Seeking perfect health

In today’s pandemic-stricken world, there is a deepening understanding that true health involves not only the body, but the mind and spirit as well. An interesting perspective on truly integrated health comes from Sri Chinmoy and the recent publication of the book, Seeking Perfect Health.

Unlike bacterial infections which can be treated with antibiotics, the only defence against viruses such as Covid-19 is our immune system. And it is now widely accepted that this immune system of ours can be seriously compromised by stress, anxiety, fear, depression and other negative emotional mental states which are so common in our fast-paced modern world. The worldwide lockdown emergencies have caused another sort of emergency, with the number of people suffering from anxiety, depression and hopelessness rising sharply.

On the other hand, it is now also accepted by many leading lights that happiness, joy, optimism and poise can help to keep the immune defences strong. Meditation, prayer and mindfulness have become increasingly mainstream, not only to alleviate mental and emotional imbalance, but also with regard to their positive impact on the immune system and overall physical health.

According to recent research conducted at the University of Maryland’s Medical Centre, increasing numbers of people are becoming interested in the role of spirituality in achieving health and enhanced wellbeing. This is, in part, because of dissatisfaction with the culture of our current medical system, and also the realisation that medical science does not provide answers to many of our questions about overall health and wellness.

Meditation, in particular, has moved from fringe to mainstream. As part of growing holistic health consciousness in the realms of fitness, nutrition and spirituality, meditation is now among the fastest growing interests and industries across all levels of society. It s seen as a positive, effective life skill in an increasingly complex and stressful world.

In 2012, a World Health Organisation research panel concluded that by 2020, stress and depression would be the second highest causes of physical and mental ill health and disability worldwide, topped only by heart disease. Evidence of this is clear in the fast-growing groundswell of interest in meditation, in the popularity of mindfulness techniques, and in the growing stress management industry in the corporate world and workplace.

Western science is beginning to validate the benefits of meditation, as featured in a Time magazine article in 2014. Results from several studies indicate that people with strong religious and spiritual beliefs heal faster from surgery, are less anxious and depressed, have lower blood pressure, and cope better with chronic illnesses such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and spinal cord injury.

The regular practice of prayer and meditation is also strongly associated with recovery and abstinence from drugs.

The understanding of the connection between meditation and health by Western science is still in its infancy. However, there are increasing numbers of books and studies looking at health from a holistic and spiritual point of view being published. One of these recently available titles is Seeking Perfect Health by Sri Chinmoy.

Unlike other health-oriented books, this was written not by a doctor or fitness expert, but by an internationally renowned spiritual teacher. The book is a compilation of the author’s insights from various sources, spanning several decades, including question and answer sessions, books and lectures.