Just about everybody… the regular walkers, those who haven’t missed their daily morning walk in years; sportspeople; those who hit the gym without fail; those who practice yoga every day; those who live by the maxim – early to bed and early to rise… Corona did not spare any of them. Not even the exceptionally health-conscious, who wasted no time in getting both their vaccine doses done with alacrity! Countless succumbed to the virus despite having no comorbidities and then again, those with obvious poor health and immunity were, strangely, spared from death! Why do you think this happened?
Listen up!
Health is not related just to your body. You may be filling your system with protein and vitamins; you may be exercising regularly thereby ensuring that oxygen is continuously pumped into your lungs and blood vessels or you may be practicing yoga daily which makes your limbs and your body flexible.
However, complete health is not related to just diet, exercise, and oxygen alone. What about our minds, intellect, and our sense of perception? The Upanishads, our ancient Hindu philosophy texts, explain that we have five kinds of bodies.
The physical body
The breath body or body is made of energy
The mental body or body made of mind
The knowing body or body made of wisdom and
The bliss body or the body of consciousness.
Think of it this way: You have been presented with a question paper containing 5 questions of 20 marks each which amounts to a total of 100 marks.
Thus, if you concentrate on maintaining just your ‘physical body, then, in essence, you have attempted only one out of the five 20-marks questions! Whereas, the ‘breath body’ is also a 20-marks question; the ‘mental body’ as well is a 20-marks question and likewise, ‘wisdom’ and ‘consciousness’ are also of 20-marks each. When we don’t even attempt these four other ‘questions’ we fail to pass the real health exam! Complete health is a culmination of the health of all five types of bodies in tandem.
The disease enters our bodies in two ways:
- It begins in the body and reaches the mind
- It begins in the mind and then reflects in some other part of the body.
In both cases, the mind is the determinator or plays a definitive role in the outcome.
In the struggle against Corona, it is evident that the ones who were successful in fighting off the disease were the ones with strong minds while those who succumbed to it were those who lost their minds to it. This is the basic reason for so many deaths occurring in isolated hospitalized patients versus those who had their family around them, the mental support is the foundation of strength required to fight off this disease.
In the same way that unhealthy food habits release toxins in our bodies, weak emotions and poor thought processes also release toxins in our minds. A cell is the smallest unit that makes up our bodies. A cell requires, not just nutrients and oxygen to flourish but also the command from positive thoughts. Every cell has its quantum field which is considerably influenced by our feelings and thought processes. Everything that we feel or think is registered in our cells and this cell memory transfers from one cell to another.
The result – life or death – is also determined by this definitive intelligence. Therefore, caring for only the physical body is just one component of healthy living. Building a strong mind and positive thought-processing holds far more water than just preserving physical health. If the mind is full of fear, insecurities, or stress then even regular running or daily gym workouts are not going to make any difference to your health quotient.
And the reason for this is that actual immunity is developed only when all five ‘bodies’ are in harmony! The awareness or consciousness of our five sheaths or selves brings about orderly synergy! And this kind of immunity cannot be generated within oneself overnight. Instead, it is developed over years of following and believing in certain life philosophies. Our subconscious minds are enmeshed in a complex web of insecurities, fears, egoism, and ambition!
Our genes, childhood experiences, environmental conditions, and social influences give rise to this nexus within our subconscious. It is not an easy task to undo and refashion this web! However, even small efforts such as yoga, meditation, and stress management can be hugely effective in bringing about a change! To bring about a change in our mindsets it is necessary to make some radical modifications in our life-philosophies!
Yet, very few people truly succeed in doing so. I have encountered people afflicted by terminal illnesses; they were at death’s door, literally, yet somehow made it back to life. And when they returned, they all proclaimed, ‘I have met death face-to-face; life is full of uncertainties, from now on I will live my life differently.’
But, within a year, they were back to their old lifestyles. Only a handful succeed in making radical changes in their lifestyles. A friend of mine was a fitness freak, used to working out at the gym avidly. He was struck by jaundice unexpectedly and his entire health deteriorated. In just one month his body shrank in size and he lapsed into depression. The ten years of dedicated rigorous bodybuilding was negated in just one month!
And in the end, depression led to his death! Those last few days, as he lay on his deathbed, his only regret was that because of the rigid self-discipline he hadn’t enjoyed the many little things life had to offer. He never let himself eat just for the pure joy of eating. Never partook anything delicious. He didn’t party with his friends. Never let his hair down, showing restraint at all times.
And yet, despite a body built with such rigid self-discipline, it gave way in just one month! When he was fit and healthy, I often used to ask him in jest, ‘You have filled your lungs with oxygen but have you let love into your consciousness?’
‘Your body is bursting with good protein but is there joy in your mind?’
‘You have expanded your chest but have you opened up your heart to feelings?’ For, at the end of it all, these are the only things that matter. To live life fully, to form mutually beneficial relationships, and to be able to fight till your last breath…. Your life’s philosophy — and not your rigid daily routine — is the real determinant! And, if we can learn this lesson in this age of Corona…then it is still not too late. Our external bodies hold within us adequate consciousness which is waiting for our minds to open and our imagination to soar and fly!
