Acharya Mahaprajna
The question of health is related to life. It is not the question that concerns any particular community or sect. For Bhagvan Mahavira, the soul was of the highest importance while the body was of secondary importance. For him, the body which cooperated in the development of the soul was of value. The body which created obstacle in the upliftment of the soul was worthless. The chetana or consciousness which revolves round the ahimsha from the beginning till the end can attribute value only to that health which has the innate memory of the soul in its every pore.
Bhagvan Mahavira did not promulgate any theory of health. In his teachings, the body has been viewed only as a factor that is helpful and useful for the soul. Hence, the theory of physical health never formed a part of his teachings. For him, the supreme element was the soul. He talked a great deal about keeping the soul healthy and it become a spiritual scripture. Another name of the spiritual scripture is the scripture of health. One would be able to find this fact clearly brought out in the book Mahavira's Scripture of Health. Attachment, malevolence, delusion, anger, conceit, worldly illusion, greed, fear, grief, hatred, libido, etc. are the factors that are obstacles for the health of the soul. They make even the body and the mind diseased. Their curative treatment is the main basis of health.
Our world is closely related with the sound, colour, taste, smell and touch. Every material object has its colour, taste, etc. The sound therapy, taste therapy, smell therapy, touch therapy and colour therapy are all ancient therapies. Mantras are used in the sound therapy. The smell therapy is related with the flowers. The taste therapy is given by using sweet, bitter and other tastes. The touch therapy is given by the transmission of the energy and electricity of the hands. The colour therapy is related to the treatment given by using the rays of the sun or the colours. The abhamandal (aura) of a person has not only the colour, but also the smell, taste and touch. If the colour and other things are good, then the abhamandal becomes the cause of good health. The distorted abhamandal leads to the diseases. The disease and health both are the reflections of the abhamandal. In Bhagwan Mahavira's teachings the leshyas (psychic colours) or the abhamandal are the mirrors in which the reflection as well as the activities of that reflection can be seen.
Respected Shri Gurudev Tulsi inaugurated the lecture series on 'Mahavira's Economic Theory' at the Adhyatma Sadhana Kendra, Delhi, in 1994. He gave the instruction about starting a lecture series or Mahaviras Theory of Health at the Jain Vishva Bharati, Ladnun, in 1996. The lectures were delivered once in a week, i.e. on Sunday. Sixteen lectures were delivered and as a result, this book was prepared.
Muni Dulah Raj and Mani Dhananjaya Kumar have taken immense pains with great devotion in editing this book.
Acharya Mahaprajna
June 14, 1997
Terapanth Bhavan
Gangashahar
