Self Image

Your self-image plays a major part in how you live your life. It determines the quality of your life and, often, how successful you will be. It also sets the tone, rhythm and meter for all your relationships, both personal and professional.

A strong self-image can be the foundation for achieving a meaningful life and self-fulfillment, according to Vanessa Bell, an Encino, Calif.-based psychotherapist.

Simply defined, "your self-image is how you feel about yourself at any particular time," she says.
It's formed in many ways. Initially it's molded by family, friends and your intellectual and physical abilities, and later on in life by job successes and failures. "All these things influence how people feel about themselves, and they also influence the expectations people have about themselves at any particular time," says Bell.

In the critical childhood years, parents are largely responsible for shaping self-image, according to Bell. "They help shape a child's mirror, or reflection of himself," she says. "Parents are a very powerful impacting force on children."

A mental blueprint
Your self-image can be likened to a mental blueprint. It's a picture of what you think you are, not necessarily who you really are. Most of the things you do and feel are consistent with your self-image. Your subconscious mind, which is responsible for most of your behavior, forms your self-image. But your subconscious mind, however, can't distinguish between truth and lies.

Some researchers say that most of the things we believe about ourselves are negatives. We see and interpret everything around us through a negative filter. It creates barriers, blocking our path to getting what we want. The subconscious mind has been compared to a tape recorder, recording every word. It makes sure that everything you tell it becomes fact. If you're convinced you're going to blow an interview, for exa mple, your subconscious mind will make sure you fumble questions and make a poor impression. But if you're convinced you're totally prepared for the interview and believe you'll ace it, your subconscious mind will make sure you turn in an impressive performance.

Good or bad self-image
Problems with self-image are one of the main reasons people seek help from psychotherapists, according to Bell. "Most people's image of themselves is often wounded by early life experiences," she says. "We tend to define ourselves, especially in our early years, by the way we are defined by others. If we have been treated with love and kindness, and if we have been made to feel special in some way, we often begin to feel that way about ourselves."

Misreading signals
A positive self-image is often confused with arrogance or superiority. But there is no connection, says Bell. "If you have a healthy self-image, you don't feel the need to assert yourself over others," Bell explains. "Yet often, people with a poor self-image need to exaggerate their own worth at the expense of others by putting others down. Gossiping about other people is a way of saying that you are better than the person you're gossiping about. But if you have a positive self-image, you can acknowledge your own worth and validate other people's worth as well."
Top decision-makers have good self-images
It certainly plays a part in the success equation, says Bell. But there are other factors that play a part as well. A good self-image can set the stage, making great things possible. Presidents and CEOs of companies also must have the necessary qualifications, along with the creative and intellectual abilities that are required to do their jobs well. But they also have positive expectations about what they can achieve, which comes from their positive self-image.
John Agno, an executive coach in Ann Arbor, Mich., says that if you are un clear about who you are and where you want to go, people can't help you get there. Only you can chart your own course leading to success. You're not going to reach it without a good self-image. If you have a strong self-image, you're more likely to "act in accordance with what you know to be true," he says.
Alexander Aldarow, a psychotherapist and writer, separates self-image and self-esteem. Self-image, he says, is formed by comparisons you make between yourself and those around you. It's a judgment call. "Sadly, it is often negative, because you can usually find someone better than you at almost everything," says Aldarow. "Self-image in turn affects self-esteem."
Bell, however, says self-image and self-esteem are blood relatives. They work together. You can't have a good self-image without self-esteem, she says.
How's your self-image?
Grade yourself by answering the following questions:
1. Do you blame other people for your problems?
2. Do you hold onto guilt from the past?
3. Are you suspicious of people who say nice things about you?
4. Do you tend to let yourself go, physically?
5. Do you make decisions based only on external feedback?
6. Do you avoid risk and stick to only what you know?
7. Do you frequently ridicule others?
8. Do you see mistakes as failures rather than as an opportunity to grow and learn?
9. Do you have difficulty dealing with criticism? Do you become angry and defensive?
If you answered yes to all or most of these questions, you have a poor self-image.
Ten tips for boosting your self-image
Bell offers the following 10 tips for building a positive self-image.
1. Reflect upon the good rather than the negative experiences in your life.
2. Form positive, achievable goals.
3. Examine unrealistic expectations.
4. Recognize that your history can't be changed, yet you can positively control the present and lay the foundation for a positive future.
5. Learn from past mistakes.
6. Take responsibility for your feelings, actions and mistakes, rather than blaming others.
7. Don't be overly critical of other people.
8. Learn from criticism.
9. Examine your relationships (professional and personal) to find out if your needs are being met.
10. Invest time in building friendships with people who complement you and support you.

The Haircut - BOTH POLITICIANS AND DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON!

One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.' The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you , I'm doing community service this week.' The cop was happy and left the shop. The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Then a Member of Parliament came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The Member of Parliament was very happy and left the shop. The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen other Members of Parliament lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.

BOTH POLITICIANS AND DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON!

It's called Mindset!!

As my friend was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from the ropes they were tied to but for some reason, they did not. My friend saw a trainer nearby and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away.

"Well," he said, "when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it's enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free." My friend was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn't, they were stuck right where they were.

Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? So make an attempt to grow further.... Why shouldn't we try it again?

"YOUR ATTEMPT MAY FAIL, BUT NEVER FAIL TO MAKE AN ATTEMPT."

BREATHING THERAPY

The nose has a left and a right side; we use both to inhale and exhale. Actually they are different; you would be able to feel the difference.

The right side represents the sun & left side represents the moon.

During a headache, try to close your right nose and use your left nose to breathe. In about 5 minutes, your headache will be gone.

If you feel tired, just reverse, close your left nose and breathe through your right nose. After a while, you will feel your mind is refreshed.

Right side belongs to 'hot', so it gets heated up easily, left side belongs to 'cold'.

Most females breathe with their left noses, so they get 'cooled off' faster.

Most of the guys breathe with their right noses so they get worked up.

Do you notice the moment we wake up, which side breathes faster? Left or right? If left is faster you will feel tired. So, close your left nose and use your right nose for breathing, you will get refreshed quickly.

This can be taught to kids, but it is more effective when practiced by adults.

This alternative natural therapy without medication can be experienced. So, why not give it a try? Something new that I got to know. Let me know if this works for you. I am going to try this too.

What is meditation

Mind without agitation is meditation.
Mind in the present moment is meditation
Mind that has no hesitation, no anticipation is meditation.
Mind that has comeback home, to the source, is meditation.
Mind that becomes 'no-mind' is meditation.

It all lies in how we perceive it.

A business executive was deep in debt and could see no way out. Creditors were closing in on him. Suppliers were demanding payment. He sat on the park bench, head in hands, wondering if anything could save his company from bankruptcy. Suddenly an old man appeared before him. "I can see that something is troubling you," he said. After listening to the executive's woes, the old man said, "I believe I can help you."

He asked the man his name, wrote out a check, and pushed it into his hand saying, "Take this money. Meet me here exactly one year from today, and you can pay me back at that time." Then he turned and disappeared as quickly as he had come. The business executive saw in his hand a check for $500,000, signed by John D. Rockefeller, then one of the richest men in the world!

"I can erase my money worries in an instant!" he realized. But instead, the executive decided to put the un cashed check in his safe. Just knowing it was there might give him the strength to work out a way to save his business, he thought.

With renewed optimism, he negotiated better deals and extended terms of payment. He closed several big sales. Within a few months, he was out of debt and making money once again.

Exactly one year later, he returned to the park with the un cashed check. At the agreed-upon time, the old man appeared. But just as the executive was about to hand back the check and share his success story, a nurse came running up and grabbed the old man.

"I'm so glad I caught him!" she cried. "I hope he hasn't been bothering you. He's always escaping from the rest home and telling people he's John D. Rockefeller."

And she led the old man away by the arm. The astonished executive just stood there, stunned. All year long he 'd been wheeling and dealing, buying
and selling, convinced he had half a million dollars behind him. Suddenly, he realized that it wasn't the money, real or imagined, that had turned his life around. It was his newfound self-confidence that gave him the power to achieve anything he went after.

Confidence comes from ones own commitment and dedication to ones vision.

Seeing ourselves having what we want and feeling it with us all the time increases our confidence enormously. Whether real or imagined doesn't matter.

It all lies in how we perceive it.

Life As A Game

A 30 second  Speech by Bryan Dyson (CEO of Coca Cola)

"Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them - work, family, health, Friends and spirit and you're keeping all of these in the Air.

You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.

But the other four Balls - Family, Health, Friends and Spirit - are made of glass. If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it.”

Why do we shout in anger?

A saint asked his disciples, 'Why do we shout in anger? Why do people  shout at each other when they are upset?'

Disciples thought for a while, one of them said, 'Because we lose our calm, we shout for that.'

'But, why to shout when the other person is just next to you?' asked the saint. 'Isn't it possible to speak to him or her with a soft voice? Why do you shout at a person when you're angry?'

Disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the saint.

Finally he explained, 'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other through that great distance.'

Then the saint asked, 'What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, why? Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is very small...'

The saint continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that's all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.'

MORAL: When you argue do not let your hearts get distant, do not say words that distance each other more, else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return.

5 simple ways to lower cholesterol

Like anything else in life we are always looking for a short cut. Can we do our job better in half the time, can we go on a fad diet to lose 20lbs in a month, just in time for your daughter's wedding or can you shorten your drive to your client by taking the side roads. Unfortunately when it comes to health, you can't erase years of damage with the stroke of a wand. While most people look for a quick fix and turn to popping a pill to lower cholesterol, there are some natural ways that are free of any side effects and best of all you will get the added side effects of more energy, weight loss and a decrease in your scores.
What is cholesterol anyway?
Cholesterol, a waxy like substance, is the most common type of steroid in the body and is made by the liver. It is present in every cell in the body and in many foods such as whole fat milk dairy products, meat and eggs. Some cholesterol in the blood is necessary, but high levels of cholesterol in the blood can lead to health problems such as coronary heart disease. While there are certain factors that you cannot control such as age, gender or family history, there are other lifestyle changes that you can easily change, that will help lower your cholesterol scores and your risk of heart disease. Changing your eating habits, getting more exercise and quitting smoking are the first steps to managing your cholesterol.

1. Fibre Up - the average North American consumes 14 grams of fibre per day. That is well below the recommended daily allowance of 25-35 grams per day. Simply adding more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans will help to lower your cholesterol. Research has shown that consuming about15 g of soluble fiber a day can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol by 5 to 10 percent. Not only does it lower cholesterol it also helps to curb cravings. So next time you reach for a bag of chips think of a fibre rich snack such as an apple with a handful of nuts or some fresh peas and carrots.
2. De-stress - while we cannot get away from stress completely we can control it. A new study in The American Psychological Association (APA), states that stress increases your heart rate, lowers the immune system's ability to fight colds and increase certain inflammatory markers and increases cholesterol. So try not to let stress get the better of you. Remove yourself from the situation where possible and take three deep breaths to calm you down. You will be surprised at how effective this strategy is.
3. Lose weight - simply losing 5-10lbs of weight will be enough to lower your scores. The key is to lose it slow and steady (1-2lbs per week) and to keep it off. By simply cutting back 500 calories per day, you will lose one pound per week. If you're significantly overweight, be sure to consult your doctor before embarking on any weight loss program.
4. Lower your fat intake - aim to eat no more than 30% of your calories from fat and lower you saturated fat intake to no more than 10% . Make sure that you daily fat intake includes the good fats such as olive oil, avocado, olives and nuts. Aim to include the omega 3 fatty acids in your diet such as mackerel, salmon, tuna and sardines which have been shown to lower levels of VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) and triglycerides.
5. Exercise - is a magic bullet. It not only is the best workout for your heart, it lowers the risk of heart disease and can increase your good cholesterol (HDL) levels. So aim for thirty minutes of exercise per day. Do what you love to do and exercise will not be considered a chore.

Unfortunately there is no quick fix, but taking control of you health will not only lower your cholesterol scores, it will add years to your life. And remember we are all here for a good time and a long time, so let's make the most of life.

Advise from Warren Buffet...

"We begin this New Year with dampened enthusiasm and dented optimism. Our happiness is diluted and our peace is threatened by the financial illness that has infected our families, organizations and nations.

Everyone is desperate to find a remedy that will cure their financial illness and help them recover their financial health. They expect the financial experts to provide them with remedies, forgetting the fact that it is these experts who created this financial mess.

Every new year, I adopt a couple of old maxims as my beacons to guide my future. This self-prescribed therapy has ensured that with each passing year, I grow wiser and not older.

This year, I invite you to tap into the financial wisdom of our elders along with me, and become financially wiser.

Hard work:   All hard work brings profit; but mere talk leads only to poverty.
Laziness:       A sleeping lobster is carried away by the water current.
Earnings:       Never depend on a single source of income.
Spending:      If you buy things you don't need, you'll soon sell things you need.
Savings:        Don't save what is left after spending; Spend what is left after saving.
Accounting:    It's no use carrying an umbrella, if your shoes are leaking.
Auditing:        Beware of little expenses; a small leak can sink a large ship.
Risk-taking:    Never test the depth of the river with both feet.
Investment:    Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

I'm certain that those who have already been practicing these principles remain financially healthy. I'm equally confident that those who resolve to start practicing these principles will quickly regain their financial health. Let us become wiser and lead a happy, healthy, prosperous and peaceful life."

-- Warren Buffet

Nobody likes to be criticized.

Don't take it personally! How to accept -- and benefit from -- criticism

Nobody likes to be criticized.

When the complaint is coming from a client or customer, however, criticisms can actually be your best friend.

Whether they're about you, your company or your product, constructive criticism can be a powerful opportunity for you to improve your sales technique, close more deals -- and increase your revenues.

The key is to not respond defensively or angrily. Most sales people -- like most people period -- get their dander up the moment anyone says anything even remotely negative. They get defensive, angry or, in the worst-case scenario, they look for ways to retaliate either overtly or coercively.

The following four-step process can help you learn how to take criticism well, and even begin to use it to enhance your client relationships.

Step 1: Thank the client for their feedback.

Try saying something like "thanks for bringing this to my attention, I appreciate the opportunity you've given me to improve (the level of service, my responsiveness, etc)."

Step 2: Ask questions.

People love to teach others what to do. So involve your customer in the solution by asking them what suggestions they have that might help you improve.

Asking questions will allow you and your client to have a constructive dialogue around the issue at hand. Who knows, the client may even make a suggestion you never thought of.

Step 3: Listen.

Your client is entitled to their opinion. So whatever they have to say -- hear them out.

Listen to what is being said, process it, reflect on it and then use it to improve. Try taking notes to show that what they're saying is important to you. If your client feels you're taking their opinion seriously, they'll be less likely to get angry and more willing to work with you to reach a resolution.

If you listen with the intent to improve, you'll have an even better chance of understanding their point of view. Use the listening techniques you've developed as a sales professional to ask probing questions or ask for examples. And remember: let the client do at least 70 per cent of the talking.

At the end of the conversation, summarize what they've said to show them that you understand. Then ask for one more opinion: what they think you should do to improve.

Step 4: Commit to improve.

Finally, always let the customer know that you appreciate their opinions and suggestions -- and that you will be taking concrete steps to improve. You can even go so far as to ask whether they'd like you to check in with them again in a couple of weeks.

In the meantime, don't turn your back on what they've said or try to forget about it. Spend some time looking for any validity in the criticism, and perhaps share the feedback with someone you can trust to tell you the truth. This will also give you a chance to look at the criticism from a neutral perspective.

One last thought: I've seen far too many people pull their ads, cancel programs, postpone events or ruin otherwise profitable relationships just because somebody got offended. So whatever you do -- don't ever take criticism personally.

I know this can be hard to do, especially when it's coming from someone you like (or someone who signs your paychecks). The fact of the matter is, if you're not offending at least one person, you're probably not pushing hard enough.

The reality is you may make two to three per cent of your clients uncomfortable. That's okay, because you weren't going to sell to them anyway. The thing to remember is that the other 97 per cent of your clients really want to see your personality, your style and your communication reflected in your work. If you try to make everyone happy, the only thing you can be certain of is becoming a bland commodity that no one will be particularly excited about.

Only you can give other people permission to make you feel bad. Interpreting criticism as a subjective opinion with a solution instead of a personal rebuke will help you grow, build better relationships and, ultimately, become more successful.

So take the opinions and criticism of others seriously, not personally. Use what they say to create an action plan to upgrade your performance, both personally and professionally.

And don't worry about being perfect. As the Bard once said -- to thine own self be true. Be your best not for your boss, your customers or even your family. Be your best for you.

Why should we not eat green and raw vegetables on some special days?

The rules and principles relating to food in the Jain dharma are based on considerations relating to health and non- violence (giving protection to creatures). There is a profound scientific reason underlying the principle of prohibiting the consuming of green vegetables on festivals and festive occasions You may see what it is ?

There is a strong gravitational force acting between the earth and the moon. The gravitational force of the moon is greater on the water on the earth. The ebb and tide in the seas also change in accordance with the waning and waxing of the moon. If we think of the revolution of the moon around the earth, we find that the moon comes a little nearer the earth, on such days of the Shukla Paksh the bright fortnight and the Krishna Paksh the bleak fortnight as Panchmi (the fifth day ), Ashtami the Eighth day, the eleventh day, the fourteenth day, the new-moon day and the full-moon day.

WhY? We should not take food in the night.

Consuming food, water etc. in the night is very strictly prohibited in the Jain Dharma There are two reasons for this prohibition. First, if we eat food during the night, there is the possibility of our committing violence because many minute creatures and germs may get killed if we take food during night times. Secondly if we take food late in the night we may not be able to digest it because we will not do any work in the night that helps digestion. Hence, it is not good to take food in the night according to the principles of health. The habit of consuming food etc. during the night may result in indigestion foul smell in the breath, putrefaction of teeth, constipation and several diseases of the throat. The digestive system becomes inactive during the night owing to the absence of sunlight. Hence the food taken during night, does not get digested; and its putrefaction in the body is harmful to health. The germs and microbes that disappear when there is sunlight do not really get destroyed; they take shelter in the shadowy places and after sunset, they enter pervade the atmosphere. These microbes that are invisible to the naked eye, get into our food and cause many dreadful diseases.

Of all the religions in the world, the Jain Dharm is unique in examining with great care and thoughtful-ness even such comparatively small matters as food and drink. The Jain dharma concentrates more on the development of the mind than on the development of the body. After all certain effects of food, both good and bad. fall not only on the body, but on the mind

Jain Dharma prohibits the eating of the following things

The Jain Dharma has adopted for Itself the method of releasing the soul from all the bondages of Karma as the ultimate and supreme aim of life. Only human beings are capable of cutting off the hard and deceptive bondage of Karma. Other beings cannot achieve this aim completely. In the endeavor to achieve deliverance, the cooperation of the body is very important. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of the body. But we should not forget one vital point in this connection. Just as we should not cause the body to wither away with hunger, thirst and hardships, so also we should not make it bulky and florid by enjoying ( eating and drinking ) various things. If the senses and the mind should remain healthy and wholesome we should exercise control over our instincts and passions; and in this manner, we should exercise discipline in respect of food. Moreover, with a peaceful and elevated mind we should contemplate on the soul, achieve firmness and cheerfulness and should achieve self- realization.

Here is a list of things that should not be taken (eaten).

Meat-eating - One should not eat any kind of meat.
Alcoholic drinks - People should not take any alcoholic drinks including beer.
Eggs - Eggs and the so called vegetarian eggs also should not be eaten.
Roots - Potatoes, onions, garlic, carrot, radish, ginger, sweet potato, white yam. the elephant's foot ( a root ) and other such roots should not be eaten.

Some other foods - Brinjal, cheese, cream. honey, butter etc., should not be consumed.
Eating ( Dwidal ) pulses - Preparing food by mixing raw dwidal with raw milk and curds (The grains like wheat, Bengal gram, Green gram, black gram, lentil etc. ). This is Viruddha food or prohibited food for body and soul.

Stale food - Eating of stale food ( which has remained in the night) in the next morning is prohibited.

If we think of all these items from the religious point of view, they are not fit to be eaten because eating such food involves the killing of various kinds of microscopic creatures and germs; and so people should abstain from eating them. If we think of them from the point of view of health and physical wellbeing we find that they provoke the darker aspects of human nature. They provoke the senses, the instincts and the passions. They provide fuel to the fire of latent and dormant instincts and passions. The virtues like tenderness, softness, kindness, equanimity and peace wither away by the consumption of such foods. The choice of food should depend more on considerations relating to the natural freshness. health and wellbeing of the mind than on considerations relating to the wellbeing and nourishment of the body.

It is necessary to filter water:

For the most part, in Jain families, they first filter water by means of a thick and clean cloth and then use it for drinking, bathing and for washing clothes, because there will be countless creatures in water; moreover, flying creatures may fall into open vessels. Filtering water is necessary even if we think of kindness to these creatures. If water is filtered those creatures are saved; moreover, filtered water is not only good but absolutely essential for health. We should place covers or lids on vessels containing water meant for bathing and washing so that flying creatures may not fall into them. Sometimes, some poisonous creatures also may fall into those vessels or their saliva, spittle etc., may fall into them if they are kept open; and so such things cause harm to health.

Why should water be boiled ?

Jains, while performing Biyasan and any higher austerity have to drink only boiled water. First, water should be filtered and boiled and then cooled, Then they can drink it; that too, only before the sunset; not after that. They should not drink water in the nights. Of course, when water is heated once, all the countless beings in it, die. But according to the Jain doctrines, in boiled water beings will not be born and so will not die for a certain period according to the season. In unboiled water every moment countless creatures are born and they die. So if once the water is boiled further violence is avoided. The sin of killing creatures is committed only once if the water is heated; and this avoids the committing of that sin again and again. Thoughtful people incur a small loss if by that small loss they can get a large profit. Of course, we should not cause violence to creatures; but we cannot live without water; so minimizing sins, we should use water. If the use of hot water is necessary, it has to be used. Meaningless use is improper. Now-a-days, even great physicians and doctors prescribe the drinking of hot water. Boiled water is good for health. In china, today, in large hotels drinkimg-water is first boiled and then cooled.

Tapasya and the codes of conduct:

Food has been considered inevitable for existence. It has been considered essential. The impact of food falls on the body as well as on the mind. " The food we eat determines the nature of our minds". Moreover there is the epigram, "As is the food; so is the mood" Such statements are certainly true. They contain truth. The body helps us in our spiritual endeavors. The enlightened men have prescribed the quantity of food to be taken; the time at which food should be taken and the kinds of food that should be taken to keep the body vigorous and healthy. They have made a beautiful analysis of these points. They have pointed out some austerities to get rid of karmas; moreover, they have also prescribed some prohibitions in respect of eating and drinking. Just as total fasting is a tapasya, even restriction to some kinds of to be taken is also a kind of tapascharya; austerity.

Twelve kinds of austerities have been described. Of these, six are external and six are internal.

Bahya External: means that which can be seen.

Abhyantar Internal:means that which cannot be seen externally.

Why should we not eat certain types of food?

(Prohibited food)

Certain kinds of food like pulses should be given up. They are prohibited by Dharma because they are generative of life and so eating them amounts to violence. Moreover, according to the science of health and physiology, by the mixing of certain things, certain substances that can cause chemical reactions, are produced. They convert foreign substances into poisons which get into the body Since they do not get out of the body in the form of perspiration etc., they get into blood and pollute it. On account of this it may become polluted and ooze out causing skin-diseases. Therefore, We should not eat raw pulses like green gram, black gram, bengal gram, beans etc., mixing them with raw milk or curds. The Jain dharma has prohibited the consumption of such food under the name, Dwidal Tyag(The renunciation of pulses).In addition to this, we should not consume such thlngs as fruit salad, ice-cream, fruit-shrikand(fruit slices mixed with sugar and curds),Dahi fruit(fruit mixed with curds) and all antibiotic medicines since they are made up of different substances the combination of which is harmful to our health.

Is our food killing us?

Have you ever gone out for Chinese food and felt bloated, dizzy, got headaches and experienced tightness in your chest? You made the connection with the food you ate and vowed that you were never going for Chinese food again, unless it was a place that does not use MSG.

But what most people don't know is that MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) is in thousands of processed foods. You will find it in salad dressing; frozen dinners; potatoes chips and in most fast food. What is even more of a concern is that it goes under more than twenty-five different names, making it almost impossible to decipher, unless of course you have a degree in food science.

So what is MSG anyways and why is it in our food chain? MSG was introduced over fifty years ago. It is a flavourless crystalline substance that has no flavour of its own but will enhance the flavour of certain foods that it is mixed with. It is also used as a meat tenderizer and in its pure form, goes under the name "Accent".

Food manufacturers use it because it makes their food taste good, actually so good that it becomes addictive and you can't stop eating it. Pretty smart marketing isn't it, because the more you eat, the more you buy and the more you increase their bottom line.

MSG has been linked to a host of disorders including: obesity; asthma, high blood pressure; blindness; migraines and Type II Diabetes. Although there are reports for and against the safety of MSG, the numbers speak for themselves. As MSG increased in our food supply, so did asthma, Type II Diabetes and obesity.

According to the latest report from the BBC, China has witnessed a 28 fold increase in childhood obesity from 1985-2000. As fast food and more proceeded foods were introduced into their food chain, the obesity rates climbed. In John Erb's book the "The Slow Poisoning of America", he states that thousands of research reports done on rats injected with MSG showed they became obese. Rats by nature are not obese animals. If MSG is an addictive substance like nicotine, it is no wonder we are a population of expanding waistlines.

Instead of being persuaded by ulterior motives by the food giants, get informed about what you are eating so you can make smarter choices. The following is a list of some of the names that MSG is known as:

* Glutamate
* Glutamic Acid
* Gelatin
* Monopotassium
* Hydrolyzed Plant Protein (HVP) or (HPP)
* Autolyzed Yeast
* Sodium Caseinate
* Calcium Caseinate
* Textured Protein
* Yeast Extract

My lesson for the day, try to eat a cleaner diet free of additives and preservatives. Your body will thank you for it.

By Dini Cohen

WHY WE SHOULD'NT EAT BEFORE SUNRISE & AFTER SUNSET

We all have myth that after Sunset if we eat it is as against non violence & sin (Paap).

If Mahaveer had said in this prospective it is true b'coz in low light any type of flies or mosquitoes can fall in food which may not visible to naked eye. If this was the meaning then it doesn't have any sense today where we have powerful lights which can substitute Day Light.

We should understand it in proper way, at Sunrise Life starts & after sunset its time to rest and our body doesn't require any energy in night. As soon as we eat something and it goes below our throat entire internal body parts starts working to digest the food. In night oxygen level drops and carbon dioxide level increases, we need oxygen (Prana Vayu) to digest food.

It also have in depth meanings : you would had noticed as soon as food reaches to stomach our mind becomes dull and we feel sleeping b'coz our entire energy goes in digesting food and mind doesn't get the enough supply of required energy so we feel sleeping thats why when we are on fasting we can't sleep properly as mind gets more energy and we become sleepless.

We also intake more food & water unknowingly above facts as we think it's sunset time & we shouldn't eat in the night and eat food in hurry without chewing properly. Our stomach will more upset if we had food & water in hurry it requires at least 30 minutes gap between drinking water & having food to digest it properly.

If we had to avoid food at night we have to change our eating habits & routines. We should eat before 1 hour of Sunset so we get enough energy to digest food properly.

Psychiatrists says bad dreams & sleeplessness is due to un-digested food lying in our stomach and it disturbs our sleep. And unknowingly we takes big meals ie.dinner in night which is against our biological system.