Yoga, Astrology & Meat - future holistic research

In the earlier first post on "What is Research?", 4 types of knowing were covered; intuitive, authority, reasoning and experimental. An explanation was made that experimental knowledge provides the best proof for knowledge except in those cases where variables cannot be observed.

The example of this exception was made for the case of acupuncture as used in physiotherapy which does not accept the esoteric physiology of the meridiens of Chinese medicine or pranic nadis of Yoga.

However, due to the clinical effects of acupuncture on pain relief medicine admits of its benefits over and above placebo (ie. psychological effects).

But as far as the subtle internal medical influences are concerned, due to the subjective assumption of intangibles such as meridiens, this research would remain questionable without any tangible variables to control outcomes.

The other exception, is the psychic level of perception or atmic knowing which again cannot be experimented by traditional research methods.

Future Research

But with the advances in computer statistical packages where multi-regression methods are helping decipher trends across multiple variables, perhaps the future of research may be able to help better determine if there is a relationship between the assumptions of these intangible systems (such as yoga and Traditional Chinese Medicine) to the tangible effects to the purpose of their treatments.

And, perhaps longitudinal case studies with outcome measures using such multi-regression computer methods will help correlation studies become more controlled and statistically significant to infer the existence and correctness of these systems of medicine in the future.

The research process would be:-

Description (inductive logic and observational based on longitudinal outcome measures)
=> Multi-regressive Correlation
=> More controlled Quasi/Experimental

Holistic research - physiotherapy to yoga to astrology

Holisitc research in the future might be able to ask more specifically whether the metaphysical assumption of yoga, jyotish astrology, sacred geometry and numerology can find a correlation of statistically significance through new research methods.

In Physiotherapy & Medicine

Starting with very general descriptive questions?

Is there a relationship between acupuncture points, their meridien channel and their respective internal organ? Does the application and use acupuncture have an effect on assisting to prevent certain health condition such as cancer?

From these, a more specific question needs to be formulated for a correlation research study.

If results prove positive more specific studies may later be able to determine through hypothesis what are the exact scientific causes that lead to acupunctures effects on internal organs and potentially discover if there is any authenticity to the esoteric physiology that TCM proposes through pranic effects vs effect on free radicals etc.. (that influence cancer)

Studies could also further evaluate the relationship between acupuncture and trigger points, motor points, hormone levels, effects on pre-exercise etc; noting that the use of acupuncture on pain and early stroke patients has already revealed some evidence for its effects with models of the nervous systems used to explain the rationale. So possibly in the future an understanding of the relative prioritizing of influences of acupuncture from the subtle meridien to the more gross nervous system will be effectively classified for its relative effects under different conditions, and move health closer to a holistic understanding of the body mind connection; the breath in yoga being the carrier of prana and thought.

In Yoga

In the earlier post on "Yoga; Hinduism or Health" the bio-mechanical rationale of yoga's effect on posture and internal medicine were discussed. Using the same approach as the explanations given in acupuncture, new research methods might also be able to determine if there is a relationship and correlation between nadis/meridiens, chakras, yogic physiology and psychology to the brain map, nervous system and medical bio-chemical physiology.

In Astrology (Jyotish)

Newton, Galileo and many other great scientists believed in astrology and its influence upon man and life. And in the concepts of wholeness brought about the psycho-analyst Jung and physicist Bhor, the inter-dependence of the Universe has opened up more people to the possibilities of metaphysics, astrology and the law "as above so below".

But as far as research goes it has been very difficult in the past to measure and control this vast inter-dependent variables of the planets inter-twined with life on earth. However, Michael Ganguilin, did propose through his research that planets found on the midheaven or Ascendant axis of horoscopes did have a significant correlation to professions associated with the planet. For example, writers more often had Moon in an angular position from the Ascendant, scientists - Saturn, military or sportsmen - Mars, comdiens - Jupiter etc.. However, I do not know how much he was biased in his support of astrology and how thorough his research method was.

Jung was famous for believing in astrology and its metaphoric language coining this psychological correspondence as an archetype. More recently, Erbetin through his cosmo-biology had also tried to research and show correlations to medical astrology and disease through some research methods.

In Jyotish or vedic astrology, Maharishi jyotish astrologers have also suggested correlation to the ganlia in the brain and have corresponded them to the 9 main vedic planets or grahas. Thus, globus pallidus corresponds to the influence from Jupiter, substantia nigra - Venus, thalamuc - Sun, etc...


And the pioneering work of Dr David Frawley has written many books and research to address the connection between Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayuruveda, the mind and Jyotisha.

And there are many business and marketing computer packages that are coming out to make statistical correlations to planetary cycles and market forces, commodities, stocks, shares etc.. based on the transits of planets.

And, if this blog where a web portal whereby one could to some extent monitor "members" clicks over time it would be interesting to see if people chose topics in chakra portal correlated to the strongest planetary influences in their chart. Of course, the assumptions are broad and difficult to control depending very much on the correctness of the subject allocation to the right chakra, the control on members hitting a portal out of genuine interest, the accuracy if birth time etc... But the message is that with the new correlation research methods, perhaps there will be ways in the future to determine if there is any relationship between the metaphoric significators of the planets and the corresponding activities in a persons life.

If so, a future medical astrology and cosmology will develop using descriptive to correlative to experimental methods (variables of astrological indicators of planets to transits via correlation multi regression methods that will reveal a pattern that will allow more controlled experimental longitudinal studies with outcome measures to charts...?)

As far as myself, after years of studying western and vedic astrology, I have found from understanding the assumptions and logic of astrology on the authority of the Rishis that the rules of astrology have been applied and observed to be hold true, especially in those charts that are extremes in expressing the strongest astrological combination for the best (such as Ghandi to Obama) to the worst (such as Hitler to Ted Bundy) factors in a chart. This is often agreed with the work of Michael Ganglian, in that, both types of charts have strong placements in angular positions of the chart (ie. Mid heaven or Ascendant axis) but reveal benefic or malefic traits and case histories depending on the strength of benefic or malefic nature and influence of the planet.

Holistic Health & Metaphysics

As a result of new research, it is my hope that in the not too distant future an holistic health practice will develop from bio-mechanical to bio-chemical to bio-pranic to bio-environmental (including astrology) to bio-spiritual levels, integrated with mainstream and alternative systems of medicine and used strategically depending on the condition of the disease; acute vs chronic, gross vs subtle, body vs mind, medical vs yogic etc....

And an understanding of guna, dosha and elements will be combine an Ayurvedic understanding of health with the bio-medical model.; that the constituitional consideration of health from Hippocates will blend with the nutritional and bio-mechanical understanding of Allopathy. Then from the level of prevention with a mind and life style approach to the method of cure (chronic vs acute), a multi-pronged approach to health and healing will come about. Drugs with their side effects can be approached holistcally with consideration for the constition and 7 types of Ayurveda (pitta, vata, kaph, pitta-kapha etc.) Diet will be understood not just from its bio-chemical nutritional level but from the subtler levels of prana, dosha, element and guna on the mind and spirit of man. And, we will be able to prove whether there is a correlation to food, the mind and the planets as Dr David Frawley has tried to reveal through his work in Ayurvedic Astrology. From food to the cosmic level of Nakshatras, everything has a corresponding intelligence that resonates in the matrix of nature. If so, mood foods will take on a whole new dimension!

Maths of Food!

If this metaphoric language of astrology is proved and metaphor can be correlated to real maths then the work of pythagorus in determining the music of the spheres might find hard evidence where sound and name are revealed to manifest in the matrix of art form and prove the symmetry of nature and sacred geomtry with an aesthetic understanding of harmony and symmetry in our appreciation of beauty both in nature and science. And one day we may be able to understand the crystaline matrix and mathematical nature of food and how it best fits with our own mathematics and geometry, insignatured from the moment of our birth chart as the individual nature to be holistically nurtured.

The suggestion is that with computers and the advances in research methods a more holistic health technology may eventually come about and thus, the triangular approach to learning and mathematics explained in the last post might make this easier?

Just another possibly interesting insight related to astrology and numerology, is that Sat-urn is the 7th planet and rules Aquarius, the 11th sign related to science. Saturn represents the discipline and perfection of structure necessary for the transcendence of structure. This is what Aquarius (partly ruled by Uranus) represents - the awakener (11) through transcending structure (7), then Rahu (8 - the other ruler of Aquarius) allows the transformation of the cosmic energy on the kundalini and the 22 paths (master number of practical visionary) of the 10 sephirot (in the kabala) are traveled to reach completion of 9 (kethu - crown chakra) and be released from the 33 vertebrae to become Christ consciousness. Anyway, food for thought!.. back to research and the meat of it?

On Meat

On the earlier post on the Politics of Vegetarianism, the 5 pros of its practice were discussed. But interestingly, very little research has been done to do a comparative study in meat eating versus a vegitarian diet. Of course, unlike smoking meat eating is not an acquired habit and not necessary to life as food is, and so makes it harder to control variables and do a comparative study.

And I know that Swami in some cases promotes meat for some people who suffer from deficiency of absorbing the needed nutritional requirements from a vegetatarian diet. Often these people's systems, in my opinion, have become so accustomed to meat that they are unable to benefit from a vegetarian diet. Also a met diet does sometimes seem to be better for those people doing very aggressive and physical work.

However, these are all subjective ideas of mine. Perhaps if research comes to reveal any evidence for the above pranic systems a similar more sensitive research method will be able to determine if meat is less healthy than a vegitarian diet for reasons over and above the obvious ones on heart disease and strokes.

Nature vs Nurture vs 100th monkey

Considering the earlier post on "Natural Selection vs Discrimination" what might also be interesting is to one day know is if science, through an inter-dependent model of the Universe that physics is revealing , will determine whether the food one eats (notably meat) has an effect on genetics; that it not only influences the mind and behavior, and thereby natural selection but also can modify genes with mutation, and that the "100th monkey" effect indirectly modifies genes on some group scale of karma. If so, there might be some "gross" proof for the biblical expression that the sins of father shall be vested upon you; that through the seed, the next generation is affected by habits and animal qualities passed on (via science of vibration and ether of 100th monkey on mutation and natural selection..?)

Swami

Well, we know that Swami implies that everything is sat-sang ... "tell me your company and I will tell you who you are".... and I guess this applies most intimately with food too... keep a pigs company in your stomach and you become pig-headed! Some habits are just too hard and tasty to want to kick or research?!