Yojana Magazine June 2023 - 2 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

 Page 1


23 June 2023
he World Health Organization defines 
health as a state of complete well-
being, not merely the absence of 
disease or infirmity. Hippocrates’ 
science of Medicine sets the goal of medicine as 
the complete removal of the distress of the sick. 
Modern medical care has been 
advancing at an accelerating pace with 
so many advances in pharmacology, 
genomics, major innovations in 
medicine, healthcare, and help from 
electronic technology like artificial 
intelligence, the Internet of Things, 
robotics, data analysis, and more. 
Extraordinary advances in instrumentation 
have brought great diagnostic tools into 
use. Is this all enough? Is this the 
only direction to proceed to 
improve the sense of well-
being and health? 
T
The foundation of our good health is the sustenance of a life force or 
our staying alive. When it leaves the human body, everything stops. 
The human body stops functioning. As long as life existed inside the 
body, even with illnesses, accidents, injuries, pains, and stresses, the 
human being survived. The yogis say the food for the soul is ‘Grace’ and 
‘Prana’ from the ‘Source’ . That can be activated by a prayerful impulse 
from the heart, and a Spiritual Guide who can divert that Grace to our 
heart. Meditational approaches are known to thus create significant 
improvements in mental health and well-being, and emotional resilience.
a ncient Medical t echniques
While there is no denying the great and unique 
benefits of modern medicine, like antibiotics, 
vaccination, physical hygiene with antiseptic 
chemicals, surgery with instrumental help, 
pharmacology discoveries, and so on, there are 
alternative systems of medicine in the East 
and West, especially in India, and other 
ancient civilisations like Egypt and 
China, which may yet reveal secrets 
unknown to modern medicine. some 
of those systems, like Ayurveda and 
Siddha in India, are thousands of 
years old in their development, while 
allopathic medicine is hardly a few 
centuries old.
some ideas in Ayurveda, 
Yoga, Naturopathy, and so 
on are mind-boggling to 
KaMLEsh d patEL (daaji)
the author is a Spiritual Guide at heartfulness Meditation Worldwide and a recipient of Padma Bhushan in 2023. 
email: daaji@heartfulness.org
roLE oF MEditationaL approachEs 
in MEntaL WELL-bEing
23 June 2023
SpeciaL
Page 2


23 June 2023
he World Health Organization defines 
health as a state of complete well-
being, not merely the absence of 
disease or infirmity. Hippocrates’ 
science of Medicine sets the goal of medicine as 
the complete removal of the distress of the sick. 
Modern medical care has been 
advancing at an accelerating pace with 
so many advances in pharmacology, 
genomics, major innovations in 
medicine, healthcare, and help from 
electronic technology like artificial 
intelligence, the Internet of Things, 
robotics, data analysis, and more. 
Extraordinary advances in instrumentation 
have brought great diagnostic tools into 
use. Is this all enough? Is this the 
only direction to proceed to 
improve the sense of well-
being and health? 
T
The foundation of our good health is the sustenance of a life force or 
our staying alive. When it leaves the human body, everything stops. 
The human body stops functioning. As long as life existed inside the 
body, even with illnesses, accidents, injuries, pains, and stresses, the 
human being survived. The yogis say the food for the soul is ‘Grace’ and 
‘Prana’ from the ‘Source’ . That can be activated by a prayerful impulse 
from the heart, and a Spiritual Guide who can divert that Grace to our 
heart. Meditational approaches are known to thus create significant 
improvements in mental health and well-being, and emotional resilience.
a ncient Medical t echniques
While there is no denying the great and unique 
benefits of modern medicine, like antibiotics, 
vaccination, physical hygiene with antiseptic 
chemicals, surgery with instrumental help, 
pharmacology discoveries, and so on, there are 
alternative systems of medicine in the East 
and West, especially in India, and other 
ancient civilisations like Egypt and 
China, which may yet reveal secrets 
unknown to modern medicine. some 
of those systems, like Ayurveda and 
Siddha in India, are thousands of 
years old in their development, while 
allopathic medicine is hardly a few 
centuries old.
some ideas in Ayurveda, 
Yoga, Naturopathy, and so 
on are mind-boggling to 
KaMLEsh d patEL (daaji)
the author is a Spiritual Guide at heartfulness Meditation Worldwide and a recipient of Padma Bhushan in 2023. 
email: daaji@heartfulness.org
roLE oF MEditationaL approachEs 
in MEntaL WELL-bEing
23 June 2023
SpeciaL
24 June 2023
the common man or even medical researchers. 
We learn from Ayurvedic doctors that the time of 
day when a herb or a plant medicine is procured 
from the tree, treated, and 
consumed has a remarkably 
powerful effect. Tulsi leaves, 
which are like nectar or 
medicine when plucked in 
the morning, can become 
poisonous if plucked at night, 
due to the effect of isomerism. 
some plants used to treat 
cardiovascular diseases have 
the opposite effect if plucked 
at the wrong time of day.
healing and holistic Well-
being
Holistic well-being can 
be ensured only by therapies 
or processes that ensure the 
health of the whole being, 
comprising the body, mind, 
and soul. A human being 
has limbs outside and many 
organs inside, and all these 
must be synchronised in a 
healthy pattern of living. 
Further, inside a human being, 
there are many layers of existence.
Healing is what restores health. Healing is 
not restricted to healing the body but includes 
the mind and emotions as 
well. This is reflected in a well-
known Latin saying, Mens sana 
in corpore sano, a healthy mind 
is a healthy body. The scars on 
the skin, or flesh may be easier 
to remove than the scars on 
the emotional heart. These are 
caused by misunderstanding, 
selfishness, lack of love, and 
compassion. To correct them, 
right thinking, listening, 
feeling, and empathy is 
needed. The proper use of 
a purified heart is needed. 
For that, meditation and 
spirituality are needed.
It is not only the healing of 
the individual but the healing 
of the whole of humanity, the 
whole planet is needed. In the 
early history of the planet, 
those with the strongest 
muscles were considered the 
healthiest and survived best. 
It is not only the healing 
of the individual but 
the healing of the whole 
of humanity, the whole 
planet is needed. In 
the early history of 
the planet, those with 
the strongest muscles 
were considered 
the healthiest and 
survived best. Later on, 
intellectual strength 
gave the best chance of 
survival. Today, and in 
the future, the person 
with the purest and 
strong heart will have 
the best health and will 
survive the best.
24 June 2023
Page 3


23 June 2023
he World Health Organization defines 
health as a state of complete well-
being, not merely the absence of 
disease or infirmity. Hippocrates’ 
science of Medicine sets the goal of medicine as 
the complete removal of the distress of the sick. 
Modern medical care has been 
advancing at an accelerating pace with 
so many advances in pharmacology, 
genomics, major innovations in 
medicine, healthcare, and help from 
electronic technology like artificial 
intelligence, the Internet of Things, 
robotics, data analysis, and more. 
Extraordinary advances in instrumentation 
have brought great diagnostic tools into 
use. Is this all enough? Is this the 
only direction to proceed to 
improve the sense of well-
being and health? 
T
The foundation of our good health is the sustenance of a life force or 
our staying alive. When it leaves the human body, everything stops. 
The human body stops functioning. As long as life existed inside the 
body, even with illnesses, accidents, injuries, pains, and stresses, the 
human being survived. The yogis say the food for the soul is ‘Grace’ and 
‘Prana’ from the ‘Source’ . That can be activated by a prayerful impulse 
from the heart, and a Spiritual Guide who can divert that Grace to our 
heart. Meditational approaches are known to thus create significant 
improvements in mental health and well-being, and emotional resilience.
a ncient Medical t echniques
While there is no denying the great and unique 
benefits of modern medicine, like antibiotics, 
vaccination, physical hygiene with antiseptic 
chemicals, surgery with instrumental help, 
pharmacology discoveries, and so on, there are 
alternative systems of medicine in the East 
and West, especially in India, and other 
ancient civilisations like Egypt and 
China, which may yet reveal secrets 
unknown to modern medicine. some 
of those systems, like Ayurveda and 
Siddha in India, are thousands of 
years old in their development, while 
allopathic medicine is hardly a few 
centuries old.
some ideas in Ayurveda, 
Yoga, Naturopathy, and so 
on are mind-boggling to 
KaMLEsh d patEL (daaji)
the author is a Spiritual Guide at heartfulness Meditation Worldwide and a recipient of Padma Bhushan in 2023. 
email: daaji@heartfulness.org
roLE oF MEditationaL approachEs 
in MEntaL WELL-bEing
23 June 2023
SpeciaL
24 June 2023
the common man or even medical researchers. 
We learn from Ayurvedic doctors that the time of 
day when a herb or a plant medicine is procured 
from the tree, treated, and 
consumed has a remarkably 
powerful effect. Tulsi leaves, 
which are like nectar or 
medicine when plucked in 
the morning, can become 
poisonous if plucked at night, 
due to the effect of isomerism. 
some plants used to treat 
cardiovascular diseases have 
the opposite effect if plucked 
at the wrong time of day.
healing and holistic Well-
being
Holistic well-being can 
be ensured only by therapies 
or processes that ensure the 
health of the whole being, 
comprising the body, mind, 
and soul. A human being 
has limbs outside and many 
organs inside, and all these 
must be synchronised in a 
healthy pattern of living. 
Further, inside a human being, 
there are many layers of existence.
Healing is what restores health. Healing is 
not restricted to healing the body but includes 
the mind and emotions as 
well. This is reflected in a well-
known Latin saying, Mens sana 
in corpore sano, a healthy mind 
is a healthy body. The scars on 
the skin, or flesh may be easier 
to remove than the scars on 
the emotional heart. These are 
caused by misunderstanding, 
selfishness, lack of love, and 
compassion. To correct them, 
right thinking, listening, 
feeling, and empathy is 
needed. The proper use of 
a purified heart is needed. 
For that, meditation and 
spirituality are needed.
It is not only the healing of 
the individual but the healing 
of the whole of humanity, the 
whole planet is needed. In the 
early history of the planet, 
those with the strongest 
muscles were considered the 
healthiest and survived best. 
It is not only the healing 
of the individual but 
the healing of the whole 
of humanity, the whole 
planet is needed. In 
the early history of 
the planet, those with 
the strongest muscles 
were considered 
the healthiest and 
survived best. Later on, 
intellectual strength 
gave the best chance of 
survival. Today, and in 
the future, the person 
with the purest and 
strong heart will have 
the best health and will 
survive the best.
24 June 2023 25 June 2023
Later on, intellectual strength 
gave the best chance of 
survival. Today, and in the 
future, the person with the 
purest and strong heart will 
have the best health and will 
survive the best.
h eart’s Foundational 
intelligence in h ealing
Many of you may have 
read books like ‘The Heart’s 
Code’ by Paul Pearsall and may 
know about the importance 
of the emotional heart, and 
the psychological heart, and 
how they influence even the 
health of the physical heart. 
A better use of the heart is to 
love better, to forgive more, 
and to be more generous 
and kinder, expand our consciousness, and this 
automatically results in improved health.
The foundation of our good health is the 
sustenance of a life force or our staying alive. 
The thing that makes us stay alive is called by 
different names in different cultures — rooh, 
soul, atman, etc. so when we talk about good 
health or well-being, the primary question we 
have to ask ourselves is, ‘How to ensure the 
good health, growth, and well-being of the 
soul?’ or ‘How to keep that soul happy in a state 
of prayerful grace and feed it well with a life-
giving force?’
enter the Koshas in 
h ealing
At the physical 
level, we think of 
health as a healthy 
diet, exercising, 
a good lifestyle, 
etc. However, 
if one were to 
observe oneself at 
the energetic or 
vibratory level, we 
discover that there 
may be layers of 
existence inside the 
human body. We call 
these layers koshas, or sheaths, 
or coverings. The Upanishads 
describe the koshas as the five 
layers of awareness, starting 
with the physical body and 
moving deeper, inward, to the 
deepest layer of our soul or 
innermost self. The practice 
of yoga and meditation 
helps us experience these 
layers and brings us closer to 
understanding them in the real 
essence, thereby discovering 
our own true inner selves. The 
five koshas are as follows: 
1. Annamaya kosha (food)- 
This outermost kosha takes 
care of the sustenance for the 
physical body.
2. Pranamaya kosha (energy)- 
This kosha regulates the flow of prana, or life-
force energy. 
3. Manomaya kosha (mind)- Manomaya is the 
kosha that gives us awareness of our thoughts, 
and emotions. 
4. Vijnanamaya kosha (intuition)- This kosha is 
connected to an intuitively-deeper level that 
gives access to spiritual wisdom.  
5. Anandamaya kosha (bliss) - This is the deepest 
layer and the scriptures refer to this as the true 
inner self, that gives us joy and love. 
The natural 
improvement in 
self-discipline as 
a consequence 
of adopting a 
meditative and 
prayerful lifestyle 
has many cascading 
benefits. One 
naturally reduces 
his digital addiction 
and escapes from 
excess radiation from 
electronic devices. 
25 June 2023
Page 4


23 June 2023
he World Health Organization defines 
health as a state of complete well-
being, not merely the absence of 
disease or infirmity. Hippocrates’ 
science of Medicine sets the goal of medicine as 
the complete removal of the distress of the sick. 
Modern medical care has been 
advancing at an accelerating pace with 
so many advances in pharmacology, 
genomics, major innovations in 
medicine, healthcare, and help from 
electronic technology like artificial 
intelligence, the Internet of Things, 
robotics, data analysis, and more. 
Extraordinary advances in instrumentation 
have brought great diagnostic tools into 
use. Is this all enough? Is this the 
only direction to proceed to 
improve the sense of well-
being and health? 
T
The foundation of our good health is the sustenance of a life force or 
our staying alive. When it leaves the human body, everything stops. 
The human body stops functioning. As long as life existed inside the 
body, even with illnesses, accidents, injuries, pains, and stresses, the 
human being survived. The yogis say the food for the soul is ‘Grace’ and 
‘Prana’ from the ‘Source’ . That can be activated by a prayerful impulse 
from the heart, and a Spiritual Guide who can divert that Grace to our 
heart. Meditational approaches are known to thus create significant 
improvements in mental health and well-being, and emotional resilience.
a ncient Medical t echniques
While there is no denying the great and unique 
benefits of modern medicine, like antibiotics, 
vaccination, physical hygiene with antiseptic 
chemicals, surgery with instrumental help, 
pharmacology discoveries, and so on, there are 
alternative systems of medicine in the East 
and West, especially in India, and other 
ancient civilisations like Egypt and 
China, which may yet reveal secrets 
unknown to modern medicine. some 
of those systems, like Ayurveda and 
Siddha in India, are thousands of 
years old in their development, while 
allopathic medicine is hardly a few 
centuries old.
some ideas in Ayurveda, 
Yoga, Naturopathy, and so 
on are mind-boggling to 
KaMLEsh d patEL (daaji)
the author is a Spiritual Guide at heartfulness Meditation Worldwide and a recipient of Padma Bhushan in 2023. 
email: daaji@heartfulness.org
roLE oF MEditationaL approachEs 
in MEntaL WELL-bEing
23 June 2023
SpeciaL
24 June 2023
the common man or even medical researchers. 
We learn from Ayurvedic doctors that the time of 
day when a herb or a plant medicine is procured 
from the tree, treated, and 
consumed has a remarkably 
powerful effect. Tulsi leaves, 
which are like nectar or 
medicine when plucked in 
the morning, can become 
poisonous if plucked at night, 
due to the effect of isomerism. 
some plants used to treat 
cardiovascular diseases have 
the opposite effect if plucked 
at the wrong time of day.
healing and holistic Well-
being
Holistic well-being can 
be ensured only by therapies 
or processes that ensure the 
health of the whole being, 
comprising the body, mind, 
and soul. A human being 
has limbs outside and many 
organs inside, and all these 
must be synchronised in a 
healthy pattern of living. 
Further, inside a human being, 
there are many layers of existence.
Healing is what restores health. Healing is 
not restricted to healing the body but includes 
the mind and emotions as 
well. This is reflected in a well-
known Latin saying, Mens sana 
in corpore sano, a healthy mind 
is a healthy body. The scars on 
the skin, or flesh may be easier 
to remove than the scars on 
the emotional heart. These are 
caused by misunderstanding, 
selfishness, lack of love, and 
compassion. To correct them, 
right thinking, listening, 
feeling, and empathy is 
needed. The proper use of 
a purified heart is needed. 
For that, meditation and 
spirituality are needed.
It is not only the healing of 
the individual but the healing 
of the whole of humanity, the 
whole planet is needed. In the 
early history of the planet, 
those with the strongest 
muscles were considered the 
healthiest and survived best. 
It is not only the healing 
of the individual but 
the healing of the whole 
of humanity, the whole 
planet is needed. In 
the early history of 
the planet, those with 
the strongest muscles 
were considered 
the healthiest and 
survived best. Later on, 
intellectual strength 
gave the best chance of 
survival. Today, and in 
the future, the person 
with the purest and 
strong heart will have 
the best health and will 
survive the best.
24 June 2023 25 June 2023
Later on, intellectual strength 
gave the best chance of 
survival. Today, and in the 
future, the person with the 
purest and strong heart will 
have the best health and will 
survive the best.
h eart’s Foundational 
intelligence in h ealing
Many of you may have 
read books like ‘The Heart’s 
Code’ by Paul Pearsall and may 
know about the importance 
of the emotional heart, and 
the psychological heart, and 
how they influence even the 
health of the physical heart. 
A better use of the heart is to 
love better, to forgive more, 
and to be more generous 
and kinder, expand our consciousness, and this 
automatically results in improved health.
The foundation of our good health is the 
sustenance of a life force or our staying alive. 
The thing that makes us stay alive is called by 
different names in different cultures — rooh, 
soul, atman, etc. so when we talk about good 
health or well-being, the primary question we 
have to ask ourselves is, ‘How to ensure the 
good health, growth, and well-being of the 
soul?’ or ‘How to keep that soul happy in a state 
of prayerful grace and feed it well with a life-
giving force?’
enter the Koshas in 
h ealing
At the physical 
level, we think of 
health as a healthy 
diet, exercising, 
a good lifestyle, 
etc. However, 
if one were to 
observe oneself at 
the energetic or 
vibratory level, we 
discover that there 
may be layers of 
existence inside the 
human body. We call 
these layers koshas, or sheaths, 
or coverings. The Upanishads 
describe the koshas as the five 
layers of awareness, starting 
with the physical body and 
moving deeper, inward, to the 
deepest layer of our soul or 
innermost self. The practice 
of yoga and meditation 
helps us experience these 
layers and brings us closer to 
understanding them in the real 
essence, thereby discovering 
our own true inner selves. The 
five koshas are as follows: 
1. Annamaya kosha (food)- 
This outermost kosha takes 
care of the sustenance for the 
physical body.
2. Pranamaya kosha (energy)- 
This kosha regulates the flow of prana, or life-
force energy. 
3. Manomaya kosha (mind)- Manomaya is the 
kosha that gives us awareness of our thoughts, 
and emotions. 
4. Vijnanamaya kosha (intuition)- This kosha is 
connected to an intuitively-deeper level that 
gives access to spiritual wisdom.  
5. Anandamaya kosha (bliss) - This is the deepest 
layer and the scriptures refer to this as the true 
inner self, that gives us joy and love. 
The natural 
improvement in 
self-discipline as 
a consequence 
of adopting a 
meditative and 
prayerful lifestyle 
has many cascading 
benefits. One 
naturally reduces 
his digital addiction 
and escapes from 
excess radiation from 
electronic devices. 
25 June 2023 26 June 2023
Now, beyond the koshas, there is a foundation 
to our existence, and that is the soul or our life’s 
force. When it exits the human being in an invisible 
manner, all mechanisms, all processes, and all 
factories in the body stop working. As long as that 
life existed inside the body, even with illnesses, 
accidents, injuries, and stresses, we survive. How 
to nurture that life or soul or deep inner self to 
stay healthy and joyful? The yogis say the food for 
the soul is ‘Grace’ and Prana from the source. That 
can be activated by a prayerful impulse from the 
heart, and a spiritual Guide who can divert that 
Grace to our heart. 
The s elf or s oul is that which is eternal. It makes 
everything possible. Its well-being and nourishment 
are what make us perceive every experience of our 
life as a learning, as a joy, as a cheerfully accepting 
and cherishable moment. so do not take the 
philosophy of the koshas lightly. It stands as the 
basis of mental and emotional nurturing.
Meditate for internal hygiene
Now, let’s talk about something that regulates 
these koshas, opens up these layers to experience 
the soul or life force in a meaningful way. That’s 
where we talk about mental hygiene. While 
external hygiene is of course important to prevent 
infection, internal hygiene is important to prevent 
mental illnesses. If the laws of ethics and morality 
are broken by wrong habits, inner hygiene is 
hijacked by our own weaknesses. Mental and 
emotional health is now destroyed. As a result, we 
cannot sleep well, we cannot enter samadhi, and 
we cannot have wisdom. We cannot discriminate 
between right and 
wrong, between good 
and bad, or between 
cause and effect. How 
to make our heart 
and mind conscious, 
and conscientious? 
Only by reflection and 
meditation. Only by 
centering ourselves, 
being settled on 
oneself. The sanskrit 
word for health is 
Swasthya, and it means 
this ‘settledness’ in 
oneself. such a person 
is not irritated or depressed due to fever or pain 
but is calm and therefore safe. It is like you are in 
the centre of a cyclonic storm yet safe; but in the 
periphery, you are pushed or pulled. Likewise, if 
you are centered in the core, you are less disturbed. 
If you are always conscious of your periphery, 
the body is thinking of illnesses and attracting 
illnesses. This is one way to look at it.
We do need antibiotics and surgery when we 
are critically sick. We do need vaccines if we lack 
natural immunity. Modern medicine is of course 
useful. But most of the minor problems have natural 
solutions. so many health problems are solved by 
natural adjustments in diet and exercise, healthy 
sleep patterns, in simple uses of pranayama and 
yogasanas. Most important of all these are simple 
meditation practices which result in a meditative 
attitude and a prayerful attitude that can handle any 
crisis; much better than an agitated or vacillating 
mind, or a selfish-cowardly heart.
vaccine for Mental and emotional h ealth
We have vaccines for smallpox and 
chickenpox. What is the vaccine for the mind 
and emotional heart? Meditation. And a simple 
natural meditation like heartfulness, is practiced 
easily because it is aided by yogic transmission 
or Pranahuti. The Heartfulness-cleaning process 
enables us to reduce our daily levels of stress and 
tension. Most modern diseases are psychosomatic 
to a large degree. We call them lifestyle diseases, 
but they can become fatal. It is not merely high-
blood pressure, diabetes, and allergy, it can be 
serious ulcers, cancer in various forms, and other 
26 June 2023
Page 5


23 June 2023
he World Health Organization defines 
health as a state of complete well-
being, not merely the absence of 
disease or infirmity. Hippocrates’ 
science of Medicine sets the goal of medicine as 
the complete removal of the distress of the sick. 
Modern medical care has been 
advancing at an accelerating pace with 
so many advances in pharmacology, 
genomics, major innovations in 
medicine, healthcare, and help from 
electronic technology like artificial 
intelligence, the Internet of Things, 
robotics, data analysis, and more. 
Extraordinary advances in instrumentation 
have brought great diagnostic tools into 
use. Is this all enough? Is this the 
only direction to proceed to 
improve the sense of well-
being and health? 
T
The foundation of our good health is the sustenance of a life force or 
our staying alive. When it leaves the human body, everything stops. 
The human body stops functioning. As long as life existed inside the 
body, even with illnesses, accidents, injuries, pains, and stresses, the 
human being survived. The yogis say the food for the soul is ‘Grace’ and 
‘Prana’ from the ‘Source’ . That can be activated by a prayerful impulse 
from the heart, and a Spiritual Guide who can divert that Grace to our 
heart. Meditational approaches are known to thus create significant 
improvements in mental health and well-being, and emotional resilience.
a ncient Medical t echniques
While there is no denying the great and unique 
benefits of modern medicine, like antibiotics, 
vaccination, physical hygiene with antiseptic 
chemicals, surgery with instrumental help, 
pharmacology discoveries, and so on, there are 
alternative systems of medicine in the East 
and West, especially in India, and other 
ancient civilisations like Egypt and 
China, which may yet reveal secrets 
unknown to modern medicine. some 
of those systems, like Ayurveda and 
Siddha in India, are thousands of 
years old in their development, while 
allopathic medicine is hardly a few 
centuries old.
some ideas in Ayurveda, 
Yoga, Naturopathy, and so 
on are mind-boggling to 
KaMLEsh d patEL (daaji)
the author is a Spiritual Guide at heartfulness Meditation Worldwide and a recipient of Padma Bhushan in 2023. 
email: daaji@heartfulness.org
roLE oF MEditationaL approachEs 
in MEntaL WELL-bEing
23 June 2023
SpeciaL
24 June 2023
the common man or even medical researchers. 
We learn from Ayurvedic doctors that the time of 
day when a herb or a plant medicine is procured 
from the tree, treated, and 
consumed has a remarkably 
powerful effect. Tulsi leaves, 
which are like nectar or 
medicine when plucked in 
the morning, can become 
poisonous if plucked at night, 
due to the effect of isomerism. 
some plants used to treat 
cardiovascular diseases have 
the opposite effect if plucked 
at the wrong time of day.
healing and holistic Well-
being
Holistic well-being can 
be ensured only by therapies 
or processes that ensure the 
health of the whole being, 
comprising the body, mind, 
and soul. A human being 
has limbs outside and many 
organs inside, and all these 
must be synchronised in a 
healthy pattern of living. 
Further, inside a human being, 
there are many layers of existence.
Healing is what restores health. Healing is 
not restricted to healing the body but includes 
the mind and emotions as 
well. This is reflected in a well-
known Latin saying, Mens sana 
in corpore sano, a healthy mind 
is a healthy body. The scars on 
the skin, or flesh may be easier 
to remove than the scars on 
the emotional heart. These are 
caused by misunderstanding, 
selfishness, lack of love, and 
compassion. To correct them, 
right thinking, listening, 
feeling, and empathy is 
needed. The proper use of 
a purified heart is needed. 
For that, meditation and 
spirituality are needed.
It is not only the healing of 
the individual but the healing 
of the whole of humanity, the 
whole planet is needed. In the 
early history of the planet, 
those with the strongest 
muscles were considered the 
healthiest and survived best. 
It is not only the healing 
of the individual but 
the healing of the whole 
of humanity, the whole 
planet is needed. In 
the early history of 
the planet, those with 
the strongest muscles 
were considered 
the healthiest and 
survived best. Later on, 
intellectual strength 
gave the best chance of 
survival. Today, and in 
the future, the person 
with the purest and 
strong heart will have 
the best health and will 
survive the best.
24 June 2023 25 June 2023
Later on, intellectual strength 
gave the best chance of 
survival. Today, and in the 
future, the person with the 
purest and strong heart will 
have the best health and will 
survive the best.
h eart’s Foundational 
intelligence in h ealing
Many of you may have 
read books like ‘The Heart’s 
Code’ by Paul Pearsall and may 
know about the importance 
of the emotional heart, and 
the psychological heart, and 
how they influence even the 
health of the physical heart. 
A better use of the heart is to 
love better, to forgive more, 
and to be more generous 
and kinder, expand our consciousness, and this 
automatically results in improved health.
The foundation of our good health is the 
sustenance of a life force or our staying alive. 
The thing that makes us stay alive is called by 
different names in different cultures — rooh, 
soul, atman, etc. so when we talk about good 
health or well-being, the primary question we 
have to ask ourselves is, ‘How to ensure the 
good health, growth, and well-being of the 
soul?’ or ‘How to keep that soul happy in a state 
of prayerful grace and feed it well with a life-
giving force?’
enter the Koshas in 
h ealing
At the physical 
level, we think of 
health as a healthy 
diet, exercising, 
a good lifestyle, 
etc. However, 
if one were to 
observe oneself at 
the energetic or 
vibratory level, we 
discover that there 
may be layers of 
existence inside the 
human body. We call 
these layers koshas, or sheaths, 
or coverings. The Upanishads 
describe the koshas as the five 
layers of awareness, starting 
with the physical body and 
moving deeper, inward, to the 
deepest layer of our soul or 
innermost self. The practice 
of yoga and meditation 
helps us experience these 
layers and brings us closer to 
understanding them in the real 
essence, thereby discovering 
our own true inner selves. The 
five koshas are as follows: 
1. Annamaya kosha (food)- 
This outermost kosha takes 
care of the sustenance for the 
physical body.
2. Pranamaya kosha (energy)- 
This kosha regulates the flow of prana, or life-
force energy. 
3. Manomaya kosha (mind)- Manomaya is the 
kosha that gives us awareness of our thoughts, 
and emotions. 
4. Vijnanamaya kosha (intuition)- This kosha is 
connected to an intuitively-deeper level that 
gives access to spiritual wisdom.  
5. Anandamaya kosha (bliss) - This is the deepest 
layer and the scriptures refer to this as the true 
inner self, that gives us joy and love. 
The natural 
improvement in 
self-discipline as 
a consequence 
of adopting a 
meditative and 
prayerful lifestyle 
has many cascading 
benefits. One 
naturally reduces 
his digital addiction 
and escapes from 
excess radiation from 
electronic devices. 
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Now, beyond the koshas, there is a foundation 
to our existence, and that is the soul or our life’s 
force. When it exits the human being in an invisible 
manner, all mechanisms, all processes, and all 
factories in the body stop working. As long as that 
life existed inside the body, even with illnesses, 
accidents, injuries, and stresses, we survive. How 
to nurture that life or soul or deep inner self to 
stay healthy and joyful? The yogis say the food for 
the soul is ‘Grace’ and Prana from the source. That 
can be activated by a prayerful impulse from the 
heart, and a spiritual Guide who can divert that 
Grace to our heart. 
The s elf or s oul is that which is eternal. It makes 
everything possible. Its well-being and nourishment 
are what make us perceive every experience of our 
life as a learning, as a joy, as a cheerfully accepting 
and cherishable moment. so do not take the 
philosophy of the koshas lightly. It stands as the 
basis of mental and emotional nurturing.
Meditate for internal hygiene
Now, let’s talk about something that regulates 
these koshas, opens up these layers to experience 
the soul or life force in a meaningful way. That’s 
where we talk about mental hygiene. While 
external hygiene is of course important to prevent 
infection, internal hygiene is important to prevent 
mental illnesses. If the laws of ethics and morality 
are broken by wrong habits, inner hygiene is 
hijacked by our own weaknesses. Mental and 
emotional health is now destroyed. As a result, we 
cannot sleep well, we cannot enter samadhi, and 
we cannot have wisdom. We cannot discriminate 
between right and 
wrong, between good 
and bad, or between 
cause and effect. How 
to make our heart 
and mind conscious, 
and conscientious? 
Only by reflection and 
meditation. Only by 
centering ourselves, 
being settled on 
oneself. The sanskrit 
word for health is 
Swasthya, and it means 
this ‘settledness’ in 
oneself. such a person 
is not irritated or depressed due to fever or pain 
but is calm and therefore safe. It is like you are in 
the centre of a cyclonic storm yet safe; but in the 
periphery, you are pushed or pulled. Likewise, if 
you are centered in the core, you are less disturbed. 
If you are always conscious of your periphery, 
the body is thinking of illnesses and attracting 
illnesses. This is one way to look at it.
We do need antibiotics and surgery when we 
are critically sick. We do need vaccines if we lack 
natural immunity. Modern medicine is of course 
useful. But most of the minor problems have natural 
solutions. so many health problems are solved by 
natural adjustments in diet and exercise, healthy 
sleep patterns, in simple uses of pranayama and 
yogasanas. Most important of all these are simple 
meditation practices which result in a meditative 
attitude and a prayerful attitude that can handle any 
crisis; much better than an agitated or vacillating 
mind, or a selfish-cowardly heart.
vaccine for Mental and emotional h ealth
We have vaccines for smallpox and 
chickenpox. What is the vaccine for the mind 
and emotional heart? Meditation. And a simple 
natural meditation like heartfulness, is practiced 
easily because it is aided by yogic transmission 
or Pranahuti. The Heartfulness-cleaning process 
enables us to reduce our daily levels of stress and 
tension. Most modern diseases are psychosomatic 
to a large degree. We call them lifestyle diseases, 
but they can become fatal. It is not merely high-
blood pressure, diabetes, and allergy, it can be 
serious ulcers, cancer in various forms, and other 
26 June 2023 27 June 2023
Y ojana:8.5cms(w)x23cms(height)
 
more serious diseases. some are created in the 
womb of a stressed mother and have a hereditary 
effect.
The natural improvement in self-discipline 
as a consequence of adopting a meditative and 
prayerful lifestyle has many cascading benefits. 
One naturally reduces his digital addiction and 
escapes from excess radiation from electronic 
devices. One naturally forms healthy sleep 
patterns. One naturally develops a sense of faith 
in the higher Reality or higher self or God, which 
guides us through a purified heart. By developing 
the skill of connecting oneself to the divine light 
in the heart before sleep, we get into a habit of 
reconnecting to the heart every time we change 
our activity. We start to act and live from the heart. 
Any blockade to this connectivity is removed by a 
spot-cleaning process, a skill which is improved by 
an evening-guided cleaning.
Heartfulness relaxation and Heartfulness 
polarity processes are used even by children 
who are too young to do long-term meditation. 
They find improvement in their educational 
performance and sports, and also refinement in 
creativity and joyfulness.
significant research has been done on the 
effects of a Heartfulness lifestyle on serotonin 
and melatonin levels, telomere length, and other 
indicators of health. There may be many more 
indicators still waiting to be discovered. Modern 
instrumental research will surely significantly 
supplement the subjective research of millennia 
in human health. 
Meditational approaches are known to thus 
create significant improvements in mental health 
and well-being and emotional resilience. We 
become more and more aware of our actions and 
even our life purpose. There is, of course, significant 
research and evidence in how it reduces anxiety, 
calms us, gives us peace, and even works on the 
very root of all problems. But let me tell you the 
secret that I have reserved for last. Meditation is 
not merely a means for good health. Meditation 
lets us experience an eternal good life in every 
moment of our existence. And this beautiful duet 
between meditational approaches and well-being 
is not merely about physical, mental, and emotional 
well-being, it lets us rendezvous with life in its most 
exuberant manner, in joy, health, and heart.    ?