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Longevity of youth and beauty (Chira Yauvan Evam Shashwata Saundarya): Vangamaya Vol-42

Youth and beauty are most prominent desires of most people. These are natural sources and expressions of joy and attraction in life. There may be major variations in the human society with respect to physical appearance, body built-up, intellectual level, attitude, etc. But, there is practically no difference in the effects and expectations of youth and beauty among the people. Who does not want to remain youthful and hence energetic, strong and self-reliant? Who does not like beauty expressed in different forms and activities of Nature and life…..? The eternal sentiments of pure love and friendship too are expressions of beauty of the inner core of mind…
Youth and beauty are integral components of total health. The concept, science and philosophy of total health, practical methods of attaining it even in the ailing environment of the present times, novel research and applications of alternate medicine, etc – are covered in detail in the earlier three volumes (nos. 39, 40, 41) of this series. The present volume, as the title reflects, discusses the possibilities and different ways of maintaining youth and beauty for long…. despite the biological aging of the body….
Longevity with youth and beauty of life – in all respects, was common in the Indian society of yore. The rishis were perfect scientists of nature, mind and consciousness. They had studied the anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of the human body as different manifestations of consciousness in the five eternal elements (pancha tatva) of nature. The science of spirituality, yoga and natural medicine, invented and practised by them and the disciplines and modes of living advised and followed by them were sufficient to ensure total health with beauty and youth too.
“Kaya kalpa” – transmutation of physically sick or ‘aged’ beings into young and vigorous ones without artificial means like makeup, plastic surgery or medicines – was indeed a reality in the ancient society under the supervision of the rishis. Intellectual sagacity and creativity of average people too was high in those days. Above all, the purity and beauty of heart was the major source of bliss and energy in people’s life. Relevant information on the latter aspects of the ancient system of life is elucidated in scientific light in this volume which also gives substantial guidance on the methods of implementation of associated disciplines and ‘therapies’ in day-to-day life today.
The advancement of medical technology and public awareness on health have helped improvement of “life-expectancy” in the developed countries as compared to what was the scenario half a century ago. Howbeit, one can hardly see any improvement in total health of people in general. The stresses of life, artificial modes of living and excessive dependence on synthetic medicine etc. have worsened the mental health of most of us today. On the somatic front too, suppressions of one kind of disorder or disease by the heavy dose of some medicines result in manifestation of other untoward effects or new variety of health problems. Even during the biologically young age, people now a days are found to be suffering from problems – like, bone degeneration, spinal deformation, hypertension, etc., which used to be found in much older people in their parents’ generation. It won’t be an exaggeration to conclude that today, by and large people are somehow ‘maintaining’ their bodily youth with the help of synthetic medicine and artificial products which gradually make them weaker and vulnerable to faster aging.
The scenario is worse on the psychological front. Before entering the age of youth most people – especially those in the ‘rat race’ of modernization, seem to lose the natural cheerfulness, adventurous enthusiasm and optimism of youth. Rise in the number of suicides, addictions to narcotics, nervous breakdowns, depressions, heart failures, cases of hypertension, instances of cynical attitude leading to criminal activities, etc, among the youths is witness to this fact. It is rare to find the natural glow of youthfulness and aura of vital energy in the people today.
The vicious cycle of single tracked materialistic attitude and lack of faith in value system and philosophy of righteous life has added to the problems on personal, familial and social fronts. Among other negative effects of moral decline, licentious character and erotic thinking cause maximum loss of vital energy and thus seriously harm the biological and mental health…. Mental fatigue, illusions, lack of memory, dullness and the whole range of sexual problems and sexually transmitted diseases, which are offshoots of such harmful effects, have posed alarming signs before the human society. The real beauty of human life appears to have been lost in the blind well of sensual pleasures….
Those caring for improvement in the present scenario must recall that austere and creative thinking, faith in moral values and ideals of altruist life and adoption of disciplines of self-restrain with purity of sentiments, chastity and integrity of character – are eternal requirements of consistent elevation of vital energy and mental strength. Soothing effects of this sort are accelerated by positive thinking free from lust and ego.
What is an austere and progressive life? What are the essential disciplines and righteous modes of life and why are they so? How we can adopt the moral disciplines and self-restrain without any difficulty or forced imposition of acetic practices? A number of such queries and doubts are eloquently answered in different chapters of the present volume with scientifically justified rational arguments, elaborate descriptions, authentic and practical guidelines and illustrative examples taken from the modern history.
It is said that fresh, natural, vegetarian food helps recharging the life-force in each cell of the body. Volume no. 40 of the vangmaya series cites scientific findings on these effects. Details on the quality and the methods of preparation of ideal food items which maintain natural regulation of the body-functions are presented in volume no. 39. Significant information on preparation and use of herbal (plant) medicines and on different systems of alternate medicine – especially those derived from the ancient sciences including “swasthya yoga”, solar medicine, chromo-therapy, naturopathy, sound (through mantra and music) therapy, etc, is also given in these two volumes.
The need for austere food and controlled diet is further highlighted in the present volume in the context of restraining – the greed of tongue and the influence of taste on it. Emphasis is made on training the mind and the tongue to adopt this discipline in a natural way. Substantial practical guidance is provided which would be suitable for people with different mentality and used to different living conditions and eating habits. While the specific yoga and physical exercises are illustrated in the above two volumes, the psychological impact of industriousness is discussed in the present volume. Regular physical labor, exercises and creative mental occupation are prescribed here as essential for keeping the body and mind energetic and for preventing the attack of untoward habits driven by the animal instincts of sensual pleasure….
Rare information on – (i) how the variations in sentimental tides and thought process affect the level of the five basic elements (pancha tatva) – described in the ancient scriptures as the fundamental constituents of the body and mind ; and (ii) the spiritual methods of harmonizing the levels and co-operative activities of these basic elements, is also given here….
The author, Acharya Sharma was a true saint and sagacious scholar of the science and philosophy of life who had reached the highest realms of spirituality. He knew all dimensions of human psychology through the deepest depth and was therefore able to convey his message with equal force and intimacy to people having different backgrounds, attitudes and stature of life… He explained that the eternal youthfulness existing in the inner self can be aroused by sincere efforts under simple disciplines.
His deliberations make it clear that the beauty and joy of life does not depend so much on external appearance and circumstances as on the state of mind. A minor change in attitude and proper orientation of activities changes the effects of the circumstances. The same is true of attaining total health even in the morally waned and polluted environment prevailing in the world today. Self-restrain, aimed at avoiding the misuse or wastage of time, resources, potentials of sense organs, the marvellous machinery of the body and faculties of mind…., and honest approach towards cultivation of virtuous strength – is an indication of harvesting total health.
Acharya Sharma had experienced, experimented and proved that spirituality emerges as the culmination of the purity of inner sentiments and internal power of mind and hence endows one with divine power and virtues. Eternal youth and beauty are natural consequences of spiritual elevation and attainments of the highest kind. Detailed guidance on how the fundamental principles and essential disciplines advocated in the science of spirituality could be adopted in modern life for attainment of longevity of youth and beauty is presented in this volume for each one of us. This enlightens our hopes in a healthy and happy survival of the human society and motivates us to make it a certainty….....