Harry Terhanian.com

Regularity of lifestyle is perhaps the most important factor in a healthy, happy and long life. Such a lifestyle requires self-discipline. It confers mental peace and determination to maintain an ordered life of regular habits. If the daily routine is also based on the desire to cultivate spiritual practices for the elevation of spiritual consciousness, then one definitely feel a sense of fulfillment, peace and happiness.

The duration of life is shortened by irregular habits. By maintaining a routine of a schedule of regular habits and eating simple food, one can maintain health. Overeating, over-sense gratification, over-dependence on another person’s mercy, and artificial standards of living, stress and anxiety sap the vitality of human energy. Thus, the duration of life is shortened

In the Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krishna says, “He who is temperate in his habits of eating, sleeping, working and recreation can mitigate pains by practicing the yoga system.” (Bg 6.17)

Overindulgence of bodily needs such as eating, sleeping, mating and defending can hinder one’s progress on the path of spiritual enlightenment and shorten life expectancy. One can control eating by accepting only sanctified food offered first to God as a love offering. In the early Christian church from the crucifixion of Jesus to about 100 AD, the Christians celebrated a love feast (agape). There was the Eucharist or the ritual breaking of the bread and wine which transformed from ordinary substance into the flesh and blood of Jesus.
This ceremony was either at the beginning or end or part of the communal meal of the early Christian community. Later, the Eucharist was separated from the communal meal of fellowship (agape).

The agape was a feast of sanctified food that bound the community into a union with Christ and one another. The same principle is practiced in the Vedic offering of food to the Deity of Krishna whereby it is sanctified by acceptance of the Lord and then given back to the congregation as the mercy of the Lord. By partaking of this mercy referred to as prasadam in Sanskrit, the devotee is purified of sinful tendencies and engages in the egalitarian love feast in union with God and his fellow congregants.

The spirit of the prasadam love feast is to serve God the food He desires. The offering is made with the understanding that Krishna is the owner and first enjoyer of everything including food. The food is prepared with love and devotion. The Lord is pleased with the offering which He eats by hearing the words of love of His servant. He offers it back as a sign of His love. The devotee accepts the food in communion with God and his fellow congregants. All persons are welcome to partake of the holy prasadam without regard to race, social position, gender, etc.

Lord Krishna reveals His choice of foods in the Bhagavad-gita: “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.” (Bg 9.26) The Lord accepts vegetables, flowers, fruits, grains, milk, etc. If these simple and wholesome foods satisfy the Lord, they will certainly satisfy us. A sincere seeker of God will offer only those things that God prefers. Krishna has not asked for meat, fish, eggs, liquor, garlic, onions preservatives, etc. Only foods that are considered in the mode of goodness and offered with love and devotion are accepted.

Lord Krishna explains what foods in the mode of goodness, passion and ignorance are. These three qualities of nature condition living entities in particular ways that either bound them negatively or serve to free them gradually from material conditioning.

“Foods dear to those in the mode of goodness increase the duration of life, purify one’s existence and give strength, health, happiness and satisfaction. Such foods are juicy, fatty, wholesome, and pleasing to the heart.

Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry and burning are dear to those in the mode of passion. Such foods cause distress, misery and disease.

Food prepared more than three hours before being eaten, food that is tasteless, decomposed and putrid, and food consisting of remnants and untouchable things is dear to those in the mode of darkness.” (Bg 17. 8-9-10)

The purpose of food in the mode of goodness is to maintain the body in a healthy state for the natural duration of life, purify the mind and give strength and stamina, thus leading to happiness and satisfaction. Any reasonable person will agree with such wonderful advice because self-preservation is the first law of nature.

Juicy, fatty, wholesome foods that are pleasing to the heart does not refer to foods containing animal fat from the slaughterhouse. Animal fat is amply supplied by whole milk which is glorified in the Vedas as the most perfect of all foods. From pure milk one can obtain butter, cheese, yogurt and many other derivatives that supply all vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids without the horror of brutally killing animals. It is interesting to note that fat from meat is bad for the heart, but fat from milk sustains and prolongs one’s life.

Mother’s milk and cow’s milk are pure substances that are made from blood. Instead of killing to obtain the nutritious blood, Krishna has made the arrangement that we can obtain the same powerful and tasty nutrition through milk without any violence. Such arrangements should be recognized as God’s mercy so that we can avoid the horror of brutally killing a living entity for our own sustenance.

When one changes his diet to foods in the mode of goodness, his life and world view changes. By following the mode of goodness diet, one lives in harmony with the laws of nature and avoids incurring volumes of karmic reactions. Remaining ignorant of the the conditioning effect of the lower modes of nature, namely, passion and ignorance, one becomes progressively entangled in karmic reactions. Such a life of passion and ignorance results in great suffering and despair because one cannot understand why they are experiencing so much suffering.

Following the dietary rules of the mode of goodness puts one in a position to favorably receive higher order spiritual instructions. The Christian ritual of the Eucharist and the Vedic ceremony of offering food to Lord Krishna are both higher order spiritual experiences. The ordinary food such as the foods in the mode of goodness are transformed by the ceremony into spiritual substance. Such prasadam when ingested with faith transforms the body and mind of the devotee. This transformation results in the ability to perceive the all- pervading, personal presence of God in every moment of life. This awareness of spiritual consciousness (God, Christ or Krishna consciousness) liberates one from the oppression of lust, anger, greed, envy, illusion and madness. One comes to the spiritual platform of pure love of God. One dedicates himself to sharing such love with all others regardless of race or religion. Pure love of God is the essence of all religions.

The material mode of goodness can be transformed to the transcendental mode of goodness. In the transcendental mode of goodness, one is liberated eternally from the cycle of birth and death. Transcendental goodness differs from mundane goodness. In mundane goodness one is conditioned to remain happy in the material world. Such happiness is illusory as long as one remains in a mortal body which is used for sense gratification. In transcendental goodness, one uses the mortal body to please the senses of God’s transcendental Body by continuing to make love offerings to the Lord with words, mind, food, service, etc. One transfers their attention from preoccupation with pleasing one’s own mortal body to dedicated service to God’s personal service. Devotional acts meant to please the body and senses of God, purifies the degrading attitudes of lust, anger and greed in the mind and body of the devotee. God offers back the love offering as His mercy (prasadam) and thus the senses and mind of the devotee is completely satisfied also.

Some people worry that without eating meat, they will not be able to obtain sufficient protein and certain vitamins such as B12 which are touted as prevalent only in meat. Whole milk from cows cared for affectionately and permitted to graze in fields of natural grasses contains all the necessary vitamins, proteins and other vital nutrients.
Protein is also available in lentils, beans and whole grains.

Where does the cow obtain such nutrients? She eats grasses and grains, both nourished by the sunshine and wet soil. She derives all the vital nutrition that is concentrated in her milk through her complex digestive system that transforms the grasses into nutrients. The cow is an herbivore, not a carnivore. The original source of protein is from grains that are food for the herbivore animals that in turn are food for the carnivore predators. Meat from animals is not meant for human consumption because Lord Krishna does not accept it as an offering of love.

Krishna makes this point in the Bhagavad-gita: “The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin.” (Bg 3.13)

A person who aspires to have a personal experience of God’s presence will learn to offer every act of his life as a sacrificial offering to God. Recognizing God as the owner, controller and first enjoyer, the sincere aspirant will not accept anything without first offering it to the Supreme Lord. By such sincere offerings to God, one remains aloof from the contamination of sinful acts and sinful people who refuse to believe or participate in such practices of faith.

Sinful persons perform acts for personal sense gratification ignoring the proprietorship and existence of God who is the creator and owner of everything. Disregarding the ownership of God is the root of sinful actions. A thief who disregards the ownership of another individual and steals their property commits a crime and is punishable. Anyone who takes things offered by nature without thanking God by offering the same in sacrifice becomes a thief and commits a punishable sin.

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada writes, “But preparing nice, simple vegetable dishes, offering them before the picture or Deity of Lord Krishna and bowing down and praying for Him to accept such a humble offering enables one to advance steadily in life, to purify the body, and to create fine brain tissues which will lead to clear thinking. Above all, the offering should be made with an attitude of love. Krishna has no need of food, since He already possesses everything that be, yet He will accept the offering of one who desires to please Him in that way. The important element, in preparation, in serving and in offering, is to act with love for Krishna.” (Bg 9.26 purport)

One may ask, “How does Krishna accept or eat the food? We don’t see the food disappear after the offering!” Lord Krishna has senses, but His senses are interchangeable. One sense can perform the work of any other sense because God is absolute and perfect in every way and possesses inconceivable powers. Therefore, simply by hearing the words of love in offering foodstuffs by the devotee, Krishna tastes and eats the offering. While Krishna eats, the devotee chants the Mahamantra Hare Krishna which is considered the recommended successful means of sacrifice in the present age. “My dear king, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: simply by chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.”(Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.51)

Those who prefer not to chant the Hare Krishna Mantra can chant or glorify reverentially any name of God in recognition that God is the Supreme provider of all sustenance for mankind. The prayers of thanksgiving to God exist in all the religious traditions of the world.

In the Armenian Christian tradition the following prayers are said before and after a meal.

Armenian Church Prayer Before Meals

The head of the table says:

O Christ our God, bless this food and this drink of your servants with a spiritual blessing, and make us healthy in soul and body; so that as we enjoy the food our bodies require in the modesty appropriate to our religious calling, we may share in your infinite blessings, and in the kingdom of heaven, together with your saints. So that in thanksgiving, we may glorify you, with the Father and with the all-holy Spirit, now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

All respond:
Let us eat this meal in peace, which the Lord has given us as a gift. Blessed is the Lord for all his gifts. Amen.

Prayer After Meals

The head of the table says:
Glory to you, Lord. Glory to you, King of glory, for you have given us the food of joy and have filled our hearts out of the fullness of your all-satisfying mercy. Fill us now with your Holy Spirit, so that we may please you and not be ashamed. For you will come and reward us each according to our deeds. And you are worthy of glory, dominion and honor, now and always and unto ages of ages. Amen.

All respond:
May Christ our God, who has fed us and filled us, make the fullness of this table constant and abundant. Glory to him forever. Amen.

(Daily prayers from the Armenian Church, found at their website, http://www.armenianchurch.net/prayer/daily.html)

The recognition of God and thanking Him for His kindness as the ultimate provider of spiritual and material sustenance is necessary to remain situated as a humble servant. We gradually understand that our life and welfare depends on the goodwill of God. An enlightened person realizes that in every stage of life we are dependent upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There is God the Father (Krishna, God, the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit (The Father’s expansion technically called the Paramatma (in Sanskrit) or Supersoul present in the heart of every living entity as the witness and in every atom of the universe as the ultimate controller). One cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead without being aware of His different expansions. In Christianity, there is a basic understanding of God’s expansions known as the Trinity. A much more complete elaboration of this subject is given in the original Vedic scriptures like the Srimad Bhagavatam.

The ultimate instruction of all authentic spiritual traditions is summarized in the following quotes.

The first by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita where He states His ultimate instruction to Arjuna:

“BG 18.64: Because you are My very dear friend, I am speaking to you My supreme instruction, the most confidential knowledge of all. Hear this from Me, for it is for your benefit.

BG 18.65: Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.

BG 18.66: Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.”

Lord Krishna further states:

BG 12.13-14: “One who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor and is free from false ego, who is equal in both happiness and distress, who is tolerant, always satisfied, self-controlled, and engaged in devotional service with determination, his mind and intelligence fixed on Me — such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me.”

Three thousand years after Lord Krishna spoke to Arjuna, Jesus Christ
reiterates the same instruction when He was asked what is the great commandment in the law of God the Father:

“Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is LIKE UNTO IT, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang ALL the LAW and the prophets” (Matthew 22:35-40).

One should learn from the words of God how to act properly to please Him by favorable devotional service in all aspects of life’s activities. We should perform our prescribes duties, but for the results fully depend upon God. Everything we do in life depends upon God including our digestion.

According to Ayurveda, there is fire in the stomach in the form of hydrochloric acid and other acids. In the Bhagavad-gita Krishna states: “I am the fire of digestion in the bodies of all living entities, and I join with the air of life, outgoing and incoming, to digest the four kinds of foodstuff.” The most vital function for maintaining our life is digestion of food. It depends on Krishna. The living entity is not independent. Without the help of the Lord he cannot sustain his life.

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada writes: “The power of assimilation which is the prerogative of the stomach only is an emblem of divine energy. The divine energy in the stomach has been designated as ‘Vaiswanara’ or an energy of intense heat representing the inconceivable power of Godhead. Incubation of heat generated in the stomach cannot be produced artificially in the physical laboratory of the material scientist. This ‘Vaiswanara’ is the vital power in the body. The vitamin therapy of foodstuff is dependent on the ‘Vaiswanara’ heat. The vitamins are produced by the heat and it is not that there is vitamin in the foodstuff offered to the stomach. This Vaiswanara heat produces different qualities of vitamin at different places. The Vaiswanara heat in the stomach of a cow produces different vitamin-rich energy and the same occurs in the stomach of a human being. For example, fragments of straw itself has no vitamin value by chemical analysis but when it is put into the stomach of a cow, straw produces enormous volumes of vitamin ‘D’ and ‘A’ while the same straw put into the stomach of a human being will cause starvation to death. That is the inconceivable power of the Supreme Lord.”

“Foolish people think vitamin value of foodstuff in their own way and push into the stomach all sorts of rubbish thing(s) thinking that ‘Vaiswanara’ heat, representative of the Supreme Lord, will accept any such rubbish thing for assimilation. The case is different. The ‘Vaiswanara’ representative power of Godhead in the stomach of the human being can accept only leaves, flower, fruits of the vegetable group and pure water and milk for vitaminising the human energy. The mouth being the entrance door to the region of the stomach, it must guard the tongue of every human being to acquire the quality of a Brahmana, who can accept only foodstuff of ‘Sattvic’ quality(quality of goodness).” (Back To Godhead, Volume 3, Part , “Yajna, or sacrifice for the supreme”, May 20,1956)

Many vitamins are produced by the human body when it functions in a healthy state. The consumption of concentrated vitamins that are sold over-the-counter are mostly excreted by the body. It is better to maintain the digestive system in a healthy state and eat simple, wholesome foods as Krishna describes to maintain health. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada writes: “Now, there are so many scientists. They are discovering vitamin value from foodstuff. Now, what is the vitamin value in the dry grass? Can any scientist say that this is the vitamin value in dry grass? If there is no vitamin value in dry grass, how the cow is producing so much milk, which is full of vitamins A and D? How, from dry grass, vitamins coming out? Nowadays the physician prescribes some artificial vitamins for maintaining your body. Now, what is the vitamin there in the dry grass so that the cow is eating dry grass and giving you nice milk full of vitamins A and D, essential for your life? So these are all wrong theories, that ‘This contains this vitamin. This contains this.’ Let them go on. But natural foodstuff which is meant for human being, they are full of vitamins already there by nature’s law, by God’s wish.” [Lecture, Bg. 3.14]

There is a saying, “If you work like a horse, you can eat like a horse. But, if you eat like a horse and work like a yogi then you will get sick.”
Moderate eating is very helpful in the matter of sense control. Without sense control there is no possibility of freeing oneself of material entanglement.

Overeating causes problems such as acidity. While not eating at all might cause ulcers. Eating light and right is what we can define as a frugal diet. By overeating, one may develop indigestion characterized by acidity of the stomach.

The body has different pH. For example, the blood is slightly alkaline (7.4 pH), the skin and scalp is slightly acid which is referred to as the acid mantle. The pH of the skin is between 4.5 to 6.2. The skin’s moderate acidity helps to neutralize the chemical effects of alkaline chemicals and contaminates. Similarly, the pH of the blood protects one from sickness. However, by ingesting acid forming foods such as fried foods, white flour products, coffee, tea, sodas, all junk foods and especially meat and white sugar, etc., the blood of a person becomes slightly acidic. This condition is referred to as acidosis and its major effect is depression of the central nervous system which results in decreased rate of breathing and decreased heart rate. If this condition continues, serious complications arise from the decreased amount of oxygen circulating in the body. Oxygen is the most important health promoting need of the body and when it is decreased serious illnesses result over time. One who has an acidic blood condition cannot think well or act quickly, clearly, or decisively.

Therefore, it is important to follow the simple rules of diet given by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita, maintain strict regularity of eating, avoid junk foods and eat only whole grain and natural fresh foods. Above all, one should offer the food first to God or Lord Krishna and pray that He accepts the offering so that He returns sanctified prasadam for our consumption. Then one is purified physically, mentally and in every way possible from the contamination of material lust, anger and greed.

A friend gave my daughter a rabbit sad and sick
Skinny, dull hair, sad eyes, no step, set to die quick
“Daddy, look, my rabbit with its science diet.”
I looked at the denatured grub and stayed quiet.

Grim eyed, droopy ears, the animal was forlorn
Mournful in its cage as if she swallowed a thorn
If only we had knowledge how to save her soul
Revive her appetite to eat greens in a bowl

We had a wild garden growing out of control
Dandelions, plantains, blackberries, holes and mole
That I never mowed or seasoned it with pesticide
My wife didn’t like it but she learned to abide

In spring the dandelions grew amazingly
Yellow flowers opened to the sun gorgeously
I had an intuition something was afoot
When the rabbit twisted its snout to take a look

The diet to die slighted, I opened the cage
Prayed the rabbit go where the greenery pervades
After an hour the weak rabbit sidled out
Kept its head down like a tortoise and moved about

It found a dandelion with juicy green stalk
Clipped it and began to nibble it like a hawk
When one was devoured it went to another
Savoring with zest like a calf on an udder

Watching the rabbit I felt she was my teacher
Conveying by example she served as preacher
After some time it went back to its cage
Jerked its whiskers to and fro peering like a sage

Day after day dandelions aplenty she ate
progressively grew healthy, peppy with new gait
she became playful, naughty and joyfully bold
It was impossible to catch her fast and hold

Her hair began to shine, eyes brightened, she gained weight
She was cute, full-bodied, frisky, ready to mate
Her appetite opened and her taste buds happy
She ate dandelion leaf, stalk and blackberry

One day she dug and burrowed a hole
Went deeper, deeper under the wall
Without a sign she left behind all
That made my kids regretfully bawl

I received a profound education in nutrition
Green living, medicinal herbs, well-being ambition
I respect the mighty dandelion, flower to root
However, science diet I consider an empty suit.

vohmantz kashgahk, vohmantz akhorjahk

A more literal Armenian version of this is

vohmantz hahrooust yev hivant, vohmantz ahroghjuh yev ahnohtee.

Some are rich and sick and others are healthy and hungry.

It is a fact that more people have died of overeating than starvation. Rich people have a tendency of overindulgence in food, drink, smoke, sex and other forms of self dissipation. Often poor people try to imitate them with cheap junk food, smokes, liquor, and sex. The result is always undermining of health and well-being. Eating less is not a sign of poverty always. It is the hallmark of wisdom for the educated man. Voluntarily eating only as much as is required to keep the body and soul together is wisdom. Whatever is excess can be shared with love with other persons especially the needy. Voluntary fasting periodically according to religious principals is a wonderful way to increase one’s self determination and also create surplus supplies for distribution to the poor. Hazrat Ali, the Prophet Mohammed’s companion, said that there is no breathe as sweet as the breathe of the believer who fasts according to religious duty (ramadan, etc.) In Christianity there are many fast days and periods also when one should refrain from eating completely or from eating any flesh. Actually it is preferable to refrain from eating all animal flesh.

I follow the following two overriding rules of diet: don’t eat anything that has eyes, a family, a heartbeat; and eat only those things that if you plant them they will grow. I also have three rules for diet:

1. At every meal, there should be half raw and half cooked food.

Half the meal should be raw food such as a rich salad. The other half should be cooked food. A good salad is made with fresh spinach,
grated cabbage, grated daikon, grated carrots, cucumber, lettuce, grated turnip, fresh sprouts, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, fresh herbs such as basil, oregano, mint, tarragon, unprocessed sea salt. The value of raw food is that there are live digestive enzymes in raw foods especially in sprouts. These digestive enzymes makes it much easier to digest food. People who eat cooked food force their body to produce digestive enzymes. The body makes three types of enzymes: digestive, metabolic, and oxygenating. If we eat only cooked food and no raw food, we overtax the body’s ability to make digestive enzymes and thus deteriorate its ability to make the other essential enzymes.

2. Do not snack between meals.

It takes four hours for the body to completely digest a meal. Snacking between meals before the digestive process is completed will
cause indigestion and gradually weaken the entire digestive track because it will never get any rest. Eventually, this causes poor digestion resulting in gas coming from undigested foods in the intestines, constipation, headaches, lack of energy, dull mind, excess acid, etc. If there is hunger between meals, drink water or fresh juices, but no solid food.

3. Do not mix carbhohydrates, proteins, amd sugars at the same meal.

The body secretes hydrochloric acid to digest proteins. If we mix carbhohydrates and especially sugars in the meal with the protein, then it inhibits the complete digestion of the proteins. This will result in gas and many other side effects of poor digestion. An example of a typical carbhohydrate and protein meal follows:

Carbhohydrate meal:
A staple grain like organic brown rice, or organic millet, or organic quinoa, or organic buckwheat along with a large salad, cooked vegetables, vegetable soup, baked vegetables like potato or pumpkin, etc.

Protein meal:

Beans, lentils, or peas used as a base for vegetable bean soup, salad, cooked or baked vegetables, yogurt, and tofu.

Not eating meat, fish, or eggs is absolutely essential for good health. Eating only fresh vegetables, nuts,grains and cereals, and some dairy
provides all the necessary vitamins and minerals for a healthy life. Milk is the blood of the animal transformed into a suitable form for human nourishment. All the animal protein that may be beneficial for human beings is in the milk or yogurt. There is no need to kill the animal to get animal protein.Killing animals unnecessarily for food is a bestial act against the laws of nature and God. All the bad propaganda against milk is not completely true. Those persons who are lactose intolerant can avoid milk but take yogurt in moderate amounts for nourishment.Yogurt is much more readily digestible than milk. Modern pasturization of milk and the mistreatment of cows are important factors to be considered. However, it is possible to obtainorganic milk and sometimes in certain places raw milk from cows that are not mistreated. Milk from cows that are protected and treated with love is the most sublime and nutritious food available to man. Such milk will promote the development of long and healthy life and improve the function and exercise of intelligence when taken in moderate amounts everyday.

Processed or refined salt, white sugar, processed cooking oils, coffee and tea containing caffeine, fried foods, all processed foods such as cookies, cakes, pies, crackers, pastas, white flour products, sodas, liquor and products containing alcohol, and animal flesh are all detrimental to good health and should be avoided. Only unprocessed sea salt that still contains all the trace minerals should be used. Processed salt has all the trace minerals removed and is pure sodium chloride. Four tablespoons of sodium chloride eaten consecutively will cause one to go into a coma and eventually die if their stomach is not pumped out. White sugar acidifies the blood and leaches out calcium from the teeth and bones (that is used by the body to neutralize the excess acidity). Processed cooking oils have their molecular structure altered. Such altered molecules increase the shelf life of the oils, but cause havoc in the body because the body cannot process such altered molecules. Consuming such altered molecules will cause the arteries to clog and eventually one experiences high blood pressure, cardiac problems, and diabetes. Fried foods (especially those fried in processed cooking oils) are undigestible and leave an acid residue in the intestines. This excess acid enters into the blood stream and throws off the acid alkaline balance of the blood. The blood is ideally at 7.4 pH. If the pH tips too much to the acid side (or alkaline side )serious health problems are caused. Therefore, the body automatically will leach out minerals from the bones to neutralize such acid.

The real cause of tooth decay and osteoporosis is excess acid which causes the demineralization of the bones. At any one time mineralization and demineralization are happening. By maintaining an alkaline diet we assure that more mineralization takes place and our bones stay healthy, our blood stream remains clean, our heart, liver and other vital organs function without deterioration. Coffee always leaves an acid residue and is very detrimental to health. My father literally killed himself from drinking up to twelve cups of coffee and smoking two packs of chesterfield cigarettes per day. He had a very acid condition of his blood. He lost all his teeth at 45 years old and developed cancer of the lungs at 55 and died miserably after cancer treatment meaning operations, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. My father did not eat very well. He ate mostly meat, bread and very few vegetables and fresh food. After he lost his teeth he could eat only soft food. He sickness was due to a very compromised immune system, malnutrition, and impure blood. Many Armenian men, like my father, are addicted to smoking, coffee, meat, liquor and generally eating a very bad diet.

Most health problems are caused by the imbalance of the acid-alkaline balance of the blood. A very easy way and inexpensive way to bring the body back to normal is by consuming large amounts of carrot juice and other vegetable and fruit juices, avoiding all meat, fish, eggs, and detrimental foods mentioned above. Fresh juice contains many minerals that are very useful for alkalizing the body and neutralizing of excess acidity. Following my simple three rules and avoiding detrimental acid forming foods as outlined above and eating my recommended diet will help a person overcome a compromised immune system. This will help the body heal itself without catastropic medical procedures.

There are three main steps in self healing; stimulating and building up the body’s immune system, eliminating toxins, and nourishing the body with very potent natural foods free of preservatives and any other artifical additives. The building up of the immune system takes place by avoiding acid forming foods, and following my dietary suggestions with alot of fresh juices especially carrot juice. Following limited fasting especially on days that are astrologically important such as eleven days after the full moon and eleven days after the new moon and those days that are designated as important by religion. Every religion has important fast days such as lent, ramadan, etc. In the Armenian Orthodox Church there are many days of fasting from all meat. Unfortunately the Armenians don’t follow these very beneficial dietary rules as set down by their religious tradition. Medicinal bathing and sweating stimulates the ability of the body to eliminate toxins through the skin. Fresh juices and water along with foods like prunes and whole grains helps intestinal elimination. The use of medicinal clays used on the body as clay packs and internally are very useful for elimination of toxins. Walking briskly in open spaces with deep breathing is very benficial. Walking up hills increases the oxygen intake and helps to use the full capacity of the lungs by deep breathing. Mild exercise in open areas with fresh air is very helpful. Sun bathing in the morning sun before twelve noon is very beneficial for health. Afternoon sun is not as good and may even be detrimental for health. Bathing in clean and fast current rivers is very beneficial as is bathing in ocean water. Currents of natural bodies of water helps the blood circulation.

The most important food that the body needs is fresh air that is oxygen rich. If we are deprived of oxygen for more than a few minutes we immediately die. Lack of oxygen to any part of the body will cause serious health problems. Lack of oxygen to the heart causes a heart attack; lack of oxygen to the brain causes a stroke. Cancer thrives in an area of the body that is oxygen depleted. It develops in an anerobic environment. Most health problems are caused by poor oxygen distribution in the body. Healing requires improving the oxygen supply to all parts of the body by eliminating all obstructions usually caused by a build up of toxins.

Medicinal bathing is very useful for eliminating toxins and improving blood circulation. The bathtub is one of the greatest inventions in man’s history. If it is used frequently and effectively it can help to protect one’s health tremendously. Better than a bathtub is a clean river or the ocean. One can use the bathtub in the following ways. The following method for detoxification is simple and effective. Fill half your bathtub with warm water and add one cup of bentonite clay. Mix the powder in the water until all the lumps are dissolved. Soak in the warm water and reduce the in-coming water to a trickle of the hottest water possible. The bathtub water will slowly fill and the temperature will increase gradually. If, at any time, you feel uncomfortable you can get out of the tub and apply cold water to your face or the back of your neck. If you have a pre-existing heart problem or blood pressure problem, then do not over stimulate your body with the gradual warm to hot water. Just soak in the warm water bath.

If you are not inconvenienced with the gradually hotter bath water, then continue soaking until the water reaches a level where you can immerse your whole body except for your face. By soaking almost your entire body in very warm water you will increase your body temperature one degree or more. This will cause your body to sweat and release more quickly many toxins along with the bentonite clay’s drawing power. You can also periodically get out of the water and use a hand towel soaked with cold water to rub down your body. A cold water towel rub further stimulates the blood circulation. Also a rubdown with a natural fiber hand mitt will tremendously stimulate blood circulation.

How to make your bathtub into a sauna for free

Once your body is heated by soaking in the water, another technique that increases sweating is to sit with your legs in the bathtub of hot water and cover your head and body with a towel. Do this with your shower curtain closed. The steam from the hot water will cause you to sweat profusely.

All over body clay application

You can directly apply a mixture of water and Bentonite clay made into a paste all over your body. Let the paste slowly dry, then wash off. Direct application of Bentonite clay is very effective for detoxification. (Bentonite clay can also be used instead of soap as a body cleanser. Dilute some Bentonite clay in water, let it sit for five minutes. You can apply it all over your body and rinse it off.)

Aromatherapy detoxification

Another technique for detoxification is to soak in the hot warm bath for twenty minutes. Get out of the tub and towel dry. Apply lavender oil or other suitable essential oils ( like rosemary or eucalyptus oil) all over your body. You can do this by direct application or dilute the oil in water and spray it over your body. Now, wrap yourself in a clean cotton bed sheet and get under your bed covers and relax. You will sweat profusely with the aid of the essential oils and your own body heat.

Kuhloukhuh bagh vodguh dak aroghj yev eemasdoun
Kuhloukhuh dak vodkuh bagh hevant ou himaroutoun

There is another version of this proverb: “Vodguh dak kuhloukhuh bagh kenatz pezjeesk yeghav - With his feet warm and a cool head, he has become a doctor.”

A person who is embroiled in a stressful situation, but remains calm and rational is described as possessing real wisdom (a doctor of life). A hot-headed person, however, is easily angered and can often lose control of his temper for trifles.

Why does a person lose his temper inappropriately? There is a profound verse in the Bhagavad-gita that explains this perplexing occurrence more profoundly than I have ever seen anywhere else. It says, “While contemplating the objects of the senses, one develops attachment for them. From such attachment lust develops and from lust anger arises. From anger, come complete delusion, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost and when intelligence is lost, one falls down into the material whirlpool.”

The process that begins the downward spiral is explained with simple clarity. It begins by observing things improperly. We observe something out of the context of reality. For example, if I see a wallet on the ground. I examine the wallet and find a large amount of money in it as well as credit cards, driver’s license and other identity papers. The wallet belongs to someone. What should I do?

If I look at the money and begin to imagine what I would do with it if it were mine, I might decide to take it and throw away the wallet.

I can also look at the wallet and emphasize with the person who lost it. Accordingly, I decide to return the wallet to its rightful owner without improperly taking anything.

Looking at the wallet and ignoring its real owner, I may begin to develop improper attachment to it. Three things happen. First, I “think” how good it would be if I could have the money for my purposes. Second, I “feel” how good it would be to spend the money for my pleasure. Third, I “will” that I must have this money otherwise I will not be fulfilled. Then I decide to act after thinking, feeling and willing.

My attachment transforms into lust by inappropriately thinking, feeling, and willing. Lust is the strong (and often obsessive) desire to enjoy an object or person. If something happens at this point to stop me from satisfying my lust, I become angry. Anger comes from frustrated lust or powerful material desires. The frustration generates anger and later, greed. The underlying symptom of persons who are easily angered by trifles is that they harbor powerful material desires in their heart that are frustrated. This makes them angry, impatient and greedy.

Keeping a cool head requires clear intelligence by which we see everything in the proper context. If I see a pretty woman, I may begin to meditate on her attractive features or I may think she is the daughter or wife of someone. By comparison I can think that I would not want a stranger lusting over the body of my daughter or wife, so I, in turn, should not lust over the body of a woman in the street. This is an example of seeing in the proper context. Lust and its companion anger is often the result of tunnel vision that ignores the proprietorship of others.

Manur guduhrem vor turun marshem

I visited my Uncle Kevork and stayed in his house for one week. During this time I observed his daily habits. He began the day at 4h30 AM. I would hear him in the kitchen. One morning intrigued by his early rising and activity, I ventured into the kitchen. He was sitting at the kitchen table cutting vegetables. I asked, “Amou, inch guhnes? - Uncle, what are you doing?” He explained that he was cutting lettuce and other vegetables for his salad. I asked why he was taking so much time to cut the salad. His reply has always stayed with me. “Manur guduhrem vor turun marshem - I cut very small slices so that my stomach will easily digest.”

His disciplined approach to life was summed up in this phrase. To maintain his health he spent at least an hour in the early morning meticulously cutting his fresh salad into very fine slices to facilitate his digestion. His life was disciplined to the smallest detail for self- preservation. (Self-preservation is the first law of nature.)

With the same preoccupation for detail and perseverance he was able to save money and build his wealth which meant he lived in his own home without debts and had ample amount of money in the bank. Wealth and wisdom are gradually acquired incrementally (as a glass is filled drop by drop) by self discipline and perseverance.