Health is Wealth

Health is Wealth

Do realize that man has no contentment
Despite acquiring plenty of riches and luxuries
Peace and contentment will accrue to man
Only when he attains conciousness (Atma Tatva)
Students, boys and girls!
FOR man health is the greatest wealth. From
time immemorial, many countries have been
delving into the ways to preserve good health
and disseminating the knowledge among all. In the
absence of sound health, human aspirations become
futile. Unable to realize this truth, man is losing his
wealth by wrong habits. Right from ancient times,
Indians and Romans have been espousing the cause of
good health and endeavouring to achieve it. Of course,
several other nations have also been conscious of the
importance of health. Realising that health was indeed

essential fluid in the limbs. Each part of the body has
its intrinsic characteristic goodness.
You should learn from Mahabharatha, how strong
were the Indians who protected their health in this
manner. At the time of the great war, Bhishma’s age was
115 years and he was Commander-in-Chief. Similarly,
Krishna was eighty-six and Arjuna was eighty-four.
Such were the mighty warriors of those days who lived
with health and happiness. Thus by preserving health,
the men and women of those times were able to be
exemplars for many ideals to the nation. They ate and
slept in time. Ate lightly; never partook of anything out
of schedule. The other day I told you a poem:
From the time you wake up till you go to bed
You spend your life, irresponsibly,
for eking out livelihood
Having forgotten God, and misutilising your
learning
What heights of happiness have you reached? Do
think honestly, O man! (Telugu Poem)
(Swami then sang a Telugu rhyme on good habits for
students)
As the cock crows, get out of bed;
Brush your teeth and relieve yourself,
Bathe, dress up and breakfast.
Summer Showers - 2002 183
It’s good to eat light and chew well
As you relish your favourite dish.
Off to school for serious studies;
And the good remarks of being a humble
child.
Don’t get wet and don’t play in dirty
puddles.
When it’s play time
sprint, jump or dribble the ball.
If you follow the above directions
You will enjoy the wealth of health.
Nowadays none wakes up when the cock crows,
nor when the loud whistle of train blows, but get up late
in the morning at eight or nine. What is the reason? They
go to sleep late at night. Are they at least using the night
hours for studies? Not at all. They put on Television or
Radio, thus polluting their own minds besides wasting
time. Much of what is seen on the television are things
that are lewd, disgusting, immoral and vile. Such are the
undesirable things being shown. I wonder what pleasure
or profit accrues to Government out of all this. On the
other hand Government promotes this as a great
medium. So it is Government which is spoiling the
children. It turns the pure, steady and selfless hearts of
the youth into impure, wicked and repugnant. On top of
it, it seeks for more import from foreign countries.