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Power of Yoga and meditation
In the famous "Time" magazine the importance meditation and yoga, an ancient Indian system, is high-lighted that the ancient mind- and spirit-enhancing art is becoming increasingly popular and gaining medical legitimacy. It is a multi billion dollar business in US. In many Universities it is accepted as subject and included in the Syllabus. In the latest famous book "Inspire! What Great Leaders Do" written by Mr.Lance Secretan recently published by John Wiley and sons, the benefit of meditation is elaborately described for good corporate governance. By practising transcendental meditation, or TM, many people have got relief from back pain, neck pain, depression. The mind calms and quiets, . What thoughts you have during meditation become clearer, more focused. Anger, anxiety and worries give way to a peace.
In the world exhorbitant medical expeneses one can definitely make use of meditation. Maharshi Mahesh Yogi and Sri Ravi Sankar are poplarising this. The Iyengar Yoga institute in US is famous.In Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna has inspired Arjuna to rise from his depression by preaching Gita in the battlefield and to rise from the depression to do his duties.
In Holy Gita we can see, being hidden by the cosmic overview of any institution beset with myriad problems, not the least of which is its lack of moral probity, there is a groundswell of educated people seeking answers to deeply personal but universally asked questions. Chie Executives taking lessons from yoga, meditation and learning how to deal with human resources equations in an enlightened manner. Individuals from every walk of life can get ideas of how to be better human beings, more balanced and less stressed out.
Medical studies continue to show regular meditation working magic in reducing blood pressure and stress-related illnesses, including heart disease. Brain images show that regular meditation helps calm the most active sensory-assaulted parts of the brain.The ancient Hindu sage Patanjali who had mastered the secrets of the human mind has written a book "Yogasutra".In this book we can see how super powers can be achieved by meditation. It has both cosmic relevance and cosmic resonance. In spite of its universal appeal, for most people total control of mind remains an elusive goal and daunting task. From time immemorial, there have been many attempts throughout the world to unlock the mysteries of the mind and to achieve total control over it through a variety of techniques. One of the most powerful of these techniques is meditation. Many spiritual leaders, sages, saints, and holy people such asSri. Buddha, Sri Ramakrishna, Madam Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda have practised this.
It is said that in the unknown period of Lord Jesus Christ , He was under meditation.
September 11, the Day that changed our lives
M.P. Bhattathiri *
September 11th. This day has changed the history of the world .People have seen cruelty in the original form and some have not even recovered from the great mental depression.
Let us express our feelings towards the sufferers of the tragedy on September 11, 2001, at New York and share with all some of the feelings of millions of educated on "Terrorism" and about the
difference it has made in our lives, individual and collective.
Let us also recollect the other great historical event that occurred on the soil of United states Of America a superpower on the same date viz. 11th September. Coincidently the appearance of
Swami Vivekananda on the platform of the Parliament of Religions of Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago is also on September 11th in 1893 and preached the importance of love among all religions. Strangely the great Swami, in his very first lecture, spoke mainly on tolerance and Universal Acceptance. He said, `we believe not only in Universal tolerance but we accept all religions as true'. He quoted from a famous hymn to God Siva written by Pushpadanta
several centuries ago, which stated, `As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in to the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take through
different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee'.
He then concluded with the following wonderful words, which appear most appropriate to be quoted before: `Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendent, fanaticism have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair ? let us sincerely hope that the actions taken during the last one year may be the death knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the weapon or with the pen and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal'
Though we are yet to find out what all ideas worked behind that tragedy of September 11, 2001, we can be sure that an extreme fanatic ideology that considered all other ideologies as worth
nothing and itself as the only worth living ideology was behind the dastardly act. The further events have revealed that this fanatic ideology was inculcated into receptive minds of the youth
who become the instruments of terror that revealed itself at the W.T.O. and other important places,in America. Fanaticism drives away all reason and thus persons with fanatic ideas act like
robots, rather, like animals. Fanaticism is the fuel by which the machine of terrorism works.
Fanaticism has been there in human life whenever people have been deprived of their spiritual food. What is this spiritual food? The disciplines or values of life that lead persons to realize their oneness with the Universe and with God and thus come to love humanity and God resulting into peace evrywhere.
The Vedas, the oldest available scriptures to humanity,The Holy Bible, The Holy Koran and all other religious scriptures say that all this creation is God alone and should love each other -. It
implies that this Divinity is in every creature as its fundamental, inalienable nature. That is why Swami Vivekananda proclaimed the `Divinity of man' in his many lectures in America.
He thundered, `Ye, the divinities on earth, sinners? It is a libel to call a man so'.
When this idea of the Divinity of man is widely taught, not only in our schools and colleges but also in all churches, mosques, pagodas, Tabenacles and Temples where most innocent minds throng in millions, then only people will get their highest respect and regard, irrespective of their gender, wealth, intelligence, power etc. Then only the very idea of harming anyone, be it for any cause, would appear abhorring. Then alone can violence be radically uprooted from society.
In spite of the utmost technical and science education that people are getting now a days, the love and respect for fellowmen as a brother in God is lacking. This is what has made our scientists and politicians prepare nuclear weapons, biological bombs, ultimately killing all the fellow-feelings in the hearts of people. Is there any wonder if such people indulge in wholesale destruction of their fellow-beings as in the `program of Hitler' or `the tragedy of September 11 of 2001' in New York? This is the mental impact that Terrorism of September 11 has made on thethinking men like us.
The difference it has made in our life is that it has awakened a sense of urgency to educate people against falling a prey to the `brain-washing' ideologies masked under various garbs . In killing innocents, there can be no religion except Demon's dance. Men who join such fanatic's training camps are generally the poor and the deprived. They are `brainwashed' to think that by killing others not of their fold, will confer on them the gift of `Heaven and its unending joys' as a reward for their religious and pious act!
This is made possible in general where people don't have basic freedoms of democratic rule, but are lead by nose as it were by selfish politicians. We have to stop all help to such non-democracies and pseudo-democracies. We have to push on with meaningful education supplemented with scientific skills and spiritual `values' that will make our men and women not only efficient but also good. Goodness can be summarized as truthfulness, a feeling of brotherhood of whole humanity, a sympathy to serve the needy and a firm conviction that humanity is one Divine family and to hurt anyone would mean bringing unhappiness on ourselves. Let us make a simple prayer thus: `Oh God, please bless us all with the will to spread these ideas of love and brotherhood to all our brothers from wherever irrespective of cast, creed and religion.
We remember the thousands who's lives were taken on September 11, 2001 by servants of darkness and agents of terror, and the families of those victims left behind. May God give them, and all of us, strength to endure the onslaught of evil and malice.
M.P. Bhattathiri, Retied Chief Technical Examiner to
the Government of Kerela, Radhanivas, Thaliyal, Karmana,
Trivandrum, 695 002, Kerela, India.More Columns Dr.K.M.Seethi on Kidney Racket and organ trade in Kerala
Dr. K.M.Seethi is a Reader in the School of International Studies, Mahatma Gandhi University. He writes on various socio-economic development issues and international politics.(c) copyright.
Other Write ups by Dr.Seethi.. Endless Miseries of Endosulfan.
ndosulfan Dr.K.M.Seethi & Reghunathan M. Full Report
Kerala's renal trade under fire
Dr.K.M.Seethi Until recently, Kerala was considered to be somewhat safe in human organ trade even while other states in India like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Delhi have been very much in the news, most often associated with kidney racket. However, the starling reports about the renal business in Kerala have brought to the fore many throbbing cross-undercurrents in the health sector where the concerns of the state government seem to be sustaining the interest of the private sector. This has thrown open a flood-gate of private super- speciality/multi-speciality hospitals in the state, accompanied by a mushroom growth of diagnostic services/medical laboratories. This scenario has rendered the state-run medical colleges and hospitals meaningless (with poor or lack of facilities for conducting even emergency operations, leave alone the case of transplantations).Full Column
Abu Dhabi's west coast set for tourism development New five-star resort to spearhead region's promotion
Click to view expanded version/other executives
(Abu Dhabi, August 2004): With extensive beach and desert sands that have remained undiscovered by overseas visitors, the region around Jebel Dhanna in the Abu Dhabi emirate is set to become the latest Gulf hotspot for tourism, according to industry figures.
The opening this autumn of the deluxe 109-room Danat Resort Jebel Dhanna is expected to fuel interest in the undiscovered attractions of the west coast of Abu Dhabi, offering a comfortable and appealing base from where both leisure and incentive travellers can explore farther afield than the traditional UAE tours.Fish, dive and drive safaris are available as well as exclusive tours of the Sir Bani Yas wildlife reserve island, located just 9km off the coast.
According to Manoj Kanwal, general manager of the Danat Resort Jebel Dhanna, Sir Bani Yas will be one of the major attractions for visitors to the area."At the resort, we offer all the typical deluxe hotel amenities such as a pristine beach, pool and sports facilities, landscaped gardens, a variety of restaurants and a health and fitness club.
"However, visitors can also benefit from our location, well away from the urban development farther up the coast," he said, pointing to the opportunities for safaris deep in to the undeveloped sands of the Empty Quarter, as well as Gulf fishing and scuba trips, and exclusive tours of Sir Bani Yas.The hotel, owned and operated by the National Corporation for Tourism & Hotels (NCT&H), is set to place the corporation firmly in the forefront of UAE tourism development.
"Offering a unique product in a 'new' location, the resort will appeal to both local and overseas visitors," said Kanwal. "It will offer yet another aspect to the attractions of the UAE, as the country continues to diversify its tourism infrastructure."
Already, the hotel has confirmed bookings from German, Swiss and Austrian tour operators for the forthcoming winter season, underlining the desire of European tourists to explore new, undiscovered, areas of the country.According to a NCT&H spokesperson, the resort complements the corporation's existing network of properties in Abu Dhabi emirate, as well as offering top-of-the-range facilities to attract sectors such as the conference and incentive markets to the west coast for the first time.
As well as extensive banqueting, meeting rooms and outside areas catering for up to 1,000 guests, the resort also features a par-36 nine hole sand golf course and a driving range, an additional attraction for incentive and leisure visitors.
Onam Memories of Eleena
Dear Friends,
Onam, the festival of flowers, is a day away and I am hundreds of kilometers away from my homeland. Sitting in my small house in this cute town expecting the arrival of Onam, it is impossible to count the events I am going to miss. Onam is here in my living room brought in by the TV channels. They even invented a new way of celebrating Onam by converting the programs of a typical holiday into Onam special programs by requesting the coordinators of each and every program to repeat the Onam greetings before and after every program, before and after every song, every phone call and every mail or even by inserting the Onam greetings at the beginning and end of each advertisement. But Onam reminds me of lot more than just watching TV programs.
The memories of Onam are always interlinked with the taste of different varieties of Payasams, even though we never prepared any payasam in our home on Onam days. The cordial and friendly relationships my mother maintained with our good neighbors ensured that we are blessed with the fortune of tasting all varieties of payasams ranging from rice, dal, ada, vermicelli etc. on Onam. In fact our neighbors used to meet in secret before Onam to decide who would make what kind of payasam so that we would get all varieties of payasam on Onam day.
How can I forget the great Onam procession (Ghoshayatra) where the villagers would make up and dress in as legendary characters of our epic and puranas? The ashram of Sandeepini maharshi recreated on a lorry would always be the first item in the procession with guru Purushothama Kurup, the Koodiyattam artist of yester years, who makes a living today by renting bullocks to farmers, the one who has given the privilege to call him as uncle even to small children our village as Sandeepini. I have read a lot about the preparations and sacrifices made by great actors and film stars to become a legendary character in the screen. But I never heard or seen anybody not only enacting a legendary figure to perfection but also acquiring his powers. Our uncle as Sandeepini once prevented God Indran from playing foul in our Onam Goshayatra by reciting some mantras and prayers when everybody was convinced that the downpour already started would script the end of procession of that year on the starting point itself.
Can I forget the villager who dressed as Nandi, the holly cow of our past, thought of having the comfort of smoking beedi during the break in the procession and the comic photographer who filmed and printed the photograph of Nandi with smokes emerging out of its nose and mouth on Mathrubhoomi daily the next day?
How can one forget Chakara, who got the first price in cycle fancy dress competition for Ammankudam dancer? Chakara was so perfect and so womanish in his attire that not only many believed and murmured that a real women would not have been as good as him as Ammankudam dancer but also there were rumors that a traffic police constable in a Junction even blinked one eye at him.
Finally there was the Onam sadhya, which would even last 3 to 4 days, by all the leading Media houses of Kerala like Malayala Manorama, Mathrubhoomi etc, in the form of Onam Special Issues. We, friends used do secret lotteries among ourselves to decide who would buy which special issue so that everybody would get the chance to read all the Onam editions even though everybody wanted to buy and read Kerala Kaumudi Onam Visheshal Prathi first.
Anyway I hope the Onam next year or the year after that will again be the one it used to be before.
Best Regards
Eleena
BREAST FEEDING : BOON FOR GENERATIONS
Tariq A. Rather*
Breastfeeding is the most natural gift that a mother can give her baby. Certainly, breastfed babies are best fed babies. Breastfeeding is natural and instinctive.
The importance of breastfeeding has been accepted worldwide based on scientific as well as psycho-social research and observations. The World Health Organization (WHO) and many other experts encourage women to breastfeed for as long as possible, one year or even longer. Even religious scriptures recommend mothers to breastfeed their children. Holy Qura’n has made it mandatory for Muslim women to give suck to their off-springs for a maximum period of two years.
New Born baby needs such a food that is free from all infections. The mother’s milk is the answer. Breastfeeding provides physical contact, warmth and closeness which helps to create a special bond between mother and her baby. It fosters a close physical and emotional contact of child with mother.
The mothers need to learn about breastfeeding. The obstetrician, pediatrician, gynaecologist, pre-natal instructors and lactation consultants help expected mothers to learn about breastfeeding techniques. For the first few weeks after birth until breastfeeding is well established, breastfed new borns should not be given any supplements like water, sugar water and feed formula unless there is a medical reason for it. Regular breastfeeding provides all of water and nutrients to the child.
Ideally, all the babies should be exclusively breastfed for first 6 months of life. Most breastfed babies do not need any water, vitamins or iron in addition to breast-milk for at least the first six months.
It costs nothing to make human milk though the lactating mother needs additional 550 calories per day to maintain lactation and her own health. There is no perfect substitute to breastfeeding. In contrast to formula feeds, breast milk is sweet as it contains lactose which is sweeter. Proportion of fat in other milk preparations is same but fat globules in animal milk are more difficult to digest. Formula feeds are expensive and always not within everyone’s budget. In addition, sterilization of feeder and nipples is an additional problem. Improper sterilization often leads to severe gastro-enteritis in the babies, which is an important cause of morbidity, and mortality in the first year of life.
During the 4th or 5th month of pregnancy, woman’s body is capable of producing milk. This first milk, called Colostrum, continues to be produced for some days after delivery until mature milk comes in. The milk then thins, becomes milk-like in colour and begins to adjust to the baby’s needs for the rest of the time. One of the special qualities of human milk is that it changes during the time woman nurse her baby to match the changing needs of growing infant. Baby’s nursing controls milk production. The more a woman nurses her child, the more milk will be produced by her body through the stimulation of hormone called Prolactin.
Nature’s creation, mother’s milk does not need to be prepared and is free from contamination and adulteration. Available at desired temperature, the human milk provides all the protein, sugar, fat and vitamins needed for well being of a child. The American Academy of Paediatrics, has established that breastfed children are less likely to have ear infections (otitis media), allergies, vomiting, diarrhea, pneumonia, wheezing, broncheolitis and meningitis.
Research also suggests that breastfeeding may help to protect against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Its composition is ideal for easy digestion. The type of fats and proteins present in it are easily digestible. The carbohydrates contain mainly lactose which stimulates the growth of micro-organisms, which in turn, help to produce organic acids necessary for synthesis of vitamin B. The mineral contents like potassium, calcium and sodium make it a low osmotic load so that less burden falls vitamin-D, which protects the baby against rickets (bone disease).
By virtue of its anti-infective properties, the breastfed babies have a low incidence of mortality. Mother’s milk provides passive immunity to the baby as it contains protective anti-bodies like IgA & IgM. There is reduced risk of eczema and milk allergy in breastfed infants. Breastfed babies are less likely to develop obesity, hypertension and diseases related to old age.
Breastfeeding burns more calories and helps women get back to their pre-pregnancy weight more quickly. It reduces the risk of ovarian cancer and in pre-menopausal women, breast cancer. It builds bone strength to protect against bone fractures in older age. As opposed to the conventionally held view, breastfeeding promotes better figure of mother because fat reserves laid down during pregnancy are consumed during lactation.
Lactating mothers should avoid colas and other carbonated drinks. Too much caffeine can cause problems such as poor sleeping, nervousness, irritability and poor feeding. The breastfeeding mother should avoid all those foods and other eatables which will cause any kind of allergy to child. The health experts advocate continuing breastfeeding even during illnesses. In all cases of illnesses like Mastitis and Breast Abscess medical advice is needed from doctors.
Any introduction to baby foods, iron or fluoride supplements, needs consultation of paediatrician. Working mothers in western countries go for storage of expressed milk (milk drawn from breasts), which is later fed to a child through bottle or a cup. In addition the offices should be provided with crèches within premises so that mothers can breastfeed their children at properly timed intervals.
The Ministry of Human Resource Development recently released "National Guidelines On Infant & Young Child Feeding" and "The Law To Protect, Promote & Support Breastfeeding". They focus on essential awareness of the dangers involved in neglecting breastfeeding and problems of malnutrition to the child. The step is aimed at empowering mothers with accurate information on sound infant feeding practices.
The District Authorities, Medical Colleges, Training Institutions, Food & Nutrition Board besides State governments and NGOs organize special programmes to promote optimal feeding practices with special emphasis on exclusive breastfeeding. UNICEF and WHO also play their part in strengthening the campaign.
The media needs to play a more pro-active role in disseminating the benefits of breastfeeding. The print as well as electronic media make everyone of the society aware of it. Besides, the State governments, NGOs and other voluntary groups have paramount responsibility to make efforts in this regard so that coming generations all over the world will be physically, mentally, psychologically and emotionally strong and healthy.
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