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HTMYIGHVol08 PDF
HTMYIGHVol08 PDF
— in Good Health —
The Newsletter of the ISKCON Health and Welfare Ministry
— Prahladananda Swami
Credits
Editors His Holiness Prahladananda Swami The Ministry’s mailing address is:
Taraka devi dasi
Kancana-vali devi dasi ISKCON Radhadesh • Chateau de Petite Somme 5
Bhakta Rogier 6940 Septon (Durbuy) • BELGIUM
Layout Yadurani devi dasi (SDG)
Subscriptions Sivananda dasa All correspondence should be mailed to this address.
Bhaktin Linda Contributions are welcome for upcoming newsletters.
Subscriptions Disclaimer
The subscription cost is US$7.50 for two issues of • The articles in this magazine do not necessarily represent
this newsletter. Please send, along with your name the views of the editors or the Health and Welfare ministry.
and address, a money order in US dollars to:
• This magazine is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe.
ISKCON Health and Welfare Ministry
c/o ISKCON Radhadesh • The information contained herein is in no way to be
Chateau de Petite Somme 5 • 6940 Septon (Durbuy) considered as a substitute for consultation with a duly
BELGIUM licensed health-care professional.
Whole Person
T
here are different definitions of spent years trying to preach to the non- foundational willingness to sacrifice
compassion in this world, but devotees. Often, however, we draw a oneself to help others.
all of them require selfsacri- blank as to how to express compassion The price to attain this quality is
fice. When the twin World Trade toward the already converted. When high. We must be prepared to give up
Centers were hit by airplanes, we had an institution focuses on preaching, it selfishness. We must renounce pride.
the opportunity to see self-sacrifice naturally attracts members. Those When we hear about another’s suffer-
played out on that stage. members are human beings with ing, we actually have to put our own
New York firemen and police rescue minds and hearts and bodies to be desires on hold and want to help. For a
workers rushed into the burning build- cared for, and our relationships with devotee, we want to help spiritually,
ings to save any who had been trapped them are not as simple as the chance because we understand that material
in them. These persons certainly did encounters we have with people when aid has a limited effect, but we should
not consider their own safety in mak- we distribute books on the street or go also help materially if we are able.
ing the decision to help others, and about our other services in this world. We shouldn’t feel that helping a
many of them were killed as the build- Therefore, if we are to care for these devotee who has fallen ill in physical
ings collapsed. people throughout their lives, we must ways is mundane compassion or a
Was this mundane compassion? De- find very human ways in which to sign that we have lost sight of the
votees usually equate compassion with respond to their very human needs, spiritual mission. Rather, if we should
the act of saving others not from burn- and we cannot consider those human learn to marry the spiritual mission
ing buildings but from the burning fire ways mundane. Rather, we want to with care for the devotee’s body and
of samsara—repeated birth and death. find the balance of sharing Krishna mind, others will learn to marry those
Certainly this is Srila Prabhupada’s conscious support and education with two ideas too and become whole in
definition of compassion. Srila Prabhu- physical and mental support. their own expressions of Krishna con-
pada wanted us to teach Krishna con- Compassion toward the nondevotees sciousness.
sciousness to others so that they could is an important part of a Vaisnava’s ISKCON has been in the West now
become free from the burning heat of life. Even more important is compas- for thirty five years. Although we still
material existence and he wanted us to sion shown toward the devotees. have many young people, many devo-
save ourselves through helping others. Compassion is not an incidental quali- tees are beginning to age. Our institu-
This is why ISKCON devotees have ty in a Krishna conscious life but a tion must face this next challenge:
INDIA
Poonthottam Ayurvedic Hospital Rajah Healthy Acres Coconut lagoon
Kulakkad, Cherpalchery, Palakkad, Kerala. Perumannoor, Chalissery, Palakkad District, Kumarakom, Kottayam, Kerala.
0091-492-661576 Kerala.• India - 679 536 0091-481-524491/524373
ayurveda@md3.vsnl.net.in Phone: 0091 492 656305 / 656405 Fax: Reservations: 0091-484-668221/668421.
Cost: Around US$30 a night. 0091 492 656215 • rha@rajahkajah.com Fax: 668001 • casino@vsnl.com
Nearest airports: Cochin, Calicut, www.webindia.com/rajah/treat.htm Cost: US$100 onwards.
Trivandrum. Cost: US$60 onwards. Nearest airports: Trivandrum, Cochin,
Nearest airports: Cochin, Calicut, Calicut.
Located in an Indian village, away from Trivandrum.
pollution, on small hill, surrounded by An expensive, high class resort on the lake,
paddy fields and coconut palms. This is a A gorgeous and serene resort with an adjacent to a bird sanctuary. Small, beauti-
small centre run and owned by an expert Ayurvedic facility, set in natural bush land ful canals criss-cross the entire 25-acre
Ayurvedic physician, Dr Ravi. He manufac- 4 km away from a beautiful river. A huge resort compound. Transport by boats. They
tures his own formulations on the campus variety of exciting accommodation includ- have two free house-boat cruises daily, the
where his house and the 10-bedded hospital ing a sand floor vetivert hut! Like stepping sunset cruise is with onboard musicians.
are located. Possibility for advanced studies into the Ramayana.
in Ayurveda. Ten attached rooms in a U-
shape, with private treatment rooms. Kumarakom Lake resort
Ayurprastha Kumarakom north, Kottayam
Kothagiry, Tamil Nadu (near Coimbatore) 0091-481-524900/524501/525020
Ayurvedic Trust Hospital Tel: 0091-422-313188 or 314132 Fax: 524987 • klresort@vsnl.com
Olumbus, Ramanathapuram, Coimbatore, ayurveda@md2.vsnl.net.in web: www.klresort.com
Tamilnadu India • 0091-442-313188/314132 Cost: US$50 onwards. Cost: US$150 onwards.
• ayurveda@md2.vsnl.net.in Nearest airports: Coimbatore, Cochin, Nearest airports: Trivandrum, Cochin,
Cost: US$30 onwards. Calicut. Calicut.
Nearest airports: Coimbatore, Cochin,
Madras. A peaceful, serene center, located in the A brand new, high-class, lakeside, unforget-
cool “blue mountains” of South India. table resort.
For decades this is a centre of excellence in Managed by Ayurveda Trust Hospital.
neurological, rheumatological and auto- Surya samudra beach garden
immune diseases. The complex has a beau- Pulinkudi, Mullur, Trivandrum. 23 km from
tiful Dhanwantari temple, a publication Kappad Beach resort trivandrum airport• Tel. 0091 0471
division, research centre and library. The Kappad • Kozhikode. 673304 • tel: 0496 4840413
area can be noisy and polluted. 683760 • moosa@kappadbeachresort.com Cost: US$140 onwards.
www.kapadbeachresort.com Nearest airports: Trivandrum, Cochin,
Cost: US$50 onwards. Calicut.
RESORTS Nearest airports: Calicut, Cochin,
Trivandrum. An expensive, high class resort.
Nilayoram Resorts
001191-492-425788 A good Ayurvedic unit with an expert
Mg.menon mgmenon@sancharnet.in or physician in a peaceful beachside setting. GERMANY
mgmenon@zyberway.com vvvvvvvvvvvvv
Shoranur, Palakkad District, Kerala, South India Ayurveda-care Centre for Ayurvedic
Cost: Around US$55 a night. Kayaloram Lake resorts Research and Education • Raiffiesenstrasse
Nearest airports: Cochin, Calicut, Punchiri Building, Jetty road, Alleppy 658 23, 90427 Nuremberg, Deutschland • Tel:
Trivandrum. 011• tel: 0091 477 260573, 242040 0911 222 699, 321 8889 • Fax: 0049 0911
Fax: 0091 477 251 162 321 8888 • ayurveda-care@fen-net.de
Set up on one of the most beautiful rivers in kayaloram@giasmd01.vsnl.net.in http://www.ayurveda-care.de
Kerala, the evergreen state of India, this is a kayaloram@vsnl.com
resort with traditional Ayurvedic treatment. Cost: US$100 onwards. Experienced Indian trained Ayurvedic
Ayurvedic experts and therapists from one Nearest airports: Trivandrum, Cochin, physician, Dr Jeevan, runs this educational
of the oldest hospitals give consultations, Calicut. & healing centre with his naturopath wife.
counselling and perform the treatments. An expensive, high class resort. Reasonable prices, authentic Ayurveda.
Definition - Too much coffee or tea (which are dwelling place of vata. High vata leads
drying, i.e. diuretic). to dryness of the colon and the accumu-
• Difficulty in passing stools. - Lack of rest. lation of intestinal gas accompanied by
• Incomplete or infrequent passage - Insomnia. distension of the abdomen and constipa-
of stools. - Nervousness. tion. The tongue is heavily coated at the
• Urge to pass the stools but inability to - Stress and fear. back, often the coating is of dark color,
do so. - Overstimulation of the nervous system. blackish or brownish. Bad breath is
- Synthetic medications. often present, flatulence, moving pain
General Information - Being bed ridden for long periods. and headaches and anxiety are present.
The last 17 to 20 cm of the large intes-
- Constipation is common in civilized • Signs (Purva rupa) tine is called the rectum, the terminal
and advanced countries. Loss of appetite, feeling of indigestion, portion is known as the anal canal. The
- Modern chemists sell more purga- heaviness in abdomen after eating, mucous lining of the anal canal has
tives than any other medications. nausea. many vertical folds, each of these con-
- Constipation may be the complication tains an artery and a vein. If the veins of
of an infectious disease or especially • Symptoms (Rupa) the canal become enlarged, the result is
vata diseases like neurosis, arthritis, Coated tongue (specially at the back, piles, also called hemorrhoids.
epilepsy and paralysis. Treatment of often of blackish brownish color), bad Two sphincter muscles, one internal
constipation can be of service as a breath, excessive salivation, bleeding of composed of involuntary muscles, and
basic treatment for many nervous gums, mouth ulcers, headaches, apathy, one external composed of voluntary
disorders. inability to evacuate stool. muscles, regulate the opening of the
According to Ayurveda there are con- anal canal. The desire to defecate is the
• Causes (Hetu) stitutional states of the colon: soft, medi- result of stimulation of the receptors in
um and hard indicating pitta, kapha and the rectal mucus membrane. Normally
Wrong diet and lifestyle vata constitutions respectively. the rectum is empty. Peristalsis moves
Persons with a soft state of the colon the feces from the colon to the rectum
- Artificial food. tend towards loose and oily stool. In causing distension in the rectum,
- Wind forming food. case of constipation the situation is because of reflex action the desire to-
- Too little vegetables and water. easily cured by mild laxatives, like pass stool arises.
- Eating food which is difficult to warm milk.
digest. Kapha persons tend to have a medium
- Lack of physical exercise. state of the colon. These persons require CONSTIPATION AND
- Sleeping late in the morning. stronger laxatives when constipated, or TREATMENT BY DOSHAS
- Suppression of evacuation (sup- prolonged use of them.
pression of natural urges is called Vata persons have a hard state of the Kapha constipation: is usually the
vega rodha in Ayurveda). colon. They may need strong laxatives result of blockage due to mucus.
- Sex in the early morning (weakens first. If the constipation is chronic, it is Heaviness, lethargy and tiredness are
apana vayu). difficult to cure. The colon is the main typical signs. Stool will be of large
Curse or blessing, most women are In many ancient societies, the menstruat- Most women will never forget that
faced with the challenge of the ing woman was both revered for her cre- shocking, sickening surprise. An event
monthly menses. Associated with ative power and feared for her influential that psychologist G. Stanley Hall
shame, bloating, mess, and pain it ability. During menses rituals of seclu- termed “a second birth,” but many
can really cramp one’s lifestyle. sion, rest and sexual abstinence were women remember feeling like death. A
uniformly practiced in most native cul- death to the carefree, blood free, pain
Transformed into a meaningful tures. These developed in recognition free youth. Hello to the responsibility
experience of renewal and height- that women are undergoing a purifica- of this uninvited monthly guest.
ened awareness, women can grow tion that focuses energy within, endow- A guest that can arrive unexpectedly
to see their periods with a spirit of ing them with an expanded connection at the most awkward moments, stain
gratitude and feminine strength. with the universe that is best utilized in a our image of superhuman female con-
quiet, introverted and fully conscious trol and possibly cast aspersions on our
way. It allowed them to redirect their cleanliness and capabilities.
capacity for loving and nurturing inward Realization of our vulnerability as
as a means of renewal and growth. women dawns as we try to conceive
Superstitions about menstruating how we will cope with the rest of our
women abound. Beliefs that they have forty menstrual years. Mixed feelings
dangerous supernatural powers to infect of disbelief, shame, anxiety, revulsion,
people and objects are completely and excitement pulse through our bod-
unfounded. The underlying paranoia ies as we puzzle over the tampon
being that menstrual blood, containing instruction leaflet. There is often little
the essence of femininity, would over- solace during this difficult phase of
power man’s virility. adjustment. No Hallmark card which
As was shown in two independent says “Congratulations on your peri-
studies, women living in traditional cul- od!”, no feast of acknowledgment, no
tures still see menstruation in a positive ritual to honor the coming of age. In
light, a time for purification in order to Gloria Steinems hilarious 1978 essay
maintain health and to renew inner “If Men Could Menstruate” she notes
resources. Given the choice they would that men would boast with bravado,
not submit to voluntary amenorrhea as shooting off cannons to mark the
might result from the contraceptive pill.l advent of their manhood. Yet many
...and be happy!
ISKCON Radhadesh
Château de Petite Somme 5
6940 Septon (Durbuy)
BELGIUM
Name ..............................................................................
Address ..........................................................................
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