Five Levels of Health

What is health? Health is having all these: a disease-free body, a steady breath, a stress-free mind, an inhibition-free intellect, a memory free from obsessions, an ego that embraces all, and a soul that is free from sorrow. Only a healthy bud can blossom into a beautiful flower. In the same way, only a healthy being can truly achieve their goals. The Sanskrit word for health is swaasthya, which means “to be established in one’s self.” Ancient scriptures describe five levels of our existence: the environment or atmosphere, the physical body, life force (prana), the mind (including thoughts, ideas, memories, and emotions), and the intuitive body, which is subtler still. Illnesses manifest in the body when natural laws are violated or as a release of past impressions or karma. For example, you may know you should not eat at a certain time, yet you do; or you know you should not allow stress to build, yet you overwork. The capacity of our senses to enjoy or experience is limited. When we overindulge, sickness appears. Likewise, when there is imbalance between food intake, exercise, and rest, the chances of falling ill increase. An often-overlooked aspect of health is the connection between breath, life force, and wellbeing. Breath is synonymous with life. The primary aim of practices like meditation and pranayama is to enhance prana, the subtle life force energy. Life force is even more subtle than emotions. By focusing on the subtlest aspects, you also care for the grosser ones. When you manage your breath and prana, your body gains strength. Most impurities in the body are released through the breath, yet we typically use only a small part of our lung capacity. Breath holds profound, transformative secrets for staying healthy. For example, each emotion corresponds to a particular rhythm of breathing, which directly impacts specific parts of the body. By simple observation, you can understand this connection. When we are happy, there is a sense of expansion; when we are sad, a sense of contraction. Although we all experience these emotions and sensations, we often miss the correlation. When it feels difficult to manage the mind directly, you can do so indirectly through your breath. We receive energy primarily from four sources: food; sleep and rest; breath and techniques like sudarshan kriya, which energize every cell of the body; and a pleasant state of mind achieved through meditation. All are essential for overall wellbeing. Research shows that sudarshan kriya and pranayama influence the immune system, suggesting that caring for breath and mind enhances immunity. Food is a vital source of energy for both body and mind. Like breathing, we must be mindful of what we take in. We recite a prayer: annadata sukhi bhava, “May the one who grows, delivers, and cooks our food be healthy and prosperous.” If the farmer is unhealthy and unhappy, society cannot thrive. As the saying goes, jaisa ann, waisa mann—we become as the food we eat. Healthy food is not just a commodity; it is a prescription for life. Natural farming is not only a way to grow food, but also a way to respect and nurture the Earth. Another unconditional source of energy is rest. Just as you service your car, dedicate one week each year to realign yourself. Rise with the sun, practice yoga and mindful breathing, eat moderately, chant, observe silence, and connect with creation. Attending a silence program rejuvenates the entire system, filling it with enthusiasm and clarity, and brings a smile from within. Understanding the mind, consciousness, and the roots of distortion is essential. Every individual is inherently good; virtues are simply obscured by stress and misunderstanding. All we need to do is uncover them, just as a room kept in darkness for years can be lit in an instant by a single lamp.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: A spiritual teacher and founder of the Art of Living Foundation. Yogi and peace activist who has been tirelessly traveling the world for over 40 years, teaching meditation and reminding people of the importance of humanitarianism.

Reprinted with permission from przekroj.org, originally appeared on the website artofliving.org.