Madhwa's Teachings--Simple life style--road to robust health

June 19, 2009

Madhwa’s Teachings.

19-06-09

Simple life style—road to robust health.

A Brahmin friend of the writer, in his late forties, paid a casual visit to the dojo where he had been trained in Budokan style Karate in his youth and where, later on, he had been an instructor. The evening class was in progress and the instructor, a Second Degree Black Belt, paid him respect with a graceful customary bow and the friend reciprocated with equal grace. The instructor had received the initial training in this martial art from the friend. He was so much pleased to see his teacher that he offered him a spare uniform and requested him to conduct the class. He also joined the other karatekas for training. It was rather an unusual sight to see a Black Belt practising under an Orange Belt. But that was the respect the teacher commanded: he could not turn down the request.

The uniform transformed the friend; he was his former self. Age lost its meaning; it represented just a number. The next one hour saw him imparting training which, by any reckoning, was rigorous. Beginning with warm-up exercises that included legs stretching in standing and sitting positions, he went on to teach the karatekas all types of blocks, kicks, punches and kathas with the vigour of youth and grace of an expert, practising with the students all along to the astonishment of all. And when he finally bowed, signalling the end of the class, he was, like other karatekas, sweating but with no sign of exhaustion; he seemed to be emanating vigour which bespoke residual energy that would have allowed him to continue imparting training for some more time.

Every student was surprised at the physical prowess and the graceful movements of the teacher. But the one who was most surprised was the Black Belt. Being himself in his mid thirties, he had attained a level of maturity to appreciate the unusual agility and stamina of the teacher who was on the threshold of fifties, a stage rarely found to be associated with such energy. He was very eager to know the secret of the teacher’s abilities and requested him enlighten him on the issue.

Belying all complex answers the human mind is capable of imagining, the friend attributed his physical and mental abilities to simple living that comprised mainly four factors viz., positive thinking, simple yogic exercises, vegetarian food and gayatri japa. “Positive thinking”, he said clarifying further, “unburdens the mind of unnecessary thoughts which are mostly negative in nature. Born of an un-agreeable experience, such thoughts unleash an almost unending flow of unpleasant thoughts. Positive thinking makes life easy. Yogic exercises keep every organ of the body functional; vegetarian food advocated by the Brahminical way of life provides required nutrients to the body. And the gayatri japa strengthens the mind with the required inputs.”

“Deep breathing exercises are an integral part of Yoga; they activate every cell by oxygenation and positive thinking charges them with positive energy building a very strong defensive system-immune system that keeps ailments at bay. And the gayatri japa quietens the mind, a condition so very essential for achievement of positive result in every human activity”, he said.

The gayati-japa also has a more important angle-spiritual angle; it enables one to attain a higher pitch of life. Spirituality is of utmost importance in all dimensions to human life, for it leads one to liberation and therefore all religions of the world give great importance to japa.

Vidwan M.R.Gopalacharya has written an article on japa. The writer intends to send the article to the readers, in instalments, from next week.

With regards,

Ramchandra Tammannacharya Gutti.

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