Hi Friends,
To attain real peace we should lead a disciplined life whether we believe in God or not.
Rich and prosperous people live in affluence but not
necessarily in peace of mind. Many a time problems created
by riches and prosperity vitiate the peace of mind.
It is necessary to see 'how' to obtain this peace of mind, in
other words, coenasthasia, or feeling of well-being.
There is a general feeling that peace of mind depends upon
physical well-being; hence the Latin dictum, "Mens Sana,
Corpore Sana", "Sound body, Sound mind." Looked
objectively, this is true in a limited sense only. We generally
feel that as the body depends upon food for sustenance, energy
lost in daily work is replenished by food. When energy is
replenished this way, we get coenasthasia, a feeling of wellbeing.
Thereby, we equate physical energy and mental energy.
Let us see how this falls short of the reality from a rationalist
point of view. Scientists have elaborately calculated by means
of calorimeter how much heat i.e. energy is generally required
by a man in twenty-four hours for the pursuit of his daily
activities. A table has been given in the Text-book of
Physiology on page 345.
In a controlled experiment, it was
calculated that the subject received a total of 1879 large
calories in twenty-four hours. Analysis of the food partaken
by him showed the proportion of the proximate principles as
follows:
Proteins : 58.8 grammes (237 calories)
Fats : 137 grammes (1307 calories)
Carbohydrates : 79.9 grammes (1335 calories)
___________
Total comes to 1859 calories.
Let us see how a man spends this amount of energy in
twenty-four hours.
Channels for Expenditure of Energy : Calories
Heat loss through skin 1374
,, ,, ,, respiration 43
,, ,, ,, urinary system 23
,, ,, ,, vapour by way of
lungs 181
,, ,, ,, perspiration 227
Rectification factor 11
Total 1859
Thus output approximates intake. Difference of twenty
calories is accounted for adjusting error in the use of
calorimeter by the scientific workers.
This means according to Scientists energy expended by the
body is replenished in toto. Even a sedentary man requires
daily 1700 to 1800 calories. An average worker requires upto
2400 calories; a manual worker doing medium heavy work
upto 2800 calories and a heavy manual worker upto 5000
calories. Medical Science tries to assure us that under any
circumstances loss of energy in daily work is total
replenishment of energy as advocated by medical science,
then there is absolutely no reason for man to become old and
decrepit. Basal metabolism of a man at the age of 20 years is
40 calories per metre square per hour. There is no reason for
this figure to go on diminishing progressively to 35-1/2
calories per metre square per hour at the age of 70, if the
contention of medical science that the renlenishment of energy
by food is total, is true.
In short, while considering so-called physical energy alone
as replenished by food, one has to take into account the vital
factor of mind-energy which takes an essential part in this
exchange.
It is clear from the above discussion that the proposition
"More work, More expenditure of Energy" is a true one. Motive
for more work is selfishness or desire taking many various
expansive forms. Habit of work will always remain as
inevitable and therefore, necessary, but one should try to see
that at least for some time in one's daily activities, selfishness
and devious ways of desire do not enter into the picture. Thus
a reverse cycle can be set in motion on the back-drop of mind.
And the seed of peace and contentment will take a firm root in
the soil of mind. We have already discussed this aspect in the
preceding articles, here only the interconnecting principle is
enunciated again for stress and emphasis.
'By doing some 'Social
Service', one experiences an exhilarating feeling of
'inner peace' and in fullness of time, this unique experience
is translated into enduring happiness according to
-Swami Vijnananand
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