Perfect Health
Living according to our dosha keeps our mind and body at a balanced state that brings health and peace to our being. The absence of this balance is brought about by being in an environment that does not suit our particular dosha. Life has its strains and pressures that have us venturing towards the extreme traits of our dosha. However, keeping ourselves under these conditions for prolonged periods stretches our dosha, which then drains our energies. The energy drain is what manifests as an illness since our bodies lack energy supply that gives it vitality (Chopra, 2001). Self-awareness allows people to identify situations that feed and drain their energy and subsequently adjust themselves to ensure balance.
People have different gifts, tolerance levels, and reactions to certain situations and environments according to their dosha. However, expectations from various sources within themselves and the environment have them pushing beyond what their nature allows. When the expectations set are unattained or push them beyond their natural abilities, they become judgmental towards themselves. Awareness of one’s dosha and its natural tendencies keeps one aware of what they can handle, what they are good at, and what they can’t stand (Chopra, 2001). When one is aware of their strengths and limits, it is easy to accept what they can’t handle or accept into their lives without being judgmental.
Thich Nhat Hanh encourages people to be more forgiving and understanding of themselves. When a strenuous event happens, the last thing the body and mind need is judgment, which further forces us on the prevailing situation. The author proposes being the joyful observer of the situation through meditation and returning to a place of peace without the necessary need to evaluate the source of stress. Letting things flow in and out of us allows us to accept our human emotional nature and the negative feelings that come with it (Hahn, n.d.). However, it also allows us to recognize the occurrence and let the restlessness flow through unhindered. Meditation releases us to the flow of life’s energy through us without holding on, which leads us to balance of body and mind.
References
Chopra, D. (2001). Perfect health. London: Bantam.
Hahn, T. N. (n.d.). When Light Shines, Darkness Becomes The Light. Retrieved from https://www.awakin.org/read/view.php?tid=2383