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S**L
Still extremely important, and here's why--
Of all the "alternative medicine" heart books out there (or at least the five best-sellers that I've read), Ornish's is still the most complete, up-to-date, sensible and safe. Esselstyne's, which is currently in the number one slot in sales, is practically the same except slightly more "radical" (he prohibits oils of any kind--whether fish, flax, soy). It's simpler to read, briefer, and more current (probably accounting for its popularity), but for the most part it's a stripped-down version of Ornish's book, even following the same organization (advice plus lots of recipes). Ornish's program has the advantage of giving consideration to factors other than food and exercise as a therapeutic measure, and is the more "philosophic." (Also, there's the matter of sugar and triglycerides, appended below.)What sets Ornish apart, above all, is his holistic approach. He's fully aware that just as conventional medicine has placed excessive emphasis on stents, statins and bypasses, alternative medicine has committed much the same when on too-exclusive emphasis on foods, fish oils, various vitamins, enzymes, proteins and amino acids. Ornish looks squarely at the mental-emotional-spiritual dimension of human experience and the role of stress on heart disease. Just as literature-philosophy-theology teachers of modern thought dwell on the theme of alienation--from self, from others, from a higher power--in a modern and post-modern world, Ornish repeatedly comes back to the same theme, quoting, for example, T. S. Eliot and "The Four Quartets" (the Thunder's words at the end of "The Wasteland" also resonate here). For Ornish the operative word is not "alienation" but "isolation," which must be confronted and overcome at all costs for healing to occur. Quoting Sam Keene, he makes it clear that projecting one's own biases against the "other"--as members of hate groups are want to do--is no antidote to "isolation." It requires control, sympathy, understanding, perhaps above all a rejection of material values and the need to be liked. Ornish's is the one book that goes beyond what to eat and not to eat, what pills to take and avoid, what exercises to do and how often. His is the most spiritual approach.Here's the problem with some of the other books--for example, by Sinatra (who to his credit provides the most specific, illuminating information about "the new cardiology" or Ignarro (Dr. N.O.): With the exception of Ornish and Esselstyne, they prescribe the consumption of vitamins, supplements, pills and powders in megadoses that are not proven to be without side-effects which, for some individuals, can be draining and stressful in themselves. I know people who can't tolerate probiotics, ginseng, S-ame, goldenseal, grapefruit seed oil, and any number of the recent supplements that are sold simply on the basis of one "expert's" say-so, the cooperation of the vitamin manufacturers, and without FDA approval. To ingest the quantities of CoQ-10 and d-Ribose recommended by Sinatra or the 4 grams of d-Arginnine plus Citrulline required by Ignarro (in addition to 5 to 10 other "essential" supplements) is to invite a certain amount of discomfort before any of the advertised effects might be noticed. Indeed, to follow these recommendations is to trust that the medical "establishment" is completely ignorant of the wondrous powers of these supplements or determined to make us over-tax the health care system more than is already the case.Lord knows, the FDA, or organized medicine, has slipped up its share of the time, has been overly slow to approve some measures, overly hasty in other cases. But to demonize them as some sort of vast conspiracy intent upon keeping us all feeling unwell is, however much of a therapeutic placebo to some, an insult to common sense and logic. In fact, some of these health evangelists--going back to Adele Davis and Linus Pauling--prescribe as much from the perspective of belief, faith and theology as caution, wisdom, and science.[Not a popular review, but I stand by it. Even in his preface (p. xxix), Ornish calls attention to a matter that I simply missed while reading 5-6 more current books on CVD: simple carbs, or "non-fat" sugar and corn syrup. Yes, Esselstyne (and the rest, too) endorses organic, whole grain products, which would ensure the reader imbibes essential complex carbs. But the other books don't always explain as fully as necessary the primary REASON for watching the carbs no less than the fats. It leads to high sugar blood counts, overproduction of insulin, insulin resistance and, as a result, not only tiredness but elevated triglycerides and high blood pressure. I had been so exclusively focused on HDL and LDL and the avoidance of all meat, dairy, oils, fats, etc. that I was inadequately prepared for the results of a truly comprehensive lipid panel. To be fair to Esselstyne, it was from a paper on his website--not from any personal physician--that I learned about the absolute necessity of staying on Plavix following insertion of a chemically-treated stent. All the more reason to try alternative measures--such as the diet changes recommended by Ornish and Esselstyne--to preserve that precious endothelium before replacing it with something you didn't receive from your mother.]
V**A
REFERS TO ADVAITA (MONISM) INTERPRETATION OF VEDANTA (HINDUISM)
This is an excellent book for mental and spiritual as well as physical well-being. Kudos to Dr. Ornish for this service. But one caveat. Dr. Ornish, being a follower of Swami Satchidananda (a Hindu monk of the Advaita/Monism order of Vedānta) focuses on the Vedānta verses that explain the ultimate identity of the Universe with God who is in fact the indweller (Super Soul) of the Universe with the Universe forming God's body. The Vedānta aphorism "Tat tvam Asi" that the book refers to, seeks to explain this principle of God's immanence in the Universe as the indweller of every living entity (spirit soul) as well as matter, thus ultimately all terms that have immediate reference to various living entities and objects in this Universe have their ultimate reference to God, the indweller. This however does NOT mean that the immediate identity and function of a living entity is that it's God. Rather, Vedānta when understood comprehensively, teaches that the infinite number of finite individual living entities (spirit souls) and Matter constitute God's inseparable, dependent, but different distinct/unique attributes individually and thus constitute God's body. Vedānta further explains that God is both within the Universe and without.IN A NUTSHELL, if we take a person named "John", the name "John" has immediate reference to the body/person that we see with our naked eyes. Then the name has mediate reference to the finite individual spirit soul in that body. Then the name ultimately refers to God, the Indweller (Super Soul) *inside* the finite individual spirit soul. Thus 3 degrees/levels of reference for the name "John" (and all other names that refer to individual living entities). In the case of matter, there's 2 degrees/levels of reference with the name of the object referring to the object we see with the eye and then God that indwells it.Below are a few references to Advaita (Monism) interpretation of Vedanta in the book that are better understood as explained above:228: "By means of spiritual discipline the individual soul ultimately recognizes its oneness with the Universal Soul."232 1st para: "you are one with God"247 5th para: "MAHARSHI: ... You are the Self; you are already That.".247 7th para: "Everyone and everything is God in disguise, in different FORMS": FORMS (BODIES) should be understood here as referring to individual souls and matter.248 3rd para: "everything as simply the Self disguised in different forms": FORMS (BODIES) should be understood here as referring to individual souls and matter.248 last para: "everything is our Self in different forms": FORMS (BODIES) should be understood here as referring to individual souls and matter.248 last para: "Where would I go?": God's not going anywhere, but we the finite individual spirit souls constituting His several different attributes can and do move here and there.250 4th para: "we may be more interconnected than we often realize": AS BODY (SEVERAL DIFFERENT DISTINCT ATTRIBUTES) OF GOD.A few other clarifications in the interest of comprehensive Vedānta:231 last line: "the essence of God is to be found within": And outside in temples, where He is mercifully present for easy approach to Him.232 2nd para: "we are not separate from God": We are not separate from Him, but at the same time, we have a dependent but distinct existence as His infinite attributes.232 3rd para: "God manifesting in different ways": as the Indweller (Super Soul) of infinite number of finite individual spirit souls and matter. Not that each living entity is God in immediate reference/function.234 1st para: "In one word, this ideal is that you are divine. 'Thou are That ...'": Only in the sense that God is the Indweller (Super Soul) of All and ultimately everything refers to Him in ultimate reference/connotation. But at the same time, we are all different "distinct" individual living entities (finite spirit souls), dependent on and inseparable from God.234 1st para: "All the powers in the universe are already ours.": Then how did you forget "Thou art That"???234 2nd para: "there are many paths to the same ultimate truth.": Yes, some longer and some shorter.246 last but one para: This is Equanimity taught in Sri Bhagavad Gita (the essence of Vedānta).
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