loveletters: May 2017

Friday, 19 May 2017

Food

How food can affect our quality of thoughts and our quality of life.

Research has proven that diet can affect our mental health. Results of patients who have a diet high in processed foods, fats and sugars have shown a higher tendency towards depression and dementia. Pregnant women on a similar diet of processed foods have had children who had more behavioral problems than children born to Mothers with a more balanced healthy diet.

Fasting for as little as three days can regenerate the entire immune system, even in the elderly, scientists have found in a breakthrough described as "remarkable".

Although fasting diets have been criticised by nutritionists for being unhealthy, new research suggests starving the body kick-starts stem cells into producing new white blood cells, which fight off infection.

Scientists at the University of Southern California say the discovery could be particularly beneficial for people suffering from damaged immune systems, such as cancer patients on chemotherapy.

"Our body needs respect. We need to respect ourselves and Mother Nature.'' SS

"Respect yourself, only then will the Earth become happy.''SS

Over the past 20 days a group of us within Sai Samaj have been observing a fast. We've been sacrificing a little in order to gain some mental peace and physical wellbeing.

We're on a mono-diet to give the body a rest. It's a diet of moong dal and rice eaten once a day.

Our objective, which was initiated by our Guru, was to sacrifice our wants for a month and replace them with a little discipline and respect for our bodies and Mother Nature.

Moong has great cleansing/detox qualities which strip the wall of our stomachs of harmful bacteria that has accumulated there.

The moong combined with rice is a complete protein. So essentially we're on a high protein diet. A mono diet which is giving our bodies a much needed rest and detox.

Many of us have lost weight, reduced cholesterol, gained energy and gained a better attitude.

A lot of old issues and old thought patterns have arisen and been dealt with, with awareness.

Goddess Parvati did severe penance in order to win the heart of her Shiva. She was said to have lived on a simple diet of flowers and fruits for over 1000 years.

So it is in this same vein that we are going through this enriching process in order find our God within.

"Don’t waste food because Food is “God”. Don’t waste energy, energy is “God”, don’t waste money, Money is “God” and don’t waste time. Time is “God”. Don’t waste your respect. Your respect is everything.

Whenever we take food, we should always chant the prayer. We should be thankful to Bhagwan that he has given us food today on our plate. Always eat what you can eat. Don’t over eat. When you overeat, you are calling your death early.

Why waste your energy? In the full stomach, half should be water; quarter should be food, one quarter for air. But what we do, three quarter food, quarter left which is for more food."SS

I know for me after 20 days of this process the journey has been a good one, both mentally and physically. The ego is a little quieter and the body a little healthier.

The fasting has given me very real evidence that we are what we eat. And what we eat gives us the power to change, or to stay stuck where we are.

"As I say whenever you put anything in the mouth always say this is Prana which is your energy.

When you take a drink, always say this is Tejas which is transformation, just like the water transforms into clean or dirty water. So water means transformation moving from one to another.

Whenever you take a step, moving, walking and cycling anything which you do with your body, you are in the process of “Ojas” meaning you are using the power of intelligence.

When you say these three particular things, Prana (Energy), Tejas (Transformation) and Ojas (Intelligence) you will feel the transformation happening.

This Process is happening, why? I'm actually wanting you all to be stress free and reversing your age." SS

Saturday, 13 May 2017

Shame

What are you ashamed of? And how long have you been carrying that shame around with you?

Too long would be the correct answer.

Some of us have been carrying stuff around since childhood.

You replay it and relive it and regret it, but what for?

You wish it had never happened or that you could turn time back and change the outcome, but is that possible?

All of this is never spoken of, it's buried deep down in our memory. But it's still festering and unknowingly poisoning our minds and bodies.

So it's time to let go of all our dirty little secrets.

Replay all of those shame-filled secrets, but this time without all the emotions. Stay distant, be an observer, a witness. Let each scenario play out, watch it till the final scene, no judgement, no excuses.

Then take a deep breath in, smile :-) and imagine you're the all compassionate Mother, who loves her children no matter what. Forgive yourself as she has already forgiven you a long, long time ago.