Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Rajma (kidney beans) is rich in protein, dietary fiber, and essential nutrients such as folate, iron, potassium, and magnesium.  Rajma is also a good source of antioxidants, including flavonoids and polyphenols, which help reduce inflammation and lower the risk of chronic diseases.

Moringa leaves provides 7 times more vitamin C than oranges,  10times more vitamin A than carrots, 17 times more calcium than milk,  9 times more protein than yoghurt, 15 times more potassium than bananas and 25 times more iron than spinach

Almonds are good for your Heart.  Eating almonds will help maintain your blood fatty acid levels. The healthy fatty acids contained in them will also reduce your risk of heart disease since they do not build up on the walls of arteries

Sugarcane Juice is rich in good kind of carbohydrates, protein, iron, potassium and other essential nutrients making it the ideal energy drinks.  Glass of sugarcane juice along with lemon & Ginger increase energy level, refreshment, reduces inflammation and fatigue

Buttermilk is excellent for your gut health. Packed with probiotics, it provides a natural boost for your digestion. Additionally, it is easier to digest, making it a great choice for those with sensitivity. Plus, buttermilk helps to reduce body heat, making it a refreshing option for hot days.

A papaya of moderate size contains over twice the recommended daily intake of vitamin C, which can lower the likelihood of heart disease and enhance the immune system. It serves as a beneficial provider of essential nutrients such as Folate, Vitamin A, Fiber, Copper, Magnesium, and Potassium.

Drinking warm water with black pepper  powder every morning, preferably on an empty stomach is the best remedy to boost immunity. It is said that drinking this pepper water for at least a month can relieve you from myriad health problems. This helps you burn more calories to maintain an ideal weight. Once you’ll start drinking this magic elixir in the morning, you will notice that your body stamina has been increased two times. It will make you feel energetic and will also boost up your metabolism.

Most people suffer with the problem of low blood pressure. Tulsi is a holy herb helpful in normalizing blood pressure as it contains vitamins, Potassium which balances the mind. Tulsi also boosts immunity and promotes respiratory health.

Carrots are famous for their abundant dietary fiber content and high concentration of essential vitamins like A, K, Folate, and B6. Regular consumption of carrots is recommended to promote a healthy digestive system and strengthen the immune system.

Stress reduces the body's magnesium levels. Low magnesium is linked to high blood pressure, headaches, depression & anxiety. If you experience any of these after being stressed, eat more magnesium rich foods like spinach, avocado, pumpkin seeds, beans, almonds, dark chocolate

Ginger tea enhances blood circulation that helps to nourish skin cells and encourages hair growth and even results a healthy skin.  The relaxing properties of ginger tea help lower stress levels, which can tangentially improve the health of skin and hair because stress is bad for both.

Beans help fight cancer, too!! They contain several potent phytochemicals that may protect the body's cells against damage that can lead to cancer. They prevent tumors from releasing substances that damage nearby cells.

Kala chana, or black chickpeas, are packed with protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making them a nutritious addition to meals.  Kala chana is particularly high in folate, iron, potassium, and magnesium.  It also contains antioxidants like anthocyanins, which help protect against oxidative damage.

Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes, are excellent sources of vitamin C and other antioxidants. The combination of antioxidants in citrus fruits helps combat oxidative stress and inflammation, making them valuable additions to a cancer-fighting diet.

Moringa (DrumStick) contributes to heart health by positively influencing key markers such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure.  Antioxidants and bioactive compounds in Moringa may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases by promoting healthy blood vessels and managing lipid profiles.

Green tea contains an amino acid called L-theanine, which increases dopamine levels.  Since Green Tead also has Caffeine...it enhances mood and cognitive function without the jitteriness associated with higher caffeine intake.

You cannot be grateful and feel lack. The two cannot exist at the same time. When you feel grateful, you feel full. When you feel lack, grumbling begins from some corner. If you feel grateful, gratitude will increase in you and you will be given more. If you keep on grumbling, the negativity in you will increase. Jesus said, “For those who don't have, whatever little they have will be taken away from them. And to those who have, more will be given.” This is the law of nature. For those who do not have this knowledge, there is no way to get out of their grumbling. It becomes a habit. This applies to relationships too. If you love someone, know that nothing is lacking. Trust that they also love you very much. If you doubt someone’s love, your doubt grows no matter what you receive from them. If you want to be close to someone, first begin to feel that person is already close to you. When you ask people, “Do you trust me?” you are doubting their trust. When you are in doubt, you grow ...

Shift your awareness from the experience to the experiencer. All the experiences are on the circumference; they keep on changing. The unchanging experiencer is at the centre. Again and again, come back to the experiencer. If you are frustrated, instead of spending all the time on the experience of frustration, ask, 'Who is frustrated?' Similarly, if you are unhappy, ask, 'Who is unhappy?' If you think you know something, ask, 'Who knows?' If you think you are enlightened, ask, 'Who is it that is enlightened?' If you think you are ignorant, ask, 'Who is ignorant?' If you think poor me, ask, 'Who is poor me?' If you think you are highly devoted, ask, 'Who is it that is devoted?' Shed all your faces and face the I. Then you have truly come to Me! Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji,

One who is dispassionate always remains joyful There is a very beautiful poem that goes: “What do you say to a person who is scared of noise but has built his house in the market? What do say to a person who has built a home on the seashore and hates waves? What do you say to a person who has built a home in the forest and is scared of animals?” In the same way, what do you tell a person who lives in society and is scared of accusations, blames and praises? People blame and they say things, what can you do? Educate and ignore. Even when you have done nothing wrong still people become your enemies. How many of you have experienced this? You did not do any harm to them but they have become your enemies. Similarly, you have not done any big favors for some people but they have become your friends, isn’t it?! Becoming a friend or an enemy works on some other special law and that is karma. With karmayou cannot have a reasoning or explanation for certain happenings. That is just how it is. S...

Every time you are unhappy, miserable or disturbed, you are coming in touch with your own boundaries and what can you do? You can feel thankful, “Oh! This was my limitation. I came in touch with my boundaries.” Then, that moment, you turn the whole situation into a prayer: “Let there be peace, not just in me, but in everybody.” Prayer comes at that moment when you come in touch with your limitations.It is the limitation and the boundary that is the real cause of your disturbance. You are peaceful, joyful, and happy, as long as you have not come in contact with your boundaries. The moment you come into contact with them, the mind scares: “Oh! Because that person did this, this happened. This is bad, that shouldn’t be; it should be like that, it shouldn’t be this way…” At that moment, what can you do? Just say, “My Lord, make me aware of my boundaries. Now, You bring peace. You do it. I am giving it all to You.” That very moment, you start smiling; there is such a sigh of relief! However...

Certain questions indicate the maturity of our mind. They are: What is life? What is the purpose of my life? Why am I here? What do I want? These questions are vital. Where am I? Are you aware you are on this planet Earth?  Have you ever thought “I am on planet Earth and this planet is in the solar system”? So, I am in the solar system. The solar system is just a dot in the Milky Way. So, I am in the Milky Way. This expansion of awareness to the macrocosm and being aware of where you are in this body is important. Just sit with your eyes closed and ask yourself “where am I in this body”? Am I in the head, in the nose, in the heart? Where am I in the body? Then the sharpness of the mind happens, awareness happens. You are able to perceive that you are nowhere and you are everywhere in the body. A shift in the quality of awareness happens instantaneously. And it is this awareness that can eliminate stresses and sorrows from life. This awareness is called wisdom. When we raise our con...

How would you like to see yourself? Happy and bubbling with enthusiasm or dull and difficult to please? Often you like to be pleased, appeased and cajoled. So you put up a tough, upset face and act difficult to please. If a person has to appease and please ten people all the time, it will be so tiring. People who keep a long face and expect others to cajole and appease them make others run away. Lovers often do this. They expend a lot of energy in cajoling and this brings down the joy and celebration of the moment. It is okay for you to show your upset mood or tendency once in a while, but doing it over and over again is taxing for you and people you love. If you feel down, appease and please yourself. Your need to be appeased by someone else is the sign of grossness. This is the root of ignorance.If you want attention, all you get is tension. Become one whose enthusiasm never dies, come what may! Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji,

What we do affects others only to the extent that they take it. If they do not take it, then no matter what you do, it won’t affect them at all, be it good or bad. There lived a saint named Diogenes, who was enslaved by Alexander. Alexander had him tied up in chains and handcuffed. When he was being sold at the slave market, he looked so strong and confident that the person trying to sell him looked like a slave. Diogenes did not look like a slave at all. So, whatever we do affects people only as much as they take in. If you swear at someone and he doesn’t listen to you at all; instead, he thinks you’re talking in another language or he thinks you’re praising him, then what effect would your words have on him? You are talking about something very wise, maybe you are giving knowledge, but the other person is not listening to you at all, just sitting like a stone, then what influence will your talk have on him? Unless the person decides to absorb what you are saying and take it in, he wi...

The first solution to a problem is not to have the problem at all! The second solution is to willingly accept the problem and see it as a challenge. The third solution is to know that the problem is a bogeyman; it is not real. The fourth solution is to know that nature has provided you the solution even before giving you the problem.  When it snows, there are no bacteria since herbs that heal you do not grow in that season. In the spring, the herbs come first and then the bugs. In the summer, the shade comes before the summer sun gets strong. So, nature takes good care of you! Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji,

False securities do not allow your faith to grow. When you have dropped your securities, then your faith grows. When you buffer your life with securities, you keep the faith away. It is the faith that brings perfection in you. Faith is the greatest security. If you have all the material securities and not have faith, you will still reel in fear. You have to let go of all possessions in the mind. False security is keeping things where they don't belong. It is an illusion of security because of having a job, a house, friends. Keep the house where it belongs, not in the mind. Keep the money in the bank or in the pocket, not in the mind. Keep friends and family where they belong, not in the mind. The Divine is your only security. Faith is realizing that you always get what you need. Faith is giving the Divine a chance to act. Your body belongs to the world. Your spirit belongs to the Divine. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji,

There are 72,000 nadis (channels of life-force energy) in the body, and there are various nerve centers where these channels meet. The human body has 109 such centers, also called chakras. When energy flows through these nerve centers upwards or downwards, there are different emotions, feelings or sensations that one experiences. The 7 major: at muladhara, it’s either enthusiasm or dullness;  at swadhishthana, procreation or creation;  at manipura, jealousy, generosity, joy or greed;  at anahata, love, fear or hatred;  at vishuddhi, gratitude or sorrow;  at ajna, anger or awareness; and at sahasrara, there’s bliss. Normally, life energy is flowing through these chakras, but if we feel disturbed or under pressure, there’s an obstruction in the flow of energy.  Place your attention on the energy in these chakras, and you will see that the negative energy in the chakrasgradually dissolves. For example, if you feel jealous and then meditate with attention on yo...

Gurudev, you have said that we shouldn't give explanation to people. But if we have something in our heart that is heavy and feel the need to talk about it, then what to do? Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: There is no one rule for it, sometimes you want to speak and become calm and sometimes speaking doesn't help in any way. Wake up and see, the whole world is like a dream. All those thoughts have gone, the behavior of people will disappear. Some people act good and some act bad, but everyone is going to die, and the world will be finished. This set of people will all go away. Then new people will come and they will all die. Then another set of people will come, they will fight among themselves, they will hug, love, kiss, do everything, and they will all die. Seven billion people on the planet today and all these seven billion people will all die. It is only a matter of a few years. In another hundred years, do you think the same people will be here? Not one person who is here to...

When something is unbelievably beautiful or joyful, you wonder whether it is a dream. Often, what you perceive as reality is not joyful and so when misery is there, you never wonder if it is a dream. You are sure it is real. This is knowing the real as unreal and unreal as real. In fact, all the miseries are unreal.  A wise man knows that happiness is real, as it is one's very nature. Unhappiness is unreal as it is inflicted by memory.When you see everything as a dream, then you abide in your true nature. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji,

It is okay if people have expectations, you don’t need to get frustrated about it.  You do what is in your capacity, and sometimes stretch a little more than what you think you can do and you will be amazed to see that you have much more capabilities. Take every expectation as a challenge for you to expand and express. When you take it as a challenge, you will not get frustrated. Do your best and give your 100%. Like in a running race, you look only at your track and do your best. If you have the fear of losing the game even before starting it, then you will never be able to win the game. When you’re playing a game, you should put your 100%. If you have done your best then nobody will hold anything against you. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji,

Longing itself is divine. Longing for worldly things makes you inert. Longing for infinity fills you with life. When longing dies, inertia sets in. But longing also brings a sense of pain. To avoid the pain, you try to push away the longing. The skill is to bear the pain of longing and move on. Do not try to find a shortcut to overcome longing. Do not make the longing short – that’s why it is called loooonging. True longing in itself brings up moments of bliss.That is why in ancient days longing was kept alive by singing and listening to kathas, or stories.  When longing transcends relationships, then judgments, jealousy and all negative feelings drop. It is only with wisdom and self-knowledge that you can transcend relationships.  People often think wisdom is devoid of longing – no! Such wisdom is dry. The longing that comes with true wisdom makes life juicier. The Divine is certainly juicy! Longing gives you the power to bless. Bless the entire creation for the longing in yo...

All the ancient cultures around the world have honoured nature. Plants, rivers, and mountains have always been revered. Rivers were worshipped as mothers and the Earth was regarded as a Goddess. This attitude of treating nature as sacred needs to be revived in modern times. In reality, human greed and callousness are the root cause of pollution. The greed for quick and large profits severely disrupts the ecological balance, and not only pollutes the physical environment, but also stimulates negative emotions on a subtle level. We need to attend to the human psyche, which is the root cause of pollution. We need to revive the traditional practices that foster our connection with nature. People should be encouraged to have reverence for the planet, to treat people as sacred, and to see God in nature.This will foster sensitivity. Only a sensitive person can care for nature and nurture the environment. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji,

If you are used to being unhappy, even in the best of situation you will still grumble and be unhappy. Nothing can make you happy in the world. When you are happy, what is happening? When you are smiling, what is happening? There is so much relaxation in the muscles of your face, in the head, and everywhere. There is freedom, joy, and relaxation. But if you train your muscles and nervous system to being unhappy, then that same thing continues. You remain unhappy irrespective of the situation around you. Santosha, contentment, is a practice. Being unconditionally happy is a practice. “Come what may today I am going to smile. Everything is going to vanish and disappear, so what? Let me be at least happy. Smile this very moment and enjoy my very breath if not anything else.” If someone else is upset or something else is wrong, never mind, at least you can breathe happily. Nobody is going to hold your nose. You are free there. You sell your happiness for peanuts. I tell you, it is not wort...

When a drop gets into the ocean, the drop gains the strength of the ocean.  If alone, it would’ve dried up. But when it gets into the ocean, it becomes immortal. It gains the strength of the ocean. Being on the spiritual path means opening one’s self to infinity. One does not lose anything. One gains infinity. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji,

Many of us have the problem of letting go of control. This results in anxiety, restlessness and sours relationships. Wake up and see, are you really in control? What are you in control of? You are not in control when you are sleeping or dreaming. You are not in control of thoughts and emotions coming to you. You may choose to express it or not, but they come to you without your permission! Similarly, do you think you are in control of all the events in your life or in the world? That is a joke! When you look at things from this angle, you need not be afraid of losing control, because you have none! Whether you realise it or not, when you let go of your sense of control, that is the time you truly relax.Your identification of being somebody does not let you relax totally and it keeps your domain limited. For any success to happen, what is it that matters? First of all, it comes as a thought. Thoughts get translated into action. First a thought gets translated into will, if it becomes a ...

If you are used to being unhappy, even in the best of situations you will still grumble and be unhappy.Nothing can make you happy in the world. When you are happy, what is happening? When you are smiling, what is happening? There is so much relaxation in the muscles of your face, in the head, and everywhere. There is freedom, joy, and relaxation. But if you train your muscles and nervous system to being unhappy, then that same thing continues. You remain unhappy irrespective of the situation around you. Santosha, contentment, is a practice. Being unconditionally happy is a practice. “Come what may today I am going to smile. Everything is going to vanish and disappear, so what? Let me at least be happy." Smile this very moment and enjoy my very breath if not anything else. If someone else is upset or something else is wrong, never mind, at least you can breathe happily. Nobody is going to hold your nose. You are free there. You sell your happiness for peanuts. I tell you, it is not...

What are the qualities of a good leader? How can you be a dynamic, confident and an enthusiastic leader? A major aspect of good leadership is letting go of control.Are you in control when you’re sleeping or when you’re dreaming? No! Are you in control of any other function in your body? Your heart is pumping all by itself. Are you in control of the sun and moon moving around the earth or even the earth rotating on its axis? Are you in control of the thoughts that come into your head? So, when you realize you really do not have any control over all major things that are happening in your life then you will realize that the idea that you are in control is an illusion. And this will relax you. A leader sets an example. He doesn’t just order things; he does it first so that others can do it. A good leader is the one who creates leaders and not followers. He takes good care of those whom he is leading. He delegates responsibility. A leader does not worry about position. The respect that one...

The Bhagvad Gita caters to the entire range of human evolution. It stands for poise and equanimity and for performing one’s designated duty. There are seven important lessons Lord Krishna has given in the Bhagvad Gita that we should all remember. Honour Existence: The Bhagvad Gita says that the Universe is made up of eight elements: earth, water, fire, air, ether (space), mind, intellect, and consciousness. The five sheaths to human existence are the environment, physical body, prana or energy, mind and consciousness. So, the whole universe is an individual part, and we are part and parcel of the universe. Peaceful Fight: Krishna tells Arjuna to fight but be in peace at the same time. He says, “First, go inside and cleanse yourself. Do not fight with hatred, but fight for justice; fight with equanimity.” Mind your Mind: The Gita says, “Your own mind is responsible for your bondage and for your liberation.” Your mind keeps changing all the time. If your mind is trained well thr...

Love is your nature. When love finds an expression, you often get caught up in the object. Your sight is caught outside. To return back to your nature, you need certain insights. Pain is the first insight. It takes you away from the object and turns you towards your body and mind. Longing brings a sense of pain. To avoid the pain, you try to push away the longing. The skill is to bear the pain of longing and move on. It’s not the pain that is bothering us; it is the thought of the pain that bothers one. It’s not the situation that one is troubled with, but the fear of the situation that is troubling one. Energy is the second insight. A bolt of energy brings you back to your Self.  Divine love is the third insight. A glimpse makes you so complete and overrules all relative pleasures. Every form belongs to the Divine. When you adore the form, you adore the Divine behind the form. When you see the Divine in yourself, you will see the Divine in everyone. Ecstasy is the fourth insight. ...

Spending time with your own self If you think nobody loves you, know for sure that you are loved. The earth loves you; that’s why it is holding you upright. The love of the earth is its gravitational force. The air loves you; that’s why it moves through your lungs even when you are sleeping. The Divine loves you very dearly, deeply. Once you realise this, you will never feel lonely. Someone’s company cannot fill your loneliness. Even if it does, it is very short-lived. If you could be comfortable being alone for some time, then you will not feel lonely. If you enjoy being with your Self, you will not be a boring personality. If you are lonely, then you can be boring to others. And that will make you more lonely! Any kind of company looks very good from a distance. Those who are in the company of others all the time look for the comforts of solitude and those who are in solitude feel lonely and want to be in company. Everyone is looking for a perfect balance. From time to time, keep a l...

If there is anything in this universe that cannot be defined, it is love. If you can describe love, then it is far from the truth. Nature of love is that which you cannot express or define. You give flowers, you hug, you prostrate, you offer but still something remains unexpressed. We can only find a little expression, just a glimpse of it. There is a story about Hanuman. He loved Lord Rama. Once Rama asked Hanuman: ‘Tell me how much you love me?’ Hanuman said: ‘My lord I cannot express my love for you, you want to see? I will tear open my heart and show you’. You can see the picture of Hanuman tearing open his heart and showing Rama: ‘Only you reside in my heart.’ There are three types of love - Satvik, rajasic and tamasic. Satvik love is that which does not expect anything in return. Rajasic love, is the love combined with feverishness and a desire to get something back. Tamasic love is love for destroying things. But Divine love is free from all these three. When you love somebody, ...

Wherever there is truth there is Shiva. Wherever there is beauty there is Shiva. Wherever there is benevolence there is Shiva. And there is not a place where the principle that is Shiva, is not there. Shivaratri is an occasion to remember that, ‘I am Shiva, I am that principle, I am the truth, eternity, beauty, and benevolence'. Shiva is Beauty, yet He is Unseen Shiva is Benevolent, yet He is Fierce Shiva is Truth, yet He cannot be known by the intellect. Shiva is Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji,