Shanti Rubenstone, MD

Ananda Palo Alto

Answer

Your question is a good one. It is asked by many, i.e. are medicines “good or bad” and how should we as yogis approach our physical bodies.

Paramhansa Yogananda and Swami Kriyananda do not promote certain medicines for specific illnesses. Yogananda does talk a lot about diet and exercise, and of course the Energization Exercises as an energetic way of dealing with all physical, emotional and spiritual ills.

Gyandev McCord

Ananda Village

Answer

You're right that those foods are not traditionally recommended for seekers. (Note that, for some people, onions and garlic are rajasic and beneficial, in that they can stimulate sluggish digestion. Still, your point is well taken.)

Paramhansa Yogananda (as well as his guru, Sri Yukteswar) recommended simply finding a diet that agrees with you, and going with it until you need to make a change in it. "Proper eatarianism" he called it. A change in diet that is too drastic can be counterproductive. Yoganandaji in fact recommended to some disciples that they eat a bit of fish each week, as their bodies simply weren’t able to function well on a purely vegetarian diet.

Anandi Cornell

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Mansi,

I am sorry to hear of your difficulties. Sometimes spiritual people encounter mental problems that are stronger than their ability to cure themselves with meditation.

If you broke your leg, you probably would go quickly to a doctor for help, instead of expecting to fix it with meditation. Similarly, sometimes people have chemical imbalances in the brain that require medication. Nowadays such imbalances can be corrected by medicines that bring healing, and not lifelong dependence on medication.

Seva Wiberg

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Casey,

After you have finished your meditations or japa, praying for the well-being of others is second nature to us at Ananda. This is a very strong way to extend your meditations to serve others, especially those in physical need.

You can start the prayer with visualizing a master, such as Christ or Yogananda. Feel his light surrounding you and then ask that this healing light go out to your friend. Visualize that this light is healing the whole body of this person or the specific part that is in need. With concentration and will, see your friend well and whole.

Anandi Cornell

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Rama,

I don’t know if Master ate eggs. He did offer many recipes with eggs in his original lessons. He does recommend them as a meat substitute. Swami Kriyananda, his direct disciple, eats eggs occasionally.

I’m sorry to not be able to give more information on this.

Joy to you,

Anandi

Gyandev McCord

Ananda Village

Answer

First, “very deep sleep” is not a bad thing. Far too many people these days have trouble getting deep enough sleep. So don’t feel bad about that unless you feel it is impairing your waking functions.

Another thing to realize is that different people need different amounts of sleep. Eight hours is considered a healthy minimum for most people—but how many people these days do you know who get that much? Most try to get by on much less, much to their disadvantage. And some people legitimately need more than eight hours.

Pranaba Hansen

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Nirmal,

From the perspective of yoga there is the important aspect of karma in regards to God’s healing of an individual.

Karma simply refers to the momentum of energy that one has set into motion from previous thoughts and actions.

It means that someone may be dealt a challenge, whether it be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual that is a result of that person’s past choices (according to yoga this may be also include previous lifetimes). The question is whether that challenge is an obstacle or an opportunity!

Savitri Simpson

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Aditya,

Thank you for writing, and we are so sorry to hear about your severe health challenges. We will pray for you. It is helpful to understand that when we are suffering, we are most probably paying off karma, but not necessarily from this present life--more probably it is from a past life.