Power of Mind over the Body

Call me a cynic, if you like, but I have no hesitation in asserting that I have a healthy disbelief in the reports of the clinical tests which are performed on the body. Pulse rate and blood pressure (BP) are routinely checked by doctors to diagnose disease. Their well researched ‘normal’ values have been specified by the medical councils. Over the years, I have seen that there are substantial variations in the observed figures. The cause of the difference in the findings is the emotional state of the patient, which changes from moment to moment. It has been proved that yogis can control their pulse rate and the BP through meditation, and bring them down to near zero.

The range and depth of the other clinical tests has been increasing with each passing year. Specialists and super specialists can drill deep holes in the pocket of hapless patients. What worries me is that, ever so often, we get different results if  the same test done in multiple laboratories. It is also a well known fact that  doctors and testing laboratories are in league with each other. Medical ethics has declined to a very low level.  I have even heard of a laboratory which saves on the ‘testing kits’ and gives the report on the basis of the previous test reports, without conducting the test at all!  When I look at the sprawling mansions of the doctors and the limousines they drive, I think of the likes of me who pay for them. Real money is in surgery, and so the ‘trigger happy’ surgeons miss no opportunity to cash on the gullible patient who agrees to sign the document to go under the knife.

Psychosomatic Disorders.

It has been known since long that many diseases are caused by emotional tensions and worry. The other fact which I have ‘discovered’ is that the human body is an integrated system. Those of us who run to super specialists,  often get lost in the process of focusing on a specific organ are led to the wrong road. My personal favourite are the ’GP’ doctors who base their findings on the palpable symptoms and simultaneously understand the emotional condition on the patient to suggest the course of action. They generally prescribe very few medicines and rely more on proper diet and exercise. The stethoscope around their neck is their sole and most trusted test instrument!

Old Wine in New Bottles

How was it, before the doctors became selfish and greedy?  I searched the literature, and discovered that very little has changed over the years!  Guru Nanak appeared on the scene more than five hundred years ago, and gave us some very profound information. On page 1279 in the Guru Granth Sahib, I saw a hymn composed jointly by Guru Nanak and Guru Angad Dev ji. It is in Raag Malhar, and I think I will leave it for the readers to comprehend the meanings himself. I am giving below a snapshot of the ‘shloka’ which  has been sung by many hymn singers. Amongst them are the redoubtable Lata Mangeshkar and the noted singer, Anuradha Paudwal. In this text, you find the original Punjabi text followed by the words written in Roman letters, and in the third line, you have the English translation. For listening to Lata ji singing this hymn, please click on the  link given at the end. And then click on the bottom of the list, which says, “Vaid bulaya vaidagi

Rendering by Lata Mangeshkar

For this particular hymn, please scroll to the bottom and click on “Vaid bulaya vaidagi”

This was like “eureka”! I shouted out for joy!!! I had hit upon a diamond mine. When I looked farther, in my quest for more, I dug deeper into the tomes on the shelves in   libraries. And since I did not confine myself to any particular faith, I read the Vedic texts, the Holy Bible, the Quran, the Tirukural, some Buddhist literature and the selected quotes of Confucius. There is remarkable similarity in the thought contained in all the books mentioned above. It has become increasingly clear to me that :

At that time, I was young, and the body was a lot more agile. I could travel far and wide, with no problem. And therefore, I also reached out to some living ‘gurus’.  I  heard the discourses of Shree Rajneesh, Shri Sathya Sai Baba and the master at Shri Ram Krishna mission amongst others. In Calcutta, I a learned man give us the following suggestion,

“If you fall sick, go to a hospital, so that the Doctor may live.

Then,  buy the medicines prescribed, so that the Chemist may live

Finally, at home, throw the pills and capsules: so that you may live!!!” 

The Story of how I got the Bible

A copy of the Bible was first given to me by my lifelong friend, Joseph Thomas. I could not go beyond the “Genesis” chapter in the Old Testament. The story of how the “New Testament” came my way has a message in it. And I consider it necessary to place it on record.

I was away on a short visit to the land of our erstwhile rulers. One evening, I had gone for a stroll to a Park, and for the return journey, decided to try a ‘shortcut’. I lost my way, and to to add to my woes, it began to drizzle. I took shelter under a shed to wait for a let up in the shower. To my horror, it turned into a steady rain. Just then, a kindly old man appeared like a Godsend and asked me if he could help. I apprised  him of my predicament. In a jiffy, he went to a Church nearby and returned with two umbrellas. He offered to escort me up to  Hotel St James Court, where we were lodged. For want of choice, I accepted his help. On the way, he told me many things about how and why we become anxious, worried, afraid and angry, and said that it was possible to overcome these ‘negative thoughts’. At our destination, he gave me a copy of the Holy Bible, and told me that merely holding it in the hand gives solace and strength. I offered to pay for that lovely looking pocket sized book, but he said that it was a gift from the Gideons  International. Before I could thank him for his noble gesture, he was gone. Here is a picture of what he gave me:

Retirement Blues

I did not read much of this holy book until a few months before I became due to retire from the military service in 1997. I confess I was filled with anxiety and nervousness at the prospect of being without a job. Later, I learnt that this is what is known as ‘retirement blues’. As I was coming to terms with the reality, I accidentally opened the Bible. On the opening pages, there was a very useful link, which said, “Where to find help when:” And there I found what I was looking for. Look at the scan of page 4-5:

I turned to the suggested sermons, and found some very soothing and re-assuring words. Here is what I saw,

Philippians 4:12

¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Matthew 6:34

³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Since then, I have turned to the Bible for help many times; and have rarely been disappointed. An additional reason why the Gideons Bible has become so dear to me is the story behind how it was presented to me. I am convinced that the man who gave it to me had no selfish motive for the invaluable service which he rendered. I have read somewhere that, “The hands which serve are holier than the lips that pray” And at that particular moment, he had emerged like a Saviour for me. His image in my mind is in the form of  hands that protect.

How words help the healing process

It is well known in the military circles, that it is easier to kill than to defeat the enemy. This is because death is of the body, and defeat is in the mind. Over a hundred years ago, on 12 Sep 1897, in the battle of Saragarhi, 21 soldiers of the 36th Sikhs (now called 4 Sikh) were attacked by 10,000 Afghan and Orekazai tribesmen. They fought literally to the last man and the last bullet, refused to give up their position. They were inspired by the words of the Guru, “Nishchay kar apni jeet karon” (I am determined to emerge the victor )  These words are strengthened by the deeds of the Guru, whose sons had proved true to the words, “Jab av ki audh nidhan bane, at hi ran mein tab joojh maron” (When the events take the worst turn, I shall die fighting valiantly till the very end) 

Disease is like an enemy which has to be fought in much the same manner. The directions have to come from the mind. Words, whether they are read or heard assist in ensuring that the mind entertains only the positive thoughts. Negative emotions like envy, fear, anxiety, anger and lust need to be dispelled with resolute determination. Death is inevitable, but those who fear the ultimate end die a thousand times before the call arrives.

The Power of Music               

Music adds an essential dimension to the words. That is why, hymns are sung and the ‘mantras’ are chanted. Sometimes, it is necessary to repeat a prayer several times, and therefore the ‘gayatri mantra’ is repeated, whilst the ‘aarti’ is sung just once.

Recently, I  again heard the English song, “Don’t worry; be happy”. Its words  are extremely simple and the tune is very catchy. Twenty odd years ago, when I was afflicted by a nagging low back pain, my sons used to sing it to me, and I benefitted a lot from it. An abstract of the lyrics is given below, and a link to the song itself is the concluding note of this somewhat long post.

Here’s a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don’t worry, be happy
In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don’t worry, be happy
Don’t worry, be happy now

Ain’t got no cash, ain’t got no style
Ain’t got no girl to make you smile
But don’t worry, be happy
‘Cause when you worry, your face will frown
And that will bring everybody down
So don’t worry, be happy
Don’t worry, be happy now

Now there, is this song I wrote
I hope you learned it note for note
Like good little children
Don’t worry, be happy
Listen to what I say
In your life expect some trouble
When you worry you make it double

And here is the link to the rendering of these soothing words: