Yoga Scholars PGIMER, Chandigarh organised a Dialogue on Integrative Healthcare and Compassion with His Holiness The Dalai Lama on July 23, 2020 through Facebook. The event was supported by Indian Yoga Association.
Scholars who participated included names like Dr Anupam Sibal, President of the Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), Dr Akshay Anand, Professor, PGIMER, Chandigarh and Vice Chairperson, IYA Chandigarh, Nobel Laureate Elizabeth Blackburn, Valery Feigin, MD, PhD, Professor, Editor, Neuropidemiology, AUT University of Auckland, New Zealand, Danile Santaella, PhD,Professor & HOD, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sat Bir Khalsa, Asst. Professor, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA and others
During the discussion, HH Dalai Lama said, “Now, as far as health is concerned, it relates not only to our bodies, but also to our minds and emotions. The practice of compassion and altruism brings us peace of mind. Even if we face trouble or someone is critical of something we’ve said or done, compassion enables us to feel grateful to them. Compassion is the best counter measure to anger, anxiety and so forth.
“Physically the practice of yoga and breathing exercises can calm our heart rate. There are simple practices like the nine-round breathing, which I do, and which have a calming effect. These practices are described in Indian spiritual texts, but we can apply them in an objective, secular way to relieve anxiety and improve our physical health,” he added.
Concluding the two hour online session HH Dalai Lama said, “I take great inspiration from the advice of an eighth century Indian Buddhist master who recommended that whatever the circumstances, we should try to see things clearly. If there is a problem, we must look to see if it can be overcome, and if it can, that is what we should do. If it can’t be overcome, worrying about it further will be of no help.”