Holistic Health

The word “holism” refers to the idea that an entire belief system must be analyzed rather than focusing simply on its individual components. Holism comes from the Greek, holos, meaning “whole”.

Under this premise, holistic health is based on examining all aspects of the person as a whole:

• Physical
• Emotional
• Mental
• Spiritual

1. The physical aspect

Allopathic medicine, which is only two centuries old, is concerned essentially with the physical body, aiming at eliminating symptoms. And yet, these symptoms are in themselves warning signs of a body in distress. Rather than rooting out the cause, chemical substances may temporarily pacify the symptoms. However, they may simply mask the cause and ultimately contribute to further destabilize the body. As the visible effects of illnesses disappear and we think we are cured, toxins in the system may continue to accumulate, generating illnesses through which the body tries to cleanse itself. Gandhi wrote in 1913 that unless we find the root of the illness, taking medications would be like sweeping the dust under the carpet.

Fortunately, many health care  professionals are gaining greater interest in including a more holistic approach in order to increase their patients’ vitality, stamina and resistance to disease through natural means.

2. The emotional aspect

Researchers are beginning to acknowledge that many illnesses are created or aggravated as a result of suppressed emotions, creating stress and ”ill-being”. Culturally, in the west, we use antidepressants, cigarettes, alcohol or drugs, sink into bulimia or become a workaholic to cope with our emotional sensitivity. Unfortunately, this only aggravates the problem, resulting in more and more debilitation.

3. The mental aspect

Our mental health is a result of our thoughts, perceptions and mental images. The left hemisphere of the brain is the seat of reason and logic. It relates to concrete, analytical, and rational thought. It is the seat of the brain related to verbal ability and goal orientation. The right hemisphere of the brain is the seat of intuition and emotion. It relates to symbolic, spontaneous, and playful thought. It is the seat of the brain related to non-verbal, visual and artistic ability. Our mind is balanced when there is harmony between both hemispheres. Thus, dreams and inspirations (right hemisphere) can be manifested through clear and focused thinking (left hemisphere).

Although we shift back and forth between hemispheres throughout our life depending on our activities, our youth is often governed by a more carefree and spontaneous lifestyle, guided by the right hemisphere. In adulthood, we often have to forgo a more free, innocent and child-like spirit as we are confronted with growing responsibilities that demand a more realistic and down to earth outlook. In addition, our mind is often filled with preconceived ideas and concepts learned from our parents, teachers, doctors, religious and political leaders. As a result our rational, logical, left hemisphere tends to dominate. In order to recapture a childlike innocence and wonder, we must engage both hemispheres of the brain. We can then gain the best of both worlds.

Research in psycho-immunology reveals that each thought and emotion releases neurotransmitters, hormones and other chemical mediators affecting all physiological functions. Negative thoughts and suppressed emotions trigger a process which tense muscles and blocks the functions of elimination and regeneration. Stress resulting from negative thoughts, and triggering negative emotions, plays a crucial role in the case of most modern-day diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disorders. Consequently, we age faster and increase the risk of ill health.

It is essential to free ourselves from negative thought patterns in order to live a healthy life.

4. The spiritual aspect

Our spiritual health is the natural consequence of the happiness we feel due to an integration of our whole self — physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. If we are concentrated externally on our everyday affairs, we may miss out on the vast treasure of our eternal reality. In day-to-day living, our senses can perceive the physical dimension while it is more difficult to be aware of the more subtle realm related to our thought let alone our spirit. Consequently, it is natural to perceive ourselves as independent beings separate from each other and, except in some philosophical, abstract way, apart from the Divine, God, Soul or Spirit within us. According to Vedic teaching, this is the illusion of human existence. The more we search for joy, for awareness, for reality outside of ourselves, the more it will elude us, for true joy, true awareness and true reality exist in the infinite, or greater self, of which we are a part. Many fears, including anxiety of our own mortality, which undermines the joie-de-vivre and health of so many people, especially in the West, is born out of our forgetting our multidimensional, spiritual nature.

The spiritual body continually nurtures and activates the physical, emotional and mental aspects of our nature. 

If we overlook the spiritual aspect of our nature, society will be limited to a technological and materialistic mind-set. This can detract from the overall pleasure we could derive from integrating both the intuitive and pragmatic aspects of ourselves. Fortunately, we are witnessing an extraordinary spiritual awakening, a new consciousness, opening to all that in life is sacred and harmonious. As a result, we are becoming more aware how the various aspects of ourselves need to be integrated in order to achieve optimum health. Although each aspect — physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual — functions as a separate entity, they are also interdependent, as what happens to one affects the others. Consequently, if we are feeling emotionally upset or stressed, we can rest and repair our system through various healing modalities, including massage, yoga and meditation. At our center, we focus on these healing methods for your all-round health, in addition to communing with nature and spiritual retreats.

What is essential, however, is removing the cause of what is ailing us. In order to do this, we need to discover the roots that are creating the effects. Consequently, it is important to learn more about ourself, including the conscious and subconscious thought patterns that we might not even be aware of. This is the aim of Vedic palmistry and astrology that is offered at our center.

The Birla Center for Hast Jyotish is dedicated to a holistic approach of integrating all aspects of our being. We offer unique health packages, designed to nurture one’s body, mind and soul. Since 1972, we help people who, just like you, are searching for answers. Our mission is to help you discover yourself.