Friday, August 30, 2013

Gandhi on Health and Longevity

Most of us think of Mahatma Gandhi as the man who led the campaign to free India from British rule and this indeed is his most notable accomplishment. Gandhi however wrote extensively on issues pertaining to health and was quite insightful on this subject. As he says---"The fundamental laws of health and hygiene are simple and easily learnt." That comment is all the more interesting when you realize that billions of dollars are spent on the pursuit of health each year. Gandhi adds this in regards to the ' fundamental laws' he mentioned earlier--'The difficulty is in the observance of those laws.'
Consider the following:
"1.Think the purest thoughts and banish all idle and impure thoughts.
2.Breathe the freshest air day and night.
3.Establish a balance between bodily and mental work.
4.Stand erect, sit  erect, and be neat and clean in everyone of your acts, and let these be an expression of your inner condition.
5.Eat to live for the service to your fellow men. Do not live for indulging yourselves. Hence, your food must be just enough to keep your mind and body in good order. Man becomes what he eats."

There is a simplicity and innocence to what Gandhi has to say.
Give some real thought to what you just read.. #4 really hits home with me. I've noticed that as I've gotten older, like many 'seniors,' my posture is becoming poor. I really have to make an effort to walk straight and not to hunch or lean forward.#1. is another good one,your thoughts and emotions can have an impact on your health.

Health laws or rules that should govern our lives are really very basic.
As I have said so often in the past, people become addicted to publications, etc. relating to achieving health and well being. They purchase the books and DVD's which are cleverly written and marketed, try them for awhile and then move on to the next new and exciting system.
I'm always amused when I see the once popular health, nutrition or lifestyle book of a few years back now available used on Amazon for a penny. (try Skinny Bitch for starters but there are so many others you could add).

It was a lazy day---I guess you could call it a day off but much yard work was done and I went for a 35 minute walk--sweated like a pig--stretched after--drank a lot of fluids.

How was your day?

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