Swasthya Raksha Ka Adhar Samyag Ahar Vihar - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Swasthya Raksha ka Adhar Samyag Ahar Vihar" by Sushila Jain, focusing on its core message about health preservation:

The text emphasizes that maintaining good health is paramount for a fulfilling life, enabling individuals to perform their duties effectively. It draws a contrast between the comprehensive, holistic approach of Ayurveda and the more limited, nutrient-focused perspective of modern medicine.

Ayurveda's Holistic Definition of Health:

Ayurveda defines a healthy person not just by the absence of disease or good physical appearance, but by the harmonious functioning of all bodily systems.
A healthy individual is characterized by:
- Balanced Doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha): These three fundamental bio-energies in the body must be in equilibrium. Imbalance leads to disease.
- Strong Digestive Fire (Agni): The digestive system must be efficient in processing food.
- Balanced Tissues and Waste Products: The body's seven tissues (rasa, rakta, mamsa, meda, asthi, majja, shukra) and waste products (sweat, urine, feces) should function normally.
- Happy Mind, Senses, and Soul: A healthy state encompasses mental well-being, clarity of the senses, and a positive state of the soul.

The Role of Diet (Ahar) in Health:

Impact of Diet: The food consumed directly influences the digestive fire, internal organs, and their functions. Consuming food that is unsuitable for the body can lead to imbalances in the doshas, tissues, and waste products, ultimately causing disease.
Importance of "Hita" and "Mita" Ahar: Consuming food that is beneficial ("hita") and in appropriate quantities ("mita") helps maintain the equilibrium of doshas, tissues, and waste products.
Indriyas (Senses) and Diet: The text warns against succumbing to the senses, particularly the tongue, which can lead to consuming forbidden or excessive food.
Purity and Sattva: Leading a life with purity and a "sattvic" (pure, balanced) disposition through mindful consumption of food is crucial for well-being.
Individualized Diet: The text acknowledges that each person has a unique constitution and dosha balance, meaning a single diet cannot be universally suitable. Many common ailments like diabetes, blood pressure issues, acidity, gas, constipation, and insomnia are directly linked to dietary habits.
"Guru" (Heavy to Digest) Foods: The text categorizes foods as difficult to digest in three ways:
1. Nature Guru: Foods that are inherently heavy or take a long time to digest (e.g., urad dal, wheat, potatoes).
2. Quantity Guru: Foods that may not be inherently heavy but become so when consumed in large quantities (e.g., excessive milk, ghee).
3. Sanskar Guru: Foods that become heavy due to the way they are prepared or cooked (e.g., kheer, puri, mithai).

The Role of Lifestyle and Activities (Vihar) in Health:

Vihar as a Cause of Health and Disease: Daily activities and behaviors ("vihar") are also identified as causes of health and disease.
Concept of "Yoga" (Union/Balance): The text explains that the "yoga" (proper combination or balance) of time ("kal"), sensory objects ("arth"), and actions ("karma") is key.
- Deficient, Improper, or Excessive Union (Heen, Mithya, Atiyoga): Engaging in these unbalanced ways with time, sensory objects, and actions leads to disease.
- Proper Union (Samyak Yoga): Achieving a balanced and appropriate engagement in these aspects promotes health.
Time (Kal): This refers to the day-night cycle and seasons. The text highlights how seasonal imbalances (e.g., insufficient heat in winter, excessive heat in summer, irregular or mistimed rainfall) are considered "heen yoga," "mithya yoga," or "atiyoga" and can lead to various diseases. Conversely, aligning activities with the seasons promotes health.
Water Consumption: The timing of water intake is also crucial.
- Drinking water immediately before food is detrimental to digestive fire ("agnimandya").
- Drinking water between meals stimulates digestion.
- Drinking water immediately after meals leads to obesity and increased Kapha.
Daily and Nightly Routines (Dinacharya and Nishacharya): Following established daily and nightly routines, including waking up early, cleansing, exercise, bathing, prayer, study, appropriate meals, and sleep, are all part of "vihar" and contribute to health.

The Three Pillars of Health:

The text identifies three fundamental pillars that underpin overall well-being and are encompassed by "Ahar" and "Vihar":

Diet (Ahar): As discussed above.
Sleep (Nidra): Crucial for rejuvenation.
Celibacy/Right Use of Energy (Brahmacharya): Maintaining control over vital energy.

The author strongly advocates for adhering to these principles, stating that individuals who live in accordance with these guidelines, minding their actions, country, and seasons, will remain healthy and free from illness.

In essence, the book "Swasthya Raksha ka Adhar Samyag Ahar Vihar" presents a strong argument for embracing Ayurvedic principles of balanced diet and lifestyle as the foundation of true health, emphasizing the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. It encourages mindful living, respecting natural cycles, and making conscious choices about food and daily activities.