Health According To The Indian School Of Philosophy
Health is an English term for ‘Aarogyam’ in Sanskrit, literally meaning the absence of illness or the right to health.
Arogyam means Potana (sacredness) and Paripoornam (Wholeness).
The term thus indicates that all the organs of the body should be prefect and holy. The body cannot be whole and complete if any of the organ is defected.
Religiously speaking, this body is gifted to man to undertake righteous action, hence it has to be sanctified by performing sacred deeds, body is the means to perform action and Health is essential in order to do so.
Health is a fundamental requirement to achieve the four goals of human life namely
Dharma: righteousness
Artha: wealth
Kaama: desire
Moksha: liberation
Without good health, man cannot perform any act. Health needs to be our first priority.
For humans, two things are essential.
AAROGYA and AANANDA
Aarogya means good adequate health and Aananda is joy and abundance
This loosely translates to the belief that, for a balanced human existence, aarogya and aananda are both equally important.
Health for the body — Bliss for the spirit
With these two wings, one can soar to any heights.
‘Only a healthy person can afford to forget his grace and body to dedicate his thoughts to the supreme energy and derive Aananda’.
An attitude of generosity of fortitude in the presence of sorrow and loss, a spirit of enthusiasm to do good, to be of service to the best of one’s capacity — these build up the mind as well as the body. The serene joy derived from service reflects on the body and makes one free from disease.
Bear in mind the 3 P’s — Purity, Patience and Perseverance, essential to acquire good health and bliss.
A holistic view of health and disease is an approach that views health in terms of the person as a whole, rather than an isolated set of symptoms. Health is considered to include physical, psychological and spiritual dimensions — or arenas — and emphasizes on how a person feels about his or her life rather than just how long one lives.
The holistic way in which the ancient Indians looked at health and disease is based on an understanding of the interrelationship of body, mind and soul. It is clear that unless the harmony of the complete human system is achieved, one cannot regard the person as being in a state of health.
Let us now understand illnesses as explained by philosophy.
Man suffers from two types of illness/diseases — ‘physical’ and ‘mental’.
Physical illnesses are caused by the dis-equilibrium and imbalance of the three TEMPERS — Vaatha(wind), Pitha(bile) and Slesha(phlegm)
Mental illness is caused by the disequilibrium of the three GUNAS — Sathwa(Serenity), Rajas(Passion) and Thamas(Inertia)
Physical health is a pre-requisite for mental health. A sound mind needs a sound body, one reacts to the other. The world is supposed to be only a projection of the mind; the mind too has to be healthy. It should not be clogged by greed envy, hatred or pride. The mind should not be polluted or poised by anti-social thoughts in human plans and projects. It should be clean and clear.
Disease is a feeling of uneasy, disturbed or upsetting the balance or equilibrium, which affects the physical as well as the mental condition. This imbalance happens for two reasons — Faulty Aahaara(food) and Faulty Vihara(activities/behavior)
A deeper study into the history of food suggests ways to change our eating habits in order to improve health. Changing bad eating habits for the better not only improves one’s health but also makes one more conscious about themselves. This is because a healthy lifestyle can benefit yourself and the people around you. Maintaining a good eating habit is the basic requirement to achieve a healthy lifestyle.
With the right eating habits, one can maintain good health. But how can one change their habits in order to eat healthier?
The answer is quite simple.
When it comes to diet, a little change can go a long way. One of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to eating better is not doing little things at a time. Instead of making it an all-or-nothing approach, try adding just one healthy habit each week. Smaller goals imply bigger changes. The approach that needs to be adopted here is to target and make behavioral health changes rather than an all-in approach.
What is Behavioral Health?
The term “behavioral health” is a confusing and contradictive at the same time. It indicates that there’s a link between the health and behavior, and, of course, when one thinks about it, will quickly realize that it is very much the case. The truth is, behavioral health is about more than just mental illness. In fact, it’s about addressing issues such as physical problems with how to deal with situations in lives on a daily basis.
Behavioral health is a term used to refer to the connection between our behavior, and the effects that it has overall health. In other words, if one is engaged in certain behaviors or are in environments that have a negative effect on the overall well-being and health, then they will likely see an impact on their ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle. When we act in ways that aren’t in line with our values, we aren’t operating at our best. We can also do things that bring up uncomfortable emotions.
The way we act, our behavior, is a reflection of who we are and how we feel about the world around us. The food we eat can have a direct impact on our physical health. If one eats nothing but junk food, then their body is going to show signs of serious deficiency. No doubt, our actions can affect our mental and physical health. Unhealthy behaviors — like letting emotions control or justifying bad behavior — can make it harder for us to live our best lives.
We all have different habits and behaviors. Some of them work for us; others do not. But if you want to change something in your life, then you need to make a conscious decision to do so, because habits are hard to break & requires great mental stability & back-up.
Health, in a holistic sense, is a dynamic state of being
It includes the physical and emotional aspects of our lives as well as the spiritual and social dimensions that influence us. Health is more than just the absence of disease. It encompasses both physical and mental wellbeing. It deals with personal development as well as spiritual growth and social relationships. It is only by sense, control and steadfastness that one can lead a happy and healthy life. For this one should control temper and avoid tension along with the control of mind. Prevention of disease should the goal. We should aim at a human society which is free from diseases.
It may sound utopian, but it will be the happy day when hospitals get no patients at all.
Dr Shuchitha is an Ayurveda Physician, Researcher and Yoga Practitioner with a Master’s in Pharmacology and PG Diploma in Clinical research. She has a modern mindset with a desi tadka. She is a passionate dancer, singer and an impromptu writer. She calls herself the scribbler of poems. She is a vintage soul who enjoys music, art and nature, loves capturing it’s vibrancy.
