An Analogy For Individual And Societal Healing
An interesting analogy is mentioned briefly in the book, 'Power up your brain: The Neuroscience of Enlighnment' by David Perlmutter and Alberto lloldo. They say, "Oxidation, inflammaon and toxicity-metaphorically speak- ng-also occur within society" The authors note that our memory nd ability for original thought can teriorate, akin to oxidation, as in sting. An angry, heated and pained ain could be said to be inflamed; and oxious beliefs and toxic emotional sponses" can lead to violence in socieThe authors proceed to examine ntioxidants, inflammation reducers d detoxifiers that heal our bodies and cilitate our psyche's advancement..." All three conditions-oxidation, Flammarion and toxicity-may be nsidered to be essential for life, and so for the mind or psyche, and in city; yet if out of kilter, these can ve damaging effects. All bodily processes depend on oxygen as part of the energy cycle; yet, a by-product is the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), or free radicals which can latch on to healthy cells and damage them. To guard against this our body has an elaborate system of antioxidant activity, mainly from its own metabolic products, and antioxidants from food play a part. Human activity could be considered as oxidation: there is no life without activity just as there is no life without oxygen (barring certain specific life forms like anaerobic bacteria). Yet this 'oxidation' can be damaging if weget 'caught up' in our daily activities. We could try to 'slow down'; 'take a step back'; 'pause'; 'breathe'; try to find 'me time'; try to avoid constant multi-tasking... Inflammation is an extremely valuable initial response of the body to injury, disease and trauma; often, it is the first step to healing. Metaphorically inflammation is familiar to us from the literary phrase 'inflamed passions'. This 'inflammation' can have positive effects: our anger is roused at witnessing bullying, such as cruelty to a child or animal, and spurs us to try to stop the cruelty Just as inflammation, valuable in self-healing by the body, can become dangerous if sustained for long periods, so too can inflamed passions become damaging if they run rampant, and consume us. Amorous love and religious fervour could transform into obsession, unbridled lust or religious fanaticism. The solution is perhaps to simply be aware of the benefits of passions, the need for them, their place in our live sand of the dangers. After anger, try to forgive; at least to 'move on'. consider casually to be entirely negative, do have important physiological roles. Plants create protective substances which are toxic to some of their predators, and some of these very substances may work for us as dietary antioxidants or valuable phytol-chemicals. Many medicines including herb remedies and their pharmacological derivatives can be therapeutic or toxic depending on the dosage Hatred may be considered toxic, totheindividual and society. Yet, as the edict guides us, 'Hate the sin and not thinner.' Hatred of evil-however we m define evil-does serve a beneficial social purpose. But an awareness of toxic thoughts and beliefs, and of the idea that even if they are directed towards others (and whether or not we a on them) are toxic to ourselves, As in human biology so too in our mind or psyche: oxidation, inflammation and toxins do serve a purpose, yet they cabe dangerous; and we can take steps to minimise and overcome these dangers.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Deepak Hiranandani, kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy : Deepak Hiranandani Speaking Tree ,Times of India
An Analogy For Individual And Societal Healing
An interesting analogy is mentioned briefly in the book, 'Power up your brain: The Neuroscience of Enlighnment' by David Perlmutter and Alberto lloldo. They say, "Oxidation, inflammaon and toxicity-metaphorically speak- ng-also occur within society" The authors note that our memory nd ability for original thought can teriorate, akin to oxidation, as in sting. An angry, heated and pained ain could be said to be inflamed; and oxious beliefs and toxic emotional sponses" can lead to violence in socieThe authors proceed to examine ntioxidants, inflammation reducers d detoxifiers that heal our bodies and cilitate our psyche's advancement..." All three conditions-oxidation, Flammarion and toxicity-may be nsidered to be essential for life, and so for the mind or psyche, and in city; yet if out of kilter, these can ve damaging effects. All bodily processes depend on oxygen as part of the energy cycle; yet, a by-product is the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), or free radicals which can latch on to healthy cells and damage them. To guard against this our body has an elaborate system of antioxidant activity, mainly from its own metabolic products, and antioxidants from food play a part. Human activity could be considered as oxidation: there is no life without activity just as there is no life without oxygen (barring certain specific life forms like anaerobic bacteria). Yet this 'oxidation' can be damaging if weget 'caught up' in our daily activities. We could try to 'slow down'; 'take a step back'; 'pause'; 'breathe'; try to find 'me time'; try to avoid constant multi-tasking... Inflammation is an extremely valuable initial response of the body to injury, disease and trauma; often, it is the first step to healing. Metaphorically inflammation is familiar to us from the literary phrase 'inflamed passions'. This 'inflammation' can have positive effects: our anger is roused at witnessing bullying, such as cruelty to a child or animal, and spurs us to try to stop the cruelty Just as inflammation, valuable in self-healing by the body, can become dangerous if sustained for long periods, so too can inflamed passions become damaging if they run rampant, and consume us. Amorous love and religious fervour could transform into obsession, unbridled lust or religious fanaticism. The solution is perhaps to simply be aware of the benefits of passions, the need for them, their place in our live sand of the dangers. After anger, try to forgive; at least to 'move on'. consider casually to be entirely negative, do have important physiological roles. Plants create protective substances which are toxic to some of their predators, and some of these very substances may work for us as dietary antioxidants or valuable phytol-chemicals. Many medicines including herb remedies and their pharmacological derivatives can be therapeutic or toxic depending on the dosage Hatred may be considered toxic, totheindividual and society. Yet, as the edict guides us, 'Hate the sin and not thinner.' Hatred of evil-however we m define evil-does serve a beneficial social purpose. But an awareness of toxic thoughts and beliefs, and of the idea that even if they are directed towards others (and whether or not we a on them) are toxic to ourselves, As in human biology so too in our mind or psyche: oxidation, inflammation and toxins do serve a purpose, yet they cabe dangerous; and we can take steps to minimise and overcome these dangers.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Deepak Hiranandani, kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy : Deepak Hiranandani Speaking Tree ,Times of India