Buddha’s diagnosis of human suffering has two parts in which he explains the  nature of suffering and the cause of suffering , contained in the First and Second Noble Truth respectively. The First Noble Truth explains the existence of suffering, referring to it with the word dukha, which encompasses the underlying sense  unsatisfactoriness of human experiences and its pervasiveness throughout life . It also points towards the impermanent nature of reality, namely pleasure. Another aspect of duhkha besides the pursuit of pleasure is the aversion of pain and suffering. The second Noble Truth proposes that the  cause of suffering is the tendency to crave pleasure and a tendency to cling to it . Often the word attachment is used to describe the tendency to pursue pleasure and to try to sustain it. In first two noble truths Buddha describes nature and cause of suffering while in third and fourth Buddha gives prescription to this suffering that is how one can remain in b...

Diabetes is common and its incidence is rising. Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common accounting for 85 – 95% of cases. Complications in the microvasculature (eye, kidney and nerve) are responsible for considerable morbidity and excess mortality. Below are some general guidelines for Diabetes management:  • Quench thirst with water or other sugar - free drinks • Eat regular meals, avoiding fried and very sugary foods • Eat plenty of vegetables • Have high - fibre and low glycaemic index foods, including whole grains, legumes or brown rice as the main part of each meal • Limit consumption of high glycaemic index starchy foods, such as mashed potatoes and white bread • Eat plenty of whole fruit • Quit/Limit consumption of animal products with high amounts of cholesterol and saturated fat, such as red meat, eggs,liver and high - fat dairy products, and substitute them with lean meat, fish, poultry (without skin) and low - fat dairy products • For snac...

Humera, a 42 year old woman, was diagnosed with health anxiety. her psychiatrist suggested to undergo psychotherapy along with medications.  During Preliminary intervention, Humera told us that she faced continuous criticism in society for being overweight. She was also diagnosed as hypertensive  with high cholesterol levels, doctors recommended her exercises along with healthy eating and medicines.  This diagnosis changed her lifestyle drastically, she said I have successfully controlled my eating habits upto 85%, only in a few family functions she broke the rule of healthy eating.  as far as medicines were concerned she never had any problem. The only challenge for her was to develop interest in exercises.  She found it extremely boring, and always liked to escape the exercise hours.  From her experiences and readings about her health issues, she developed a belief which was disheartening.  That belief was "If I don't exercise,...

The Day She said 'No'  A lady aged 58-year, who had experienced two heart attacks, had been told to take things more easily in life, but remained very driven—she worked part time, but had always taken work home with her, and took on many problems of her friends and family. She felt like ‘everyone’s dustbin’ but was unable to say ‘no’ to other people. Her neighbor, in particular, used to drop in regularly and expect this lady to drop what she was doing and listen to her problems. She told me "I must always help out others in need. If not, they will think badly of me and never speak to me again. Other people’s needs are more important than my own." "If I say ‘no’ to my neighbour, she will think I’m being rude, storm  out, and never speak to me again. That would be more stressful than just  listening, yet again We planned a one-hour rest period for this lady each day, which was usually  interrupted by things to do. She planned to try and prot...

Phone ringing….. "Yuk! Such a bad taste, you suggested me flax seeds. You didn’t tell me they taste so horrible” one of my clients on the phone was furious. She tried flax seed for the first time.I forgot to tell her how to use flax seeds if she doesn't like the taste. In the next session with her, I suggested her to roast flax seeds for a few minutes and grind them to powder form. This powder one can add a spoon or two in smoothies, dips (chutney), milk etc. she started doing so and the ‘taste’ problem was resolved. Although the awareness to eat healthy is the news these days. preparedness to curb taste habits seems missing in many and It is very natural. People often find it difficult to deal with the ‘taste’ aspect of food. ‘taste’ is a habit forming just like a drug. Some people I know say that they can’t imagine life without spicy food whereas there are also many people who risk the spike in their insulin level for sweets. Bitter is usually the most avoided ta...

Today, I would like to share with an idea,  THE CROSSROADS MODEL SO WHAT NEXT? We all have times in our lives when we find ourselves at a crossroads, and ask  ourselves: where now? The crossroads model is inspired by The Personal Compass, developed by San Francisco consulting agency The Grove, and helps you to find your direction in life. Fill in the model on the basis of the following questions: WHERE HAVE YOU COME FROM? How have you become who you are? What have been the main decisions, events and obstacles in your life, and who were your main influences? Think about your education, your home, where you grew up. And make a note of keywords that strike you as important. WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU? Write down the first three things that come into your head. You don’t have to go into detail or be specific. What are your values? What do you believe in? Which principles are important to you? When everything fails, what remains? WHICH PEOPLE ARE IMPORTANT ...

STRAWBERRY MANGO SMOOTHIE If you love strawberries and Mangoes, this smoothie is for you. Mango fruit of this season in India. I love to use always love to use seasonal and regional ingredients. Strawberries are more than a good treat—they’re high in B vitamins and vitamin C. B vitamins help you maintain beautiful hair and nails, and have even been linked to reducing the chance of stroke. Vitamin C is good for the immune system. Mango has health benefits for the eyes, hair, and nails as well. It’s also considered one of the most consumed fruits in the world.Together, the two make for a wonderfully healthy smoothie. Ingredients  2 mangoes, peeled and pitted 8 ounces (225 g) strawberries (about 8 large strawberries) 1 cup (240 ml) coconut water 1 cup (130 g) crushed ice 1 tablespoon chia seeds, plus more for optional topping Method :  If you want to make things easier on yourself in the morning, you  can prep all th...