The importance of self reflection

Namaste,

This topic is an important reminder of looking within to understand how we are feeling and our impact to each other and the world overall. 

Don't forget to self reflect :) 

The importance of the tulsi plant (holy basil)

 I have a tulsi book from my teenage years I got from a smallbook shop in India. This book is full of so many remedies and information. This book taught me tulsi is called holy basil.  Tulsi is known for its potency for reducing fever, even the poultice I made last week is excellent for headaches, and any phlegm build-up (ex. Flu and colds).

Tulsi is known to treat malaria fever, types of cancer, indigestion, stomach ailments, cramps, and many more. The diseases above firming relate to Kapha and Vata. Kapha, which is too much liquid or mucus and Vata, is too much or lacks air/gas in Ayurveda. Tulsi is known for stimulating and strengthening the nervous system. It is antibacterial, antiseptic, and antifungal. I can say it good at repelling mosquitoes and insects. I have a tulsi repellant lotion, and it's the best.

The active constituents in tulsi are eugenol methyl ether, estragole, linalool, and carvacrol. Tulsi also containsursolic acid, apigenin, and luteolin. Over consummation may cause liver damage, and people with diabetes should use caution because it also lowers blood sugar. It also is known for its antifertility remedy for yogis, so if you want children or are pregnant, not recommend for consumption. Now reading this, there is a lot of people I met in India that couldn't conceive in the overpopulated country. Besides the pollution, I wonder their long term consumption of tulsiin tea may play a part. There is not a whole lot of research done to say tulsi has a toxic effect long term. I still love it. 

  It truly is energizing, yet for me has a calmness. It is the perfect balance of resting and active energy, like Lakshmi and Vishnu. A side story with the connection of names. Vishnu is the male resting energy or calming, Ram and Krishna are an aspect of Vishnu. Tulsi is a form of Lakshmi, the female active energy. I love Ayurveda plants because of the connection with Hindu scriptures to nature.  

Remedies for fever, an Ayurveda recipe

Flu syrup to take morning, noon, and evening

• 50g of tulsi leaves (chief herb)

• Five black peppercorns (deputy herb, helps with absorption)

• 1 cup of water (water must reduce to half)

The syrup is bitter, spicy with heat but eventually feels cooling and minty inside. It helps to break a sweat when one has a fever, cold, or flu symptoms. You must take it three times a day until symptoms subside.  Black peppercorn is known for aiding in the absorption of the herb of choice. 

​Black pepper is known for having piperine, which helps the chief herb from being water-soluble not to be excreted by the liver, allowing it to be absorbed in the body. Black pepper is known for its anti-inflammatory, prevention of free radicals, antioxidants, and many more benefits. Most famously know to drink with turmeric and milk. In chai, we put black pepper to enhance the taste, little did we understood it was helping with absorption, incredible. 

 

References:

1. https://www.verywellhealth.com/benefits-of-tulsi-89591#:~:text=and%20other%20organs.-,Possible%20Side%20Effects,blood%2Dsugar%2Dlowering%20medication.: 

2. Rai, Yash.Holy Basil, Tulsi, p.65  2007

3. https://www.umassmed.edu/nutrition/blog/blog-posts/2019/6/using-black-pepper-to-enhance-the-anti-inflammatory-effects-of-turmeric/#:~:text=Piperine%20is%20responsible%20for%20black,that%20curcumin%20is%20not%20excreted. 

We are tied to the past by manifestations of rajas and tamas

Article form the international yoga guide  www.yrf.org 

Being a witness to your pass is very important as you reflect in your day what has happened always make sure you are just a witness do not judge. 

This is important as it helps us to remove our attachment to past events which no longer exists. 

having an understanding that these are not us will help us evolve to a different mindset where we let go of our attachments and false identity. 

🙏🏻Beautiful words from Swami Jyotirmananda below. 

SHB: Quote

Be the change but know that there is a cosmic hand guiding you. -SimpleHinduBhai 

Swami Jyotirmayanda quote

SHB quote

The universe is not built to take us down or hurt us. We take ourselves down with unawareness and not surrendering to a higher power. 

Om Tat Sat - SimpleHinduBhai 

Swami Jyotirmayananda Quote

God is your closest friend.. 

SHB Quote: Living away but never moving

Our mind’s vibrations set the tone for our cells in our body. So you think so you become. - SimpleHinduBhai

Raga and Dwesha - Desire and Hatred (attachment)

Namaste, Hari Om Tat Sat,

in the recent Yoga Journal from www.YRF.org, there is a great article on Insight into Raga Dwesha The ‘’Pairs of Opposites’’. 

Raga is attachment and Dwesha is hatred. 

The statement from Sri Swami Jyotirmayananda holds true, ‘’When one remains confined to the realm of mind and senses, and pursues or repels objects in this world based on these instruments, there will be pleasure and pain, a sense of agreement and disagreement, which will give rise to attachment (raga) and hatred (dwesha)’’ 

The ultimate goal is enlightenment, objects (people and things) that we desire truly do distract us. When there is a loss for that object or person we are even more distracted. Mental energy is precious just like time. When we have hatred (Dwesha) we also spend energy and time ignoring or avoiding objects or people. 

The way to avoid extremes in Raga and Dwesha is to have mental calmness. Being peaceful in the storm and in the calm sunny days as well. 

As Sri Swami Jyotirmayananda says, ‘’The secret to maintaining this serenity lies in developing devotion to God by promoting constant Satsanga’’. 

From the article, Sri Swami Ji outlines Satsanga as;

‘’Satsanga refera to the association with a spiritual preceptor or other persons of profound spiritual advancement, as well as the study of scriptures and reflection upon their meaning.’’

Don’t be trapped by Raga and Dwesha, truly think about your desires and hatred and face them. Does food, people, electronics or other things hold my interest and take my time? Is that TV show worth it etc..? What can I do with the time I am spending on these worldly objects and people who are not truly elevating me?

Same for Dwesha, why am I holding on to hatred, who am I really hating / distancing my self from? Is it even worth holding on to negative events or people? 

Namaste,

OmTat Sat

SimpleHinduBhai

Swami Jyotirmayananda Quote July 08, 2020

Source: https://mobile.twitter.com/SwamijiYRF

July 07, 2020: SHB Quote

Follow your heart and feel the moment.

- SimpleHinduBhai

Living Balanced - Swadharma and Paradharma - Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 3, Verse 35

Namaste, Hari Om Tat Sat,

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुण: परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् |
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेय: परधर्मो भयावह: || 35||

śhreyān swa-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣhṭhitāt
swa-dharme nidhanaṁ śhreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ

BG 3.35: It is far better to perform one’s natural prescribed duty, though tinged with faults, than to perform another’s prescribed duty, though perfectly. In fact, it is preferable to die in the discharge of one’s duty, than to follow the path of another, which is fraught with danger.

I recently was reminded of Swardharma and Paradharma from the latest International Yoga Guide (Vol 57: No11, July 2020). 

There was a beautiful article easily explaining how the right action leads to mental purity. 

The article opened my eyes to a message that I have heard time and time again but have truly ignored. I took the lessons from the article and created a small reminder. 

Many of us work or do things to take care of our physical world, this is necessary but should not take a great deal of your energy. Some work for money, pleasure of the ego or even attribute work as a form of offering love to their loved ones. 

Looking at life from a career / work standpoint, the below is a good reminder amongst many good reminders. There is a reason why folks say do what you love to do - but take it one step further, do what you love that makes people smile and serves humanity. 

Foundations of life: Constant self reflection / mindfulness combined with Being Good and Doing Good, think and do positive (Good Karma) things. As the article states, ‘’The Impressions of good karmas have the power to neauralize the negative karmas’’.

DO:

Swadharma work / lifestyle: As Sri Swami Jyotirmayanda says, ‘’Swadharma is the type of activity that is in harmony with your heart, activity you enjoy doing’’. This goes further into satisfying your inner peace, for some folks doing charity and helping others with / in their job helps them perform Swadharmic work. This is your own duty, it is natural for your personality - some folks call it their ‘’calling’’ but in reality it is something that brings a great sense of peace, increases your mental capacity with positive vibrations. 

THINK:

Niskamya: As Sri Swami Jyotirmayananda says, ‘’To chaos eto work without egoistic expectation is called niskamya’’. Choose to go beyond the ego, do not desire the fruits of your worldly labors for yourself, self gain or selfish needs. Make all your efforts but leave the results to a higher power. 

OFFER:

Karma Yoga: This is how we walk the path of Karma Yoga when you offer the fruits of your labor to God. This brings you closer to Chitta Shuddhi, purity of the heart.

FEEL:

Chitta Shuddhi: Thinking in a Niskamya way way helps us go beyond our inner emotions and turmoil, As Swami Ji Says, ‘’Through purity of heart, you are now opening the door to successive steps leading to Englightenment’’. 

I highly encourage everyone to watch and listen to the lectures from Sri Swami Ji, you can also visit the website for information on the his books and the monthly Yoga Magazine. 

Namaste,

SimpleHinduBhai

(Source: www.YRF.org, commentary by Sri Swami Jyotirmayananda).