From IIM Ahmedabad To Happiness

Author(s): Vijay K Jain
Publisher: Vikalp Printers

Page 37

HEALTH IS MORE THAN WEALTH
augmented or reinforced. When we go sleepless for a night, our body tries to compensate for the lost sleep and after it is able to do so, we are, once again, back to work with the same zeal and vigour. Our infatuation with alcohol makes us intemperate and indiscriminate so long as the unwholesome liquid, along with the spicy and fatty food, is in reaction with our organism; then, the next morning, there is a 'hangover - mental listlessness, exhaustion and fatigue - a sign that our system is in fight with the unwelcome stuff that was imposed on it and ultimately, after a few hours, we regain our senses. Thus, the rallying power of the organism is no less remarkable than its capacity to resist disease, though the power appears to diminish or dwindle away with each trial of strength between the forces of health and the elements inimical to physical well-being. Habitual attacks on our system through overworking, overfeeding and intake of intoxicants and drugs are bound to have their ugly effects on our health and a time may reach when our health is past all hope of cure. No system of treatment, then, is able to afford much relief to the patient, and his existence has nothing in store for him but suffering and pain.
There is every reason to believe that where no heavy inroads are allowed to be made on the resources of the organism, and where the healthful energy of the system is properly husbanded by its occupant, there is hardly any cause to fear the coming into being the conditions which usher ill-health and senescence.
For those who have the power to decide, there are two ways of leading the life. You may aim at perfecting yourself, by bringing into manifestation the good, the true, and the beautiful in your own Soul. Or, you may aspire to acquire dominion over the world and bags of gold and silver. In the former case, knowing the true value of money, you care not to soil your happiness by coming in contact with it, and thus avoid all the worries and flurries and doubts and disappointments of the money-maker. The latter way of leading
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