Anti Aging and Maximum Health through Buddhism, Taoism and Modern Science William Bodri www MeditationExpert com 718 539 2811 “Perfect Health Longevity” as Taught in Buddhism, Taoism, Naturopathy and[.]
“Perfect Health Longevity” as Taught in Buddhism, Taoism, Naturopathy and Modern Science William Bodri www.MeditationExpert.com 718-539-2811 Outline Modern Scientific Theories of Aging Shakyamuni Buddha’s 10 Methods of AntiAging Longevity Practice Taoist Super Life Extension Techniques 13 Simple Modern Steps for Perfect Health and Maximum Longevity Modern Scientific Theories of Aging • Free radicals and oxidative damage - longevity is inversely proportional to oxidative damage and directly proportional to antioxidant defense activity; byproducts of metabolism are highly reactive molecules that damage cells (poor diet, lifestyle, drugs, smoking, toxins, etc also increase free radical damage whereas taking antioxidants and a better diet counters free radicals and aging) • Waste accumulation (Membrane theory) - metabolism waste products accumulate inside cells, producing toxic conditions, because membranes become less permeable over time (ex skin lipofuscin age spots are the “ashes of metabolic fires”) so detoxify the body cells and organs and provide fresh essential oils to keep membranes permeable • Neuroendocrine theories - failure of hormone regulatory mechanisms (especially hypothalamus which controls various hormone chain reactions) causes homeostatic imbalance (temperature, blood sugar, internal environment) and death; cortisol (the “stress hormone”) is a main culprit so take up meditation to counter stress Hormone replacement therapy • Immunological theories - your lifespan is related to presence of particular immune-system substances (also affecting the neuroendocrine system, thymus) that decline over time so boost your immune system • DNA damage and repair - DNA repair efficiency is correlated with life span, and repair mechanisms decline over time (ex Eat RNA rich foods such as green powders since it improved cellular repair processes) • Altered proteins - as aging occurs, proteins hook together and change shape so they can’t their jobs properly; cumulative errors over time cause an organism to vary so much from its original design that it falls apart; (Glycosylation “cross linking” of glucose with proteins increases as immune system fails, such as in cataract formation and diabetes Membranes become less pliable and tissue lose their function Glycosylation can be seen when apples cut in half turn yellow, brown and become tough So cut down on sugar consumption and exercise.) • Selective Death - Apotosis - programmed suicide of cells caused by extracellular signals; Phagocytosis - cells have membrane proteins that mark them for destruction by other cells (macrophages) • Gene theories - changes in gene expression mechanisms, such as the order of expression, cause aging and death (ex Telomerases shorten as cells divide so over time cells cannot duplicate themselves correctly, Hayflick limit suggests cells planned obsolescence in that cells can only divide around 50 times but calorie restriction increases lifespan while overfed cells divide faster - so don’t overeat and avoid overweight.) • Mutation Accumulation - over time mutations alter genetic information so cell doesn’t operate properly (error catastrophes increase faulty transcription, faulty gene activation repression mechanisms result in unnecessary proteins, DNA repairs not perfect and flawed molecules accumulate over time) • Wear and Tear (Cellular abuse) - ordinary daily insults/injuries and toxins in diet and environment wear down cells and organs so improve nutrition (nutrient bath), assimilation, circulation and excretion to help improve the repair process • Metabolic theories - longevity is inversely proportional to metabolic rate; we are born with a limited amount of energy so don’t hasten energy consumption but calm your breathing (ex hummingbird) Shakyamuni Buddha’s Ten Methods of Super Longevity The Surangama Sutra Buddha’s Surangama Sutra lecture on longevity – You can cultivate longevity, but it’s always involved with spiritual cultivation, i.e it’s a product of meditation! Examples: Methuselah (Bible), Peng Tsu (China), Sri Sureswaracharya (India), Nagarjuna to Nagabodhi to Vajrabodhi (Esoteric Buddhism) Today scientists are pursuing a chemical and genetic means to extend life They overlook the fact that all these people were strongly connected to a tradition of spiritual practice (meditation, cultivation), and it is this spiritual practice that played the major role in their longevity If you neglect this aspect of cultivating the spirit, any attempts at life extension are sure to be failures – What’s the use of immortality? Shakyamuni said it’s not the right way These guys leave the world, so they’re not practicing to enjoy the world more They’re actually just afraid of death (Zen goes beyond birth and death) On the other hand, he did order students to physically stay in the world without dying In the Surangama Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha Instructed Ananda as follows: There are people who not cultivate samadhi [a meditative state of concentration or “empty mind”] correctly, but cultivate in some special way that is based on strongly holding onto false thoughts As a result, they can perpetuate their physical bodies and roam in the mountains, forests and in other places where people not go There are ten kinds of such immortals Some of these practitioners with unflagging resolution cultivate through eating special foods and perfecting the diet of what they eat When they have perfected this method of cultivation, they are known as earth-bound immortals • Eat in such a way as to attain and maintain health. This is encapsulated in the Chinese practice of eating particular foods for curative effects. For example, there is the custom of eating special foods in the winter months to nourish the body. All of these customs originated from the Taoist idea of “earth primal drugs.” Chinese medicine has all sorts of such foods • For longevity, a few simple diet rules: – Few grains, little sugar, don’t eat to fullness, eat different colored foods and foods in season, organic, avoid extremes, • Metabolic Typing diet to determine diet makeup (carbs, protein, fats) • Avoid food allergies and sensitivities (repair intestine and HCL digestive enzyme) • Cultivating the Earth (and Wood) elements