THE BETTER OF BITTER GOURD FOR YOUR HEALTH

Bitter Gourd (Momordica Charantia) is a wonder vegetable, belonging to the Cucurbitaceae or cucumber family, suitable for cultivation in the tropical and sub-tropical regions. It is low in calories, high in nutrients and water content. Related to pumpkins, gourd, cucumbers, squashes, and melons; it acts as a body coolant in summer. The vegetable tastes bitter due to the presence of the compound Momorcidin. Bitter Gourd is a popular vegetable in the Asian countries and in other parts of world. It is consumed periodically as a side dish. Both the fruits and leaves are used in the traditional cuisine.

The mild bitter taste of the vegetable is pleasant to the taste buds and therefore, liked by many. This vegetable is a food of choice for the health conscious individuals, because of its medicinal values. For long, Bitter Gourd has been used as a folk medicine and in Ayurvededic tradition; to prevent and treat a number of body imbalances and diseases.

MEDITATION: WINNING OVER THE TURBULENT MIND AND SELF

There are various forms of meditations as per the traditions of the great masters or Gurus. These traditions though, differ from each other, yet they have the common goal of making the practitioners’ mind and body calm, healthy and help in opening up the paths to spirituality. If done correctly and regularly, meditation can be a real blessing for the learners. Now, consider the following reasons before you actually decide to start your meditation mission.

(1) Though the mainstream meditation traditions come from the sages and saints of Hinduism and Buddhism, in itself, meditation is free from religions and rituals, as it has been perfected for the benefit of the mankind, in general; just like Ayurveda (plants and natural elements based healing/treatment system), Pranayama (breathing techniques) or Yogasana (Yogic postures). With this universal appeal, meditation can safely be practiced by all; as a well proven, scientific, natural, and neutral system to promote well-being and healing. Above all,the system of meditation is resilient enough and can be adapted to certain specific requirements of the students and practitioners of all backgrounds, by keeping the core principles, intact.

THE ECSTASY OF GARDENING

By utilizing the available vacant land patches in our houses, it is possible to create greenery aplenty, just in our spare times and without much expenditure. Above all, owning a salubrious home garden, bristling with vibrant fruit and flower bearing plants with lush foliage can, in itself, be a unique spiritual-worldly experience, per se. It can be an extension of the world of our own, where we can create, recreate, experiment and give shape to the sacred space we want; that is much intimate, familiar, natural and private or personal. A home garden, when developed with care and consideration, can be a pride possession and a place of natural beauty in the locality. Even in a thick urban jungle of steel and concrete, and while pursuing a very busy life; we still can have the luxury of living side by side with nature, naturally. 

IN PURSUIT OF ABUNDANCE?

Attracting abundance and to feel full, satiated or contented is everyone’s dream. Yet, for many of us, this is an elusive question that remains unsolved for long or may be for ever, and a source of constant quest. For reaching that distant goal of plenty-someday, somehow, we need to reorient ourselves and act in right earnest. If we keep on hoping that the miracles would happen to us soon, then; for all practical purposes, our hopes are going to be realized and the prayers answered. This has happened to many and it is going to happen to us also, sooner or later for sure. By keeping on hoping and trying, we shall experience abundance in our life, positively. Today, tomorrow, and also the day after; we can go on attracting health, wealth, status, power, peace, prosperity and successes for ourselves, only when we are in control of ourselves and not under the sway of our pursuits; those that are mostly worldly or mundane. Basically, abundance is a state of mind and an understanding of our limitations and potentials. By always being thankful with gratitude to the bounties of our blessings that flows to us constantly, we can ensure our own abundance.This naturally starts from the self to the gains and not the other way around

SHUN STRESS AND BRACE SUCCESS

Low amount of stress is good for a healthy body and mind. However, excess and prolonged stressful situations can be highly detrimental to a person’s overall well-being. It can act as the triggers to a host of pathological conditions and at times, may lead to many unexplainable complex psychosomatic disorders requiring medical attention. Before it is too late to handle stress, from the beginning, it is better to recognize its sources and take appropriate measures to minimize or contain it. Since stressful conditions are likely to drain our energy and throw us into utter disarray, blurring our capacity of judgment; immediate precautions are called for to resolve the conflicts; personally or if required, with the help of others. It is all about reaching out ‘soon’ to the right persons; friends, family members, well-wishers, near and dear ones, or professional counselors, etc. to get out of the vicious grips of stress and be in charge. 

WALK, WALK AND WALK BUT BRISKLY

By walking a modest 30 minutes to one hour per day continuously and briskly it is possible to avert a number of lifestyle diseases and problems associated with ageing or to bring them under control. It is an exercise that suits everyone; non-strenuous, saves on time, and is thoroughly enjoyable. Try to picture in your mind, the pure ecstasy of a child when he/she learned the precious and finer tricks of walking. Walking is like giggling and you too can now set out again to recreate it and experience for yourself. Yes, that is possible, if you can turn to the child in you, while walking to searching that part of yourself. 

THREE PORTRAITS OF HAPPINESS

At the beginning and end of the day, we all want to be happy; but ask yourself honestly, and you shall discover, you don’t have the final answer as yet (or, may be you already have!). From birth till death, in the life of a person, this aspect keeps on recurring, without a final resolution.  The truth is; complete happiness is perhaps attainable only in a state of either complete attachment or detachment from the externals, and internal interplays; encountered in and during the course of our conscious transactions as a being. However, it is a desirable, near-attainable but is asocial and hence; utopian. Personally though, one can have it to varied degrees through efforts. 

The feeling of happiness is relative to what we want and what we get, constrained by the environment, situations, events and the measure of our willingness to find it. The infinite layers of happiness that we wear, are our becoming and own making, to a great extent. This is an individualistic phenomenon without any finality or limit about it. Each one of us is different from the other, in terms of its realization and how happy we are in the process. Happiness is also dependent on our own psychosomatic makeup and is cultivable. It is a crude and finer aspect of our life. When added up, happiness could be a collective existential phenomena. 

YOU ARE YOUR OWN GURU!

A fruitful and desirable life is achievable only when we are ready to receive and seek it in our consciousness. It is a state where we have optimum health, abundant mental peace, absolute security, plenty of material sufficiency, spiraling spiritual enlightenment, total inclusiveness; without any extremes of purposes.

Realize and know that you are born with a divine purpose. Each and every human being is unique, having infinite potentials to grow. It is a self discovery, a journey to unfold. Life is precious, yet short and we need to finish our mission, in a manner that is fulfilling and in harmony with each element of our surrounding. It is to achieve a completeness, which is satisfying till the next moment, with no regrets; a life well lived and enjoyed to the core.

LET THE FLOWERS BLOOM, EVERYWHERE

Flowers are the nature’s way of adding color  beauty, fragrance, serenity, and happiness to the landscapes of earth. In almost all cultures, of past and present, it is adorned.The plant life, emanates through the flowers; though, not always.

Hindu religion accords special significance to the locally available sacred select flowers,leaves and fruits of various types in all the rituals,required to be performed by the devotee. A temple,where the flowers are not used to propitiate the presiding deity, is inconceivable. Most of the Gods and Goddesses in Hindu religion are associated with certain flowers. While paying their obeisance,the priests and the worshipers offer those special flowers,prescribed by the sacred texts or Vedic tradition/Brahminic custom; to seek the blessings of the divine or please them.

SKYLIGHT BY NIGHT

As the night deepens, I barricade myself inside the low roof rectangular four walls, locking and looking exasperated after a day’s toil. The windowless house has not been painted for years, from inside and outside. I still have no complaint, as it still continues to shield me from the howling dogs, rains, winds and cold, round the year. Inside, while I am asleep, the narrow skylight goes on allowing oxygen inside, expelling the carbon dioxide and other stinks of the enclosed space of mine. Seeing the faint rays of the incandescent lamp that escape through the purposefully designed porous cement slab latched on to the concussion on one side of the wall, people believe in my existence and doubt about my presence, when the lights go off. But, actually, go to sleep irregularly to plan for a very bright future from the next morning. When I fall asleep, I dream a lot, in the pitched dark envelope; inside the skyward empty column. It is very personal and familiar for I have lived here long being assured of safety and unexplained gazes of the neighbors and passerby. After I close the only wooden door from inside, I try to break my monotony at night, by trying to discover the end of the light and beginning of a dark, near the frame of the skylight. I find it discouraging as it gives you no clues of the extending outside. During the days, though; the hole on the wall above me brings for me much hopes. Sun-rays, dusts, moisture, smokes, insects, voices of people or the skies; that enter the opening, make me feel connected as a living example. Whether, it is day or night; the skylight of my room, is always umbilical to me and my being. However, I know, this is not an escape route.          

TEA TIME TALES

Tea is great. There are good reasons to go for the cuppa. It contains less caffeine, almost half than coffee. Therefore, it is less habit forming or addictive. However, too much tea should be avoided to reap its health benefits. Our most popular drink is the leafy derivatives of the tea plant Camellia sinensis. Tea is soothing, mild and nutritive for our body. Due to its calming action on our nerves, people prefer to drink a cup of steaming tea brew, to quickly feel refreshed. Commonly, tea liquor is prepared by boiling the dust or granules of different types, qualities and sizes of processed tea leaves in water, processed sugar and diary milk.  What kind of particular taste and flavour one wants to have, depends on boiling and brewing time, amount of tea leaves added, the temperature of the water, types of tea leaves used and the optional additions like aromatic or medicinal herbs. In various cultures, the unique taste and flavour of a cup of tea vary, depending on the preferences of people. Secret techniques of making a cup of ‘good’ tea, is always at work, in preparing it. It certainly is not a rocket science, but a refined art; over the generations, perfected by the cultivators (usually the tea gardens, tea estates and the people behind the enterprise) of the plant, the species, climate, soil condition, processing method (tea factories); and of course, ‘how to’ of the final outcome, as ‘your’ tea—by you!

The great Chinese and Japanese people are the harbinger of tea. It is an essential part of their rich culture, civilisations and societies. Remember, the ‘rocket’ was invented by the Chinese and ‘bonsai’ was crafted to perfection by the Japanese? What I mean by saying so is, all cultures have contributed towards the growth of the human race by various contributions. Who does not know that the Indians invented the ‘zero’ and as a result, we are now living in the digital age of 1s and 0s?

YOU KNOW A TREE BY ITS FRUITS: MANGO

In India at least, mango (Mangifera indica L./Family Anacardiaceae) is the ‘queen’ of fruits. Most probably, it is so, worldwide! Let me inform you that most probably, except me, everyone perceives, thinks and calls the mango as ‘king’. It is up to you to decide whether mango is a king or queen of fruits. In the recent days of political correctness and gender neutrality, I have no definite answers for the above jigsaw puzzle. I know, it is like asking someone, ‘whether egg came first or the chicken? Let it be what it is, mango! ’Such problems are as gigantic as the Bermuda Triangle mystery—is not it? Or, maybe it is existential in nature, better to skip for the time being.

Mango originated from Southeast Asia. Historical data suggest that mango has been cultivated for the last six thousand years. India and China are the major producers of the fruit. With the advancement of innovative horticultural techniques, Mango is now cultivated in other parts of the world, as well, with varying degrees of success. Admittedly, India is a major producer and exporter of varieties of exotic and palatable mangoes; which have recurring demands in overseas markets.

Combined together, countries such as China, Thailand, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria, Myanmar and Egypt cultivate half of the total global output of mango; while India accounts for more than 50 percents or at an average of more than 22 million metric tonnes per year. Traditionally, farmers in Indian states, such as Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha (Orissa), Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Haryana, Punjab, etc. are the major cultivation areas of mango. However, other states of India too, cultivate mango to varied extent. Local varieties of mango trees also grow wild in the forests of these states, adding diversity to the fruit. Some varieties are rare and exotic with unique tastes of their own, mainly available for consumption to the local population. Rapid shrinkage of the forest covers in India and over-exploitation of the fruits of the local species are reasons of much concern and even if some of the mangoes are commercially unviable at present; yet, to preserve the biodiversity, consorted efforts are required to protect the mango tree species heading for extinction.

ARE YOU IN TOP GEAR?

Thousands of people die or are injured everyday in road accidents. It may result in partial to permanent disabilities for those involved in accident. Their family members suffer directly and all this add up to the social cost as well. Admittedly, accidents are accidents, yet it can be reduced substantially with caution and precaution. Many of the victims of road accidents are those, who are not at fault yet, they are sucked into such unfortunate consequences.

Certainly, prevention is better than cure and we all know this. Somehow, we forget it or try to flout the very basic or simple rules of life, in our living and conducts; thinking that any such lapses may not lead to our own harm. That is only true, till we encounter the largely preventable nightmare personally, and in person, as a witness. But, by that time, it might be too late for us to effect proper corrections. Our sincere regrets, pains or losses may not provide us with solutions for regaining, what we lost for being reckless. Lot of people are the victims of the unintended actions of others. A small or even a freak accident may ruin our future irrevocably. It is therefore, far better to learn from others’ mistakes; but not from our own.

MSG FOR THE THIRSTY SOULS

Carbonated drinks, diet sodas and soft drinks are certainly harmful for our health. These bottled liquids are not the prudent alternatives for the free plain clean drinking water. Even, the chilled bottled water sold in the markets by the retailers and ‘manufactured’ by the multinational companies and local small entrepreneurs is actually, a booby-trap into which, we are running fast; perspiring.

The funny thing about this exotic and ‘scientifically’ claimed cleaned water having harmful impurities and disease causing bacteria has an ‘expiry’ date. But, wait a second and tell me as to how can a natural resource like water, expires? At best, it can be impure or stale, but certainly cannot expire so fast.

THE SNAIL, AT A SNAIL'S PACE

When we are obsessed with speed and dream of surpassing the speed of light, after badly outdoing sound; it is refreshing to pause for a while and have an attentive look at the snail. I was more familiar with them, when I was small and growing but soon forgot them I gradually got busy competing with absurd people who loved and showed off their success by provoking me and many others to hurry up. The dominant ethos of the society, which is stark materialism, convinced me enough to join the rat-race of achieving things at the shortest period of time with minimum efforts and therefore, I had to cling  to the credo of ‘better’, ‘more’, and ‘excess’ to remain respectable and alive. I won some races and lost many more to condemn myself and feel sorry to pacify myself and earn the approval of those who scored the points over me. When I regretted about my incompetency, naturally I had to praise the winners, who with tremendous jugglery, cunningness, hard labour and luck collected the prizes and proudly showed off. In the beginning I envied them and wanted to worship those doers and considered the as wizards. The super human group had lots of things which I was bereft of. This is how I started to believe in fate and accepted miseries willingly without much protest. I found myself degraded to the near lowest rung of existence at times, feeling tired and exhausted. I had less of name, fame, prestige, wealth, power, property and lots of any and all such types of tangible and intangible things that constantly goaded me into apparent submission. I lost my arrogance and became humble to deny the defeat. It went on and on till I discovered the bruised successful people cowering for peace in their hiding, in spite of having achieved everything; just like me. They too had insurmountable insecurities, pains, sufferings and defeats-they were tired of their beautiful wives, educated sons, married off daughters, aged parents, the legal authorities, lavish lifestyles and bouts of emptiness.

To discover the emptiness of the elites of the time, I took a very long, profusely perspiring in the winter and shivering in the summer.

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