by Sparsh Jain (Article reproduced as published in ‘Yound Minds,’ USA-wide Jain Youth Magazine by YJA
The Parallelisms of Jainism and Naturopathy/Nature Cure.
“I do not know if there is rebirth or not, or life after death. But if it’s true, then I would like to be born in India as a Jain”
Albert Einstein
Living life and following the lifestyle practices of a Jain not only gives one spiritual gratification, but also acts as the best way to live healthy and disease free. The ideologies of Jainism run parallel to the ideologies of naturopathy and prove to be useful to preserve a healthy body that fosters the mind and instigates healthy thinking, which in turn forms the basis of shedding karmas to attain eternal bliss. It is common knowledge that following Jainism paves way for purity of health and thought. Not only does it help to prevent diseases, it also contributes towards speedy recovery from major and minor illnesses. The practice of Ahimsa is the true essence of Jainism. Jain principles teach that our universe is filled with a profusion of life and that every living organism is of importance and that any harm, even unintentional caused to any organism affects the order of the entire universe. We have come a long way – from limiting consumption of dairy products to even becoming vegan. We understand that any harm caused to animals, directly or indirectly is unacceptable. But when it comes to illness, how do we not bat an eye before taking medicine? We’re aware that medicines undergo animal testing to check for toxicity levels, and yet we continue to consume medicine? If you think that there is no other alternative, think again. I’d like to provide a very simple example about water fasting – a marvelous technique that we practice, both in Jainism and Naturopathy.
A “Fast” Recovery Nature cure is deep- rooted on the understanding that the human body is made of 5 elements – earth, water, fire, air and space. If it is made up of these 5 elements, then why can’t these elements be used for self-healing and cure of diseases? Take this for an example – if you have a tear in your cotton shirt, are you going to use wool, or polyester to stitch that tear? Or would you use cotton to stitch the cotton shirt? It is this rudimentary belief along with the self- healing properties of the human body that leads to the science of nature cure or naturopathy. In Jainism, water fast is done to purify the soul of past karma and for attaining salvation (jain world). This means that one only consumes water and refrains from eating anything. Ancient medical systems acknowledged the significance of fasting for sustaining good health and for curing illnesses. It was observed that animals seldom get sick because they live on natural food and resources. Even if some animals do get sick, they resort to fasting to cure themselves (Patenaude, 2009). Similarly, this principle can be applied to the human body too. When the body is resting, specifically during sleep, it is mending and healing itself. Water fasting is a great way to boost this rest. Our entire digestive system works continuously to process the food we eat. During water fasting, we give a break to the digestive system. It is imperative to under- stand that roughly 30% of the human body’s energy is used solely by the digestive system. During water fasting, this energy becomes available and redirects itself to perform necessary repair work in the body. Toxins are formed in the body due to improper digestion and food habits. These toxins are then transported to the various organs through our blood. Dis- eases have at least some of their origin in accumulation of these toxins in those organs. If we keep eating during our illnesses (for example fever), the body never gets a chance to throw out these toxins, because the intestine is constantly processing the food. Through water fasts, the body gets a chance to eject these toxins through the intestine, the lungs and the skin. Fasting improves immunity and gives longevity. It improves glow and texture of the skin. A healthy body can go a long way to shed karmas and attain eternal bliss. If the proper path of living through Jainism & Naturopathy is shadowed, our birth as human could certainly prove to be more valuable and purposeful. Therefore, we need to rekindle the physical and spiritual forces within us with all earnestness and thrive through Naturopathy & Jainism to realize our objective before it is too late. If you’re wondering where you could go to learn and practice some of these treatments and practice, there’s a program designed just for that. UTSAV is a monthly 3-day program run at the Deccan Park Resorts, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India, which goes into greater depth about holistic wellness, and I highly recommend you participate, to become a healthier and happier Jain. For further information, contact: [email protected]