A Step Towards Nourishing Oneself

Soulstrainer

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How To Find Inner Peace Within Yourself

Inner Peace

We often live in a world where it appears difficult to find people living a peaceful life. All of us are enclosed with worries, sadness, and depression. We people have forgotten the actual meaning of our lives that is, “Surrender to what is. Let go of what was. Have faith in what will be.” Perhaps, it is like a tough row to hoe.

However, we also know, to live in a peaceful world we have to first bring it into our lives and it isn’t an easy task. Some of us look for peace while sitting alone, others in nature, some with reading novels or listening to songs, or others may be by crying. But it takes a lot of time to discover the place to obtain peace.

All these practices are just substituted to get peace, yet you can find inner peace within yourself. After hearing this a question would arise in your mind how to find inner peace within yourself? Let’s discuss it!

How to Find Inner Peace within Yourself?

When we encounter who we really are – soul not body, we become conscious about our spiritual ability. All the three keys to unlock peaceful life that is love, happiness, and peace will never leave us until we lose awareness about our own spiritual identity.

The sense of understanding ourselves will be discovered through Meditation. As long as one continues the art of Meditation, the fruits of their effort would be that much humble and peaceful. It nourishes us with the realization of ‘inner beauty’ with spirit.

There are some aspects that you should know while finding inner peace in yourself.

1- Self and Spirit

If we introspect ourselves we will find the actual reality of our spiritual identity. Furthermore, if we take self-understanding as a compass in life then we will be able to live our lives with more creativity, happiness, lovingness, and peacefulness. We will have faith in ourselves and always be able to take action confidently with a clear view, in the knowledge of accomplishing spiritual wealth.

2- Truth of Life

The meaning of life recline in the reality of the experience of living as being spiritual. For many of us, this world is just like a spider’s web where we get stuck easily and is full of fears. But spiritual awareness helps us to understand the deep sense of this world.

We can understand this simply by taking an example of a mirror. A mirror doesn’t perform its task of reflection until we look into it likewise, this world will make no sense to us until we discover and understand it.

There is a famous line from a Bhagavad Gita, “The one who is born will die one day; no one is immortal here, death is the truth of this life.”

3- Insight and Reality

It is not necessary that what is seen is true. Appearance can't be trusted in this world. For instance, the rainbow has seven colors and it is due to the reflection of sunlight during rain where the ray of light separated into different colors. We have accepted this scientific perception without allowing it to affect our responses.

For the two reasons, appearance can't be trusted. First, we have made our physiology in a way that what we see we believe but the most important element of our life is ‘spirit’ which cannot be captured by senses, only by intuition.

The 4 Pillars of Spirituality

The true spiritual life is stabled by four powerful and equally important pillars termed Gyan, Yoga, Dharna, and Seva.

1- Gyan

Gyan is a piece of knowledge and study about Spirituality. The basis of the knowledge is about discovering and understanding the spiritual energy. We ourselves are the scientist in the laboratory of senses. We inspect how imaginations are created, how our memories work, and how we make decisions.

Our beliefs are the only thing that helps us to view everything in a particular way.

2- Yoga

Meditation is a composition of Yoga. It is a direction towards mastering the mind in mindfulness. Originally, meditation is not about stopping thoughts, it is about designing the right kind of thoughts. The continuation of meditation slows down our thoughts naturally and the sense of our inner peace will arise.

We untie ourselves from our misinterpretation. We are souls and the ray of spiritual light is flowing peace, love, and joy, and this is the actual meaning of yoga. Here are a few things to keep in mind while performing Meditation – Direction to Meditation.

3- Dharna

When we actually realize that we are souls, all the negative aspects such as anger, greed, ego, etc. start dissolving. We reclaim qualities such as patience, courage, wisdom, and acceptance. Thus, Dharna is the absorption of morality.

We become observant of all the opportunities in order to enhance our kindness, empathy, and compassion. This is the reality of this virtuous life, which is the nucleus of spirituality. Therefore, morality is ‘love in action.

4- Seva

Seva is a duty, whatever we uphold to be the most precious need to be shared. This is what we have learned and gained through the knowledge of ourselves as a soul should be passed to others. To serve others is the highest form of leadership.

Both the balance and strength of these four pillars are the basis for a continual insight to nourish our mind as well as of others.

Final Words

It is only when we give ourselves selflessly that we come to know who we really are. The realization of our spiritual identity gives us freedom from fear.

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50 Unbelievable Facts in the World You Never Heard Of

“Facts don’t cease to exist because they are ignored” –Aldous Huxley

A fact is something that is accurate. The word fact derives from the Latin word ‘factum’ which means ‘a thing done or performed'. There are some unbelievable facts in the world which we never heard of but are present. Some of the unbelievable facts in the world are:

Class 1- India (Freedom and Struggle)

The Indian National Congress (INC) was formed by the members of the Theosophical Society on 28 December 1885. Scotsman Allan Octavian Hume, a retired ICS officer was involved in its formation.

The word ‘Ghadar’ means ‘rebellion’. For procuring Indian independence the Ghadar Party was founded in 1913 in the US and Canada by a total of 32 patriots: Lala Har Dayal, Sohan Singh, Kartar Singh, PS Khankhoje, Tarak Nath Das, Bhai Parmanand, Rash Behari Bose, and others.

India House, in London, was demonstrated by Shyamji Krishna Varma in 1905 to provide housing arrangements for India Students.

BK Dutt, A Bengali from Burdwan, Bengal, had exploded bombs along with Bhagat Singh, in the Central Legislative Assembly in New Delhi on 8 April 1929.

The three Chapekar Brothers- Damodar Hari Chapekar, Balkrishna Hari Chapekar, Vasudeo Hari Chapekar from Chapa near Chinchwad village in Pune, Maharashtra formed the ‘Chapekar Club’ for physical and military training, that also served as “the society for the removal of obstacles to the Hindu Religion”

Surya Sen Aka ‘Master Da’ lead a group of 65 revolutionaries of the ‘Indian Republican Army’ (IRA), Chittagong Branch, in the famous ‘Chittagong Armoury Raid’ on 18 April 1930.

Giuseppe Mazzini was an important personality during the revolution period as he inspired many Indian revolutionaries, including Veer Savarkar, Lala Har Dayal, Bhagat Singh.

Sir Stafford Cripps had estimated it would take India 10 to 15 years, if not more, to liquidate the Indian Princely States and merge them with India

Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was the son of Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee (1864–1924), renowned as ‘Banglar Bagh’ or the ‘Tiger of Bengal’.

Swami Shraddhanand, also known as Mahatma Munshi Ram Vij, was an Indian educationist, writer, and Arya Samaj missionary, who also published newspapers

Class 2- Human Body

Each bacteria is a single cell, about 100,000 bacteria would fit inside this letter o.

The symptoms of an illness are generally easy to tell, but it is quite difficult for doctors to diagnose the cause of the illness.

Adenoids are also known as pharyngeal tonsils help to kill breath germs. Red, sore, swollen tonsils are a sign of tonsillitis.

Certain reactions and body processes begin to slow down from the 40s in some people, but not until the 60s in others

If the sperm in the males haven’t been released then in that case they break down and get recycled in the male’s body.

By the time a girl has grown up and is ready to have children, the number of egg cells in her body is about 200,000.

The genes that make a mouse are almost the same as those that make a person. Out of every 100 genes, a mouse has 92 that are the same as ours.

When you eat lots of meat, your urine gets darker. This is because your body makes urea, which gives urine its color, from protein

The average weight of solid waste in the human body is about 5.2 oz. per day.

There are about 500 million villi in the body

Class 3- Random Facts

There are more than 10 million bricks have been used to set up the Empire State Building.

Average American has to pay nearly $525.037 in their taxes, so they work for about 24,000 hours in their lifetime just to pay these taxes.

The human feet perspire half a pint of fluid a day.

There is one of the city in Norway named “Hell”.

“I” is the most used English word whereas “You” is the second most.

Catfish has the highest taste buds among animals, it’s around 27,000.

A cow gives nearly 200,000 glasses of milk in her lifetime

Chameleon can move its eyes in two directions at the same time.

Emus and kangaroos cannot walk backward.

A crocodile's tongue is attached to the roof of its mouth.

Class 4- Unbelievable Facts

A Roman soldier’s gear weighed about 90 lb (40kg) as much as a 12-year-old-child.

Every year, the world throws away around 1.4 billion tons of food. That’s about one-third of all the food that gets produced. At the same time, one in nine people doesn’t have enough to eat.

Tutankhamun became pharaoh in 1336 BCE and died ten years later. His Mummy was found wearing a solid gold death mask, weighing 22 ½ lb (10.2kg).

77% of Russia is made up of Siberia.

Yawning actually cools down your brain, which helps get rid of stress.

Bruce Lee was so fast that they had to slow the film down so you could see his moves.

Today we associate Ketchup with tomatoes, but back in the 1700s, it was usually made from mushrooms, seafood, or nuts.

There are said to be 8,000 sports and games around the world.

A car’s paint is sprayed on by robotic arms. The most popular car color across the globe is white.

Every other planet in our Solar System has named after a Greek or Roman God, except ours.

Class 5- Life Hacks

When sharing headphones with friends, turn on the mono audio feature, so that your phone splits the sound equally.

Did your phone freeze? Plug it into a charger to free it up again

The Chromoji extension for Google Chrome allows you to see emojis when you’re on your computer

You can press “1,” “2,” “3,” etc. to jump 10%, 20%, 30% into the video you’re watching on YouTube

Ever wonder why phone cords are so short? Using your phone while it’s charging can damage the battery.

An old CD spindle makes for the perfect bagel holder. They are great for packing lunches.

If you peel a banana from the bottom, you won’t have to pick the little “stringy things” off of it

Trying to cut sugar out of your diet? Freeze bananas. They’re much sweeter when frozen, making for a great, tasty treat

Take a sip of your coffee before adding in sugar. You won’t need as much sugar for it to taste as sweet afterward.

Drinking two cups of water before meals can make you lose an average of four and a half more pounds in twelve weeks.

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Major Depressive Disorder: Symptoms & Treatment

“Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also harder to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say, ‘My tooth is aching’ than to say, ‘My heart is broken.’- C.S Lewis, The Problem of Pain

Major Depressive Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder is a mental illness symbolized by a persistently depressed frame of mind or mislaying of interest in activities, giving rise to significant disability in daily life. It is a state of low mood and unwillingness to do nothing. Furthermore, it has characterized medically as a mental and behavioral disorder.

The occurrence of depression affects a person’s notions, behavior, motivation, feelings, and sense of well-being. Meanwhile, a continual feeling of hopelessness and pain is a sign of suffering from major depression which is also known as clinical depression.

Types of Major Depressive Disorder:

According to WHO-

A key distinction is also made between depression in people who have or don’t have a history of manic episodes. Consequently, both types of depression can be chronic, if they aren’t treated.

1- Recurrent Depressive Disorder- This disorder involves continuous depression episodes. During these events, the person experiences a depressed mood, loss of attentiveness and happiness. Many people with depression also suffer from anxiety and hunger, disturbed naps, and many have sentiments of disgrace or less self-worth.

2- Bipolar Affective Disorder- This form of depression commonly contains both mania and depression episodes disconnected by normal mood. Manic events involved uplifted mood, over-activity, burden of speech, etc.

Causes of MDD:

1-Disconnection from Meaningful Work

Between 2011 and 2012,  the polling company Gallup conducted the most detailed study ever carried out of how people across the world feel about their work. They studied millions of workers across 142 countries. They found that 13 percent of people say they have “engaged” in their jobs—which means they are “enthusiastic about, and committed to their work and contribute to their organization in a positive manner.”

Against them, 63 percent say they are “not engaged,” which is defined as “sleepwalking through their workday, putting time—but not energy or passion— into their work.” And a further 24 percent are “actively disengaged.” They, Gallup explained, “aren’t just unhappy at work; they’re busy acting out their unhappiness.

2-Separation from the World

Loneliness is causing a remarkable extent of depression and anxiety in our society. But how?

“Against harsh odds, humans barely survive, but the fact that they survive at all they owe to the dense web of social contacts and the vast number of reciprocal commitments they maintain. In this state of nature, connection and social co-operation do not have to be imposed.

3-Disconnection from Meaningful Values

You ask people how much they agree with statements such as “It is important to have expensive possessions” and how much they agree with very different statements such as “It is important to make the world a better place for others.” You can then calculate their values.

4- Disconnection from Childhood Trauma

The greater the trauma, the greater your risk of depression, anxiety, or suicide. The technical term for this is “dose-response effect.” The more cigarettes you smoke, the more your risk of lung cancer goes up—that’s one reason we know smoking causes cancer. In the same way, the more you had traumatized as a child, the more your risk of depression rises.

5-The Real Role of Genes and Brain Changes

Depression and anxiety are “not like a tumor, where something is growing in the brain because there is a real fuck-up in the tissue which precedes the psychological problems; It’s not like that. They”—the distress causes.

Symptoms of MDD:

For diagnosing MDD, it is necessary for one to match the symptoms criteria mentioned in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This physically helps medical professionals to diagnose mental health conditions.

According to these criteria:

1- One should encounter a change in his/her earlier functioning.

2- Symptoms must take place for more than 2 weeks.

3- One should experience three or more symptoms among these for more than two weeks:

a- One should feel irritable and unhappy most of the day.

b- One is facing sleeplessness and excessive sleepiness.

c- Having thought of hurting oneself or suicide.

d-Tiredness and lack of energy.

Data on MDD across the World

According to the National Institute of Health Major Depression older, adults, teens, and children regularly goes unidentified in these populations. Major depression disturbs about 6.7% of the U.S population above 18.

WHO states A World Health Assembly decision passed in May 2013 has asked for broad, harmonize feedback to mental disorders at the country level. Nearly 8 lakhs of people die because of suicide every year. Thus, suicide has become the second largest reason for death in the 15-29 years of age group.

Treatments of MDD:

1- Prescription

Primary therapy contributors just start treatment by advising antidepressant medications. Some of these are:

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

These are basically recommend kinds of antidepressants. It functions by serving the divisions of Serotonin in the brain, developing a higher amount of neurotransmitters. Serotonin is the brain chemical that is responsible for motions. It helps in improving mood and helps in the production of healthy sleeping hormones.

It involves familiar drugs like Fluoxetine (Prozac) and Citalopram (Celexa) with less harmful effects.

In case if these drugs may fail then drug like Bupropion (Wellbutrin) may help in curing this disorder. They have several side effects such as weight gain and sleepiness.

2- Psychotherapy

Psychological Therapy or Talk Therapy is an effective way to cure people with MDD. This can help in overcoming stressful happening, remove negative thoughts, building connections, and increase self-regard.

3- Pranayama and Other Means

The human body has 7 Chakras; similarly to windmills, these Chakras are the rotating mills that give rise to energy to sustain life. Therefore, Prana is the necessary wind energy that helps in rotating the windmills for the production of energy.

This can be said that The Answer to Depression is Yoga & Pranayama.

Other means can be intaking of healthy food such as food rich in Omega-3, Vitamin B (beans, whole grains), Magnesium (nuts, seeds); Avoid Alcohol and other harmful items; Good sleep and plenty of exercises.

Conclusion

Sadness is an immortal part of human life. Depression is a common illness globally with more than 264 million people affected by it. The only way to cure it is Self-Love. Thus, Selfcare is a ceaseless sentiment, and the one who senses it is emphatic.

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30 Rousing Quotes on Women Education

Women’s Education has become one of the hottest controversial affairs swimming with the current. The education of women and girls is one of the important connections in the alleviation of poverty. Thus, it has been correctly pointed out, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”

Comprehensive linked topics include single-sex education and religious education for women, in which education has divided gender lines.

Furthermore, because of the far-reaching effect of female education on society, alleviating inequalities in education for women is a spotlight in Sustainable Development Goal 4 “Quality Education for All’ and greatly associated with Sustainable Development Goal 5 “Gender Equality”.

Women Empowerment

As Women have earned rights, formal education has become an ‘emblem of progress' and a step towards gender equity. For instance, when past Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, specified the misfortune of Malala Yousafzai in Pakistan and the girls kidnapping in Chibok, Nigeria as similar, using girl’s education as the key focus, history, and circumstances were ignored. Here are some of the quotes on women education quoted by famous personalities.

22 Women Education Quotes to Motivate You

1- “We should be respectful but we must also have the courage to stop harmful practices that impoverish girls, women, and their communities.” - Graca Machel2- “The seeds of success in every nation on Earth are best planted in women and children.” - Joyce Band

3- “Women share the planet 50/50 and they are underrepresented – their potential astonishingly untapped.” - Emma Watson 

4- “We educate women because it is smart. We educate women because it changes the world.” - Drew Faust

5- “To all the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful, and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.” -  Hillary Clinton

6- “Education is the key for self-liberation.” - Lailah Gifty Akita

7- “We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and  heeded, not overlooked and ignored.” - Sheryl Sandberg

8- “Women are leaders everywhere you look – from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women, and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes.” - Nancy Pelosi 

9- “To educate girls is to reduce poverty.” - Kofi Annan

10- “Young women who want an education will not be stopped.” - Freida Pinto

11- “There is no greater pillar of stability than a strong, free, and educated woman.” - Angelina Jolie

12- “Education is everything- education is your power, education is your way in life for whatever you want to do.” - Ciara

13- “If we are going to see real development in the world then our best investment is WOMEN!” - Desmond Tutu

14- “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” - Margaret Thatcher

15- “I am a woman / Phenomenally / Phenomenal woman / That’s me.” - Maya Angelou

16- “I always want to be a femme fatale. Even when I was a young girl, I never really wanted to be a girl. I wanted to be a woman.” – Diane von Furstenberg

17- “I’m tough, ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay.” – Madonna

18- “It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.” -  Madeleine Albright

19- “I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.” - Audre Lorde

20- “Feminism is for everybody.” – Bell Hooks

21- “Words have power. TV has power. My pen has power.” - Shonda Rhimes

22- “A strong woman builds her own world. She is one who is wise enough to know that it will attract the man she will gladly share it with.” – Ellen J.Barrier

Women Education Quotes by Inspirational People

1- “You know, we’re in a sports center. Imagine if you have a team and you don’t let half of the team play. That’s stupid. That makes no sense. And the evidence shows that communities that give their daughters the same opportunities as their sons, they are more peaceful, they are more prosperous, they develop faster, they are more likely to succeed.” - Barack Obama 

2- “As a tribute to the legions of women who navigated the path of fighting for justice before us, we ought to imprint in the supreme law of the land, firm principles upholding the rights of women.”- Nelson Mandela

3- “The content of a book holds the power of education and it is with this power that we can shape our future and change lives.” – Malala Yousafzai

4- “A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman.” - Melinda Gates

5- “When women are educated, their countries become stronger and more prosperous.” - Michelle Obama

6- “If you educate a man, you educate an individual; education contributes to his individual growth; it becomes his ‘private property’, as it were. But when you educate a woman, you educate the entire family!” - Dada J.P Vaswani

7- “You don’t have to be pretty. You don’t owe prettiness to anyone. Not to your boyfriend/spouse/partner, not to your co-workers, especially not to random men on the street. You don’t owe it to your mother, you don’t owe it to your children, you don’t owe it to civilization in general. Prettiness is not a rent you pay for occupying a space marked ‘female’.” - Erin McKean

8- “I am an educated black woman in a time when educated black people will be called upon to risk everything for the rights of black people everywhere.” - Allan Dare Pearce

Final words

On the whole, everyone must wrap their head around the saying that Girls are the base of life, educate them and empower them! Education is power and makes a girl powerful.

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Meaning of Monogamy| Monogamy as Relationship

“Finding One True Love is the Key to a Healthy Relationship”.

Meaning of Monogamy

Monogamy is a kind of dual relationship in which a person only has a single companion during their entire life. Meanwhile, one partner at a point of time. Monogamy is thus correlating with animal and bird kingdoms where they have one partner at a time. And we are familiar with the fact that a relationship is an intense connection between two or more things.

The word Monogamy has arisen from the Greek word Monos - “Alone” and Gamos – “Marriage”. Basically, four types of Monogamy exist around the world; they are:

Marital Monogamy- defined as the marriage of only two people at a point of time.

Social Monogamy- refers to two partners cohabiting and participating in attaining basic necessities.

Sexual Monogamy- refers to two partners cohabiting with each other without any outsider.

Genetic Monogamy- refers to a monogamous relationship with genetic proof of paternity.

Humans are a combination of Chimpanzees and Bonobos. Around 12,000 years ago when humans stop hunting and move towards the agricultural revolution since then marriage was the only way to increase the family labor force.

Monogamous Relationship

The monogamous relationship first begun by Greeks and Romans in the sight that men weren’t allowed to have more than one wife during their life or not to have an external affair during their marriage. Monogamy is practiced in many societies of the world; therefore, it is crucial for us to understand how these marriage systems might have developed.

In any species, there are three main conditions that combine to encourage a monogamous mating system; they are paternal care, resource access, and mate choice. However, in humans, the logical origins of monogamy are paternal care and environmental pressure.

Monogamy in Today’s World

According to research by Collen Hoffon of 566 homosexual male couples from the San Francisco Bay Area (2010) found that 45% had monogamous relationships.

However, the Human Rights Campaign has stated, based on the Rockway Institute report that ” GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender) young people want to spend their life in a long-term relationship raising children. In fact, over 80% of the homosexual surveyed expected to be in a monogamous relationship after age 30.”

Above all, when you ask people why they choose monogamy, the answer is- They Fell in Love and are Soulmates.

One of the novels of Charles Darwin, 'The Descent of Man' states, “Women seems to differ from man in mental disposition, chiefly in her greater tenderness and less selfishness whereas Men delights in competition, and this leads to ambition. Thus men have ultimately become superior to women.”

Secondly, the data of the United States (2016) shows that nearly 2.2 U.S couples get married out of which 80,000 couples get divorced. At the same time, 1 in 5 women has been in a non-monogamous relationship.

Monogamy in Animals

Likewise, in humans, monogamous relationships are also spotted in animals. One of the best examples is Diplozoon Paradoxum- a tapeworm, they can stick with their partners for their whole life. Other examples are Gibbons, Owls, Wolves, Angelfish, Swans, Octopods, Penguins, Seahorse, and more.

Polygamy

A state of marrying too many spouses at the same time. It is legal in 58 out of nearly 200 powerful states; the vast majority of them being Muslim-majority countries in Africa and Asia. Polyandry is the practice of a woman having more than one husband at the one time, is much less prevalent than polygamy, and is now illegal in virtually every country in the world. It takes place only in remote communities.

Countries where Polygamy Prohibit:

1- India

Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 imposes monogamy under Section 11 of the Act where it is mentioned that bigamous marriages (an act of marrying one person while still you are married to another) are void. In spite of this, when someone practices it he/she will be punished according to Section 17 of the same Act read with Section 494 & 495 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 which makes such Act an offense.

Polygamy for Muslims has prohibited in 2015 after a judgment passed by the Supreme Court of India.

Punishment- If someone practices polygamy in India then either he will punish with imprisonment for 7 years, a fine, or both.

2- United States

This offense is illegal in all 50 states. However in Utah, in February 2020, the law has significantly changed.

Punishment- According to the Law of the Individual State and the Circumstance, this crime is punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both.

3- China

Polygamy has banned under the Civil Code passed in 2020, which replaced a similar 1950 and 1980 prohibition.

Punishment- According to Article 258 of Chinese Criminal Law, anyone who commits this will sentence to jail or detention of no more than 2 years.

4- Canada

All forms of polygamy are illegal under Section 293 of the Criminal Code.

Punishment- Grants penalty of up to 5 years of imprisonment.

5- Israel

Polygamy has prohibited for all confessional communities since at least 1959.

Punishment- The penalty of this offense is imprisonment of up to 5 years.

6- Turkey

This act criminalized in 1926 with the adoption of the Turkish Civil Code, part of Ataturk’s secularism reforms.

Punishment- The penalty for polygamy is imprisonment of up to 5 years.

7- Switzerland & New Zealand

Polygamy is illegal by the law. But polygamous marriages accepted when they would perform in a legal manner in another country.

Conclusion:

An American philosopher, Cornel West states, "You have to recognize that there can not be relationships unless there is commitment unless there is loyalty unless there is love, patience, and persistence." Whatever the type of relationship people support; but it is the one in which the partners support each other even in the worst and in their best. What's your opinion about this?

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5 Reasons for Hair Fall| Home Remedies to Fix Hair Fall

Hair Fall

Hair fall has become the biggest problem of today’s time, especially among adults. The seventy of hair fall can differ from a small area to the entire body. From waking up in the morning till sleeping at night, we only see one thing that is our fallen hairs.

According to one of the surveys conducted by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery states that 1 in 5 Americans are losing their hair. 40% of the men under 35 and 40 % of the women by the age of 40 are dealing with the hair fall problem.

But what are the reasons for hair fall and how can we cure it naturally?

Reasons for Hair Fall:

1- Pattern Hair Loss

Pattern Hair Loss refers to permanent hair loss from the scalp that turns into baldness. This is usually a common reason for hair fall among males and females. The cause of male-pattern hair loss composites genetics and male hormones, and the cause of female-pattern hair loss is not clear yet.

2- Thinning of Hair

Thinning of hair is scientifically termed as ‘telogen effluvium'. It is generally caused due to a physical or psychologically stressful event. It is very common among women during pregnancy.

3- Infection

A series of infectious agents or infection-related conditions can cause hair fall. Some of the common agents are ringworm, folliculitis, piedra. These agents usually like to live in the scalp environment and thus cause infection in our scalp and damage our hairs.

4- Drugs and Diseases

Drugs are designed in a way to diagnose a variety of health issues. Certain drugs can cause excess hair growth, changes in hair color or texture, or hair loss. Drugs like acne medications containing vitamin A, antifungal drugs, antidepressants, birth control pills, drugs to treat cancer, weight loss drugs, etc. can cause excessive hair fall.

Diseases like HIV AIDS, hypothyroidism, and malnutrition including iron deficiency cause hair fall.

5- Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the female body tends to produce high amounts of estrogen (a hormone that promotes hair growth). It delays the hair from moving into its shedding phase. Furthermore, the hormonal changes during pregnancy vary in each individual affecting the sensitivity of hairs. Thus, it is one of the ordinary reasons for hair fall.

Hair fall in Women

We generally used to have between 1,00,000 and 1,50,000 hairs on the head. The average number of hairs we lost in a day is approximately 100 but this number varies from person to person. In females, hair loss occurs at the frontal and parietal parts of the head.

Hormonal Imbalance is the common reason for hair fall among females. Other reasons can be hairstyles, vitamin or protein deficiency, rapid weight loss, restrictive diets. To bring balance between hormones females should start practicing Pranayama during the morning hours. We can also try some natural and homemade remedies to fix this problem.

Natural and Homemade Remedies to Fix Hair Problem

Before using homemade products, a question arises in our mind that Why we should use homemade products for our hair?

The suitable answer is that homemade products are cost-effective and proven alternatives. We have practical and flexible freedom of choice. Some of the home remedies are-

1- Essential Oil

The essential oils we buy from the market are generally very concentrated. We can use many plants and fruits as an alternative for this. Secondly, these are rich in antioxidants. They also add some beneficial properties in essential oils and thus make our hair shiny, silky, and healthy.

Due to high concentration, we must use these oils correctly and dilute them with other carrier oils or plants. Some carrier oils we can use and afford easily are- olive oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, almond oil, castor oil, or avocado oil. Every 1 drop of essential oil must be diluted with at least 5ml of carrier oil.

[Safety Note- Keep away essential oils from your eyes and children, use it with caution if you are pregnant or planning to get, do not ingest it]

2- Homemade Shampoo and Conditioner

We need a few simple ingredients to prepare homemade shampoo. These are-

A cleansing agent

Nourishing ingredients of your choice

Organic flour

Carrier oil of your choice

Some people use potassium hydroxide as a cleansing agent. The process of creating liquid soap with potassium hydroxide involves dissolving the agent in water and mixing it with a very consistent, but nourishing ingredient, like warmed up coconut oil, whilst taking extreme caution not to let this powerful cleaning agent come into direct skin contact (you must wear gloves and/or a filter mask, as it can be corrosive to the skin in its pure form).

One can use apple cider vinegar or baking soda instead of it.

3- Extra Nutrition from Plants and Herbs

We can add herbs while forming homemade shampoo. It is a very easy process. Likewise preparing a tea, we can boil raw herbs of our choice and can add the prepared aromatic liquid to our solution.

For conditioners, we required nourishing plant ingredients and oil of our choice along with a toning agent like lemon juice or vinegar. The use of essential oils or carrier oils is dependent on how oily or dry your hairs are.

Final words

Let’s Raise A Toast To Grow Our Hairs The Most!

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Pranayama| Yoga Pranayama and Benefits

10 Types of Pranayama and Their Benefits

 पवन: पवतामस्मि राम: शस्त्रभृतामहम् |  झषाणां मकरश्चास्मि स्रोतसामस्मि जाह्नवी || 31||

[BHAGAVAD GITA CHAPTER10 SHLOKA 31]

Pranayama- Synchronisation of breath with movements between Asanas to purify mind, body, and soul. During Mahabharata's war, Lord Krishna preached Arjuna- 'THE OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD' and said that we can feel God in many ways. In the amid of Cleanser, God is Wind. Among Warriors, God is Ram. Among Fish, God is Alligator and lastly, in the midst of the river, God is Ganga.

The first is the wind. We all know the power of the wind that she can cut down thousands of years old trees with a single stroke. Therefore, Yogis adopted the Pranayama technique to boost the strength of their bodies.

Pranayama as Yoga

The foundation of yoga was laid by Maharshi Patanjali who was born in the Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh about 5000 years ago. The word Pranayama is derived from two Sanskrit words: Pran- Life and Ayam- to Extend. The ancient Indian System of yoga admits Prana as a 'universal energy' that differentiates life from death. This energy flows through various funnels called 'Nadi' and the median is called 'Chakra'. The human body has seven chakras along the spine.

Five types of Prana are responsible for balancing the human body, they are Prana, Apana, Vyan, Udana, Samana; however, Prana and Apana have given priority.

Sitting Position for Performing Pranayam

Most of the types of Pranayama are to be performed with a Simple Sitting Pose which is known as 'Sukhasan'. Steps to sit in Sukhasan :

Sit on the mat with your legs stretched in front.

Fold the right leg and tug in below the left thigh.

Then, fold the left leg and tug it between the right thigh and calf.

Sit straight with an erect spine.

[ Source: Pranayama- The Vedic Science of Breath]

Types of Pranayama:

Swami Yogananda writes, "The real meaning of Pranayama, according to Patanjali is the gradual cessation of breathing, the discontinuance of inhalation and exhalation."

1. Bhastrika (Bellow Breath)

Bhastrika is treated as a 'cleansing step' additionally with Kapalabhati.

    Steps:

Firstly, sit down in a Gyana Mudra position ( join the tips of your index finger and your thumb with keeping other fingers a little stretched.

Close your eyes, inhale your breath to the full volume, hold your breath for a while and then exhale it slowly.

Duration- Perform for at least 3-4 minutes.

Benefits:

This pranayama is very effective for Asthma as it nourishes our Lungs.

It increases our digestive capacity.

Also helps in reducing belly fat and also increases blood circulation.

2. Kapalabhati (Skull Shining Breath)

Kapalabhati is derived from two Sanskrit words: Kapala- Skull, and Bhati- Illuminating.

Steps:

Remain in Gyana Mudra with your palm facing upward.

Then start exhaling simultaneously, don't inhale as it is considered involuntary.

[ * Note- Pregnant women shouldn't practice it slowly, people with back pain and head diseases should practice it slowly.]

Duration- Start with practicing 4-5 minutes and after that increased up to 15 minutes.

Benefits:

Skull Shining Breath is very beneficial for our digestive problems and liver.

Although it helps in curing many fatal diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and various skin diseases.

It is very beneficial for women as it cures uterine ailments.

3. Anuloma-Viloma (Detoxing Breath)

Anuloma-Viloma is also known as Nadi Shodhana ( alternate nostril breathing ). It is derived from the Sanskrit word which means ' Energy Channel Purifying '.

Steps:

Carry on Gyana Mudra position after that put your left hand on your left knee and close your eyes.

After closing your eyes, close your right nostril with your right thumb and inhale with your left nostril as much as possible, and vice-versa.

Duration- Start with practicing 3-4 minutes and can be increased up to 15 minutes.

Benefits:

Nadi Shodhna helps in the detoxification of the body.

Therefore, helps in curing cancer and hypertension.

Also cures bronchitis and leukoderma.

4. Bhramari (Pranayama of the Bees)

The word Bhramari is addressed to Goddess Parvati as the' The Goddess of Bees '. Moreover, it symbolizes 'Harmony' and  'Strength'.

Steps:

Sit in Sukhasan, close your eyes, and after this close your earholes with your thumb.

Meanwhile, place your index fingers on your forehead and the remaining fingers on your eyes and press the crest between your eyes with your middle finger.

Inhale up to the full volume and hold your breath for a while and then exhale it while doing 'Om Chant'.

Duration- Repeat it 2-3 times a day.

Benefits:

Bhramari helps in increasing our concentration and patience level.

Beneficial for people who are suffering from Thyroid.

Prevents us from Goitre as it is very good for our throat.

5. Ujjayi Pranayama (Victorious Breath)

Ujjayi Pranayama is also known as ' The Ocean Breath'. This word is derived from the Sanskrit word which means 'Victorious'.

Steps:

Lay down in Gyana Mudra and compress your throat. After sitting, breathe out a little.

After this start inhaling slowly in one count.

Paas this air through your compressing throat. Retain it for a few seconds and then exhale it.

Duration-  Practice it for about 3 seconds a day.

[ *Note- People with heart problems and hypertension don't practice this Pranayama. ]

Benefits:

Victorious Breath increases oxygenation and produces internal energy in the body.

Useful for the liver and stomach.

Above all, it helps in cleansing 'Sapt Dhatu' of the human body ( Skin, Flesh, Blood, Bones, Fat, Semen and, Marrowbone. )

6. Kumbhaka (Retention Breath)

Kumbhaka Pranayama is the discontinuance of the breath for how long the Yogi wishes. It also refers to various body locks.

Steps:

Remain in Sukhasan or Gyana Mudra and after sitting breathe out a little.

Then start inhaling till your chest is occupied with air.

Hold it for a while and then exhale it and then get relaxed.

Duration- Practice it for about 3 seconds a day.

[ *Note- People with heart problems, hypertension, and children below 13 shouldn't practice this Pranayama.]

Benefits:

Retention Breath is good for our digestive system and respiratory system.

Helpful for diabetic patients.

Improves our concentration level and very helpful for our nervous system.

7. Surya Bhedna Pranayama (Sun-Piercing Breath)

The word Surya Bhedna consisted of two Sanskrit words:  Surya- The Sun which is also known as the right nostril of the nose and is joined with Pingala Nadi of our body and Bhedna- Piercing.

Steps:

Sit in Padmasana ( Asana in which each foot of our leg is placed on the opposite thigh)

Keep your eyes close and then close your left nostril with your ring finger and little finger.

Now inhale with your right nostril and close your right nostril with your right thumb and then exhale it through your left nostril while keeping your right nostril closed.

Duration- Practice it for 2-3 minutes a day.

Benefits:

Sun-Piercing Breath is very beneficial for people having gastric problems.

Cures various respiratory problems and digestive problems.

Most importantly, it helps in the oxygenation of the body.

8. Sheetkari Pranayama (Hissing Breath)

Sheetkari is derived from the Hindi word Sheetal which means 'Cool'. It is basically done after doing another Pranayamas and Asanas. As a result, a hissing sound is produced while practicing this.

Steps:

Make a Sukhasan posture and keep your palm on your knees. Roll your tongue in an upward direction.

After this, contract your teeth and pull your lips aside so that teeth can display.

Inhale slowly, bend your neck forward for having a chin lock ( Jalandhara Bandha ); hold your breath for a while, and then exhale it.

Duration- Practice it about 5-10 minutes a day.

Benefits:

Hissing Breath provides calmness to our minds and soul.

Make our teeth and gum strong.

Provides coolness to our bodies.

9. Sheetali Pranayama (Cooling Breath)

Sheetali Pranayama is similar to Sheetkari Pranayama. Sheetal is a Sanskrit word that means 'Soothing'.

Steps:

Lay down in Sukhasan or Padmasana; keep your palm on your knees.

Bring your tongue out all the way and fold both sides of your tongue like a straw.

Take a deep breath and Bring your chin to a Jalandhara Bandha, hold your breath for a few seconds, and then exhale it slowly.

Duration- Practice it for about 5-10 minutes a day.

Benefits:

Cooling Breath helps in oxygenating the blood of our body.

It helps in controlling High B.P. and hyperacidity.

Beneficial for our throat, mouth, mind, and digestive system.

[ Note*- People who have low B.P, Asthama, and other respiratory problems shouldn't practice Sheetkari and Sheetali Pranayama.]

10. Udgeeth Breath (Resounding Aum)

Udgeeth is a Sanskrit word that means ' Deep and Rhythmic Chant'. It is the easiest and the most commonly Pranayama which is practice on daily basis.

Steps:

Sit in Sukhasan and form a Gyana Mudra with your hands.

Close your eyes and inhale to your full capacity; hold it for a couple of seconds.

Exhale it via chanting 'Aum'.

Duration- Repeat it 2-3 times a day.

Benefits:

Chanting Aum helps in the proper circulation of blood in our bodies.

It purifies our blood.

Very helpful in curing throat and lung disorders.

[*Note- Girls during their menstrual cycle and pregnancy shouldn't practice any type of Pranayama except Bhramari, Anulom-Vilom, Ujjayi and Deep Breathing as it can cause harm to their health.]

Conclusion:

Maharshi Patanjali in his text of Yoga Sutras mentioned, "Pranayama as a means of attaining higher states of awareness; the holding of breath as important practice of reaching Samadhi." Thus Pranayama is the key to make a clean soul. Destroy all the evils from your body by making it an important part of your life.

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What Is Mental Health| Is Mental Health Important

World Health Organization asserts that there is no health without mental health. One in three of us will be diagnosed with poor mental health at some point in our lives. Overall good health admits when body and mind are connected and continually holding each other. Thus, it is correctly quoted,

“Mental Health is not a destination but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going.”

What Mental Health Is?

There are various technical definitions explaining the term Mental Health. But, in common words, we can say Mentally Healthy for one can be more than just absenteeism of feeling of sadness, anxiety, or diffidence. It is the potential to deal with good and bad situations, to recognize our abilities, and to build good relations.

Good mental health is:

Our ability to make healthy choices

Setting up practical goals and boundaries

How we cope with change

Our self-confidence & self-esteem

How we utilize available resources

The Three Aspects of Human Life

The three important ingredients to make our lives as delicious as Mom’s food are- Mental Health, Physical Health, and Spiritual Health. Thus, we can conclude that the lack of an ingredient spoils the taste of the food likewise all the three aspects shouldn’t be separated from one another to live a better life.

This can be understood with an example; suppose we are feeling mentally low, we can uplift our mind by spiritual operations whether through prayers, mindfulness (meditation) or by lingering in nature.

Presently, the most common question that is rising in our mind-

Is Mental Wellness Important?

“How I am feeling right now”, is a general question, but we never tried to ask ourselves, if we do then we tend to focus on our physical health instead of our mental health (mind and emotions). Most of us take physical well-being as our first concern. We usually focus on conditions for perfect hair growth, weight loss tips, skin, and facial beauty, and so on and rarely put attention to our mental health.

We usually live in a society where we have to keep our emotions aside and continually go with our daily routine. It is perfectly said that “Prevention is better than cure”; so every once in a while we must check out our feelings rather than ignore them.

How do we Optimize Mental Health?

A small change in our lifestyle can improve our physical and mental health. A bunch of small actions can help us to improve symptoms of depression, stress, anxiety, self-worth, and self-confidence. Some of the tips to advance Mental Health:

1- Exercise regularly

It is said that if something nourishes heart health, it will surely good for mental health as it helps in improving blood circulation and oxygenation to the brain and central nervous system.

Doing exercise on daily basis provides more energy, good sleep, improves memory, and thus fills us with confidence and positivity.

2- Eat Right Food to Maximize Brain Health

We all studied about balance diet in our lower classes; a properly balanced diet is a key to a healthy and wealthy body. Eating healthy food brings balance to our bodies.

Food like leafy green vegetables, fruits, whole grains, seafood provides key nutrients like magnesium, zinc, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids for the proper functioning of our brain.

3- Good Sleep

Good Sleep is a regular activity for good mental and emotional health. It furnishes proper rest, digestion, and repairement of our body. For having a good sleep, we must have a regular bedtime, reduce screen time before bed, give recovery time to mind and body.

4- Have Healthy Relationships

Positive relationships give strength and support. People connected to family, friends tend to live happier, healthier, and longer life. These people rarely suffer from any mental illness.

5- Grow Spirituality

Spirituality in whatever form gives hope, insight, and peace of mind. Inquiring it encourages us with a sense of service to a community, which helps us to uplift a greater sense of self-respect.

6- Pranayama (Breathing Exercise)

Pranayama generally refers to the “synchronization of breath” to purify mind, body, and soul. The word ‘Prana’ is called a “universal energy” that transforms life from death.

It improves the blood circulation in the body and helps in the oxygenation of the body blood to keep our brain and body healthier.

The right amount of vitamins and minerals plays an essential role in improving mental health. List of some vitamins and minerals to guide healthy adults.

Conclusion:

One of the data suggests that over 26% of Americans over 18 years of age match the criteria of being mentally ill. Globally, around 450 million people have some kind of mental illness. Therefore, to bring balance between realizing what we can change and what is beyond our control, Mental Health is Important.

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What’s Emotional Intelligence?|Emotional Intelligence

“We are all so different, and yet too much the same

Everyone, in some way or another, will experience a kind of pain.”  -Anonymous

Two Mysterious Sides of Human Mind:

Specifically, all of us have two sides of our mind- Rational Mind & Emotional Mind. One that thinks and the other that feels.

The rational mind is a medium of conception we are usually conscious of- consciousness, thoughtfulness, ability to consider and reflect. Apace with this, there is another approach of knowing: impulsive and powerful, and sometimes illogical.

This rational and emotional mind is a contrast between “heart” and “head”, signifying something is right “in your heart” is a different arrangement of belief- someway an intense kind of assurance. Therefore, we can say the more intense the feeling, the more dominant the emotional mind becomes; the more inefficient the rational mind is.

What are Emotions?

Emotions are the psychological states of the human body that are appeared by neuropsychological changes and are associated with feelings, thoughts, behavioral reactions, and a level of pleasure. They are somewhat complex and difficult to understand.

Do emotions cause changes in our behavior?

There are various theories answering this question. One says the physiology of emotion is firmly related to behavioral tendency. These are the operating power behind motivation. The other imagines that emotions aren’t natural energy but simply an ailment of components such as motivation, feeling, behavior, and physiological changes but none of these is emotion.

One of the common question that swirls in our mind-

Can Emotions also be Intelligent?

The friendly answer is yes. There are various theories by which we can bring intelligence to our emotions or what we call “Emotional Intelligence”.

But what is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional Intelligence is often determined as the potential to recognize, use, understand, manage, and handle emotions. People having high emotional intelligence can perceive their own emotions as well as of others. These people generally use emotional details to escort thoughts and behavior and adjust their emotions to adapt to the environment.

History of Emotional Intelligence

The term emotional intelligence was first shown up in 1964 and gained popularity in the year 1995 with the tag of the best-selling book- Emotional Intelligence, written by science journalist Daniel Goleman. He termed EI as the array of skills and characteristics that drive leadership performances.

Peter Salovey and John Mayer defined it as, “the ability to motion one’s own and other people’s emotions, to discriminate between different emotions and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior.

Nature of Emotional Intelligence:

1- When Sharp is Blunt

There are universal exceptions to the rule that IQ divines success. There are many exceptions than cases that fit this rule. Furthermore, we can say that IQ only contributes about 20% to the aspects that govern life success, and other factors contribute the rest 80%.

One of the observation records, "The vast majority of one's ultimate niche in society has determined by non-IQ factors, ranging from social class to luck."

2- Know Yourself

Metamood is an awareness of one’s own emotions and psychologists use the term metacognition to state an awareness of thought process. Therefore, we common people can call it “Self-Awareness”- ongoing attention to one’s internal states.

Self-awareness is not an observation that gets affected by emotions.

3- Know Your Abilities

To the point that our emotions get in the way of or magnify our capacity to think and plan, to go after training for a remote goal, to solve the problems, and so on. This defines the limits of our abilities to utilize our mental abilities, and this determines that how we do it in our life.

4- Role of Empathy

Empathy gives rise to self-awareness; the more open we are to our emotions, the more we will be skillful in reading feelings. Our emotions can hardly be put into words but can be expressed through various channels like the tone of voice, gesture, facial expression, and the like.

Just as the mode of our rational mind is words, the mode of our emotion is our expressions.

Scientific Evidence of Emotional Intelligence

Professor Carrie Lloyd, an expert from Northcentral University explains the concept of emotional intelligence with an example. He said, “Increased EI has a beneficial effect in terms of current depression status. My study indicated that for every one-point increase in the EQ scaled score, the risk of depression decreased by 5%.”

Some of the experts have also conquered that there is scientific evidence of emotional intelligence. They have given the reason that EI scores can foretell other quantifiable results, in the same manner as IQ. Relationship and career success can be match up by a high level of EQ.

This is a piece of clear evidence that among the older adult community emotional intelligence and depression are super correlated with each other.

Conclusion:

The greatest Saints of all time Jesus and Buddha also interact with their admirers through their emotions as words. It is correctly quoted by Warren Bennis, "Emotional Intelligence, more than any other factor, more than IQ, or expertise, accounts for 85% to 90% of success at work..IQ is a threshold competence. You need it, but it doesn't make you a star. Emotional Intelligence can."

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Meditation Vipassana| Direction to Vipassana Meditation

          “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare

                  Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”

All of us attempt to find Peace & Harmony because this is the thing which we lack in our daily lives due to our busy schedules. We all desire to remain happy and Why not?  This is our right:

We all make great efforts to achieve happiness but aren’t able to attain it. Dissatisfaction has become an ordinary part of our lives. It can be agitation, irritation, suffering. Not only, our personal dissatisfactions remain only with us, but also we keep sharing our sufferings with others.

As the old cock crows, so crow the young. Likewise, individual tensions unite to generate the tensions of the society.

But what should we do to get rid of all these things? The only answer is by calming our mind and soul, and this will only acquire by practicing Meditation, and Pranayama on daily basis.

Meditation

Meditation is a process where an individual uses a technique of mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm, and stable state.

Moreover, meditation comprises two things Calm & Insight. Some think calm meditation and insight meditation are the same; these two are different. We can easily obtain calm but how do we develop insight?

Mindfulness as to respiration helps in developing insight. Mainly, there are four godly states in our body- loving-kindness, sympathy, sympathetic joy, and equanimity and this guides us to the formless jhanas. Thus respiration, and investigation of these four elements help in developing insight.

Meaning of Vipassana (Insight)

Vipassana is a Pali word derived from the older prefix where “Vi” stands for “Special” and the verbal root- “Passana” stands for “Seeing”. It usually stands for “insight” or “clear-seeing”.

The Pali Canon narrates it as one of the two qualities of mind which has developed in Bhavana, the training of the mind, the other being Samatha (mind calming).

Consequently, it is termed as a practice that seeks “insight into the true nature of reality.”

Vipassana Meditation (Insight Meditation)

Generally, Vipassana Meditation uses Sati (mindfulness), and Samatha (calm) through practices such as mindfulness of breathing, integrated with the observation of uncertainty perceived in the physical, and mental changes.

The practice of Insight Meditation is an attempt made by the meditator to recognize correctly the nature of the psycho-physical sensation taking place in his own body.

This practice mainly begins with the preliminary stage, morality giving up immaterial thoughts and desires as Jeff Wilson states, “Morality is a quintessential element of Buddhism practice, and is also emphasized by the first-generation of post-war western teaches.”

In the “New Burmese Method”, the practitioner is attentive to any arising mental or physical phenomenon (“breathing, breathing”), without appealing the phenomenon with further theoretical thinking.

The meditator also becomes conscious about the perpetual changes involved in breathing, and the arising, and passing away of mindfulness. This observation is accompanied by reflections on causes.

Direction to Vipassana Meditation:

In Vipassana Meditation what you assume doesn’t matter. What actually matters is your recognition.

With every action of breathing, the abdomen gets up and down. This is the physical quality that has been termed as the element of motion. One should start by considering this movement, this consideration is usually done by the mind.

While we breathe in and out, we will observe the rising and falling of the abdomen. If you aren’t able to sense it mentally, keep touching the abdomen with your palms.

Caution- Don’t change the manner of your breathing. Neither make it quick nor slow it down. Do will drain if you change the pattern of your breathing. Observe it mentally not orally.

While considering the upward movement of the abdomen, do so from the starting to the end of the motion just as if you are seeing it with your eyes. Similarly, do with the falling movement.

Observe the rising movement in such a way that your perception of it is simultaneous with the movement itself. The movement and the mental awareness must be corresponding to that of the stone thrown hits the target. Likewise, with the falling motion.

In case if your mind starts wandering while you are observing abdomen movement, start whispering “wandering, wandering” mentally, after few seconds the mind will stop wandering.

Basically, there are two elements present in meditative practice. The first one is attentiveness, and the second one is awareness. The meditators are supposed to concurrent their awareness with the meditative object (movement of the abdomen) additionally with developing movement (insight).

The Buddha’s view on Vipassana Meditation

The teaching of the Buddha is a technique of developing self-knowledge as a means of self-transformation. By achieving an experimental insight into the reality of our own nature, we can abolish misunderstandings that cause us to act wrongly and force us to be unhappy.

We will acquire to take measures accordingly with reality, and thus we will start living a productive, useful, and happy life.

In the “Discourse on the Establishing of Awareness”, the Buddha introduced a practical method for developing ‘self-knowledge’ through ‘self-observation’. This technique is mainly known as Vipassana Meditation.

Buddha said:  Those who continually make efforts

                       To direct their awareness toward the body,

                       Who abstain from unwholesome actions

                       And strive to do what should be done,

                       Such people aware, with full understanding,

                       And freed from their defilements.

The human body has two aspects, one is physical, and the other one is psychic (body & mind). We should learn to observe both of them. But how can we actually experience the truth of mind & body? We can experience it by self-exploration, but we must explore reality directly within ourselves.

Conclusion:

Buddha states, “Our own body witness to the truth. When meditators discover the truth within, it becomes real for them and they live according to it. We can realize the truth by learning to observe the sensations within ourselves, and by doing so we can attain liberation from suffering.”

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Feeling Sad| How Sadness Turns into Depression?

Feeling Sad may not be tangible like a heart illness, but it can be just as draining.

Sadness is a natural truth of human life. We mainly feel sad due to the sudden demise of our loved ones or when we are facing harsh realities of life such as physical pain (serious illness) or mental pain (divorce, personal affairs). Thus, feeling sad is a provisional state of mind that has a clear cause like a bit of disappointment.

Depression is just disconnection from the real world; when we lost all our strength to acknowledge, fight, and counter. Likewise the leaf, you had once tried difficult to manage with life, but you could not grip. Meanwhile, it is termed as ‘vishada’ in Sanskrit which means poison; thus the more severe depression is; the more disconnected from the real world.

Our health is directly proportional to how we feed our bodies. But it is the half-truth of our life. For instance, our body is like a cell phone: the physical body (all organ) is a cell phone, software inside it is our subtle body (flow of various energies in our body), and the electrical charger is a casual body (soul).

However, for communication with the cell phone, we require other infrastructure such as satellite, etc. Similarly, all three bodies get influenced by the environment around us.

Sadness is a clever emotion. Just like how much we feed our body, but after a while hunger starts dragging at our stomach; in the same way, as much as we want to be happy, sadness keeps lurking. We feel happy when our progress happens, but at the same time, we also start feeling the pressure of work.

Factors to consider while Feeling Sad:

1- Rapid Shifts in Mood - Depression affects your sleep. Patients with depression often suffer from hypersomnia or insomnia (too much or too little sleep). What’s particularly disturbing is that often they will alternate between the two: on some days they’ll feel like not sleeping and on other days, they may feel like not getting out of bed at all.

2- Seasonal Sadness - This form of sadness arrives due to seasonal changes. Mostly, people during summer get depressed due to the warm climate. If this type of sadness seems to continue and become serious, we could suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Along with other depression symptoms you would observe: irritated, discouraged, negativism, increased aspiration for food and sleep, and so on.

Feeling Sad before Menstrual Cycle, During Pregnancy, or After Child Birth

Female reproductive hormone (estrogen) plays a significant role in mood swinging in females. Thus it can be a major cause of sadness and depression among women. Roughly 20% of women encounter Major Depression. It is twice that of men.

This period of greatest helplessness for women seems to be during childbearing years, the beginning of depression most likely to take place between the ages of 25 and 44.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder- A week before periods the symptoms of PDD are generally occured. One can feel anxiety, nervousness, and panic before periods.

Perinatal Depression- It involves episodes of depression that might occur during pregnancy or after childbirth mainly in the first year after childbirth. It begins due to worries about one’s ability to care for oneself and of a child during pregnancy or after it.

Life is hard work. I’m not even talking about paying your outstanding, staying debt-free, keeping healthy, planning your retirement, or making relationships work. These are nothing (just kidding). No doubt, these chores make our lives challenging and perhaps rewarding too.

Three things you should know about Severe Depression:

First, if you neglect yourself for too long; if you deprive yourself of love and care, and if those around you constantly humiliate you, vanishing your self-esteem in all likelihood, you will become sink into severe depression; and it will entirely take some time to release yourself from it.

Second, when anyone around you starts to show the physical symptoms of depression, they need your care and attention. Along with medication, love and care are the two most important healing factors.

Third, depression is an actual condition; it is not about someone being negative or artificial. Just like any other serious ailment like cancer, depression is an illness.

How Sadness turns into Depression?

Sadness, though, can easily become depression when it chooses to linger in your mind longer than you can carry it. It no longer remains just sadness (which may just be a temporary emotional state); it becomes depression, which is a lingering state of being.

And just as you can feel you are owed by a spell of acute sadness, depression can feel like a demon is creating havoc inside you, controlling your very being. In reality, depression is usually the dissatisfied ghost of past hurts – sadness that can no longer be contained in some break of your mind – and it roams freely about your consciousness until you come to terms with it or until it is dismissed.

In the Bhagavadgita, Krishna, a messenger of light and peace (also considered God by Hindus), instructs Arjuna on the battleground when the latter, a warrior, feels powerless to oppose his own cousins. It is an accident that Krishna chooses to impart supernatural knowledge to Arjuna on the battlefield, because our lives are, in a way, battlefields. We are forever working with opposing forces within and without, and we are at times in serious combat with our own tendencies. Sometimes, you will have to be a messenger of peace and at other times, you’ll have to be a warrior; the savage engagements and the most significant agreement you call, nonetheless, are of your inner world.

“We are in the position of a little child entering a huge library filled with books in many languages. The child knows someone must have written those books. It does not know-how. It does not understand the languages in which they are written. The child dimly suspects a mysterious order in the arrangement of the books but doesn’t know what it is. That, it seems to me, is the attitude of even the most intelligent human being towards God. We see the universe marvelously arranged and obeying certain laws but only dimly understand these laws.”

(-Albert Einstein)

Conclusion

Depression isn’t just sadness. It is emptiness, it is misery. It is pain and nothingness at once. When you are truly depressed, you lack the ability or will to cheer yourself up. No one just ‘has depression’. You suffer from it.

[soulstrainer]

5 Exercise to Reduce Belly Fat|Reduce Belly Fat With Diet

Are you also among those 30% of the people in the world who are obese?

If the answer is “yes” then you aren’t alone as it sounds quite familiar that you are clashing with one of the most familiar health issues- weight losing and keeping it constant.

We often don’t like to see our reflection in the mirror. Maybe this is because of the image of ourselves that we have made in our minds. This picture of self-image can smash self-confidence. It also affects our ability to communicate with others. Furthermore, we begin to lose all our interest and strength on daily basis.

Let’s begin to discuss more about belly fat and how to get rid of this?

Belly Fat [Abdominal Obesity]

Belly fat ordinarily known as Abdominal Obesity or Central Obesity is a situation when extreme abdominal fat assembled around the stomach and abdomen has expanded to the extent that it probably has a negative impact on health.

Researchers first started to focus on abdominal obesity in the 1980s when they realized it had an important connection to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and dyslipidemia (cholesterol in the blood). Abdominal obesity was more closely related to metabolic dysfunctions connected with cardiovascular disease that was general obesity.

[Source- Wikipedia]

Some of the frequent ways to measure abdominal obesity comprise:

Waist-hip ratio (the circumference of the waist divided by that of the hips of >0.9 for men and 0.85 for women)

Waist-stature ratio (waist circumference divided by their height >0.5 for adults under 40 and >0.6for adults over 50)

Absolute waist circumference (>102cm (40 in) in men and >88cm (35 in) in women).

The calculation behind Reducing Belly Fat

The straightforward method to preserve healthy weight is by counting calories. The logic behind this is that one pound of fat is parallel to 3,500 calories. For instance, if your caloric intake is 500 calories less than the amount that you burn each day, you lose a pound every single week. In this way, we can lose two pounds a week. It’s quite resistant but can be attainable.

It’s a vice-versa situation; if we consume more calories than we burn, we would be overweight and so on. So, our first and final goal should be “Burn more Calories than we Consume.” Belly fat can be reduced by exercise and with a nourishing diet.

Belly Fat Reduce Exercise:

The human abdominal comprises four types of muscles that are- rectus abdomens, internal oblique, external oblique, and transverse abdominis. Basically, while carrying out abdominal exercises it is necessary to realize the types, functions, effects, and procedures of these exercises.

Some of the exercise to reduce belly fat:1- Abdominal Crunch

One of the most familiar belly fat-reduce exercise is Abdominal Crunch. This exercise stimulates four abdominal muscles as it binds the spine while couching (lying down) with our feet on the ground and lifting the upper body up and then down.

Meanwhile, the beginners can perform this exercise by crossing their arms and putting them crossed at their chest.

2- Abdominal Plank

This exercise also helps in reducing belly fat rapidly. It is commonly used as it enhances our trunk (belly) and our interior and another inclining our core. This plank is performed by keeping face down, legs straight with our elbow bent, and persisting the exercise in place by putting our weight on our radius.

3- Bicycling & Walking

Cycling and fast walking can help in dropping belly fat, but it will take some time. A recent study demonstrated regular cycling may reduce overall body fat and encourage a healthy weight. To reduce overall belly size, moderate-strength aerobic exercises, such as cycling (either indoor or outdoor) are effective to inferior belly fat.

4- Practicing Yoga

Practicing Yoga on daily basis can provide various health benefits not only for the body but also for the mind and soul. Instead of hiking flexibility and enhancing muscle power. Some of the yoga asanas can burn fat effectively; these are-

Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation)

Padahastasana (Standing Forward Bend)

Bhujangasana (Cobra Nose)

Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)

Shavasana (Corpse Pose)

5- Pranayama (Breathing Exercise)

The breathing exercise operates the digestive heat of our body and if done continuously it helps in balancing the body’s metabolism and burns body fat slowly. It also helps in reducing clogs in energy channels (prana) and gently assists us to deal with stress.

The 5 Pillars to Master Belly Fat Reduction:

Focus on Diet and Exercise for quick result

Focus on the biggest weight loss habits

Measure and Quantify your Goal

Accept Progress not Perfection

Accept the ability of your Wins

How to Reduce Belly Fat with Diet?

Consuming an accurate type of food is key to lose belly fat. It is optimal to seek a well-thought-out diet planned according to our body requirements. However, it is assumed that a 1500 calorie diet plan is absolute for men, whereas a 1200 calorie diet plan is for women.

So, here is the list of some fat-burning foods that you must include in your diet plan:

Apples- Apples are the rich source of pectin which helps in the “full feeling” of the stomach that allows us to eat less. An apple’s peel contains fiber which is required for the proper working of our digestive system. They also contain ursolic acid that prevents us from obesity.

Salmon- Salmon is a kind of oily fish and is a rich source of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. It modifies the insulin level in our body and is good for our heart. Its consumption helps in reducing abdominal fat.

Oranges- Oranges are another fiber-rich fruit that contains fewer calories. Eating foods such as oranges, which have very few calories per gram, can help us lose weight because we can eat a larger amount of food without consuming too many calories.

Eggs- Eggs are one of the healthiest food items that we can get easily. They are a great source of high-quality protein and also accommodate essential fats, vitamins, and minerals. Therefore, eggs can help us in reducing belly fat as extra energy is demanded to metabolize them.

Bananas- Bananas contain resistant starch; this type of starch converts into a fatty acid in the gastrointestinal system and helps metabolize fats that are consumed, which decreases fat accumulation in the long run.

Finally, we can say that it is not the number of calories in food that fills you up, it is the volume of food that you eat.

Conclusion:

Losing weight and keeping it constant is a difficult task. In fact, it will be a lifelong venture. All of us admit that it will be a difficult charge to erect these simple habits, but if we focus on small achievements and the goals to be attained all over the day, this process will become easier until it comes into the daily routine. What do you think about it?