04/01/98 - 1724

Dharma Journal

USA (VNN) - The Electronic Newsletter of the Sanatana Dharma Student Association
(The Hindu student and faculty organization of the University of Wisconsin)


Announcements

1) Web site. We are happy to announce that we will be starting our own SDSA web site beginning next Fall. One of our members, Nittin Bhalla, has volunteered to help us with the initial set up and maintenance of the site. We have yet to decide on a name for our site, and will be in the process of developing it throughout the summer.

2) Meditation Class. On Sunday, April 5th, 6:00 p.m., there will be a free mantra-meditation class after the usual Sunday puja. Conducted by Frank Morales, this class will include both an introductory lecture, and a practice session for participants. Call Frank 288-0266.

3) Movie Night. On Satuday, April 18th, from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m., the SDSA will be having its end of the semester party. We'll celebrate by watching "The Mission", a fantastic movie staring Robert DeNiro. The exact location will be announced in the next issue of Dharma Journal.

4) New Officer. We finally have a new Director of Communications. Nittin Bhalla will be taking over the position from Adam, who graduated in January.

5) New Carrier. We wish to thank Sri Vidyaratha Kisoon of the Guyanese Hinduism web site for offering to carry our Dharma Journal electronic newsletter online. His site can be seen at:

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/1228

Thanks a lot, Vidyaji!

6) Ayurveda. Dharma Journal will be carrying a new column called "Ayurveda and Your Health". In this new feature Laura Morales will be providing a variety of health facts derived from the teachings of Ayurveda, India's ancient science of health.

7) Sri Ramajuja. Tuesday, March 31st marks the Appearance Day of Sri Ramanujacarya, one of India's greatest philosophers and saints.


Cool Web Sites

Hinduism Today. The coolest Hindu periodical in the world! Check it out!

http://www.hinduismtoday.kauai.hi.us

Gaudiya Vaishnava Society. A site dedicated to the experiential spirituality offered by the tradition of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

http://www.efn.org/~gvs/

The Hinduism Page. This site offers some very good links to a variety of Hinduism sites.

http://www.d.umn.edu/~thats/hindu.html



Ayurveda and Your Health

"Do Your Body Good??"

Milk is one of those foods on which there is no clear medical concenus. Is it a good healthy food, or is it meant only for baby cows? In traditional Ayurveda milk is considered a pure, sattvic food. One reason for this is that (in a natural setting) milk is given freely by cows to humans. And cows themselves, as many of you know, are considered to be a very special and sacred animal. So why is it that so many people find milk to be problematic to their digestion and health?

Ayurveda says that there are two causes for this problem of milk intolerance. The first reason has to do with how milk is produced from the cow in the modern world. Cows are routinely injected with drugs, chemicals and antibotics, they often live in crowded, dirty facilities, their feed is filled with additives (inlcuding, as has been recently discussed in the media, ground-up cow parts). Instead of naturally allowing the cow to become pregnant, give birth, raise her calf and then generously allow humans to take her milk for the next 2-3 years, (at which time the cow's milk dries up until it gives birth again); cows are made at an early age to give birth, their calves are taken away from them, and they are forced through chemical means to give milk until they die from exhaustion at an early age.

Not only do the chemical additives enter the milk, but so does the suffering that the cow endures. Many modern Ayurvedic doctors consider milk produced in this way to be "poison." (See: "Ayurveda: A Life of Balance" by Maya Tiwari). The solution? Either avoid commercial milk altogether, or find a source of organic whole milk, preferably non-homoginized raw milk. Many natural health food stores carry organic milk, but to find non-homoginzed, raw milk you probably will have to find a dairy farmer to supply you.
The second reason why milk often gives people digestive problems is that we do not consume it properly. Every Ayurvedic physician agrees that milk should never be drunk cold, straight out of the refrigerator. Ideally it should be boiled and allowed to cool. It should not be drunk during a meal or with other foods, especially food that is salty, sour or pungent. A little snack of something sweet (like rice) is okay with milk. It should not be over-consumed - one cup a day is plenty. Nor should it be prepared unspiced - meaning that some turmeric, dry ginger, cinnamon, cardamon, nutmeg, clove or honey should always be added to milk. These spices enhance its digestibility and detract from the cooling, mucous-producing effect that milk often has.

Milk has been called a miracle food by many. That it certainly is. Even miracles, though, can only be effective if used correctly and with knowledge.

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If you would like to offer Laura any feedback or suggestions, please write to her at: lmorales@mail.scls.lib.wi.us


Information

For further information on the Sanatana Dharma Student Association of U.W.-Madison, or to offer suggestions for our newsletter or questions about Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism), please feel free to contact us at:

fmorale1@students.wisc.edu
(608) 288-0266


Jaya Sriman Narayana,

Frank Morales - Editor/Advisor