Spiritual Orientation & Health

Introduction

As humanity has expanded it(s understanding of the physical world, a definitive relationship between relative physical health and the precieved character of existence has evolved. Given endemic geographic and climitological differences the technological advances that are available to most peoples do not account for the differences in their health. While genetics must play some role in the physical and mental well being of a people, access to the essentials of life which include adequate food, water, shelter, and a framework of reality are needed to approach well being. Hinduism and Buddhism are allied traditions, evolving in the same geographic and cultural spheres. By exploring the metaphysical traditions of each, the basic orientation of each people towards health and well being should become clear.

World View and Metaphysics in Hinduism

Hinduism does not lend itself easily to monotheistic sensibilities. Rather, Hinduism, through the avenue of human rational, views all of creation as a venue for change and transformation. The uniquely anthropomorphic aspect of this point of view, is the concept of moksha . As the universe is not reservedly human, the concept of finding and liberating the highest good(moksha )is applied to all creatures. Whatever qualifies as life, or is

ses are arranged in concentric circles, with the outer circle including the inner ones. In accordance with -yurvedic theory, which provides the governing paradigm for the explanation of physiological processes in Hindu India, arthritic pain may be explained as an excess of wind, or humoral disequilibrium, which needs to be balanced through diet, drugs and external applications. The disequilibrium may be further diagnosed as a some aspect of personal conduct, bad thoughts or habits which in turn demand changes at the level of self. If the arthritic condition persists, there may be astrological linkages, requiring palliative measures, tracing the astrological (fault( back to the bad karma of a previous birth. Ultimately, no treatment may be available for the suffering individual(pp.112-114). In the living Hindu tradition mental illness is ascribed to humoral disturbance. In traditional Hindu medical theory the locus of mental illness ismanas . Manas can be described as the osmotic mediator between a persons inner view of reality, and the true unvarnished view of the cosmos. Metaphysically speaking,manas is also described as the barrier seperating these two realities. Within the -yurvedic thesis of psyche-soma identity, manas