The idea of ‘Integral Health’ goes beyond healing. It goes also beyond keeping a body free of diseases and physically fit. Mere physical fitness without a corresponding fitness of mind and vital parts, of thoughts and feelings is an animal-like fitness. Even worse, since physically strong and fit body with a crooked and deviant mind may well become an instrument to wreak havoc upon the world. That is far from being the ideal of Integral Health. In the vision of Integral Health, the mind and the body as well as the vital energy has to become instruments of a Higher Consciousness, of the Spirit hidden in Matter.
In this view, the body itself is evolving and has to evolve further so as to accommodate and adapt to the higher ranges and levels of Consciousness that seek to express in earthly life. The process of this adaptation and change of the body-mind instrumentality is called transformation. This change or transformation is a two-fold process. On one side, the human being puts in effort through aspiration, rejection and surrender; on the other hand, the Higher Consciousness descends and changes the body-mind complex and their capacities and functioning. But before the Higher Consciousness can descend and act, a fundamental preliminary change is needed, which is called the psychic change.
The psychic change means that instead of the body and mind being at the mercy of desires, they should become expressive of the soul, our inmost truth. Presently, our mind and body habitually respond to rage, fear, lying etc. All these dark mixtures have been poured into the vessel called the body by our past evolution. Our cells respond to these forces habitually, strongly conditioned through millenniums. Our tongue automatically lies without any necessity, our hands and feet habitually move, restless as a monkey, or slip into inertia. In fact most of the things we do or think are habitually, mechanically, automatically driven by the past impetus of Nature. We have to slowly replace this by a higher intelligent-will called ‘Buddhi’ and then orient the instrument to respond to the soul-impulsions, the deeper, truer will in us. Our actions have to become more conscious and deliberate. This would apply to everything and every area of life. Our relationship with others and the world; our thoughts, feelings, motivations; our work and rest, exercise and walk, sleep and dreams, speech and silence, eating and enjoyings all must be impregnated with an aspiration for Light, Peace, Harmony, Strength, Joy. We may do the same exercises and eat the same food as any other health-regime may suggest but behind it there will be another will and aspiration and it is that which brings the difference.
In essence it would mean a double labour. The first is to engage in daily activities with moderation and balance, most of all with a conscious aspiration. Secondly, to take out some time every day to reflect on the true purpose of life; to practice interiorisation through meditation and concentration and, to practice quietude, peace and equanimity in every sphere of life.
Alok Pandey
