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SUMMARY Paramahamsa Niranjanananda
In his address yesterday, Dr. H.R. Nagendra enlightened us on the upanishadic view of the science of creation, and today he has expressed his broad outlook on all aspects of yogic science.
It seems that most ailments arise due to the malfunctioning of the immune system. What is the cause of infections such as the common cold? The protective immune system loses strength and the body thus loses its ability to fight off the viruses, resulting in infections like the common cold. When resistance falls further it results in fever or gastro intestinal upsets. A further decline leads to more chronic, complex disorders, and when this downhill trend continues and becomes extreme, it results in dreaded diseases such as cancer and AIDS.
AIDS, that terrifying word which stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, the condition of being HIV positive, is a disease of the immune system. The acquired state of deficiency of the immune system that results in this illness is present in other diseases too. Therefore, we may conclude that all diseases, from the common cold to being HIV positive are different grades of AIDS. Some viruses are more virulent than others, but the weakness of the immune system is always the cause of the disease manifesting. So I think you will agree that all ailments can be called AIDS.
Tension within the mind is one of the causes of disorder within the physical body. But tension is a symptom of something else, of a different state that we commonly call 'stress'. When we are under stress, tension is born. All the diseases and the results that have been proven after the practice of yoga, point to one fact. If we can manage the stress caused in our lives, we shall acquire health. If we cannot manage this stress we shall face diseases ranging from the common cold to being HIV positive. For fighting stress, the one solution is yoga.
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