Ways to maintain good health

[sridatta]

Sin is the root source of any worldly problem related to health, wealth and so on. As long as the root cause exists, the effect will certainly appear in one form or another. The external causes are only superficial and temporary. For a plant or tree to stay alive, one should pour water at its root. This is like the root cause. Instead of doing this, if you pour water on branches, leaves, flowers and fruits, there will be no use.

The plant may appear fresh for a little time, but it is certain to die for want of water since it can only take up water through its roots. Similarly, the root cause of a life free of worldly problems is avoiding sin. One need not do good meritorious deeds, but one should at least avoid bad deeds or sins. So, even if one does not get any benefit, there will at least be no damage.

In the context of maintaining good health, one should strictly avoid smoking, drinking and drugs. They are more dangerous than black cobras and will kill the person. Sages have advised following five principles for good health.

(1) The first one is “Hitabhuk hutabhuk mitabhuk”. It means that one should only consume food that suits one’s health, such as food that does not cause allergies or other reactions. The food should be freshly cooked and it should be consumed only in a limited quantity.

(2) The second principle is “Katipaya pada chaṅkramaṇaḥ”, which means that one should walk for a sufficiently long time, as far as possible.

(3) The third is “Vāma śayanaḥ”, which means that one should lie down on one’s left side. This ensures that the vital organs present on the right side do not have to bear any load.

(4) The fourth is “Anibaddha mūtrapurīśaḥ”, which means that one should not hold urine or stools for long and get relieved as early as possible.

(5) The fifth principle is “Strīṣu yo jāgarti” which means that one should lead a controlled sexual life with one’s married life-partner.
If one avoids sins, one rises above duṣpravṛtti and if one does meritorious deeds, always protecting justice, one succeeds in pravṛtti.

If one rises beyond these two levels and becomes fully devoted to God, one succeeds in nivṛtti. These three stages are becoming close, closer and closest to God, respectively.