The Price of Happiness - Sadhguru

Money is a device that started as a solution beyond the barter system. It was not complicated. It was just a means of exchange; a tool to make life more comfortable. If money is in your pocket, life is more comfortable. But the moment it enters your head, it becomes a perversion. You get identified by it. It becomes who you are. Once you get identified by it, you can never have enough.
There are many wealthy people who become miserable with just a little fluctuation in their net worth. But money is merely a means to an end. Like everything else, money has been created for our well-being. We forget this when we become deeply identified by it.
Instead of just having money to use, we become someone -- or something -- because of it. Then we begin to compare ourselves to other people instead of enjoying what we have. This becomes a kind of a sickness, where making money is then turned against your own well-being.
Everyone has different capabilities. If you just look at your own capabilities without comparing yourself to others, you will find a way to have enough money by doing work you enjoy without all the struggle. Money is definitely needed, but how much money do we really need? If we equate our idea of a successful life to a joyful life, we would find our need for money would dramatically decrease.
How much money and comfort does one actually need to live joyfully? Never before have people been as comfortable as they are today. The kinds of comforts and conveniences that even royalty did not have 100 years ago are now available to ordinary people. Yet, it cannot be said that we are happier than our ancestors. Once money becomes part of your identity, a certain fear and discomfort comes along with it -- no matter how much money you might have. This is not an intelligent way to live. The very thing that was supposed to bring you comfort and the hope of living happily turns against you. We may succeed in creating outwardly perfect lives, but the true quality of our lives is based on our interiority.
People often ask me, "Why are yogis against comfort?" Yogis are definitely not against comfort. They want to be comfortable in every situation and at all times, even lying on a bed of nails! They just don't want to settle for the small comforts that most people are after. Comfort is not dictated by external situations. True comfort arises with a certain level of ease within you.
In today's world, we make economics the most important part of human life. Your love is not important, your joy is not important, your freedom is not important, your sensibilities are not important, your music and dance are not important. The most important thing is economics. Today, in any city, if you say someone is a big man, it does not mean he is the most intelligent man. It does not mean he is the most loving man or the most skillful man. It definitely does not mean he is the most meditative man. It simply means he has the most money in town. So, our whole orientation is around economics. Unless the subtler aspects of life become important, we will not be joyful people. If you stop comparing yourself to other people, you would find that your needs would come down drastically, and you would live much more sensibly -- a sense that is most essential to save and sustain this planet, the very basis of our lives right now.
Money is empowerment, but by identifying yourself with it, you are making it an impediment. There is nothing wrong with money. If you leave it in your pocket and do not identify with it, it is useful. Once it gets into your head, it becomes a perversion. If you would make your inner well-being the top priority of your life, you would find that money is easily handled.

source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Mahashivarathri – Opening the third eye - Sadhguru

The 14th day of every month or the day before the New Moon which is the darkest night in the lunar month, is known as Shivarathri. Among all the 12 Shivarathris in a year Mahashivarathri is the most powerful one. On this day the planetary positions, especially in the northern hemisphere, are such there is a natural upsurge of energies in the human system.

In the yogic tradition, Shiva is not worshipped as a God but considered as the Adi Guru, the first Guru from whom the knowledge originated. For the ascetics that is the day he became one with the Kailash; he became like a mountain - still, absolutely still. After many millennia in meditation, one day he became  absolutely still; that day is Mahashivarathri. All movement in him stopped and he became utterly still, so ascetics see Mahashivarathri as the day of stillness.

Shiva has always been referred to as Triambaka in so many ways because he has a third eye. The third eye is the eye of vision. These two eyes are sensory organs; they feed the mind with all nonsense because what you see is not the truth. You see this person, think something about him; if you see that person it is something about him, but you are not able to see the Shiva in him. These two eyes don’t see the truth so another eye, an eye of deeper penetration, has to be opened up. In this country, in this tradition, knowing doesn’t mean reading books, knowing doesn’t mean listening to someone, knowing doesn’t mean getting information from here and there. Knowing means opening up a new vision into life. So true knowing means your third eye has to open up. If your third eye is not opened then there is no way you can see Shiva. So this day, the Mahashivarathri day, that possibility, nature is bringing it close. Everyday it is possible; it is not that you will have to wait for this day. But this day nature offers it to you easily.

One of the prescriptions for today is you do not lie down in horizontal positions; remain in a vertical position. Remaining vertical alone is not sufficient; we will have to be in such position where we are not ourselves. Allow him to be; you are not. Shiva means ‘that which is not’. If you become like that the possibility of opening up new vision into life, looking at life with clarity is possible.

Any amount of thinking, any amount of philosophising, will not bring clarity into your mind. Only when vision opens, only then there is clarity. Nobody, no situation, can distort this clarity within you. But the logical clarity you create, anybody can distort it. So today is an opportunity for you to become a “Triambaka”, for you to open your third eye.

Mahashivarathri is very significant for people who are in the spiritual process, it is also very significant for people who are in family situations, and it is also very significant for the ambitious in the world. By people who live in family situations, Mahashivarathri is worshiped as Shiva’s wedding anniversary. For the ascetics that is the day he became one with the Kailash, because he became like a mountain - still, absolutely still. And the ambitious of the world see that day as the day Shiva conquered all his enemies.

Now, why are this day and this night held in so much importance in yogic traditions? Modern science has gone through many phases and arrived at a point today where they’re out to prove to you that everything that you know as life, everything that you know as matter and existence, everything that you know as the cosmos, as galaxies, it is all just one energy manifesting itself in millions and millions of ways. This reality is an experiential reality in every yogi; the word “yogi” means just that. As you know, the word “yoga” means union. The word “yogi” means one who has known the oneness of existence.

When I say “yoga,” I’m not referring to any one particular practice or system; all longing to know the unbounded, all longing to know the oneness in the existence is yoga. This night offers one such

opportunity to experience this. The sages and seers of the past recognised this natural phenomenon in the human body and they made it a part of the tradition to make use of that day as a day of sadhana, as a day of intensifying the spiritual processes. In Isha we have set up a tradition where the Shivarathri day every month is of importance to people who are here. The Mahashivarathri, which occurs once in a year, is of even greater significance. We want to be aware, awake, focused, and vertical also. So various situations are created at Isha Yoga Center on this day, combining powerful meditations and celebration, which will definitely keep you awake.

Mahashivarathri - Savour the darkness ---- Sadhguru

This Mahashivarathri, this is a day of many possibilities; rather this is a night of many possibilities. This day,the 14th day of every month, which is known as a Shivarathri, is the darkest day of the month. Celebrating Shivarathri on a monthly basis, or this particular day,which is noted as the Mahashivarathrialmost seems like celebration of darkness. Any logical mind would resist darkness; any thinking mindwould naturally opt for light, not darkness. But the word literally means that which is not. That which is,is existence; that which is, is creation. That which is not is Shiva.

That which is not means, if you open your eyes and look around, if your vision is for small things, you

will see lots of creation. If your vision is really looking for big things, you will see the biggest presence in the existence is a vast emptiness. Just a few spots which we call as galaxies are generally so much noticed, but the vast emptiness that holds it doesn’t come into everybody’s notice. This vastness, this unbounded emptiness, is what is referred to as Shiva. As today modern science also proves that everything comes from nothing and also goes back to nothing, it is in this context that Shiva, the vast emptiness or nothingness, is referred to as the great lord, or Mahadeva.

Every religion, every culture on this planet has always been talking about the omnipresent, all

pervading nature of the Divine. If we look at it, the only thing that can be truly all pervading, the only

thing that can be everywhere is darkness, or nothingness, or emptiness. Generally, when people are

seeking well-being, we talk of the divine as the light. When people are no more seeking well-being, they are looking beyond their life in terms of dissolving. If the object of their worship and their sadhana is dissolution, then we always refer to the divine as darkness. Light, however great the source of light may be, the greatest source of light that we know on this planet is the sun. Even the sun’s light, with your hand you could stop it and leave darkness behind, a shadow of darkness behind. But darkness is all-enveloping, everywhere.

The immature minds in the world have always described darkness as the devil. But, when you describe the divine as all-pervading, you’re obviously referring to the divine as darkness, because only darkness is all-pervading. It is everywhere; it doesn’t need any support from anything. Light always comes from a source that is burning itself out, it has a beginning and an end. It is always from a limited source.

Darkness has no source; it is a source unto itself. It is all-pervading, everywhere, omnipresent. So when we say Shiva, it is this vast emptiness of existence. It is in the lap of this vast emptiness, that all creation has happened. It is that lap of emptiness that we refer to as the Shiva. All the ancient prayers in this culture have always been not about saving yourself, not about protecting yourself, not about doing better in life.

All the ancient prayers have always been about ‘Oh lord, destroy me, so that I can become like

yourself’. So when we say Shivarathri, which is the darkest night of the month, it is an opportunity for one to dissolve their limitedness, to experience the unboundedness of the source of creation, which is the seed in every human being. Today is an opportunity and a possibility to bring yourself to that experience of the vast emptiness within every human being, which is the source of all creation.

On the one hand, Shiva is known as the destroyer, on the other, he is known as the most

compassionate. He is also known to be the greatest of the givers. The yogic lore is rife with many stories about Shiva’s compassion. The commonplace ways of expression of his compassion have been incredible and astonishing at the same time. He is a great giver; at the same time he does not like those who ask for anything. The asking people never got along with Shiva. So Mahashivarathri is a special night for receiving too.

The devotees and the spiritual sadhakas in the world live a life of exuberance and intensity. But for

most of the common folk have many things to fulfil. It is a true joy to see people who have entangled

themselves in various commitments and duties, pursue the spiritual path with great vigour. It’s our wish and blessing that today you must not pass this night without knowing at least a moment of the vastness of this emptiness that we call as Shiva. Let this night not just be a night of wakefulness, but let this night be a night of awakening for every one of you.

The 7 Chakras and Their Significance to Your Life - Sadhguru

Chakras are energy centers. Although most people have heard of seven chakras, there are actually 114 in the body. The human body is a complex energy form; in addition to the 114 chakras, it also has 72,000 "nadis," or energy channels, along which vital energy, or "prana," moves. When the nadis meet at different points in the body, they form a triangle. We call this triangle a chakra, which means "wheel." We call it a wheel because it symbolizes growth, dynamism and movement, so even though it is actually a triangle, we call it a chakra. Some of these centers are very powerful, while others are not as powerful. At different levels, these energy centers produce different qualities in a human being.
Fundamentally, any spiritual path can be described as a journey from the base chakra, called the "Mooladhara," which is located at the base of the spine, to the "Sahasrar," which located at the top of the head. This journey of movement from the Mooladhara to Sahasrar is from one dimension to another. It may happen in many different ways, and various yogic practices can effect this movement.
Mooladhara is really made up of two terms: "Moola" means the root or source, and "adhar" means the foundation. It is the very basic foundation of life. In the physical body, your energies need to be in the Mooladhara chakra to some extent. Otherwise, you cannot exist. If the Mooladhara chakra alone is dominant, food and sleep will be the predominant factors in your life.
We can speak in terms of lower and higher chakras, but such language is often and too easily misunderstood. It is like comparing the foundation of a building to the roof; the roof is not superior to the foundation. The foundation of the building is more basic to the building than the roof, and the quality, life span, stability and security of the building depends, to a large extent, on the foundation rather than the roof. But in terms of language, the roof is higher, and the foundation is lower.
The second chakra is "Swadhisthana." If your energies move into Swadhisthana, you are a pleasure seeker. The Swadhisthana chakra is located just above the genital organs. When this chakra is active, you enjoy the physical world in so many ways. If you look at a pleasure seeker, you will see that his life and his experience of life are just a little more intense compared with a person who is only about food and sleep.
If your energy moves into the "Manipuraka" chakra, located just below the navel, you are a doer in the world. You are all about action. You can do many, many things. If your energies move into the "Anahata" chakra, you are a creative person. A person who is creative in nature, like an artist or an actor, is someone who lives very intensely -- more intensely, perhaps, than a businessman, who is all action.
The Anahata literally means the "un-struck." If you want to make any sound, you have to strike two objects together. The un-struck sound is called "Anahata." Anahata is located in the heart area and is like a transition between your lower chakras and your higher chakras, between survival instincts and the instinct to liberate yourself. The lower three chakras are mainly concerned with your physical existence. Anahata is a combination; it is a meeting place for both the survival and the enlightenment chakras.
The next chakra is the "Vishuddhi," which literally means "filter." Vishuddhi is located in the area of your throat. If your energies move into Vishuddhi, you become a very powerful human being, but this power is not just political or administrative. A person can be powerful in many ways. A person can become so powerful that if he just sits in one place, things will happen for him. He can manifest life beyond the limitations of time and space.
If your energies move into the "Agna" chakra, located between your eyebrows, you are intellectually enlightened. You have attained to a new balance and peace within you. The outside no longer disturbs you, but you are still experientially not liberated.
If your energies move into "Sahasrar," at the crown of your head, you become ecstatic beyond all reason. You will simply burst with ecstasy for no reason whatsoever.
Chakras have more than one dimension to them. One dimension is their physical existence, but they also have a spiritual dimension. This means that they can be completely transformed into a new dimension. If you bring the right kind of awareness, the same Mooladhara that craves food and sleep can become absolutely free from the process of food and sleep. If one wants to go beyond food and sleep, one needs to transform the Mooladhara to an evolved state.
To move from Mooladhara to Agna, from the lowest of these seven chakras to the second highest, there are many procedures, methods and processes through which one can raise his energies. But from Agna to Sahasrar, the sixth chakra to the highest chakra, there is no path. You can only jump there. In a way, you have to fall upward. So, the question of going step by step to that dimension does not really arise. There is no way.
It is for this reason that spiritual traditions have emphasized the significance of a guru's role in one's realization; guru literally means "dispeller of darkness." You can only jump into an abyss -- the depth of which you do not know -- if you have an absolutely insane heart, or if your trust in someone is so deep that you are willing to do anything in their presence. Most people, due to a lack of either of these two aspects, just get stuck in the Agna chakra. When this happens, peacefulness is the highest state they will know. It is only from this limitation that there has been so much talk about peace being the highest possibility. But for someone seeking their ultimate nature, peace is only the beginning; it is not the ultimate goal.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

GUAVA – POOR MAN’S APPLE

Guava is one of the famous and well-known fruit grown all over India herb and many parts of the world. Guava tree bears fruits twice in a year, in summer and winter, but the fruit in winter is considered, superior in quality and taste. The pulp of guava is very useful for human system.
Guava is digestive, gives vigor & strength to heart, lungs and the whole body. It is an effective aphrodis, improves blood circulation, heals and dries wound and is an antiseptic.
In unani physician & researcher advises a guava a day for good digestion and regular bowel action. It is said in Unani ” guava is hundred times more advantageous than apples.
Take it straight with its skin on; chew thoroughly without spitting out the seeds for maximum benefit digestion will become so strong that you can digest pebble.
Guava is a very nutritious fruit, when eaten with seeds it gives roughage to the diet helps in the normal evacuation of the bowels.
The fruit improves overall resistance.
DIGESTIVE & STOMACH PROBLEMS:
1 - Taking pulps of roast guava (without seed) with orange juice two or three times a day cures indigestion
2 - Taking guava with rock salt after meals eliminated gas and increase appetite
3 - Consuming the ground paste of guava’s fresh leaves with water cures stomachache.
CONSTIPATION:
1-Eating guava in breakfast or before meals activates digestion and cures constipation
2-Eating guava & papaya with little black pepper powder, rock salt & lemon juice sprinkled on it, after meals activates normal movement of bowels
LOOSE MOTIONS & DIARRHEA:
1-Taking boiled water of guava leaves, two to three times a day controls loose motions
2-The bark of root of guava dried and roasted slightly and powdered. A pinch of this powder taken in buttermilk checks diarrhoea, an especially useful remedy in infants & children
ITCHING:
Eating 250 gm of ripe guava regularly in the afternoon for about a month purifies blood, cleans the stomach and intestines and thus cures itching due to bowels movements, pustules etc
WOUNDS:
Applying paste of guava leaves on wounds helps in curing them.
TOOTH-ACHE:
Munching fresh Guava leaves or gargling with guava leaf water (in which guava leaves are boiled) eliminates swelling of gum's and cures toothache
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE:
Consuming the oozed out water of the salad of guavas with little rock salt, black pepper powder, lemon juice on it twice or thrice a week controls high blood pressure.
It is interesting to note, while the fruit is a laxative and digestive, the leaves and root bark check diarrhea and bind the stomach.

OTHER USES:

A part from the curative properties, its wood is very hard and used for making “Harmonium” etc. on which carving can also be done.

The bark and dry leaves are used for making printing colors and dyes for cloths. Rich in calories guava has many qualities of apple and thus is called the ” poor man’s apple”.

A word of caution

  Hakeem's of Unani Suggests that guava should not be taken empty stomach because it gives rise to phlegm in the body. Water should not be taken after eating guava for it may lead to cholera.

Inner Voice - Failure just an idea - Sadguru

There is no such thing as failure. Failure is just an idea just as success is a stupid idea. Instead of trying to change the world, change the idea. If you just change that, everything is just great.
If you were a beggar on the street, and if you could walk into the restaurant and eat a masala dosa, this would be the height of your success! So you've gotten trapped in social situations and this idea of success is not even your idea, why am I crediting you with this? Every idea, thought, emotion or value that you have is picked up from somewhere and it rules you from within. Your religion, your society and your culture have trained you to believe that this is it.
Don't become a slave to somebody's idea; that is the first and foremost success.
Success and failure is not in the volumes of money flowing into your life; success and failure is not dependent upon the recognition that you find in the world.
You are successful with life if you know how to walk with joy even through hell.
For one who is seeing this life as a stepping stone for a larger possibility, for him there is no failure. For one who is looking at the simple events of this life itself as the goal of life, for him there is failure and success. Various situations in your life can either be used to make yourself stronger and better or you can sit and cry. This is the choice you have.
Everything it doesn't matter what happens, even the most horrific event in your life can also be used for your growth and your well-being.
The small events of your life --your business, your marriage, your children and a hundred other things are just a stepping stone. It is entirely up to you whether you go with them or without them. You may be a sanyasi or in samsara, but your goal has to be `mukthi'. Only that defines your success or failure.

The Power to Create Your Life --- Sadguru

Everything we have created on this planet was essentially first created in the mind. All the work done by humans -- both the wonderful things and the horrible things -- first found expression in the mind, then became manifested in the outside world. In the yogic tradition, a well-established mind is referred to as a "Kalpavriksha" or a "wishing tree."
If you organize your mind to a certain level, it in turn organizes your whole system; your body, emotions and energies get organized in that direction. If this happens, you are a Kalpavriksha yourself. Anything that you wish will happen.
Once we are empowered with a potential like this, it is very important that our physical action, emotional action, mental action and energy action are controlled and properly directed. If they are not, we become destructive, self-destructive.
Right now, that is our problem. Technology, which was supposed to make our lives easy and beautiful, has become the source of our problems; we are destroying the very basis of our life, which is the planet. So, what should have been a boon, we are making a curse out of it.

For life to happen the way you wish it should happen depends on a variety of things:

• How you think and with how much focus.
• How much stability is in your thought.
• How much reverberance is present in the thought process.

This determines whether your thought becomes a reality or whether it is just a wimpy thought.

But then the question arises within a human being, "Is what I wish even possible?" This question is destroying humanity. What is possible and not possible are not one's business, it is nature's business. Your business is just to strive for what you want. Nature will decide whether it is possible or not.

Today, modern science is proving that the whole existence is just a reverberation of energy. It is a vibration. Similarly, your thought is a vibration. If you generate a powerful thought and let it out, it will always manifest itself.

To create what you really care for, what you want must be well-manifested in your mind. This is the first and foremost thing. Once you can maintain a steady stream of thought without changing direction, it will definitely manifest as a reality in your life.

So either you make yourself into a Kalpavriksha or you make yourself into one big mess, which is happening all over the world. Hence, what you really want must be clear. If you do not know what you want, the question of creating it doesn't arise.

If you look at it, what every human being wants is to live peacefully and joyfully. And in terms of relationships, human beings want to be loving and affectionate. Or in other words, all that human beings are seeking is pleasantness within themselves, or pleasantness around them.

So once your mind gets organized, your emotions will get organized -- the way you think is the way you feel. Once your thought and emotions are organized, your energies become organized in the same direction. Once your thought, emotion and energies are organized, your very body will get organized. Once these four are organized in one direction, your ability to create and manifest what you want is phenomenal.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

What Is the Significance of Dreams? --- Sadguru

Transcript:

What is a dream? Most dreams, over 90 percent of them, are just unfulfilled desire. Because you have no control over this [desire], you are not playing the desire, the desires are playing you. Anything that you see, you desire, isn't it? Anything that you see, your mind just runs after it. You may not pursue it really, but at that moment you might think, "Oh, I wish I had that." If everything that you desired for up until now was waiting for you at home, you are finished. All the things and people that you desired for in your life, if all of it is waiting for you at home, can you live there? No. So, isn't it a fortune that your desires have not come true?
So, because you are desiring in an unbridled way, it is not in your control. All of your desires can never be fulfilled in life, but it needs to be worked out because once you desire something, you are investing a certain amount of energy in that direction. You need to understand this. Now, if I say, "Oh! I want these lights," immediately, a certain amount of my energy is invested in that direction. Now, I forget about the lights and say, "Oh, I want the camera!" I am investing a certain amount here [with the camera], but this [desiring the lights] is still going on. I may not be conscious, but this is still going on. In a day you do this with a hundred different things; you become all scattered. You are so scattered now, endlessly. The mind is just going on with meaningless thought because constantly your energy is being thrown in different directions. It is not going in one direction.
Have you noticed at a certain time in your life, when you had a deep longing for something in particular, when you created a big longing towards something, all of these things disappeared? Have you noticed this? Yes? You invested in one direction. Suddenly, all these thoughts just disappeared from your mind. So a dream is happening simply because your mind is just being constantly scattered around with the desiring process.
And all of it can never be fulfilled in reality, so you are working overtime in the night, fulfilling them in fantasy ways. Yes, there are other dimensions to desire, but they are very small. If such things happen to some individuals, we will handle it. We don't have to disturb everybody with such dreams. Desire is just free cinema. Enjoy it. Whether it is a horror movie or a love story, or a suspense thriller, just enjoy it. What is your problem? Free cinema, they are showing you.


Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

When the Mind Says 'Tomorrow' --- Sadhguru

There is a popular superstition in some villages in India. As soon as the sun sets, the villagers fear that ghosts and demons will come to their homes. So in order to save themselves, they have a sign painted in red at the door that reads "Naale Baa," meaning "Come Tomorrow." The idea is that, on seeing the message, the ghosts and demons will know that they are supposed to visit this house the next day. But as tomorrow never comes, neither do the demons! Isn't that wonderful?
But in your life, for all those things that are essential, you have put up a "Come Tomorrow" sign, too. Whether it is about working, exercising or even practicing yoga for inner peace, the sign will still say "Come Tomorrow." This "tomorrow" is a deep trick of the mind. In the morning, if your mind says, "I will not get up and do yoga," your ego will then say, "How can you not do it? You must do it." A feeling of guilt sets in, so the mind very cleverly says, "Let's do it tomorrow." Tomorrow is always a good day, isn't it? But when you say "tomorrow," everything is over, as tomorrow never comes.
Tomorrow is the biggest demon in your life; this is what the rural wisdom is trying to say. Most of your life and energies are spent on a tomorrow that never comes in your experience of life. Tomorrow is an idea for which we must plan, but we can never live it. Whatever you need to do and experience in your life, you can only experience it today. You never experience tomorrow; it is just your imagination, and yesterday is only your memory.
So exorcising this demon from your life is a spiritual process in that you begin to live your life, not just imagine your life. What happens tomorrow is essentially created today with the right kind of thought, emotions and actions. If you wish to do anything, whether it concerns your internal or external well-being, creating the necessary atmosphere is a must. Whether you want to run a business or lead a peaceful family life, maintain perfect health or a peaceful state of mind, unless you create the necessary atmosphere, there is no prospect of things happening well.
There were four friends who tried their hands at several businesses, but no matter what they did, their business ended up in failure. Then one of them suggested that they buy a car and start a taxi service. They somehow managed to buy an old cab and parked it at the train station, but no customers came. Then they moved to the bus stand, but still no customers. Then they drove all over the city, yet they couldn't find a single customer. Do you know why? Simply because all four were sitting in the car!
They had the desire to run a business, and they wished for the business to be successful, too. But with the way they went about it, would they ever be successful? In the same way, whatever you want in life, if you do not understand what is needed and do exactly that, you will only end up doing some work in the end, but there is little chance of reaping any fruit.
If you want to wake up early and do yoga, you have to understand what kind of atmosphere is needed. If you eat an entire pizza at 10:00 at night and plan to do yoga at dawn, your body will say, "Shut up and sleep!" But if you eat earlier and a little bit less, your body will awaken at dawn. And in the morning, if you take a cold shower, your body will say, "You can do yoga."
You have to create the necessary ambience to do what is needed. If you create the resolve in your mind and the necessary settings for the body, you will be eager to do any activity you set for yourself. If you continue doing it for a few days and start reaping the benefits, then there will be no need for anyone to remind you to do it. You will do it all by yourself.
A tomorrow does not fall upon you. Tomorrow is created today. If you exorcise this demon from your life, then your life will come alive in many ways.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

7 Must Know Facts about Public Provident Fund (PPF)

The key to wealth creation lies in the practise of saving regularly and systematically. The Public Provident Fund (or the PPF) is one such long-term investment option that would suit investors of all types. Scoring high on safety, by virtue of it being government backed, this wonderful option comes with tax benefits, loan options and a low maintenance cost. Investment Yogi explains 7 must knows of a PPF, to make them more profitable for you.
  
1. It requires just Rs. 100 to start a PPF account
PPF accounts could be opened by individuals, whether salaried or self employed, with a minimum initial deposit of just Rs. 100. Accounts could be opened at any branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) or branches of its associated banks. Other nationalised banks which offer this service are Bank of India, Central Bank of India and Bank of Baroda. The general post office too allows opening of a PPF account. Individuals may also open a PPF account on behalf of a minor child of whom he is the guardian.
   

2. PPF accounts have a minimum and maximum deposit limit
A minimum deposit of Rs. 500 must be made during one whole financial year. The maximum that could be deposited is Rs. 70,000 in a financial year. Deposits could be in either one go, or in flexible instalments (in multiples of Rs. 10). You could vary the amount and the number of instalments, as per your convenience, provided you do not exceed 12 instalments in one financial year.
 
Failing to deposit the minimum requirement, would lead to your account being discontinued. Interest would however continue to accrue. You could regularize the account again on paying the prescribed default fee along with subscription arrears.
  
3. Interest calculation in PPF account
The interest rate in your PPF account is calculated on the lowest balance between the fifth and the last day of the month. So to maximise your earnings, try making deposits between the 1^st and the 5^th of the month. Interest is compounded annually and credited on 31^st of March each year.
 
4. Premature withdrawal from PPF
The entire amount in your account could be withdrawn only on maturity. However, in times of financial crises partial withdrawals are permitted subject to certain ceiling limits. You could withdraw once a year, from the 7^th year onwards. Such withdrawals, must not exceed, 50% of the balance at the end of the fourth year, or 50% of the balance at the end of the immediate preceding year, whichever is lower.
Pre-mature closure of a PPF account is permissible only in case of death.
 
5. PPF offers multiple tax benefits
Deposits in a PPF account qualify for a deduction under section 80C. Furthermore, the entire maturity amount including the interest is non-taxable. Not only is the interest earned tax free, PPF deposits are exempt from wealth tax too.
 
6. Need a Loan? Use your PPF
You could take a loan on your PPF deposit, subject to certain terms and conditions. Loans could be taken from the third year onwards till the sixth year. Up to a maximum of 25% of the balance at the end of 2nd immediately preceding year would be allowed as loan. Such withdrawals are to be repaid within 24 months.
Rate of interest charged on the loan would be 2% more than the PPF interest rate prevailing then.
 
A second loan could be availed as long as you are within the 3rd and the 6th year, and only if the first one is fully repaid. Also note that once you become eligible for withdrawals, no loans would be permitted. Inactive accounts or discontinued accounts are not eligible for loan.
  
7. Continuing PPF after the 15 year period
PPF account holders have an option of extending their accounts after the 15 year tenure with or without further subscription, for any period in a block of 5 years. The balance in the account will continue to earn interest at normal rate as admissible on PPF account till the account is closed. In case the account is extended without contribution, any amount can be withdrawn without restrictions. However, only one withdrawal is allowed per year.
    
If you continue the account after 15 years, with continued deposit, withdrawal up to 60 per cent of the balance at the beginning of each extended period (block of five years) is permitted.
   
Written by Ramya Ramachandran   

7 Most Common Myths About Fixed Deposits

Rising interest rates and volatile stock markets, it’s that time when banks and financial institutions are aggressively marketing the safe investment option – “Fixed Deposits”. However, very often we see that various misconceptions about Fixed Deposits prevail among investors. Here’s making you aware about some of the most common “Myths and Facts” that you may face while investing in one.
   
Myth 1: Only Banks Offer Fixed Deposits.
Fact 1: Fixed Deposits Are Offered By Companies Too.
If you thought you could only approach your bank to invest in a fixed deposit, well that’s not so. Various companies and financial institutions too offer fixed deposits for retail investors. Companies offering deposits are governed by proper guidelines under section 58A of the companies act. They generally offer a little higher interest rate than bank deposits.

However, when compared to bank deposits, company fixed deposits are considered as an unsecured option. This is because bank deposits come with insurance for up to a maximum of Rs. 1, 00,000.
 
Myth 2: More Number Of Regular Interest Payments, More The Returns.
Fact 2: A Cumulative FD With Returns Only On Maturity Would Fetch You More.
Fixed deposits come with two options; of receiving interest payouts at regular intervals, or a cumulative deposit, where the whole amount (i.e. principal + interest) is received on maturity. Your annualised yield on your FD works out to be higher if you opt to receive the proceeds on maturity. This is due to the power of compounding. In cumulative deposits, the interest is compounded at regular frequencies, instead of it being paid out. Higher the frequency of compounding more is your yield on investment.
 
Myth 3: All 5 Year Deposits Fetch You A Tax Benefit.
Fact 3: Only Select 5 Year Fixed Deposits Fetch You a Tax Benefit.
Under Section 80C, investments in select fixed deposits of 5 year tenure, provide an exemption of up to Rs. 1 lakh.
 
Such fixed deposits, must be essentially from a bank, and are locked for the tenure, during which time, they can not be pledged nor withdrawn. Also the fixed deposit certificate must mention the tax benefit under section 80C, on the face of the certificate.
  
Myth 4: TDS on FD Cannot Be Avoided, As It Has To Be Paid By All.
Fact 4: Providing Necessary Documents Could Help Avoid TDS.
Tax Deducted at Source on a fixed deposit is deducted once interest, in one single financial year, exceeds Rs. 10,000 for bank deposits and Rs. 5,000 for company deposits. Housewives, minors or senior citizens, who do not have any other source of income, or whose income is below the taxable limit, could avoid this TDS. All that needs to be done is to provide the bank, Form 15G, or Form 15H in case of senior citizens, well in advance in the financial year.
  
Myth 5: FD Interest Earned Need Not Be Declared In Your Tax Returns.
Fact 5: Income Earned on FD Should Be Included In Annual Tax Returns.
Well, if you are earning an income from your fixed deposits, you need to declare the same. Interest Earned from your FD must be included in your annual tax returns under the head “Income from other sources”.
 
Myth 6: Pre Mature Withdrawal Is The Only Way, If I Need Money Mid Way.
Fact 6: FD’s Have Other Options In Times Of Contingencies.
If at any time you require money from your FD, most banks offer part withdrawal of funds, so that you could withdraw the actual amount you require, and the balance would continue to earn interest. Some banks also offer flexi deposits, were the deposits are linked to a savings account. All excess amounts in the saving account are automatically swept into a deposit. If one requires money at any time, he could withdraw just as he would from a savings account. Automatically parts of the deposit are broken to cater to the withdrawal.
  
Also, overdraft facilities are available of up to 80 to 90% of the FD amount. Please note: Tax saving FD’s do not have these options.
  
Myth 7: In the Long Term, Fixed Deposit Offers Better Returns Than The Stock Market.
Fact 7: The Effective Returns From an FD Are Lower Than Stock Market Returns
This is due to the fact that fixed deposits are unable to beat inflation. For example, if the deposit earns you 9% p.a. and the inflation is at 8%, the inflation adjusted returns works out to only 1% (9-8).
 
A stock market portfolio may probably give you a much higher effective inflation adjusted returns in the longer run.
  
Written by Ramya Ramachandran

Don't Gauge Your Worth by Your Salary --sadhguru

How much you are worth need not be seen in terms of how much you are paid. How much you are worth should be assessed in terms of what responsibilities are given to you. The privilege is not the money that you receive; the privilege is that you have been allowed to create something. Money is a means for our survival, yes, and to that extent it is necessary. However, you must always assess yourself in terms of whatever you are being asked to do. What is the level of responsibility that is being offered to you? What is the opportunity for you to create something truly worthwhile, both for yourself and for everybody around you? Any work that you do in the world is truly worthwhile for you only if you are able to touch people's lives deeply.
For example, if you were to make a film, would you want to make a film nobody would want to watch? Or write a book that nobody would want to read? Or build a house that nobody would want to live in? You would not want to produce something nobody wants to use. So in some way, you are longing to touch people's lives. If you closely observe your life, you will see that one thing of importance to you is that the activity you perform should touch people's lives.

Many people are trying to divide their life into work and family -- where work is something that you do just for money and family is something you do to touch people's lives. But no matter how much money you earn, if you find your husband, wife or children are not at all touched by what you do, it would suddenly seem meaningless to have a family. Somewhere in your life, you want people to be touched by what you do. This aspect need not remain or restrict itself to family alone; it could extend itself into every area of life. Whatever you do should touch people's lives -- that is all that really matters.

How deeply you touch people's lives depends on how involved you are in what you do. If your involvement is there, naturally the way you work will be very different, and according to your capabilities, you will be paid. Sometimes you will have to bargain a little or ask for a raise, perhaps your boss has forgotten that you need one. But generally, if people realize the value of what you are to that particular business or company, they will pay accordingly.

If you grow in what you are doing, some day, when it is necessary, you could shift from one position to the next, and your money could just multiply a 100 times over. For example, let us say you are heading a corporation and for whatever reason you are not paid much, but you have been given full responsibility to run the whole operation. If you are performing well and the whole world is watching, tomorrow anybody will be willing to grab you for any amount. So your value need not always be gauged in terms of money.

We have established corporations so that what we cannot do individually, we can achieve collectively. We could have all operated as individual entrepreneurs -- that is how we operated historically, where everybody was a manufacturer and trader of some commodity. But when we are willing to put the will of thousands of people together in one direction -- that is a corporation wanting to achieve something big.

Where are you are placed in this corporation of people looking to move in one direction? What is the level of responsibility and trust that has been placed in you? That is your real worth. How much you derive from it in terms of money is not everything. Yes, it is important but it is not everything. You must always gauge your worth in terms of the level of responsibility people are willing to give you, and whether what you are creating is truly worthwhile for yourself and for others.

Tips for a Better Sleep

The quality and quantity of your sleep can make a sizable difference on how productive you'll be the next day. Here are few tips to help you get the sleep you need and deserve:
1. Unwind early in the evening. Try to deal with worries and distractions several hours before bedtime.
2. Give yourself "permission" to go to bed.
Recognize that some minimum amount of sleep is essential for body to rejuvenate.
3. Develop a sleep ritual. Doing the same things each night just before bed signals your body to settle down for the night.
4. Keep regular hours. Keep your biological clock in check by going to bed around the same time each night and waking up close to the same time each morning – even on weekends.
5. Create a restful place to sleep. Sleep in a cool, dark room that is free from noises that may disturb your sleep.
6. Sleep on a comfortable, supportive mattress. It's difficult to sleep on a bed that's too small, too soft or too hard.
7. Exercise regularly. Regular exercise can help relieve daily tension and stress – but don't exercise too close to bedtime or you may have trouble falling asleep.

மூளையைப் பாதிக்கும் பழக்கங்கள்

1. காலையில் உணவு உண்ணாமல் இருப்பது: காலையில் உணவு உண்ணாமல் இருப்பவர் களுக்கு ரத்தத்தில் குறைவான அளவே சர்க்கரை இருக்கும். இது மூளைக்குத் தேவையான சக்தியையும் தேவையான ஊட்டச்சத்துக்களையும் கொடுக்காமல், மூளை அழிவுக்குக் காரணமாகும்.

2. மிக அதிகமாகச் சாப்பிடுவது: இது மூளையில் இருக்கும் ரத்த நாளங்கள் இறுகக் காரணமாகி, மூளையின் சக்தி குறைவுக்குக் காரணமாகும்.

3. நிறைய சர்க்கரை சாப்பிடுதல்: இது புரோட்டின் நமது உடலில் சேர்வதைத் தடுக்கிறது. இதுவும் மூளை வளர்ச்சிக்கு பாதிப்பாகிறது.

4. தூக்கமின்மை : நல்ல தூக்கம் நம் மூளைக்கு ஓய்வு கொடுக்கும். நீண்டகாலம் தேவையான அளவு தூங்காமலிருப்பது மூளைக்கு பாதிப்பை ஏற்படுத்தும்.

5. மாசு நிறைந்த காற்று : மாசு நிறைந்த காற்றை சுவாசித்தல், நமக்குத் தேவையான ஆக்ஸிஜனை நாம் பெறுவதிலிருந்து தடை செய்கிறது. மூளைக்கு ஆக்ஸிஜன் செல்லாவிட்டால், மூளை பாதிப்படையும்.

6. புகை பிடித்தல் : மூளை சுருங்கவும், அல்ப்ஸமர்ஸ் வியாதி வருவதற்கும் காரணமாகிறது.

7. மூளைக்கு வேலை கொடுக்கும் சிந்தனைகளை மேற்கொள்ளாமல் இருப்பது : மூளையை அதிகமாக உபயோகப்படுத்தும் சிந்தனைகளை மேற்கொள்வதால், மூளையில் புதுப்புது இணைப்புகள் உருவாகின்றன. அதனால், மூளை வலிமையான உறுப்பாக ஆகிறது.

8. தலையை மூடிக்கொண்டு தூங்குவது : தலையை மூடிக்கொண்டு தூங்குவது, போர்வைக்குள் கரியமிலவாயு அதிகரிக்க வைக்கிறது. இது நீங்கள், சுவாசிக்கும் ஆக்ஸிஜனை குறைக்கிறது. குறைவான ஆக்ஸிஜனை குறைக்கிறது. குறைவான ஆக்ஸிஜன் மூளையைப் பாதிக்கிறது.

9. நோயுற்ற காலத்தில் மூளைக்கு வேலை கொடுப்பது : உடல் நோயுற்ற காலத்தில் மிக அதிகமாக மூளைக்கு வேலை கொடுப்பதும், தீவிரமாகப் படிப்பதும் மூளையைப் பாதிக்கும். உடல் சரியாக ஆன பின்னால், மூளைக்கு வேலை கொடுப்பதே சிறந்தது.

10. பேசாமல் இருப்பது : அறிவுப்பூர்வமான உரையாடல்களை மேற்கொள்வது மூளையின் வலிமையை அதிகரிக்கிறது.

(மாற்று மருத்துவம் ஜூலை 2010 இதழில் வெளியானது)

30 second speech by Bryan Dyson - Former CEO of Coca Cola

Benifits of Murungai leaves

Nice and useful (my favourite) show - Neeya Naana from VIJAY TV

Very informative show about Siddha... Very nice show
http://www.techsatish.net/2010/12/vijay-tv-neeya-naana-12-12-10.html


Interesting and must watch by both wife & Husband..
http://www.techsatish.net/2010/11/vijay-tv-neeya-naana-21-11-10.html
 
உணவே எங்கள் வாழ்க்கை  Vs உணவை பொருட்படுத்தாதவர்கள் நாங்கள்
http://www.rajtamil.com/2010/02/vijay-tv-neeya-naana-21-02-10.html

ஆண்களின் மன உலகம் Vs பெண்களின் மன உலகம்
http://www.rajtamil.com/2010/03/vijay-tv-neeya-naana-14-03-10-online.html

Neeya Naana Vijay Tv Show Husband vs Wife
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiSucNXwa5s&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kgOmiZ777M&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6pYKJPWRLY&feature=related

A chat with Dr.Devi Shetty(Heart Specialist), Narayana Hrudayalaya

The transcript of the chat is given below

Qn: What are the thumb rules for a layman to take care of his heart?
Ans:
1. Diet - Less of carbohydrate, more of protein, less oil
2. Exercise - Half an hour's walk, at least five days a week; avoid lifts and avoid sitting for a longtime
3. Quit smoking
4. Control weight
5. Control blood pressure and sugar

Qn: Is eating non-veg food (fish) good for the heart?
Ans: No


Qn: It's still a grave shock to hear that some apparently healthy person
gets a cardiac arrest. How do we understand it in perspective?
Ans: This is called silent attack; that is why we recommend everyone past the age of 30 to undergo routine health checkups.

Qn: Are heart diseases hereditary?
Ans: Yes

Qn: What are the ways in which the heart is stressed? What practices do you suggest to de-stress?
Ans: Change your attitude towards life. Do not look for perfection in everything in life.

Qn: Is walking better than jogging or is more intensive exercise required to keep a healthy heart?
Ans: Walking is better than jogging since jogging leads to early fatigue and injury to joints

Qn: You have done so much for the poor and needy. What has inspired you to do so?
Ans: Mother Theresa , who was my patient

Qn: Can people with low blood pressure suffer heart diseases?Ans: Extremely rareQn: Does cholesterol accumulates right from an early age
(I'm currently only 22) or do you have to worry about it only after you are above 30 years of age?
Ans: Cholesterol accumulates from childhood.

Qn: How do irregular eating habits affect the heart ?
Ans: You tend to eat junk food when the habits are irregular and your body's enzyme release for digestion gets confused.

Qn: How can I control cholesterol content without using medicines?Ans: Control diet, walk and eat walnut.

Qn: Can yoga prevent heart ailments?
Ans: Yoga helps.

Qn: Which is the best and worst food for the heart?
Ans: Fruits and vegetables are the best and the worst is oil.

Qn: Which oil is better - groundnut, sunflower, olive?
Ans: All oils are bad .

Qn: What is the routine checkup one should go through? Is there any specific test?
Ans: Routine blood test to ensure sugar, cholesterol is ok. Check BP, Treadmill test after an echo.

Qn: What are the first aid steps to be taken on a heart attack?
Ans: Help the person into a sleeping position , place an aspirin tablet under the tongue with a sorbitrate tablet if available, and rush him to a coronary care unit since the maximum casualty takes place within the first hour.

Qn: How do you differentiate between pain caused by a heart attack and that caused due to gastric trouble?
Ans: Extremely difficult without ECG.

Qn: What is the main cause of a steep increase in heart problems amongst youngsters? I see people of about 30-40 yrs of age having heart attacks and serious heart problems.
Ans: Increased awareness has increased incidents. Also, s edentary lifestyles, smoking, junk food, lack of exercise in a country where people are genetically three times more vulnerable for heart attacks than Europeans and Americans.

Qn: Is it possible for a person to have BP outside the normal range of 120/80 and yet be perfectly healthy?
Ans: Yes.

Qn: Marriages within close relatives can lead to heart problems for the child. Is it true?
Ans : Yes, co-sanguinity leads to congenital abnormalities and you may not have a software engineer as a child

Qn: Many of us have an irregular daily routine and many a times we have to stay late nights in office. Does this affect our heart ? What precautions would you recommend?
Ans : When you are young, nature protects you against all these irregularities. However, as you grow older, respect the biological clock.

Qn: Will taking anti-hypertensive drugs cause some other complications (short / long term)?
Ans : Yes, most drugs have some side effects. However, modern anti-hypertensive drugs are extremely safe.

Qn: Will consuming more coffee/tea lead to heart attacks?
Ans : No.

Qn: Are asthma patients more prone to heart disease?
Ans : No.
Qn: How would you define junk food?
Ans : Fried food like Kentucky , McDonalds , samosas, and even masala dosas.

Qn: You mentioned that Indians are three times more vulnerable. What is the reason for this, as Europeans and Americans also eat a lot of junk food?
Ans: Every race is vulnerable to some disease and unfortunately, Indians are vulnerable for the most expensive disease.

Qn: Does consuming bananas help reduce hypertension?
Ans : No.

Qn: Can a person help himself during a heart attack (Because we see a lot of forwarded emails on this)?
Ans : Yes. Lie down comfortably and put an aspirin tablet of any description under the tongue and ask someone to take you to the nearest coronary care unit without any delay and do not wait for the ambulance since most of the time, the ambulance does not turn up.

Qn: Do, in any way, low white blood cells and low hemoglobin count lead to heart problems?
Ans : No. But it is ideal to have normal hemoglobin level to increase your exercise capacity.

Qn: Sometimes, due to the hectic schedule we are not able to exercise. So, does walking while doing daily chores at home or climbing the stairs in the house, work as a substitute for exercise?
Ans : Certainly. Avoid sitting continuously for more than half an hour and even the act of getting out of the chair and going to another chair and sitting helps a lot.

Qn: Is there a relation between heart problems and blood sugar?
Ans: Yes. A strong relationship since diabetics are more vulnerable to heart attacks than non-diabetics.

Qn: What are the things one needs to take care of after a heart operation?
Ans : Diet, exercise, drugs on time , Control cholesterol, BP, weight.

Qn: Are people working on night shifts more vulnerable to heart disease when compared to day shift workers?
Ans : No.

Qn: What are the modern anti-hypertensive drugs?
Ans : There are hundreds of drugs and your doctor will chose the right combination for your problem, but my suggestion is to avoid the drugs and go for natural ways of controlling blood pressure by walk, diet to
reduce weight and changing attitudes towards lifestyles.

Qn: Does dispirin or similar headache pills increase the risk of heart attacks?
Ans : No.

Qn: Why is the rate of heart attacks more in men than in women?
Ans : Nature protects women till the age of 45. (Present Global census show that the Percentage of heart disease in women has increased than in men )

Qn: How can one keep the heart in a good condition?
Ans : Eat a healthy diet, avoid junk food and non-veg, exercise everyday, do not smoke and, go for health checkup s if you are past the age of 30 ( once in six months recommended)

Cancer Cells

PLEASE SPARE 5 MINUTES TO READ THIS AND THEN FORWARD THE SAME TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU.

News from John Hopkins

AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY (TRY THE KEY WORD) AND ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHN HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY

Cancer Update from John Hopkins:

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

 

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

CANCER CELLS FEED ON

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soya milk cancer cells are being starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

NUTRITION AND OTHER CANCER INFO

a. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

b. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water- best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

c. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup.

d. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

e. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells.

f. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

g. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

h. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

A BIG NO-NO

1. No plastic containers in micro.

2. No water bottles in freezer.

3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well. Dioxin chemicals cause cancer, especially breast cancer.

Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies.

Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.

Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital was on a TV program to explain this health hazard.

   He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This especially applies to foods that contain fat.

   He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin.

    So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else.

     Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc.

    He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.

    Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave.

    As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.