Lecture 11

Harmony of the Self with the Body

Lecture 12
Program to ensure self-regulation and Health
 Human Being Self Co-existence Body
Ekkuo eSa lgvfLrRo “kjhj
Need Happiness (e.g. Respect) Physical Facility (e.g. Food)
vko';drk lq[k ¼tSls lEeku½ lqfo/kk ¼tSls Hkkstu½
In Time Continuous Temporary
dky esa fujUrj lkef;d
In Quantity Qualitative (is Feeling) Quantitative (Required in
ek=k esa xq.kkRed ¼Hkko gS½ Limited Quantity)
Ekk=kRed ¼lhfer ek=k es½a
Fulfilled By Right Understanding & Right Physio-chemical Things
iwfrZ ds fy, Feeling lgh le>] lgh Hkko HkkSfrd&jklk;fud oLrq

Activity Desire, Thought, Eating, Walking…

fØ;k Expectation… [kkuk] pyuk---
bPNk] fopkj] vk”kk---
In Time Continuous Temporary
dky esa fujUrj lkef;d
Response Knowing, Assuming,
Recognising, Fulfilling Recognising, Fulfilling
tkuuk] ekuuk] igpkuuk] fuokZg djuk igpkuuk] fuokZg djuk

Consciousness pSrU; Material tM+

 Self Body
Consciousness INFORMATION Material
Instruction
Sensation

Needs: Happiness, Prosperity → Continuity Physical Facility

Needs & activities are continuous in time Temporary in time

Self is central to human existence Body is

an instrument of the Self
 Self Body (Instrument)
Consciousness INFORMATION Material
Instruction
Sensation

Needs: Happiness, Prosperity → Continuity Physical Facility

Needs & activities are continuous in time Temporary in time

Self-regulation (संयम)
Feeling of responsibility toward the body – for
Nurturing, Protection and Right Utilization of
the Body

Self is central to human existence Body is

an instrument of the Self
 Self Body (Instrument)
Consciousness INFORMATION Material
Instruction
Sensation

Needs: Happiness, Prosperity → Continuity Physical Facility

Needs & activities are continuous in time Temporary in time

Self-regulation (संयम) Health

Feeling of responsibility toward the body – for 1. Body acts according to I
Nurturing, Protection and Right Utilization of 2. Parts of the body are in
the Body harmony (in order)

Physical Facility is required to fulfill the responsibility of the Self toward the Body
Self is central to human(to keep the Body in good health)
existence Body is
– for nurturing, protection and right utilisation of the body
an instrument of the Self

The required physical facility can be identified

 Self Body (Instrument)
Consciousness INFORMATION Material
Instruction
Sensation

Needs: Happiness, Prosperity → Continuity Physical Facility

Needs & activities are continuous in time Temporary in time

Self-regulation (संयम) Health

Feeling of responsibility toward the body – for 1. Body acts according to I
Nurturing, Protection and Right Utilization of 2. Parts of the body are in
the Body harmony (in order)
Food… Clothes, Shelter... Instruments…

The required physical facility can be recognised

along with the required quantity
Self is central to human existence Body is
The quantity of food… required for nurturing the body –an
is instrument of the Self
it limited or unlimited?
Clothes, shelter… for protection of the body – is it limited or unlimited?
Instruments, equipments… for right utilisation of the body – is it limited or unlimited?
 Self Body (Instrument)
Consciousness INFORMATION Material
Instruction
Sensation

Needs: Happiness, Prosperity → Continuity Physical Facility

Needs & activities are continuous in time Temporary in time

Self-regulation (संयम) Health

Feeling of responsibility toward the body – for 1. Body acts according to I
Nurturing, Protection and Right Utilization of 2. Parts of the body are in
the Body harmony (in order)
Food… Physical
Clothes, Facility is required
Shelter... to to keep the body in good health,
Instruments…
so that right utilisation of the body can be ensured
Required Required Required in a
in limited in limited i.e. physical Facility
limited is required only for
quantity
quantity nurturing, protection and right utilisation of the body
quantity
If we can see that, the physical facility for
nurturing, protection and right utilisation of the body
is required in a limited quantity,
then we can understand the meaning of prosperity
Prosperity (le`f))
Prosperity – The feeling of having / producing more than required Physical Facility
2 1
le`f) & vko”;d lqfo/kk ls vf/kd dh miyfC/k@ mRiknu dk Hkko
1 2
1 – Identification of required physical facility (including the required quantity) – with right
understanding
vko”;d lqfo/kk dk fu/kkZj.k & lgh le> ls

2 – Ensuring availability/ production of more than required physical facility – with right skills
vf/kd dh miyfC/k@ mRiknu] HkkSfrd jklk;fud oLrqvksa dk & lgh gquj ls

A prosperous person thinks of right utilisation, nurturing the other

“ deprived “ “ “ accumulation, exploiting “ “
le`) O;fDr lnqi;ksx dk] nwljs dk iks"k.k djus dk lksprk gS
nfjnz “ laxzg “ “ “ “kks"k.k “ “ “ “
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In a previous session, we had seen that we can observe two categories of human beings
blhfy, vHkh nks rjg ds euq”; fn[kkbZ nsrs gSa&
1. Lacking physical facility, unhappy deprived (lqfo/kk foghu nq[kh nfjnz )
2. Having physical facility, unhappy deprived (lqfo/kk laiUu nq[kh nfjnz )

Now we can see that if the identification of required physical facility is

missing, then one can only shift between category 1 & category 2

While we want to be – tcfd ge gksuk pkgrs gSa&

3. Having physical facility, happy prosperous (lqfo/kk laiUu lq[kh le`))

This is possible only with

a- the right identification of required physical facility and
b- availability / production of more than required physical facility

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Gross Misunderstanding 1 – Human Being = Body
Human Being Self (I) Body
Ekkuo eSa = “kjhj
Need Respect Physical Facility
vko’;drk lEeku = (Eg. Food, Clothes)
lqfo/kk (tSls&Hkkstu] diM+k)
Continuous Unlimited
fujUrj = vlhfer

Feeling of
Deprivation
I don’t have Accumulation of Physical
Accumulation =
enough! Facility – Unlimited!
unlimited?
Loop Lqfo/kk laxzg & vlhfer!

Effort for
Check if you Physical Deprivation
are caught up Facility
In this loop nfjnzrk
by any
means?
 Human Being Self (I) Co-existence Body
Ekkuo eSa lgvfLrRo “kjhj
Need Happiness (e.g. Respect) Physical Facility (e.g. Food)
vko';drk lq[k ¼tSls lEeku½ lqfo/kk ¼tSls Hkkstu½
Fulfilled By Right Understanding & Physio-chemical Things
iwfrZ ds fy, Right Feeling lgh le>] lgh Hkko HkkSfrd&jklk;fud oLrq

Feeling of Self-regulation Health

(संयम)
Feeling of responsibility 1. The Body acts according
toward the body – for to the Self
Nurturing, Protection and 2. Parts of the body are in
Right Utilization of the Body harmony (in order)

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Feeling of Self-regulation → Program for it → Health in the Body
The Body is an orderly system (a harmony). It has definite conduct.
The cells in the body work together, in harmony with each other, participate in the larger order to
form tissues, organs and organ systems…

I (Self) have to ensure the continuity of that harmony (at least not disturb it).

If I have a feeling of responsibility toward the body, I do what is required for fulfilling that
responsibility.

This will ensure health in the Body

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Program
(A) For Staying Healthy

1 Intake and Routine (Lifestyle)

2 Labour and Exercise
3 Postures for regulating internal & external body organs and
Regulated Breathing
(B) For bringing (C) Dependence on
body back to drug / machine to
harmony from perform a body
temporary function
disharmony

4 Medicine and Treatment

1a. Intake includes air, water, sunlight, food (food is nutritious, digestible & tasty and
waste is excretable), all intake through our senses (sound, sight, smell etc)
1b. Rising time, sleeping time, eating time…
2a. Outcome of labour is production of physical facility
2b. No physical facility is produced by exercise
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Intake
Intake includes not just food but also water, air, sunlight… in fact, all that we take in through our
sense organs – i.e. everything we hear, smell, touch, taste or see
▪ Intake of food – In order to lead to health in the body, food should be
Nurturing for the Body (awareness in Self of food choices we make)
Digestible by the Body (awareness in Self of how much to eat – sensation of fullness)
Tasty
Compatible with Body type, etc. and
Waste is excretable by the body (rich in fibre)
▪ Intake of water - right amount and at the right time
▪ Intake of fresh air
▪ Intake of (morning) sunlight

For keeping the body healthy, we also need to be aware of all intake through our sense organs and the
feelings and thoughts we generate in us as a result (especially while eating).
e.g. what we are seeing (watching TV/ playing games on the mobile while eating, etc.) and
what we are hearing/being a part of (e.g. arguments with others), etc.
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Routine
The Daily Circadian Rhythm
- Body responds to the day-night cycle
(sunlight/darkness with earth’s rotation on its axis)
(Understanding this helps in setting up a harmonious daily routine)

The Monthly Lunar Rhythm

- Body responds to the lunar cycle
e.g. menstrual cycle in women

The Annual Seasonal Rhythm

- Body response to the various seasons in a year – the solar cycle (earth’s revolutions around sun)
- Availability of complementary plants in various seasons
(Understanding this helps in deciding appropriate seasonal intake, necessary protection of the Body and setting
up a harmonious seasonal routine)

The Lifecycle Body Rhythm

- Childhood – Period of growth/formation (Predominance of Kapha)
- Youth - Period of maintenance (Predominance of Pitta)
- Old age - Period of degeneration (Predominance of Vata)
(Understanding this helps in deciding a harmonious lifestyle for each stage of life)

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Daily Routine – in Harmony with Nature (Circadian Rhythm)

6 AM
Cleansing time
Wake-up time Breakfast time
(~1½ hrs before sunrise)

Waste Removal
(Detoxification through Kidneys…)
Air–Space Earth–Water
2 AM 10 AM
(Vata) time (Kapha) time
Regeneration and Repair
(Liver Activation…) Lunch time
12 Midnight
Fire–Water Fire–Water
12 Noon
(Pitta) time (Pitta) time Maximum Agni
Deep Sleep
(Digestive Fire)

Earth–Water Air–Space
10 PM 2 PM
(Kapha) time (Vata) time
Bed time

Absorption and
Assimilation
Dinner time
6 PM

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Labour Exercise
Ensure adequate movement of the Body + Ensure adequate movement of the Body
production of physical facility

Examples: Examples:
– Sweeping and swabbing your room / house / – Jogging outdoors
hostel
– Weight training in a gym
– Kitchen gardening
– Exercise cycling in a gym
– Cycling to your college and back…
– Recreational cycling outdoors

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Postures Breathing
Postures for regulating internal and external Regulated Breathing
body organs

Example: Yoga Example: Pranayam

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Medicine Treatment

For bringing body back to harmony from Using a drug / machine to perform a body
temporary disharmony function (dependence)

Examples: Examples:
– Home remedies – Insulin
– Integrated systems of medicine – Dialysis
– Ventilator

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Program – Priority
(A) For Staying Healthy
1a
1 1 Intake and Routine (Lifestyle)
2 Labour and Exercise 1b

3 Postures for regulating internal & external body organs and

Regulated Breathing
(B) For bringing (C) Dependence on
2 body back to 3 drug / machine to
harmony from perform a body
temporary function
disharmony

4 Medicine and Treatment

1a. Intake includes air, water, sunlight, food (food is nutritious, digestible & tasty and
waste is excretable), all intake through our senses (sound, sight, smell etc)
1b. Rising time, sleeping time, eating time…
2a. Outcome of labour is production of physical facility
2b. No physical facility is produced by exercise
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Sum Up
Human being = co-existence of Self (consciousness) and Body (material)

Self is central to human existence, the Body is used as an instrument

The nurturing, protection and right utilisation of the Body is the responsibility of the Self

Physical facility is required to fulfil that responsibility towards the Body

Physical Facility is required, in a limited quantity, for Nurturing, Protection & Right Utilisation of
the Body

Prosperity = Feeling of having / producing more than required physical facility

1. Identification of required physical facility (including the required quantity) – with right
understanding
2. Ensuring availability/ production of more than required physical facility – with right skills

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Sum Up
The Self and the Body are in Harmony when there is a feeling of Self-regulation in the Self and
Health in the Body
▪ Self-regulation = Feeling of responsibility toward the body – for Nurturing, Protection and Right
Utilization of the Body
▪ Health = The body acts according to Self and parts of the body are in harmony (in order)

Program

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Practice Session after Lecture 12
• In the last 3 years, recall the times that your body has been ill (in disharmony). What steps were taken to
restore the harmony of the Body?
Date(s) Illness or disharmony Type (Accident, viral infection, bacterial infection, lifestyle related Steps taken Root Cause
disorder, any other)

• If you were to take full responsibility for your body (i.e. you had the feeling of self-regulation), what kind
of daily schedule would you have? Approximately how much time would you allocate for keeping your
body in good health through:
▪ Healthy intake (food, air, water, sunlight, etc.)
▪ Timings for upkeep of the Body (sleeping and waking up time, excretion, bathing, etc.)
▪ Labour (production of physical facility)
▪ Exercise
▪ Balancing internal and external organs of body
▪ Regulating breathing of body
▪ Medicine
▪ Treatment
(Of course, you need to keep adequate time for studying, understanding, learning, behaviour, work etc.)
Do you think this schedule will make you more productive or less productive? What conclusions do you
draw from this exercise?

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Practice Session after Lecture 12…

2. Calculate the quantity required for a specific physical facility, say clothes, in your
family. Now find out the quantity available. Is the quantity available less, equal or more
than the quantity required? In that sense, do you feel prosperous or deprived (at least
regarding that particular physical facility)? Do the same for other needs. For that you can
make an inventory of everything in your home (or at least your room). How much of the
physical facility is being rightly utilised? Discuss this with your family and work out your
conclusions regarding:
▪ Meaning of prosperity
▪ The role of understanding (human being, the role of physical facility and the feeling of self-regulation)
▪ Ability of your family to identify its needs, with the required quantity

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Expected Outcome
• The students are able to list down activities related to proper upkeep of the Body and practice
them in their daily routine. They are also able to appreciate the plants growing in and around
the campus which can be beneficial in maintaining their health and even curing common
ailments.

• The students begin to recognise that the need for physical facility for nurturing, protection and
right utilization of their body is limited in quantity. In cases where they are able to see that they
have more than enough physical facility, they develop a feeling of prosperity. In cases of lack in
physical facility, they start thinking about how to produce more than required physical facility by
way of a mutually-enriching cyclic process (rather than through exploitation).

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Self Reflection