Preventive wellness was even realized by NASA when considering human sustenance in space without natural elements, leading them to discover Jain scriptures on the topic.
◦ The Prasuk Wellness System is a part of Jainism that aims to achieve ultimate bliss by following the laws of the universe and respecting mother nature.
• Jain Food and Diet Rules:
◦ Food Classification (Kawalahar): Food is divided into four parts:
▪ Asanam: Grains and pulses that satisfy hunger.
▪ Panam: Flowing water (rain, rivers, wells) that truly satisfies thirst.
▪ Kaim: Items like cow milk that satisfy both hunger and thirst.
▪ Simum: Medicinal items like salt and turmeric that have no hunger or thirst-satisfying properties.
◦ Prohibited Foods:
▪ Root foods (carrots, turnip, radish, potatoes) are not consumed because harvesting them destroys the entire plant.
▪ Over-stimulating foods are to be avoided entirely. These include butter, honey, non-vegetarian items, cheese, and paneer. These are considered "half-cooked" and can lead to stored toxins, depression, memory loss, Alzheimer's, and chronic diseases if one has a sedentary lifestyle.
▪ Red chilies are banned as they are believed to cause Alzheimer's.
▪ Foods without an "Indian name" (e.g., cake, biscuit, French fries, ice cream, sugar) should be avoided in India, while those with Indian names (e.g., halva, kulfi) are acceptable.
◦ Seasonal and Timed Eating:
▪ Cool foods (milk, halva, khichdi dalia) should be eaten in the morning and evening when the environment is cool.
▪ Spicy foods (referred to as "hot food" in nature, not temperature) should be consumed in the afternoon when the sun aids digestion, preventing acidity.
▪ Six stimulating foods (Vigay) – sugar, jaggery, oil, milk, curd, and ghee – should not be consumed every day.
▪ Leafy vegetables are recommended only in winter for moisture, not in rainy or summer seasons.
▪ The diet is personalized based on draet kal and bha (season, place, and individual disposition).
◦ Black pepper is considered a medicine that stabilizes intestinal acids, especially during fasting.
• Water Consumption Rules:
◦ Water is the most important ingredient for longevity and generating fire (heat) in the body.
◦ Drink one or two glasses early in the morning to detoxify.
◦ Drink water before eating to prepare the digestive system, similar to how a dentist uses water to clean teeth.
◦ Drink water halfway through a meal to help break down food and allow appropriate digestive acids to be released. The quantity depends on the food consumed.
◦ Do not drink water immediately after food (beyond a sip to cleanse the mouth) as it can mix with acids and cause acidity. Wait at least two hours.
◦ Jainism recognizes 21 kinds of "healing waters" (alkaline waters). Examples include:
▪ Rice-soaked water: Heals acidic sicknesses, fever, and gut-related problems.
▪ Gooseberry water: Has healed over 5,000 arthritis patients, including rheumatoid arthritis.
• Fasting in Jainism:
◦ Fasting is considered the ultimate medicine and a highly effective method for weight management.
◦ It is linked to sunlight, as food derives energy from the sun, and kitchens without sunlight can lead to sickness. Healing ingredients are produced in the body only in the presence of sunlight.
◦ Compulsory Night Fasting (Ratriantiag): Avoid food after sunset.
◦ Specific Eating Timings: The first meal should be 48 minutes after sunrise, and the last meal 24 minutes before sunset to avoid eating during "season transitions" (sandy).
◦ Ambil: A type of fasting involving only boiled grains and pulses for 45 days, which can make gallbladder stones vanish. This method is used by followers to avoid surgery for gallbladder issues.
◦ Fasting unto death (Sanan Shara or Samlekana): A voluntary, ultimate spiritual fast undertaken when the body is failing, with the intention of achieving liberation (moksha) from the cycle of birth and death. This is an extremely rare practice.
◦ Clinical trials have supported Jain fasting, showing benefits like reduced weight, improved BMI, better lipid profiles, lower blood pressure, increased calmness, and reduced stress. The Japanese concept of autophagy (body reversal after 72 hours of fasting) also aligns with these benefits.
◦ All fasting practices, especially prolonged ones, must be done under the guidance of a guru.
• Sadhhatus and Exercise:
◦ The body's DNA is coded in sadhhatus.
◦ Exercise is described as "exorcism on toxins" because toxins accumulate at joints (e.g., knees, hips, neck, arteries), and physical activity helps pump them out.
◦ A balanced daily routine includes 6 hours of sleeping, 6 hours of standing, 6 hours of walking, and 6 hours of sitting.
• Breathing (Jivatma):
◦ Breathing is considered a living entity (jivatma) and is directly linked to longevity; a balanced breath leads to a longer life.
◦ Proper breath work can control anger.
◦ A recommended breathing practice involves inhaling for 3 seconds, pausing (kumbak) for 3 seconds, exhaling for 3 seconds, and pausing (baja kumbak) for 3 seconds. This results in 5 breaths per minute. Having fewer breaths per minute indicates a yogi, while more indicates sickness (rogi).
◦ Oxygen, purified by proper breathing, is the most important element for detoxifying the brain and the entire body.
• Hardships in Jainism:
◦ Jainism views hardship (sufferings) as a means for the body to help the soul achieve its full potential and ultimately moksha (liberation).
◦ Satvic hardships are those that align with nature, like enduring the sun's heat naturally, unlike forced tortures.
◦ Hardships that are "tamasik" (driven by materialistic intentions or force) are not aligned with Jain principles.
◦ Jain practices involve controlling all activities (sleeping, sitting, standing, eating, speaking, walking, running) in a satvic, controlled manner.
◦ There are 57 rules for speaking (basha samiti) to ensure speech is satvic and does not harm others, promoting self-imposed silence.
◦ There are 96 rules before eating food (esana samiti).
◦ Monks practice specific rules for walking (irriy samiti) to avoid harming any living being.
◦ There are 1,024 rules for excretion and around 120 rules before touching anything.
Here are the core principles and practices, simplified:
• Preventive Wellness: Don't Overstimulate!
◦ The most important rule is to "don't stimulate anything you possess". This means:
▪ Don't over-use your senses (eyes, ears, nose, touch, taste).
▪ Don't over-eat.
▪ Don't over-exercise or over-stimulate your body parts.
▪ Don't over-stress your mind or emotions.
◦ The simple science behind illness is overstimulation.
◦ The goal is balance – not lazy, not over-the-top.
◦ This "Prasuk Wellness System" is about following nature's laws and respecting the environment to achieve ultimate bliss.
• Jain Food Rules (Simplified):
◦ Avoid certain foods:
▪ Root vegetables (carrots, potatoes, radish) because harvesting them destroys the whole plant.
▪ "Over-stimulating" foods: butter, honey, non-vegetarian items, cheese, and paneer. These are considered "half-cooked" and can cause toxins, depression, memory loss, Alzheimer's, and chronic diseases if you have a sedentary lifestyle.
▪ Red chilies are banned as they are believed to cause Alzheimer's.
▪ Avoid processed foods or those without an "Indian name" (like cake, biscuits, French fries, sugar, ice cream).
◦ Eat according to the environment:
▪ Cool foods (like milk, halva) in the morning and evening when it's cool outside.
▪ Spicy foods (foods with a "hot" nature, not necessarily temperature) in the afternoon when the sun helps digestion.
▪ Black pepper is considered medicine, especially during fasting, to stabilize gut acids.
◦ Don't consume six "stimulating foods" (sugar, jaggery, oil, milk, curd, ghee) every day.
• Water Consumption (Simplified):
◦ Water is crucial for longevity and generating body heat.
◦ Drink one to two glasses first thing in the morning to detoxify.
◦ Drink water before eating to prepare your digestive system.
◦ Drink water halfway through your meal to help break down food and release digestive acids.
◦ Do not drink water immediately after eating (beyond a sip to clean your mouth). Wait at least two hours to avoid acidity.
◦ Jainism recognizes 21 kinds of "healing waters" (alkaline waters), like rice-soaked water for acidic issues and gooseberry water for arthritis.
• Fasting (Simplified):
◦ Fasting is considered the "ultimate medicine" and is very effective for weight management.
◦ Compulsory night fasting: Do not eat anything after sunset, as sunlight is essential for digestion and producing healing ingredients in the body.
◦ Eat your first meal 48 minutes after sunrise and your last meal 24 minutes before sunset to avoid eating during "season transitions".
◦ Ambil: A special fasting method of eating only boiled grains and pulses for 45 days can make gallbladder stones disappear without surgery.
◦ There's an extreme, rare form of fasting called "fasting unto death" (Sanan Shara or Samlekana), chosen voluntarily when the body is failing, with the goal of achieving spiritual liberation.
◦ All fasting, especially prolonged, must be done under the guidance of a guru.
• Exercise and Routine (Simplified):
◦ Exercise is like an "exorcism on toxins". Toxins build up at your body's joints (knees, hips, neck, arteries), and exercise helps pump them out.
◦ A balanced daily routine: 6 hours sleeping, 6 hours standing, 6 hours walking, and 6 hours sitting.
• Breathing (Simplified):
◦ Breathing is a "living entity" and directly affects how long you live.
◦ Proper breathing can help control anger.
◦ Aim for 5 breaths per minute: inhale 3 seconds, pause 3 seconds, exhale 3 seconds, pause 3 seconds. Fewer breaths per minute mean you're a yogi (healthy), more means you're rogi (sick). Oxygen, purified by breathing, is vital for detoxifying the brain and body.
• Hardships and Comforts (Simplified):
◦ Jainism sees hardships (suffering) as a way for the body to help the soul achieve its full potential and liberation.
◦ These hardships should be "satvic" (natural and aligned with nature), like enduring natural heat, not forced torture.
◦ Many things we think are "comforts" today (like sleeping late, drinking cold drinks) are actually illusions that lead to suffering and ill-health. Discipline and living naturally bring true freedom.
◦ Jain practices involve strict rules for all activities: speaking (57 rules for "satvic" speech), eating (96 rules), touching (120 rules), and even excretion (1,024 rules) to live a controlled, mindful life.
• A Word on Modern Medicine:
◦ Dr. Adarsh suggests that many modern surgeries (like hysterectomies, gallbladder, and appendix removals) are often unnecessary "rackets" encouraged by the medical system.
◦ He advocates for natural healing methods like fasting instead of removing organs.
◦ The goal is to live a preventive lifestyle rather than relying on an allopathic, quick-fix approach to health
General Food Philosophy
• Jainism emphasizes preventive wellness rather than curative medicine.
• The core principle is "don't stimulate anything you possess," which applies to food, avoiding over-quantity and over-stimulating ingredients.
• Food should be consumed to nourish the body without causing harm to living beings or oneself.
• The "Prasuk Wellness System" aims for ultimate bliss by following the laws of the universe and respecting mother nature.
Foods to Avoid or Limit
To prevent over-stimulation and the accumulation of toxins, certain foods are discouraged or banned:
• Root Vegetables: Avoid carrots, turnip, radish, and potatoes, as harvesting them destroys the entire plant.
• "Over-Stimulants" (Vigay or Vikrrui): The daily consumption of sugar, jaggery, oil, milk, curd, and ghee is discouraged as they generate stimulations.
◦ Butter, honey, non-vegetarian items, cheese, and paneer are considered over-stimulants and are not recommended. These are seen as "half-cooked" or hard to digest, and if consumed with a sedentary lifestyle, can lead to toxins, depression, memory loss, Alzheimer's, and chronic diseases.
• Red Chilies: Should be banned as they are believed to cause Alzheimer's. Spicy foods, in general, are believed to stimulate the mind.
• Processed Foods / Foreign Names: Foods without an "Indian name" such as cake, biscuits, French fries, sugar (modern refined sugar), and ice cream should be avoided in India. Kulfi, however, is acceptable.
• Foods with Multiple Seeds: Foods like cucumber and tomato, which have multiple seeds, are eaten less or avoided.
• Leafy Vegetables: Should only be consumed in the winter season to moisturize the body. They are generally not consumed in rainy/monsoon and summer seasons.
• Plucked Fruits: On a higher spiritual level, fruits that have fallen naturally are preferred over those plucked from a tree, as plucking is seen as harming the tree.
Recommended Foods and Eating Practices
• Food Classification (Kawalahar): Food is classified into four types:
1. Asanam: Grains and pulses that satisfy hunger (e.g., rice, dal).
2. Panam: Waters that satisfy thirst (e.g., flowing rain, river, or well water, as city lake water may not fully satisfy thirst).
3. Kaim (Kaum): Foods that satisfy both hunger and thirst (e.g., cow milk).
4. Simum: Items with medicinal properties that don't satisfy hunger or thirst (e.g., salt, turmeric).
• Black Pepper: Considered a medicine, especially during fasting, to stabilize intestinal acids.
• Mahim Halva: Consuming "mahim halva" for 45 days is mentioned for healing hair fall and issues related to typhoid. It is described as a good tradition of ancestors.
• Mangoes: Can be consumed in summer when the body needs sugar and hydration.
• Ambil (Boiled Grains and Pulses): A specific fasting method of eating only boiled grains and pulses (without salt or flavor) for 45 days is said to make gallbladder stones disappear.
Eating Timings and Environment
• Eat According to Environmental Temperature:
◦ Consume cool foods (alkaline foods like milk or halva) in the morning and evening when the environment is cool.
◦ Consume spicy/hot natured foods (not necessarily hot in temperature, but hot in nature) in the afternoon, as the sun aids digestion. Following these three rules alone can help overcome many sicknesses related to nutrition.
• Sunlight is Crucial: The kitchen should receive sunlight, as food digested under sunlight allows for better extraction of potential elements and healing ingredients. Eating in the absence of sunlight (after sunset) leads to "tamasik" digestion, where healing ingredients are not produced.
• Night Fasting is Compulsory (Ratrijaniag): Do not eat after sunset, as sunlight is essential for life and food energy.
• Specific Meal Times:
◦ Your first meal should be 48 minutes after sunrise.
◦ Your last meal should be 24 minutes before sunset.
◦ Eating during these "season transitions" (like sunrise or sunset) is believed to cause sickness.
Water Consumption Rules
Water is considered vital for longevity and generating body heat.
• Early Morning: Drink one to two glasses of water first thing in the morning to detoxify the body.
• Before Eating: Drink water before eating solid food to prepare your digestive system, similar to a dentist cleaning teeth with water before working on them.
• Mid-Meal: Drink water halfway through your meal. The quantity depends on the amount of food (e.g., a full glass for four chapatis, half for two). This helps the food to be easily divided and aids in the release of appropriate digestive acids.
• After Eating: Do not drink water immediately after finishing a meal (beyond a sip to cleanse your mouth). Wait at least two hours to prevent acidity, as water can mix with digestive acids and fill the stomach, leading to discomfort.
• Healing Waters: Jainism recognizes 21 kinds of healing (alkaline) waters.
◦ Rice-soaked water (Chaval Ka Pani): Helps heal acidic sicknesses, fever, gut health problems, and any symptoms generating heat in the body.
◦ Gooseberry water: Has been used to heal over 5,000 people with arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis. Its consumption proportion may vary by season and body type (e.g., with honey for dry bodies).
• Boiled Water: Boiled water should not be consumed after 7 hours of being boiled.
Fasting Practices
Fasting is considered the "ultimate medicine" and is highly effective for weight management and reversing diseases.
• Compulsory Night Fasting: As mentioned above, not eating after sunset is a fundamental practice.
• Ambil: A specific method of fasting involves consuming only boiled grains and pulses. This is said to help eliminate problems caused by oils, ghee, and cholesterol, and has been effective in vanishing gallbladder stones within 45 days.
• Fasting Unto Death (Sanan Shara or Samlekana): This is an extreme, voluntary, and rare form of fasting undertaken for spiritual liberation when the body is failing, but it must be done under strict guidance.
• Importance of Guidance: All prolonged fasting, from intermittent to complete, and especially specific practices like Ambil, must be done under the guidance of a guru. This is to ensure it aligns with an individual's capacity and the appropriate environmental conditions to prevent imbalances or harm.
In summary, the Jain approach to diet is not a universal meal plan but a set of mindful, preventive principles that emphasize non-stimulation, seasonal and time-based eating, specific water consumption rules, and various forms of fasting, all to be ideally tailored and supervised by a spiritual guide.