Dr. Bharat Desai's Blog

Death on desire is also known as “Mercy killing” and ‘Euthanasia’. In Greek language, Eu means good and thanatos means death… Euthanasia meaning good death. It is ending the life when one does not want to live. It is also known as ‘death without suffering’.

Parents and Children on Facebook : If all the concerned are transparent and so open to have any dialogue, if each can talk freely without fear or hesitation, 'friendship on Facebook' is not a problem. Well, all have to be frank and open is a pre-condition or better be away from here, as otherwise also they are!

After crossing primary stage of it, one starts loving and enjoying obesity. Then things are difficult. Only diet control and exercise is the master key to get rid of it. No crash diet course or costly weight loss programme can do magic. One has to decide and act... or complications like high Blood Pressure (B.P.), diabetes, joint pains and heart troubles are ready.

Blindness is a state of being sightless or say an inability to see . World Health Organization - WHO (1972) describes blindness as the inability to count fingers at the distance of 3 meters in day-light after best possible spectacle correction in the better eye OR visual field less than 10° around the centre of fixation. Blindness is of three TYPES: Loss of visual acuity. Colour blindness: Inability to recognize colours, and Night blindness: Night vision is damaged.

Continued from the series  I, at 60 ; Relations, at 60 ; Money, at 60  and  Medical Practice, at 60 Am I ready to die? The answer is yes and no. If given choice, I don’t want to die before my father. If so is allowed, I want to be with him serving till his last breath and yes, then I am ready. Actually, I had sorted out my wishes during my terminal illness where I am unconscious regarding 1. Organ donation, body donation and eye donation, 2. Treatment schedule especially telling when they should be stopped, 3. Protocols to be followed at the time of death and 4. Formalities not to be observed after my death and enlisted them. But then I suddenly realized the futileness of such exercise and accordingly, I have omitted all as a mark of respect to my concerned ones.

I was one of the brightest of students during my academic career. I respected my teachers and I was their favourite student. I have studied up to 28 years of age to pass M.S. in Ophthalmology and practised for 32 years. I know practising in a small village-like town does bring more practice and less money. I was the only eye specialist available serving needy poor of the area for more than two decades . I have worked as honorary visiting eye-surgeon at Eye camps organized at Adivasi (tribal) and poor areas of Vansda, Ahwa, Dharampur for a long time - at Gram Seva Trust, Kharel and Bodhi Gaya (Bihar) eye-camps for more than five years. I am working at Rotary Eye Hospital, Chikhali till today in addition to my private practice .

Continued from  I, at 60 and Relationship, at 60 If a person is ready to live a simple life in old age with minimum needs, any savings one has done is enough. Generally, all at 60 and beyond feel whatever one has earned is very little – one has missed the chance to earn. When I graduated my MBBS in 1974, all were leaving for the US. I opted for serving my motherland India and my parents; today I have no regrets for the decision. If serving the poor with full dedication is considered to balance, I have earned it at maximum. If poor appreciation is an issue, I suggest to bother about  Karmic Theory  of results and remain aloof.

Continued from  I, at 60 Before starting this story, I must admit, I have been accompanied by a brother before birth till today - a pair of twins. We are hardly comparable in any way or let me say, we are totally different in nature, look and attitude - we are always available to each other. I had parents to guide me till 60, of whom I lost my mother a month back. My father is always available with his viewpoint to guide me in need on any issue with clarity of thought and without forcing to follow the same. I understand it as a great luxury many do not have.

In my first presentation on At 60 and after… I had enlisted ten general characteristics related to age. Now I think it is worth writing my own experiences, views and ideas regarding the subject of being 60 . Well, I am sharing my thoughts. I am sure you will respond with your comments. First, I’d like to reply FAQs (frequently asked questions) regarding me:

At 60 and after... Even the not-so-young people around start addressing you as Uncle/Auntie. You start receiving less greeting cards on new year, birthday, wedding anniversary. You start earning less in case of professionals and start getting pensions if retired from such a job. One starts counting balances and investments that can give returns. Diseases of old-age like blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, amnesia start showing their power. Certain serious illnesses like cancer, paralysis and heart problems start troubling. You start receiving concessions in railway ticket, state transport fare and air tickets. Younger people may start offering a seat at public places out of respect or pity. You may be allowed to go ahead in 'Q's and if needed they may support you. You start feeling a new phase of life has begun, where you have to start compromising and adjusting in place of ruling and dominating as in the past. Senior citizen clubs and old-age homes start waiting ...

Happy. "Something" Day! If you have always been a well-wisher of all the concerned, I doubt wishing "Happy" this and that makes any extra sense. You will never wish bad-luck for any of your relative, friend or neighbour, any way - say, not even in a dream! Let us be real and original, instead of being formal and showy.

Lifeline : In Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), a TV game show, they say one shouldn't delay decision of using a lifeline when in confusion or state of uncertainty. Or else, you may lose lots of money, or possible all your money. Similarly in real life, in the state of confusion, frustration or uncertainty, don't hesitate in using available lifeline (here, a lifeline may mean parents, close relatives, friends) immediately or you will end up with troubles having no way out. - Dr. Shashikant Shah

A story of a little known frontier village Mano - Majra (Punjab) - a railway station situated near the bank of river Sutlej dividing India & Pakistan. Here the author narrates the history of 1947 Summer after Partition was declared and frontier elsewhere has become the scene of rioting and bloodshed, but this is the village where Sikhs and Muslims have always lived peacefully and partition did not mean much. Life is regulated by the trains which rattle across the nearby river bridge. One day a local money lender is Kala Ramlal is murdered. Suspicion falls upon Juggut Singh - a gangster having an affair with the Muslim weaver's young daughter Nooran. A western educated communist agent Iqbal Singh comes and does his activity here and stays at gurudwara after meeting Meet Singh - a priest. And one day a train comes from Pakistan full of dead Sikhs and some days later the same thing - a train full Sikhs from Pakistan is repeated. Imam Baksh, Mullah a Muslim spiritual leader at a mo...

A few days ago, my mother (84) passed away of old age. I had an experience of being in a state of sorrow due to her demise. The article is an outcome of experiences following the incidence. I did realize the need and importance of true consolation to the grieved person. So I thought it is prudent to write from the heart words giving guidance. Condolence : It is expressing sympathy to a misfortune or bereavement (one deprived of relative because of death). Consolation : To give comfort or sympathy to an unhappy person. On the death of a close relative, a sudden gap is created due to the absence of that relative. Even the mentally strong person understanding every aspect of the event becomes shocked for a while. Here is the need of true consolation known as 'condolence.'

When someone close is away beyond easily approachable distance, person concerned is anxious and worried for no reason about well-being of person. The only way out is Acceptance. Image Source: beeimgs.com

The day you start counting what you have done for your friend/relative, the relationship is either over or about to die. The base of any relation is moral/psychological support, physical work and financial/materialistic help. It has to be endless and beyond counts. Once you start falling short of this, you go finding all such things and expecting reward or reciprocation. Well, that is the end of relation.

BE ALERT! When either of your parents comment, criticise or say something about your spouse/life-partner in absence of the concerned partner, be alert. They may be wrong or say prejudiced. So be alert, prudent and cautious before discussing this or taking any action against the concerned person.

Mind your mind! Or you may need a psychiatrist at the earliest. If you cannot love and respect any one of the following (whatever their nature, economic or intellectual level may be) - Parents, Parents-in-law, Son/Daughter, or Son/Daughter-in-law, consider checking your thought cycle and revise it. Or else, you may be nowhere.  You may lose your most important life support following your method.

Alert ! When you are staying as a nuclear family, say single pair of husband-wife for long duration, a time comes you start enjoying-loving your privacy and loneliness. And time comes when you don't like any break-breach in that, meaning thereby you start disliking, if not hating, any person around.

We should felicitate the extremists, terrorists, alcoholics, gamblers, etc. type of people around us for their total conviction, devotion to the job they do; total dedication and full attention to the work they have opted. Their character attracts followers and disciples obeying them blindly. Only after learning these virtues, can we raise our own neck for any garland!

From the recent book   review , I presented at Lions Club’s promotional event, as a part of Vanche Gujarat campaign. The One Minute Apology - Ken Blanchard,  Margret McBride A powerful way to make things better. A manipulative technique for getting what you want. A power of forgiveness to improve or repair relationships, your business and even your home.

Any profit and loss account statement should end with precise brief balance sheet telling what was the final outcome; similarly any detailed report should end with conclusion telling what did you really gained. I will do that. What did I learn here? I will reply this question precisely. I cannot and do not want to boast of gaining ENLIGHTENMENT, but I can say with full humility, I have learnt a lot. They have changed me.

Raj means kingdom, the place where The King rules. Yoga means meeting, relation or joining together. So, Raj-Yoga is a technique of meditation leading to peace and happiness and thereby uniting oneself with supreme power-soul. The practice of Raj-yoga leads you to happiness for yourself and for those whom you interact by your inspiring source of positivity. The aim of Raj-yoga is to provide a means by which you can become the master of your own mind and your own destiny and thus acquire constant peace of mind.

Reference: Practical Meditation (by Brahmakumaris) Continued from: Karmic Theory (Law Of Karma) The Law of Karma, of action and reaction, is spiritual sphere and is absolute. It states: For every action there will be an equal and opposite reaction. Opposite, of course, means opposite in direction. Whatever interactions I have with others, I receive the equivalent in return. This means that, if I have given happiness, I will get happiness in return and if I have given sorrow, I will receive sorrow in return. Thus the law is simple and when understood in full depth, it can give insight into the significance of events in my own world and in world at large.

“Facing Challenges and Creating Destiny” by BK Shivani, Gurgaon National Conference on Mind-Body-Medicine, Mount Abu. August 6-10, 2010 What is Karma? Karma is work or energy going out in the form of 1. Thought, 2. Word and/or 3. Action. Resultant return of energy is in the same amount known as Bhagya (Destiny). The role of God is to ask you to do Karma and to help you to do the RIGHT karma. Then whatever good/bad karma you do, the result is accordingly and entirely your responsibility. Because the result is Destiny (Bhagya). So don’t blame anyone else or God for anything bad. Do not try to blame someone responsible for your own deed and its result. Be aware and create/decide your own destiny (Bhagya). Actually, the role of God is to: Give us the strength to handle the problem/situation Accompany us in solving the issue Guide Love unconditionally Give proper knowledge and Pour power to face the situation So pause a little before doing something wrong, think it will ...

Lecture on ‘Mind Your Mind’ by Dr. Girish D Patel, Mumbai. National Conference on Mind-Body-Medicine, Mount Abu. August 6-10, 2010 Here are my impressions, input and the summary of what I learnt on the given subject, without confusing or making you tired. First, I’ve tried to briefly tell you the points and then added my comments. I’ve tried to see that your interest is maintained.

National Conference on Mind-Body-Medicine Mount Abu August 6-10, 2010 Part-I The Journey Part-II Stay, Food, and Beverages Part-III Mount Abu in Rainy Season Mount Abu in Rainy Season With clouds wandering around you and raining at a different speed, greenery at Aravalli hills is maddening the artist/poet in anybody.

National Conference on Mind-Body-Medicine Mount Abu August 6-10, 2010 Part-I The Journey Part-II Stay, Food and Beverages Part-III Mount Abu in Rainy Season Part-IV New Friends

National Conference on Mind-Body-Medicine Mount Abu August 6-10, 2010 Part-II Stay, Food and Beverages Continued from Part-I The Journey Stay at Gyaan Sarovar, Mount Abu Staying with 9 other persons in the same room - a dormitory - is a rare experience worth trying. You get this experience only at youth hostels trekking programs.

National Conference on Mind-Body-Medicine Mount Abu August 6-10, 2010 Part-I The Journey I was one of the 750 consultant doctor delegates of India, attending this conference between 6 to 10 August 2010. My love for nature and temptation to wander at Abu in the rainy season brought me here. I shall share my experiences of the event with you. I shall describe the academic part and other experiences step by step, with short articles. I invite you to be with me. The Journey I was boasting that it was worth being alone, but the pride vanished when the journey began in loneliness and eating alone became difficult. Bilimora to Valsad was by car accompanied by my wife Dr Bhavana and friend Anilbhai, then Ranakpur Express drove me to Abu Road Railway station. Despite all the comforts and air-conditioning, I could hardly sleep, because, I had to leave the train early morning at 4. Three persons - Dr Bhavana, BK Jagruti, and the coach attendant woke me up, but I was ready long before they tried....

Book Review: Art of Power by Thich Nhat Hanh Part – III How to develop mindfulness  We think that if we can obtain a certain thing, we will be happy. But when we get them, we continue to crave and suffer. Fame, sex, power and wealth are the four kinds of bait that have a hook. If you are motivated by any of the desire, your destiny is suffering. To love each other does not mean we sit and look at each other. It means we look in the same direction. Do not try to be someone else.

Book Review: Art of Power by Thich Nhat Hanh  Part – II Mindfulness Mindfulness is the energy of attention and capacity to be 100% present to what is happening within and around us, right here and right now. Whatever you do, you do with your whole being. Invest yourself entirely in the here and now, without running away from here and now. The past is already gone, the future is not yet here. If you miss the present moment, you miss your appointment with life. We have been taught to do many things at once. Actually, forget this and everything. Instead of multitasking, we must restrict ourselves to 'unitask'. If you are not capable of being in the here and now, you won't be able to recognise yourself, your happiness or your sufferings. FIVE pieces of training for this: Be aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life. Not to kill anyone and be a supporter of killers.  Be aware of sufferings caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing and oppression.  Se...