especially for the elderly. And,
most doctors seem to rely on prescribing drugs as their predominate curative
method. Few patients would disagree with the need for reform of medical
practices.
Healthy individuals
make for a healthy society. Just as we need to understand and practice good
discipline in eating, exercise, and mental control, so we need to consider how
our own profession can be practiced to benefit society as a whole. Doctors are
no exception. But it is incumbent on us all to help re-create doctors such that
they become our disease prevention coaches rather than mitigators of our
self-inflicted poor health. Certainly, many of the health problems in the West
today can be attributed to lifestyle-overeating, smoking, drinking, laziness,
anxiety, stress, poor diet, and so on. Our doctors could help by: (1) setting
an example of a healthy lifestyle, (2) being frank, honest, and educational
with people about taking proper care of their bodies, and (3) helping to
discover and remedy the root causes for poor health which may stem from mental
and emotional problems.
Our health is tied to
the health of Nature around us. Pollution of the air and water, excessive
noise, and lack of natural environments all contribute to poor health of body,
mind, and soul. Groups such as Physicians for Social Responsibility acknowledge
this and actively work to inform and influence policy makers on the need for
environmental protection. Such doctors are providing a great service for us
all.
Many doctors and
nurses donate their time and expertise at Sathya Sai Baba hospitals in India. I
understand from hospital volunteers that the experience is quite unique-what
Sai expounds in his teachings actually happens within those walls. Patients receive
tender love and care in equal measure to the needed medical attention that
brought them there. This care is provided free, just like Swami's words spoken
at Prashanti Nilayam.
“Only by sense control and steadfastness can one lead
a happy and healthy life. Along with control of the mind, one should
control the temper and avoid tension. Prevention of disease should be the goal.
We should aim· at a human society free from diseases. It will be a happy day
when a hospital gets no patients at all.”
– Sathya Sai Baba 1993
Wouldn't we all like to witness such a happy day? In
the meantime, the reality for many in today's modern world is that mental
"ill-ease" is on the rise though physical comforts are better than
ever. Since mental well-being is tied to physical wellbeing and both are tied
to being compassionate, helpful people, we must find ways to work to improve
our own peace of mind.
“The world is teaching man innumerable lessons all the
time. Each one should try to discover for themself the secret of their life and
the Universal Consciousness that is inherent in them. The first requisite for
each one is to make oneself one's own guru.”
–
Sathya Sai Baba 1986
“... peace for the individual, for the society, and
for the nation ... can only be achieved through spiritual means. Hence,
recognizing the truth, without attaching excessive importance to worldly
comforts, we must make every effort to acquire peace of mind. No doubt physical
comforts are necessary up to a point. But they should be limited to meeting the
basic demands of nature. For instance, man requires sleep. Similarly, peace of
mind should be got through natural means. The spiritual path is the only way to
achieve "the peace that passeth understanding.”
–
Sathya Sai Baba 1988
Sathya Sai tells us we should find peace of mind
"through natural means." Increasing our spiritual sadhana, appealing
to our divine Self for solace and guidance, and keeping good company are all
part of th.is process. The increasing use of antidepressants and anti-anxiety
drugs is allowing more and more people to remain stuck between the difficult
state they were in and the state which allows them "the peace that passeth
understanding." Such drug use can place a veil over problems and not
allow the individual to grow in awareness from difficulties experienced in
life. Of course, there are situations where such treatment is helpful for a
time, but over the long term, the natural ways to peace provide the greatest
benefits.
“To equip oneself with the oceanworthy boat of
Grace, one has to develop in himself the qualities of faith and discipline. One
has to clarify and purify the consciousness. Time is the gift that God has
blessed man with for this purpose. So, man should use it as an instrument for
clarification and purification. Contemplating the glories of God, discovering
His presence in beauty, goodness, and truth seen anywhere, meditating on His
Form, repeating His Name-by these means the process can be made successful. Of
course, these are not possible without virtuous living and kindness toward all
beings. Thus, the· mind will be rendered harmless, beneficent and even of great
help in one's spiritual pilgrimage. Through the purified mind, one can
transmute himself into the Divine. Human can become God Himself. For, it is the
destiny and the right of every human to attain that status and immerse himself
in the limitless divine Bliss that it confers.”
–
Sathya Sai Baba 1974
If you are like me, the work to purify the body and
mind is continuous. Our beloved Sai informs us of the ideal and encourages us
to get as close as we can. It cannot be accomplished in a short while; the
process takes many, many years. But it's the determination to stay on the path
that counts. In the meantime, our lives, and those of all beings, will benefit
from the progress we make.
Source: “Tread Softly – Sathya Sai Baba’s Teaching on Nature and Environment”
by Tina K. Schweickert
