Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

DAILY STEPS FOR GOOD HEALTH 1. WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY? There is absolutely gold-standard evidence that physical activity can reduce morbidity and mortality due to multiple chronic conditions. The mountain of evidence can be gauged from the fact that there are 948 meta-analyses of 11,726 clinical trials, in addition to 1.4 million research papers, that leave no doubt about the unquestionable necessity of physical activity for good health. Drawing on the leading research, here we discuss the most popular and easier form of exercise, walking, to assemble the usable knowledge. For significant health benefits, World Health Organization (WHO) suggests, adults should do at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity; or at least 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity; or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity distributed throughout the week1. On an average, leisure-time regular p...

Actually, there are four Navratris. One in each of the four seasons. Though we have six seasons, but the main four seasons have one Navratri each.          This is the Navratri in spring, which starts from new year, Ugadi. The new year is the same.         You know it is so wonderful to discover that even Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Turkey they all share same new year. And they do exactly the same what the people in Kerala do for new year. They do ‘vishu kani’, morning you have to keep in a plate: two lamps, some fruits, some vegetables, and then a mirror, a sacred book. All these are kept and first thing in the morning you are supposed to see this and feel abundance. New year begins with a sense of abundance, with a sense of knowledge.           See, the way Iranians celebrate the new year, very similar to the Vaidic New Year or the Vaidic days the new year is being celebrated. Of course in Kerala it is t...

*13. Nourish Your Emotions* A person without emotions is like wood without any juice. You need to make your interesting to make people be with you. This will happen when you nurture yourself with music, prayer and service. The way to expand from individual to universal consciousness is to share others sorrow and joy.  As you grow, your consciousness should also grow. When your expand in knowledge with time then depression is not possible. The way to overcome personal misery is to share universal misery. The way to expand personal joy is to share universal joy. Instead of thinking. What about me and what can I gain from this word?  Think. What can I do for the world? Silence heals and rejuvenates. Silence gives you depth and stability and brings creativity. Service leads to the dynamic experience of heart. It creates a sense of belongingness. Lack of service can land a person in depression.  Pain is physical. Suffering is mental. If you are not sensitive to oth...

Weekly Knowledge 80 Bangalore Ashram 19 Dec 1996  India THE FIVE ASPECTS OF THE UNIVERSE You have five aspects to yourself: Asti (is-ness); Bhaati (Knowledge, expression); Preeti (love); Nama (name); and Rupa (form). Matter has two aspects: name and form. Consciousness has three aspects: "is-ness" - that it is; knowingness/expression - it knows and expresses; and love - it is loving. This is the secret of the whole universe. Maya is not being aware of the three aspects of consciousness. Ignorance is when one is caught up in the name and form. Question: Why are we imperfect? Answer: So that we can grow to perfection. Life is a movement from imperfection to perfection. A seed contains the tree but the seed has to cease to be a seed to become a tree. The seed is not perfect. The sapling is not perfect. It has to cease to be a sapling to become a tree. So in life you can either see imperfection at every step, or you can see a movement from one perfection to another perfection. Wh...

Weekly Knowledge 79 Bangalore Ashram 12 Dec 1996  India PLEASURE The mind that is seeking pleasure cannot be centered. You either seek pleasure or come to me. When you are centered, all pleasures come to you anyway, but they are no longer pleasures. They lose their charm. The mind that seeks pleasure can never achieve the highest. If you are after pleasure, forget about Satsang. Why are you wasting your time? This is the Art of Living. If you are enjoying your suffering, then you also cannot be centered and you are far away from the path. Susannah: What do you do when people talk negatively about this organization, Satsangs, teachers, or anybody for that matter? Guruji: From your side give license to everybody to talk about anything, about anybody, anywhere, at any time. Exercise -- Talk maximum negativity about everybody this whole week. This is a challenge. 🌸Jai Guru Dev🌸  साप्ताहिक ज्ञानपत्र ०७९ १२ दिसम्बर,१९९६ आश्रम, बंगलौर, भारत सुख वह मन जो सुख खोजता है, कभी भी...

This new year is called 'Shobhakrita'. Shobhakrita means the shining actions or the glorious actions - that which bring you glory! - Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar A Resolution to Take This New Year Happy Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, Chaitra Navratri  (Transcription of a Old Talk  - *The Pearls of wisdom by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankarji* ) This New Year, take a resolution to forgive all those you are/were upset with or angry at in the past year, and start a new chapter with enthusiasm and naturalness. Time is like the wind, which nobody can stop. Time is like the Sun, around which the Earth revolves. Time is like our mind – ancient yet very fresh and very new. The celebration of the New Year is to honor time. Honoring time means honoring the mind, and honoring the mind means honoring yourself. And the way to honor yourself is to know that you are neither the culprit nor the victim. What stops you from honoring yourself? One of the reasons is when you think you are a culprit an...

While researching the internet for Centella asiatica, by its common name Gotu kola, I was surprised to see many websites displaying pictures of Hydrocotyle verticillata and captioning them as Gotu kola.  Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) and Marsh-Pennywort (Hydrocotyle verticillata) , are close relatives as both belong to the carrot family (Apiaceae) but they have their differences and cannot be used interchangeably. Yesterday we studied the Marsh-Pennywort (Hydrocotyle verticillata) so you are already familiar with it. Today's post is about Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) so we can familiarize with both these plants and know them better. Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) has been legendary in India and China for more than 2,000 years, where it’s considered one of the best herbs for promoting clarity, focus, and a peaceful, calm nature. This low-growing member of the carrot family is also known as “brahmi” or “Mandukaparni,” and is...

Magnolia champaca Common name:- Champak Vernacular name:- Salyo(Apatani) Family:- Magnoliaceae  description            Magnolia champaca, known in English as champak, is a large evergreen tree in the family Magnoliaceae. It was previously classified as Michelia champaca. It is known for its fragrant flowers, and its timber used in woodworking. It can grow 33m or more tall, with some specimens attaining 50m. It has a long straight bole that can be 18 - 21m long more and, under ordinary forest conditions, 80 - 120 cm in diameter. The tree has a wide range of uses, being harvested locally as a source of food, medicines and a range of commodities. It is particularly valued for its essential oil and timber, and is sometimes cultivated for these. The tree is also used in reforestation projects. Champaca is commonly cultivated as an ornamental and wayside tree throughout the tropics, being valued especially for its fragrant flowers, which are often used in re...

Solanum americanum Family:- Solanaceae  Common name:- American black nightshade Vernacular name:- Hor, Hurey(Nyishi) Description            Solanum americanum is an annual or short-lived perennial plant, erect and widely spreading, growing up to 150 cm tall. The plant is used as a vegetable, especially in Arunachal Pradesh by Indigenous people, where it is often collected from the wild & widely sold in the markets. Solanum americanum is one of the most widespread and morphologically variable species belonging to the section Solanum. It can be confused with other black nightshade species in the Solanum nigrum complex(black in color). Medicinal_Uses                     The plant is antispasmodic and vermifuge. A decoction of the whole plant is used as a blood purifier, for treating inflammation, dissipating blood stasis, and to expel worms. The plant is applied externally as a remedy for c...

Callicarpa americana  Common name:- Purple berry, American beauty berry. Vernacular name:- Ekki main(Nyishi) Family:- Lamiaceae  description            Callicarpa americana, the American beauty berry, is an open-habitat, native shrub of the Southern United States which is often grown as an ornamental in gardens and yards. American beautyberries produce large clusters of purple berries, which birds and deer eat, thus distributing the seeds. Uses           The raw berries, while palatably sweet, are suitable for human consumption only in small amounts, because they are astringent. Some people have reported mild stomach cramps after consumption. The berries are also used in jellies and wine. The roots are used to make herbal tea. As a folk remedy it has been claimed that "fresh, crushed leaves of American beautyberry, Callicarpa americana ... helped keep biting insects away from animals such as horses and mules"....

Murraya koenigii Common name:- Curry tree, curry leaf  Family:- Rutaceae  description            Murraya koenigii is a most attractive, small evergreen tree with wonderfully sweet, curry-pungent foliage. It can grow 4 - 5 m tall. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is often cultivated for its leaves and medicinal uses in the gardens of the tropics, where it can be used as a hedge, and is often sold in local markets. Edible_Uses           Leaves can be cooked or eaten as raw. The pungent, aromatic leaves are a common ingredient in curries, chutneys, stews etc. An indispensible ingredient in southern Indian curries. The leaves retain their characteristic flavour and aroma even after drying. Another report says that the leaves are little know away from areas in which the plant is grown because the leaves lose their flavour upon being dried. Fruit are u...