Preksha Dhyana Self Awareness by Relaxation

Author(s): Mahapragna Acharya
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 19

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tension that causes the trouble, impairs performance and leads to exhaustion and illness. Amongst the causes of sustained and inappropriate high level of tension are sudden changes in one's life style. Drs. Holmes and R. Rahe have quantified a number of life style changes such as the death of a spouse. Some of the changes and scores listed by them are : Death of spouse 100 Retirement
45 Divorce 73 Sexual problem
39 Injury or Illness 53 Change in work
29 Marriage
Change in living condition
25 Dismissal from work 47 Change in eating
or sleeping habits
16 The list is not complete and all points listed are not relevant to every one. If the score was over 300, there was likely to be serious illness, while a score of over 100 indicates that remedial measures should be taken. Obviously, one 'change' at a time would be easier to cope with. However, life is not so simple and if one has to meet several changes simultaneously, adjustment of reaction by remedial measures such as exercise and relaxation is necessary.
Cure is also Inherent
Modern life styles are most unlikely to change for the better. Sure, we have developed pharmaceutical wonder drugs in the form of tranquilizers, which give a temporary relief. In the long term, however, the medicine itself creates more serious problems than the original disease. The question is : Are we then destined to be doomed by our environmental conditions or are we capable of adapting overselves so as to avoid, at least, the more injurious effects of the daily stress?
Fortunately, we possess and can activate the innate mechanism which produces physiological conditons, which are diametrically opposite to the fight or flight response. Nobel Laurreate, Swiss Physiologist Dr. Walter described this response as a protective mechanism against overstress, promot