Hypertension - The Demon With Five Arrows

Today is 17 May and we are celebrating “The World Hypertension Day” worldwide. High Blood Pressure or Hypertension is one of the major causes of death and disability in the world today. According to Cardiologist, it is a medical condition in which the blood pressure is abnormally high either in the arteries or in the veins. High Blood Pressure or Hypertension is like a demon with five arrows as it attacks the most important five organs of our body – the heart, the kidney, the brain, the eyes and the blood vessels. If it is not treated properly, it can cause heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness etc. It can not be cured but can be kept under control. As I am not a cardiologist, the only thing I can do for my readers is to remind that timely detection, treatment and controlling of hypertension or High Blood Pressure are the only means to fight this demon with five arrows. 

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Basic Course of the Art of Living – A Turning Point of My Life

Long back, one of my office staff in Guwahati, Shri Suman Kumar Hazarika, time and again tried in vain to let me join the Art of Living Basic Course. During September 2009, my office arranged an introduction session to the Art of Living for the entire staff members in the office guest house. My mind was somewhat attracted to the course, but this time also I failed to join the course. I joined the Art of Living Basic Course only on 22/10/2009 at its Vyakti Vikas Kendra (Personality Development Centre) at Beltola in Guwahati. After joining the basic course, I have realized what a great thing I have been missing for so many years in my life and I strongly repented that why I have not joined the course earlier. For me, it was a wonderful experience and a turning point of my life as the course has changed my life totally. After joining the course I have got the strength to give up all my bad habits of smoking, drinking and chewing ‘Jarda Pan’. Before joining the course, I have never thought about the importance of breathing in our life. I enjoyed Pranayama – the Breathing Exercise very much. After regular practice of Vastrika and Sudarshan Kriya, I can feel that my body and soul are purifying day by day. I can’t find any word to express the powers and benefits of Meditation, I can just feel it and experience it. I have learnt from the course that if we want to be a complete and successful person in life, we always have to perform three things in our daily life - Sadhana, Seva and Satsangha. Sadhana is to practice regular exercises to develop our physical, mental and spiritual aspects. Seva is to render service to the humanity and the society in particular. Satsangha is to attend group prayers in the form of Bhajans and group discussions etc.

During 2010, I have attended the Four Days’ Advance Course of the Art of Living at its Guwahati Ashram at Puja Ghat located on the river bank of the mighty Brahmaputra in a very neat and clean environment. The Ashram has a large Yoga Hall, separate dormitory system Rest Houses for male and female with all modern basic amenities. The most exciting and challenging experience of the advance course was to Remain Silent - “Mon Mein Rehna” for consecutive four days. The course was mainly focused on Yoga, meditation, group activities of Social Service and Satsang. I enjoyed every moment of the advance course in the Ashram. “JAI GURUDEV!”

"Breath Is Life"

The act of breathing of air is absolutely required for continued existence of our life. To breathe is to live, and without breath there is no life. From the first faint breath of the infant to the last gasp of the dying man, it is one long story of continued breathing. Life is a series of breaths.

Breathing may be considered as the most important of all of the functions of the body. All other functions depend upon it. Man may exist some time without eating; a shorter time without drinking; but without breathing his existence may be measured by a few minutes.

The correct habits of breathing are essentially required for continued vitality and freedom from diseases. An intelligent control of our breathing power will lengthen our life span by giving us increased vitality and powers of resistance, and, on the other hand, unintelligent and careless breathing will tend to shorten our days. The percentage of civilized men who breathe correctly is quite small, and the result is shown in contracted chests and stooping shoulders, and the terrible increase in diseases of the respiratory organs.

Man's mental power, happiness, self-control, clear-sightedness, morals, and even his spiritual growth may be increased by breathing correctly.

By practicing 'Pranayama', we can attain control of our body, and can send to any organ or part of our body an increased flow of vital force or "prana," thereby strengthening and invigorating the part or organ. The rhythmical breathing will bring us into harmonious vibration with nature, and activate our latent powers. Controlled breathing not only cures many diseases in us, but also practically do away with fear and worry.

LEAKAGE OF AIEEE QUESTION PAPERS IN UTTAR PRADESH

About 12 lakh students across the country are trying their luck in the prestigious exam of All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) on 1 May 2011 to gain admissions into National Institutes of Technology and other engineering colleges in the country. It is very disappointing to hear that Question papers of the AIEEE were leaked in Uttar Pradesh forcing the CBSE to postpone the two exams which were scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM and 2:00 PM on 1 May 2011.

If the leakage is not brought to the notice of the concerned authorities well in time, it might have done a serious injustice to the students from other parts of the country. Students and their parents from other States must oppose repetition of such type of illegal practice in future tooth and nail as there are well organized rackets in operation in northern States for leaking question papers for all competitive examinations.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DREAM AND A GOAL

A dream may come true. A goal also may come true. But what is the difference between the two? If there is any idea, please visit http://heikrujam.blogspot.com and offer your valuable comments.

In my opinion, dreams are not specific, un-measurable, unattainable, irrational and has not a time frame tied to it. As an illustration, I will use a dream someone might have regarding purchase of a car. Why it is not a goal? Because he is not specific about the make, the exact price of the car and there is no time frame to purchase the car.

On the other hand, goals are specific, measurable, attainable, rational and time bound. We must not mix a goal with vague terms like “some” or “a little bit”, or “more”. If someone wants to purchase a Honda City Car costing Rs.7.00 lakh this month, he should be exact and specify that exact amount and make. 

Goals are always measurable. It can be defined in terms of height, weight, rupees, inches, or hours. A goal without a measurable outcome is just a pipe-dream. One can’t achieve a kilogram of “happiness” or 10 inches of “self-esteem”, but one can get a new flat or run one km in 5 minutes.

Goal must also be attainable. The ways we can make them come true can be figured out. We have to develop the attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them.

Reachable goals must be rational. It can be seen, heard, smell or touched. We have to go for things we will enjoy and that we can clearly visualize. The brain has hard time going for “financial security”, but it can visualize a bank statement with nice, large numbers on it.

A goal should be grounded within a time frame. With no time frame tied to it there's no sense of urgency. If you want to lose 10 kg when do you want to lose it by? "Someday" won't work. But if you anchor it within a time frame, by 31 July 2011, then you've set your unconscious mind into motion to begin working on the goal.