Ask Ananda’s Experts
Questions and answers about meditation, yoga, the spiritual life, and more

Nayaswami Savitri

Ananda Village

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Dear Suchitra,

We are sorry to hear of the difficulties you are experiencing in your life right now. There are many tools which you can use to pull yourself into a much happier mental and emotional state. If you don’t have a regular practice of daily prayer and meditation, that would be the first place to start. Let us know if you need help with that process.

Nayaswami Parvati

Ananda Village

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Of course your situation is a difficult one, but it sounds as though you have chosen to make the most of it in one way, and that is in serving people. This is a good beginning. But what I don’t know about you is, are you on a spiritual path? Are you interested in getting to know yourself on a deeper level, and, most importantly, do you have a regular meditation practice? Regarding God’s plan for us, Ananda members follow the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda, which allow us to make sense of this world we find ourselves in through communing with the higher Self, the soul within. Through the practices of our spiritual path, and the guidance of the guru, we gradually understand that God’s plan for us is that we remember our oneness in Him, and that we live in the experience of His bliss within us.

Nayaswami Gyandev

Ananda Village

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Dear Sem,

It seems that you need more energy as well as more focus. Fortunately, there are practices that can help you.

I think that the best place to begin is with Paramhansa Yogananda’s Energization Exercises. Here is a link to some information about this system and 3 of its exercises. Next time you go into a situation where your brain sometimes disappoints you, try those 3 sample exercises immediately beforehand. (It would be even better to do all 39 of those exercises; I am simply trying to give you a taste of it.)

Answer

Dear Gopalakrishnan,

High blood pressure is a serious condition that causes many complications that are very detrimental to your health. Please follow your physician’s recommendations for taking medications.

You can enhance the effect of the medication and likely reduce the dosage in future, with your physician’s guidance, if you lose weight (if you are overweight), stop smoking (if you smoke), follow a low salt diet and practice yogic techniques of pranayama, deep relaxation, and meditation.

Nayaswami Diksha

Ananda Village

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Dear Cyril,

In How to Achieve Glowing Health and Vitality Yogananda refers to: nuts and seeds as meat substitutes. He refers especially to nuts such as almonds, walnuts, cashews as meat substitutes. Of course all legumes (lentils and beans) are great substitutes for meat.

I hope this answers your question.


Joy to you,

Diksha McCord

Nayaswami Mangala

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Blanca,

Thanks for this interesting question. Garlic can be regarded for both it’s medicinal properties and it’s qualities from a yogic perspective.

On page 121-2 of The Art and Science of Raja Yoga, Swami Kriyananda explains that according to the teachings of yoga, it is recommended that the diet focus on harmonious (sattvic) rather than stimulating (rajasic) foods. This is so that the nervous system will be cool, relaxed and peaceful (sattvic) in order to facilitate one’s ability to live guided by one’s inner Self. Sattvic or elevating foods tend to make one’s consciousness more spiritual. When one consumes rajasic, heating and stimulating foods, it tends to activate and excite the nervous system, and this can make it more difficult to be spiritually focused.

Nayaswami Anandi

Ananda Village

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Dear Robin,

Please understand that I have no medical background. I know spiritual people who have been helped through rough spots by antidepressants. On the other hand, to take a medication is not the right choice for everyone. I can’t answer your question about medicine altering brain chemistry and your relationship with God.

Nayaswami Mangala

Ananda Village

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Dear Glenda,

Congratulations on your doing Yogananda’s Cleansing Diet! Yes, his instructions do say 2 pounds of "good bath salts." However, when we offer the Cleansing Diet program here at the Expanding Light, we suggest that people use at least 2 cups. This is less than 2 pounds, but it does seem to be enough for most people to feel the cleansing effect. Two pounds a night can be fairly expensive, but if you wanted to follow his instructions to the letter, then that is what he said.