Page 47 - NAMAH Oct 2015

Namah Reflections

Reflections

Of hierarchies, attitudes and spiritual potential of our illnesses

Ashok Kumar Bhatia

Abstract
Illnesses and ailments can form an essential part of our lives. Like other fields of human thought,
these are also saddled with our egos. Besides food, medicines and exercise, our mental make-up and
our attitudes play an important role in achieving and maintaining good health. The article also
endeavours to explore the positive features of our ailments. It attempts to bring out the spiritual
potential of certain lifestyle diseases by considering the trials and tribulations of those who happen
to be afflicted with diabetes.

Life is replete with hierarchies of all sizes from this ‘ladder syndrome’. Many might be
and shapes. Those who happen to be rich secretly delighted upon realising that the best
look at their less fortunate cousins with some of physicians have no clue as to what
derision. Those who happen to be highly precisely the nature of their affliction is.
educated view the uneducated with some Those having AIDS and cancer could look
scorn. Those who have a great job with a deprecatingly at someone having, say, a viral
famous blue-chip company, when introduced infection. Those suffering from a heart
to someone who has to be asked ”Oh, which ailment could gloat over the fact that they are
company did you say you are working consulting a world-renowned cardiac expert,
with?” treat the party of the other part with whereas the other person, given his limited
marked contempt. means or his station in life, has to remain
content with a mere local doctor.
All of us appear to be on a ladder of sorts —
some perched above and others struggling to To a person diagnosed with a pancreatic cyst,
catch up from below. The ladder could be someone suffering from acidity could appear
either materialistic or spiritual in nature. to be a being which has yet to transcend
several stages of evolution. Someone who has
The hierarchy of wellness had to undergo an orthopaedic surgery might
treat another complaining of knee pain with
Some of the sick and the infirm also suffer a dash of scorn. A diabetic whose daily dose

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