Body Fitness Health

Saturday, September 11, 2010

[AlternativeAnswers] Why Should I be a Dharmi?

Why Should I be a Dharmi?

By Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya

We live in an age in which people have found it increasingly challenging to express the life-giving principles of spirituality and religion with as much seriousness, enthusiasm and dedication as was once the case. All around us, we witness on a daily basis all the destructive ravages of materialism, consumerism, greed, anger, lust and self-centeredness. Much of the war, poverty, sense of depression and meaningless, and social ills that are rampant today are directly due to the clear failures of atheism and an unsatisfying lifestyle dedicated to the pursuit of material acquisitions to the detriment of our inner spiritual growth. We have substituted television for meditation, emailing for prayer, the Internet for community, and sports for spirituality. Given all the challenges that we find ourselves facing today, it is understandable that some of us might find ourselves asking �Why should I be Dharmi, a follower of Sanatana Dharma?�

What precisely does Sanatana Dharma have to offer us?

The truth is there are many reasons why Sanatana Dharma (sometimes referred to as "Hinduism") offers us the best way to find the happiness, peace and prosperity that we�re all seeking. This small article will only offer a very small number of these many benefits of the Dharmic way of life. For more in-depth information, visit Dharmacentral.com, and please read the other informative articles available here.

Sanatana Dharma is the most ancient and respected religion in the world. Due to the spiritual peace, personal empowerment, overall health and satisfying lifestyle it offers its followers, Sanatana Dharma has survived intact for over 5000 years. It has survived � when many other religions didn�t - because its teachings are time honored and true. It's lasting influence can be seen in the very name of our tradition, "Sanatana Dharma", or The Eternal Natural Way.

Dharmic ideas, philosophy, spirituality, and art have influenced more people in world history than any other religion on earth. Among those in the West who have been highly influenced by the teachings of Sanatana Dharma are: Schopenhauer, Emerson, Thoreau, Mark Twain, Romain Rolland, Einstein, Aldous Huxley, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Christopher Isherwood, J.D. Salinger, Arlo Guthrie, George Harrison, movie director David Lynch, and actress Julia Roberts, among the many thousands of other well-known writers, intellectuals, scientists and artists who have incorporated aspects of Sanatana Dharma into their lives. Even today, tens of millions of Americans, Europeans, famous celebrities, and scholars find spiritual solace and intellectual assurance in the amazing teachings of Dharma.

Sanatana Dharma is the most tolerant, peaceful, and non-fanatical religion in the world today. Unlike many other religions, Sanatana Dharma isn�t based on blind belief, dogma, closed-mindedness or fanaticism. Rather, it�s based upon your own intelligent discernment in searching for Truth, your personal experience with God, the guidance of the Vedic scriptures (the most ancient collection of writings in human history), the living example of hundreds of generations of liberated yogis and sages who traversed the path before us, and respect for you as a free person and an intelligent seeker.

In addition to having very rational and fulfilling religious principles, Sanatana Dharma is also a very practical path that offers us real tools for having more peace and joy in our lives. The meditation, prayer and ritual practices of Sanatana Dharma have been scientifically proven in thousands of studies to reduce stress, depression, anxiety, nightmares, and many other illnesses. These Dharmic practices have produced multiple millions of enlightened beings throughout world history, and have been proven to be just as relevant and effective in our own modern age. It is for this reason that hundreds of millions of the world's inhabitants practice meditational techniques today, almost all of which can be ultimately traced back directly to the tradition of Sanatana Dharma.

The Dharmic diet of lacto-vegetarianism has been shown by the entire medical community to be the healthiest and most nutritious diet in the world. The traditional Dharmic medical system of Ayurveda is now being studied in many of the top medical colleges in the world as a safe, natural and highly effective sister-modality to contemporary allopathic medicine. And Yoga, the Dharmic path of self-realization, is now practiced by hundreds of millions of people outside of India for optimal health, stress-reduction, clarity of mind, as well as to experience the direct reality of their true spiritual selves. In American alone, about 20 million people practice Yoga on a regular basis. The reason why so many millions of intelligent, educated, health-conscious and spiritually-inclined people practice Yoga is very simple: They've seen that it works!

Of all the many reasons why you should be a Dharmi, however, the most important one is because it is through Sanatana Dharma that you can have a personal and vividly transformative experience of God. The ultimate goal of Sanatana Dharma is to experience God's presence in a radically personal and real way. When God is placed in the center of your personal life and your family life, there is no challenge, no problem, no illness, and no difficulty that you cannot face with courage and contentment. Sanatana Dharma is the most direct path there is for knowing God�s love and grace in your life.

Sanatana Dharma is a religious path that is open to all human beings, regardless of your race, nationality, ethnicity, previous religious background or language. Sanatana Dharma is not "Eastern", "Indian", or "Asian". It transcends all nationalities and ethnicities. All that is required to achieve the maximum benefit that this dynamic path has to offer you is sincerity, humility, an openness to guidance and growth, and your own eagerness to know the Truth. Sanatana Dharma is open to all.

If you find the teachings, lifestyle and practice of Sanatana Dharma to be the answer to your spiritual search, the members of International Sanatana Dharma Society (ISDS) welcome you to embrace your spiritual heritage with joy and renewed vigor. Sanatana Dharma is God�s gift to you and to our suffering world.

For much more information on how you can deepen your understanding of Dharma and begin your exciting journey on this spiritual path today, please visit:

http://www.dharmacentral.com/dharmainfo.php

Sanatana Dharma is open to all sincere seekers and welcomes all who wish to adopt Dharma as their spiritual path. These are a few things you can do to get started in your practice of a Dharmic lifestyle. By protecting Dharma and supporting your spiritual community, you can become a great example for your family and your greater community.

Step A) Beginning a Dharmic Lifestyle

1. Consider becoming vegetarian.
http://www.dharmacentral.com/forum/c...-Vegetarianism

2. Begin reading the Bhagavad-Gita, the most important Dharma scripture.
http://dharmacentral.com/dharmastore..._bookstore.php

3. Learn how to practice spiritual meditation.
http://www.dharmacentral.com/forum/c...ow-to-Meditate

4. Understand the philosophy of Dharma and accept the principles of karma/reincarnation. Dharmacentral has a massive library of the very best articles on Sanatana Dharma available anywhere in the world today: http://www.articles.dharmacentral.com

5. Join the International Sanatana Dharma Society, a local Sanatana Dharma
temple or Satsangha group. http://dharmacentral.com/dharmaactivism/donations.php

Join the Dharmacentral email list here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dharmacentral/

Step B) Becoming a Practicing Dharmi (follower of Dharma)

After declaring yourself a Dharmi, you may want to then deepen your understanding and practice of Dharma by incorporating a serious spiritual practice into your daily life. The best way to do this is under the guidance of a qualified and knowledgeable guru, or spiritual teacher. The following steps will help you with this deepening of your practice.

1. Study the philosophy and teachings of Dharma under the guidance of a qualified guru. http://www.dharmacentral.com/acharyaji.php

2. Adopt a healthy spiritual lifestyle, including vegetarianism, and following the ethical principles of Dharma.
http://dharmacentral.com/dharmainfo/dharma_ethics.php

3. Practice regular spiritual meditation, mantras and puja.
http://www.dharmacentral.com/forum/c...erforming-Puja

4. Seek initiation from a qualified guru (spiritual teacher). Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya is one of the most highly qualified and authentic gurus in the tradition of Sanatana Dharma in the world today. Please contact us if you would like to be considered as a serious candidate for initiation by Sri Acharyaji. Or feel free to get a copy of the book "Taking Refuge in Dharma: The Initiation Guidebook". http://dharmacentral.com/dharmastore.php#secondlevel

You are welcome to join the global Sanatana Dharma community. Join us in our active mission to share the beauty and peace of Sanatana Dharma with the world. Join the International Sanatana Dharma Society today!

For more information on the life-enhancing path of Sanatana Dharma, please visit Dharmacentral:

http://www.dharmacentral.com

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[AlternativeAnswers] Hello

Hello everyone!
My name is Helen and I've been in the natural health arena for 10 years studying nutrition and phytotherapy. My husband and I have recently started the lo GI way of eating (nothing over 50 goes into our mouths)and after a few rocky days,him more than me as he is partial to a corned beef pasty, we are starting to feel lighter and much more energetic.I'm really into raw foods but my little gang do like more of a cooked dinner feel.Favourites so far have been the Minced Beef & Cannellini Bean Burgers and the Red lentil, Chicken & Chickpea Curry.If any one would like the recipes I can post them.Looking forward to reading and responding with you all!
Helen
www.healthstore24.co.uk

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Friday, September 10, 2010

[AlternativeAnswers] Tips For Improving Fatigue

Good Morning!

Tips For Improving Fatigue

Fatigue is a sign that your body is in need of conserving energy. It can be a sign that your body is expanding more energy than it can produce. It could also be the symptoms of an underlying health problem. It can be the first signs of developing physical or emotional problems or a variety of infectious diseases. Consulting a medical professional is the first step that should be taken in order to rule out certain physical illnesses.

Physical examination and routine laboratory tests although required to rule out other possible causes of a patient's symptoms, no laboratory test, no matter how esoteric or exotic, can diagnose this condition or measure its severity.

If no physical illness is found, a regimen of proper diet, detoxing, exercise, and plenty of rest and water is a good start. Try to manage stress and balance situations around you.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a condition that is debilitating with a variety of symptoms that resemble those of flu or other viral infections. The cause of CFS is not known but several theories posture that it is a "reaction" to a virus. This is why it is mistaken many times for other disorders. Often mistaken by some to be a result of infection with the Epstein-Barr virus, which is a member of the herpes family and the same virus that causes mononucleosis or Lyme disease. However, there is no convincing evidence that most cases of CFS are caused by an infection. Some other theories suggest that chronic fatigue is related to overwork, stress, a weak immune system, allergies, low blood pressure, hormonal imbalance or environmental toxins. In some cases it may follow the death of a close relative or an operation.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is also known as Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), and Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome.

Symptoms other than fatigue may include nausea, irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, chronic cough, diarrhea, dry eyes, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, jaw pain, night sweats, alcohol and drug intolerance, dizzy spells, tingling sensations and lack of appetite.

There can be many ways to find relief. On a positive note, chronic fatigue syndrome is not necessarily a lifelong sickness. Many people have recovered well after being sick. Exercise, stress reduction and good nutrition all have amazing effects and will help with the ups and downs, with the downs becoming less severe and less frequent.

Finding Balance: in a modern society we tend to "burn the candle at both ends". There MUST be a proper balance in the amount of work that we do, in the amount of sleep we have in the foods that we enjoy and in the amount of "down time" we give ourselves.

Excessive Work: can drain the very core of our energy. Today, if you are not working for a company who is placing high demands on your time, health and relationships, then you have your own business, which often has no boundaries when it comes to building and maintaining your dream.

Improper Diet: can be a nutrition zapper that robs the body of proper vitamins, mineral and sufficient amino acids that are important for energy product. A balance of fresh vegetables, complexed carbs, whole grain, as well as, fruits, nuts, seeds and protein are very important for maintaining proper energy levels.

Lack of Exercise: is a major problem in fatigue syndromes. Regular exercise builds stamina that can help anyone battle stress. But even something as casual as a walk around the block can help you burn off some of the tension that you carrying around. Stretching is a great tension reducer.

Poor Sleep Habits: can drain us of a good day full of vital energy. Overthinking, anxiety and a racing mind are all issues that cause difficulty in falling asleep and/or difficulty staying asleep.

Dehydration: is a hidden issue that is seldom realized. Thirst is one indicator of dehydration, but it is not an early warning sign. By the time you feel thirsty, you might already be dehydrated. Other symptoms of dehydration include feeling dizzy and lightheaded, having a dry or sticky mouth, producing less urine and darker urine. As the condition progresses, a person will start to feel much sicker as more body systems (or organs) are affected by the dehydration.

Overuse of medications: All medications have risks as well as benefits. The benefits of medicines are the helpful effects you get when you take them, such as fighting infection or relieving pain. Medication side effects are the #4 leading cause of death in the U.S. annually (JAMA 1998). All medications have possible side effects, which can include nausea, vomiting, headaches, rashes, indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, dry mouth, dizziness, muscle soreness, fatigue or lose of appetite.

Tips For Improving Fatigue

1. Balance Your Day: set boundaries with work, family, friends, exercise. To much of ANYTHING is not a good thing. Although we are constantly reminded that MODERATION is the key, we seldom recognize it in ourselves. Plan your day out on paper. Divide your time evenly and stick to it.

2. Improve How You Work: work smart. Do not allow the "fires you put out" each day to become uncontrollable. Allow a certain amount of time for these issues as well as new projects, clients or meetings.

3. Get Exercise: If you are saying, how can I exercise, when I am so tired. This is all the more reason why you need to jump start your metabolism. Exercise is what your body instinctively wants to do especially under stress: fight or flight, and it works. It burns off some of the stress chemicals which tension produces. Therefore, a tired muscle is a relaxed muscle. Regular exercise builds stamina that can help anyone battle stress. But even something as casual as a walk around the block can help you burn off some of the tension that you carrying around.

4. Take A Look At Food: Carbohydrates provide glucose for energy. Excessive carbohydrates can increase blood sugar levels to dangerous levels, which then makes your body shut down to protect itself. Protein is important because it allows the brain to synthesis the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine, which help keep your mind attentive and alert. Excessive protein levels make the organs of digestion work much harder to process this food and robs your energy stores. Find the balance for YOU. Listen to your body! It will tell you what makes you feel good and what does not. Especially in the long term. If you have issues with excess heat, look at eating foods that have a cooling nature. If you have excess cold, look at eating foods that have a warming nature. Neutral foods help to regulate our system.

5. Prepare for Better Sleep: Overthinking is a culprit that will rob you of great energizing and restorative sleep. Turn off that mind by starting to wind down early. Give yourself "quiet time". Utilize the power of peaceful music, a good book, diffusing essential oils, warm milk or tea before you lay down.

6. Manage Your Best Energy Times: Take advantage of your natural energy highs. Do your most strenuous work, thinking, planning, exercise when you have your greatest energy. Note the time of day when you feel your best and when you feel your worse. Expand your energy where it is most needed, pull back where you feel you can.

7. Keep Hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially on hot, dry, windy days. If you're doing strenuous exercise, drink some fluids before the activity begins. You should also drink at regular intervals (every 20 minutes or so) during your activity and after the activity ends.

8. Limit Time You Sit Down: Reduce sedentary behaviors such as watching television and using computers. Being in one place for long periods actually slows metabolism and energy production.

9. Learn To Do Nothing: Our urge to drive ourselves to greater accomplishments, creates other issues such as exhaustion. Create/allow a few hours in your week to simply relax and do nothing. If you cannot find a few hours, it is time to rethink your priorities and commitments.

10. View Your Lifestyle: If illness is not the cause of your fatigue, then it is a lifestyle issue. Are you creating unnecessary stress for yourself? Are there ongoing problems in your life that may be causing prolonged anxiety or depression? Consider counseling or talking about your issues with family, career personal or your doctor. Find the issues that are taking you away from a vital, energetic life!

11. Talk To Others: Sometimes sharing your problems with others who are suffering some of the same symptoms, can be very helpful. Be sure and go to the chronic fatigue forum to find others to confide in.

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac
http://peacefulmind.com/chronic_fatigue.htm
Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit