Month: September 2017

Should We Question Our Guru?

Science, Arts or Spirituality would cease to grow if we don’t oppose our Guru. That opposition has an element of obeisance and regards of highest kind, since the Guru is the one who has provided that eternal milieu for growth and realization.

Prologue

All religions are deeply embedded with a humane perspective, ethical values, and principles. We follow religion what is told to us and as followers, we come up with questions. Often, religious practices or preachers forbid us from asking questions. In fact, in the interest of your faith, you should question your tenets or those who impart those principles of religion and at times, we should oppose something that does not appeal to our morals or sense of justice. Science, Arts or Spirituality would cease to grow if we don’t oppose our Guru. That opposition has an element of obeisance and regards of the highest kind since the Guru is the one who provides us that eternal milieu for growth and realization. More on the importance of asking questions to understand your faith.

The Importance of Guru

Guru or a teacher is a must in every aspect of life and living. When we are born, the one who holds us, our Parents, is our Guru. When we learn to walk and run and play in the field, we need a Guru or alternately, we are continuously guided by someone in the form of Guru. As we graduate through different levels of learning, we realize, several learned folks have contributed to making us what we are at that snapshot of time. At no point in our individual journey of life can we claim that we are on our own. We develop as an amalgamation of outside forces, the learning and our own ability to comprehend internally what emerges from within the milieu we exist. Be it science, arts, technology, business, politics or spiritual. Selected few are beneficiaries of dedicated didactics whereas, most are imbibing the radiance emanated from these folks, through books, discourse, artifacts analysis, on the ground lessons, hands-on learning, etc. and as time progresses, we transition into Guru. In fact, we should consider that as one of our most noble social responsibility while building that continuity. There are no invitations, you simply offer yourself to the devotion of dissipating and spreading that wisdom, knowledge being one aspect of it. Do we need Guru to interpret religion? Obviously yes, this journey would not be a journey without a Guru and life would have no meaning without the presence of Guru.

Should Guru Charge for the knowledge?

Some do it selflessly, while others do it with collateral. However, irrespective of exchange is occurring or not, it is pertinent that the transfer of wisdom should transition from generation to generation as does the genomic material. As is clear from the foregoing, the day you destroy that genomic transcription, the world will cease to exist and time will come to standstill.

What are the essential traits of Guru?

I strongly believe we need Guru to interpret religion. We need a Guru to interpret religion. Please correct me if I am wrong but I presume, Guru is at a level sufficiently evolved that the disciple, second Guru is above material attachments and third, Guru is above biases. If all of these qualify, I presume, we still have occasionally people born with precocious intelligence and they interpret life beyond the box, those are the same folks who expand that envelop, that’s how Buddha came into being and I presume, the entire edifice of Sanatan dharma was built upon.

Should we be restricted within the confines of Guru?

No one helped Einstein with his quantum physics or theory of relativity. History of science is adorned with several such examples. In fact, when a disciple takes it beyond the confines of imparted knowledge, the disciple honors his Guru and the stature of their Guru too rises beyond an act of deliverance of knowledge to the one of evolving the tenets, a supreme contribution to the cause of mankind.

Do we question Guru?

Definitely Yes! You may notice that ‘definite’, and if we don’t, we will initiate the degradation and degeneration.

Why Spiritual Guru’s should be above material attachment? Knowledge is so pristine and supremely inspiring and awakening, that it often lures the acquirer into installing the beholder onto higher pedestals. During such times, it makes sense to not be attached or be minimalist in his/her attachment to the material world. If the Guru’s are not, disciples land up encountering Guru Ram Rahim. Power corrupts and religious power corrupts absolutely. That is how we got Guru Rajneesh.

Only if Lord Shiva would have registered an IP or Patented Yog

Our Age-Old Yog (So-called Yoga) is a case in point. Yog are taught, not in the comfort of the conditioned environment but in the temple precincts and after paying due obeisance to Lord Shiva. The western world has corrupted it to Yoga, followed with a liturgy of similar distortions from Rama, Krishna, Arjuna. Our original words are Yog, Ram, Krishna, etc.

Let me come to the point – Yog originated from Lord Shiva as a primeval knowledge and mechanism for the uplifting of human living and existence. Lord Shiva initially transferred the understanding to Lord Parvati and upon her insistence to the Seven Sages, after they went through severe penance, devotion, and commitment. Yog was thus born not as a religious preaching or kinesthetic principles but as a spiritual science. Yog does not adhere to any particular religion, belief or community but as a mechanism for inner wellbeing.

What’s wrong with today’s Gurus?

We see the likes of Ramdev, SadhGuru and others, who through their Siddhi bestowed on them, are prophesying Yog but indulging in material gain. If only Lord Shiva patented Yog. They especially fall out since they are acclaimed Siddha Purush (enlightened). Other lesser mortals can definitely do business but I don’t consider them enlightened.

Guru Shishya Vyavastha in Prachin Bharat Varsha

It is important to understand the origin of Guru, Disciple and Gurukul tradition. In ancient India, Guru held their own learning institutes called Gurukul. Disciples stayed with their Guru and imbibed the learning as it was imparted. These Gurukul were supported by Bhiksha and the ruling kings. It is wrong to say Gurus were Brahmins. Disciples often served the Gurukul with day to day activities. Gurus were the learned class and a Brahmin was considered learned class devoid of any material attachments as they were supported by alms and the state. Guru Dakshina was part of the tradition and it never meant material repayment to the teacher. It meant respect that may have included some material form, irrespective of the value.

Guru GuruKul

If you notice, the entire edifice of Guru and his learning ecosystem are based on the percept of selfless dedication, irrespective of the players – Teacher, Disciple, Institute or the Community that benefitted from the posterity.

Science, Arts or Spirituality would cease to grow if we don’t oppose our Guru. That opposition has an element of obeisance and regards of the highest kind since the Guru is the one who has provided that eternal milieu for growth and realization.

You may also like Who Am I? – Swami Sarvapriyananda from Mandukya Upanishad

Citations:

Yoga: Its Origin, History, and Development

 

Sanatan Dharma – a journey through time

Sanatan Dharma

Sanatan Dharma is an evolution and a confluence of several spiritual streams. The process has gone through significant innovation and evolution by a steady stream of religious reformers or social scientists (we call them Rushi Muni Tapasvi). Those were not gifted folks, but they had a thorough understanding of the existing tenets and the different facets of life, evolving religious ideologies to the form it existed or that we know about Sanatan Dharma.

Of course, such a profound realization cannot be understood by the common man, and it required support for the state plus ritualization through artifact generation. As with every religion, ritualization was relevant to the life scenario during those times, and over a period, a system evolved to achieve homeostasis, a stable state. It’s pretty much akin to blockchain technology or, to say, one brick over the other to build a beautiful castle.

Sanatan Dharma and Offshoots

It was in this milieu that Buddhism, Jainism, and other deviation of practices emerged. It was this character of Sanatan dharma that provided the ripe environment for other offshoots. If I am not wrong, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, etc., had very few or occasional opposition in erstwhile Bharat, the prime reason being Sahishnuta and acceptance of ideological differences. It’s not a timid concept, and it’s way up the ladder of evolution. It is a reflection of deep respect and freedom and the practice of individual practices and ideology. Such is the deep-seated respect for individualism in Sanatan Dharma.

Amidst the cauldron of these evolutionary changes within the religious ideology (barring few examples), we notice that statecraft, despite its support, interfered very little to influence ideology, and religious doctrine interfered little with statecraft. That delicate balance was maintained, possibly because ethos were absorbed as a character of the milieu. Over a period of time, we forgot those principles and clung to those artifacts, and as we see today, we have become artifact worshipers. That’s not with us alone. Many religions show a similar transformation.

Distortion and Exploitation of Justice

Sometimes, I strongly realize, except for our genomic and ethnic composition, ideologically, we are not the real legacy of our Sanatan Dharma. Those who call themselves the loyal followers are, in fact, far off from the actual concept propounded by religion. Ironically, those deviating from this truth are, in fact, guardians of the religion. Statecraft is synonymous with faith and ideology. That’s the degradation and degeneration we witness today, that edifice is crumbling, every day, since the times we froze the doctrine. We started worshiping the artifacts, the time we fossilized ‘Varna Paddhat’ and exploited masses, the time we eschewed patriarchal society and diluted women’s importance. Unless we correct our fundamental fallacies, we cannot rise as a nation. If we see a few metrics or KPIs (like GDP) improving, those are but material reflection and not our actual state of spiritual, mental evolution.

Of all the atrocities, ‘Varna Paddhati’ and nebular organization into ‘Patriachial System’ are the ones who have inflicted the most deep-seated grave insult to our society. It is despite the individual freedom of respect for individualism. These two aspects limit the respect for individuality and uniqueness. (Please read my blog on Varnapadhati …).

Our Idols in Sanctum Sanctorum

In our daily lives, we often see a dichotomous hierarchy wherein women are usually second in command, be it home, offices, social, or polity. However, followers of Sanatan Dharma will notice that it is a deviation from the original preaching. We never see Lord Sita outside the Sanctum Sanctorum, whereas Lord Ram is inside. Lord Shiva takes it several steps above this. He considers himself incomplete without Lord Parvati. Lord Parvati is the other half of Lord Shiva, a devotion so sublime that it transcends science, philosophy, imagination, and preaching, laying the foundation for humanity for eons.

Women, that feminine aspect of continuity, is an entirely different creature. Rudimentary cultures often see her as a fertile ground for sowing seeds, as a homemaker and one who rears the siblings. However, in the real philosophical sense, she is the Janani and the bearer of this Mother Earth, the continuity of time and life’s essence. Emancipating and enabling women is our prime responsibility, as is our duty to rear the next generation.

Lesser offsprings of Sanatan Dharma

One of the most lurid exploits of times – I find the imagination, creation, and subsequent fossilization of the lesser classes created by guardians Sanatan Dharma as one of the goriest acts of tribulation. It is repugnant to see how in the best of the senses can humanity create such a deed? How can this find continuity across ages, and how the system froze it to the best of unique advantage in the best of senses and justice? That is so repulsive, heinous, so barbaric and brutal, and so inhumane. That we let this act continue despite the social justice system is truly a unique blemish on our evolved system.

The injustice is so deeply rooted that all other Varnas should be tried similar to the Nazis for War Crime. I find it repulsive when we oppose ‘Equal Opportunities’ or ‘Reservation’ as those are labeled depending upon the country of origin. However, the time has come to dismantle that system and usher into a new era of justice for all. We all will have to make sacrifices. Offering our rightful meritorious place and finding an alternative spot should be part of our struggle if we genuinely believe in this heinous crime committed over eons.

Excerpts from ‘Varna Vyavastha: Class System Of Vedic Society’

“In the beginning, there was only one varna in ancient Indian society. “We were all brahmins or all Sudras,” says Brhadaranyaka Upanisad (1.4, 11-5, 1.31) and also Mahabharata (12.188). A smrti text says that one is born a sudra, and through purification, he becomes a brahmin. According to Bhagavad Gita, varna is conferred on the basis of the intrinsic nature of an individual, which is a combination of three Gunas (qualities): sattva, rajas, and tamas.

In the Mahabharata Santi Parva, Yudhisthira defines a brahmin as one who is truthful, forgiving, and kind. He points out that a brahmin is not a brahmin just because he is born in a brahmin family, nor is a sudra because his parents are Sudras. The same concept is mentioned in Manu Smrti. Another scripture Apastamba Dharmasutra states that by birth, every human being is a sudra. By education and upbringing, one becomes `twice-born,’ that is, a dvija.

Link here.

Lord Krishna, in Bhagvad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 13, said:-

“Chatur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah,
Tasya kartaram api mam viddhy akartaram avyayam”

Lord Krishna said I created the four categories of occupations according to people’s three qualities and activities (guna and karma). Although I am the creator of this system, know me to be the non-doer and eternal. Gita’s verse clearly states that caste is assigned to people not based on their birth but on the three attributes and professions carried by them. No child is automatically bound to the same caste as his parent. The purpose of allotting caste is to enable the person to do his specific karma and reach ‘Moksha,’ i.e., Liberation. Arjun asked Lord Krishna if mixing of the caste creates a progeny that does not help with the salvation of the pitrus. To this Lord Krishna said,

“klaibyam ma sma gamaḥ partha naitat tvayyupapadyate
kṣhudram hṛidaya-daurbalyam tyaktvottiṣhṭha parantapa”

To translate, it meant, “O Parth, it does not befit you to yield to this unmanliness. Give up such petty weakness of heart and arise, O vanquisher of enemies.” Lord Krishna denounced the caste system, the way humanity has interpreted and frozen it to their benefit. Lord Krishna has not condemned it and supported intercaste marriages as it does not support his view of establishing varna padathi.

Is Sanatan Dharma under threat?

Religions grow and prosper under uncertainty. In the Western World, the number of atheists has increased due to existential stability with high economic, political, education, and technology access.
However, Sanatan Dharma (the one that never ends), as the name indicates, got even deep-rooted with prosperity and stabilization of erst. At the same time, society in Bharat Varsha revealed the greater meaning of life and living. If we revisit Maslow’s Self Actualization pyramid, we realize that as human beings rise through those hierarchies, the needs change. Sanatan Dharma offers that foundation for change through various phases and elevations of life.

An argument often made by politicians and religious hegemonists, that our religion is under threat. That is an easy ploy to garner the undecided votes (an indirect booth capturing mechanism). We may lose a few folks due to proselytization, but Dharma will never lose. Dharma may fail due to its intrinsic weaknesses, not due to an external threat or attack, as long as we are a strong nation.
With deep reverence and adoration, I respect those who hold the cause of Sanatan Dharma. However, I humbly urge that they understand this Dharma’s nature and protect its ethos (Atma). To be a true believer, let us go beyond artifacts; let us drive towards the principles. Until then, it is all muddled with politics and selfish gains. I genuinely believe the protection of one’s faith is with the believer.

(The blog below reflect my thoughts as I discussed those with my college batchmates).

If you liked this, you may also like The Hijacking of Faith

Specific Citations:

Sanatan Dharma – The Eternal Way of Being

Yoga: Its Origin, History and Development

Humanity – A Universal Religion

General Citations on religion:

Why Religion Is Natural and Science Is Not By Robert McCauley

 “Nones” on the Rise Pew Research Foundation

Will religion ever disappear? BBC, an interesting read

Humanity – A Universal Religion

(There is only 1 religion called Humanity. Its not important to understand whether Jesus/ Krishna/ Mohammed or Buddha is the messenger of god.. whats important is whether we get “that message”).

Absolutely true! However, despite our teaching the best of the lot sway away from the message? It is easy to be distracted, not because we love to indulge in ourselves but discerning and making choices and persistently acting on it is trying and arduous, whereas indulgence is a default state.

Religion was probably introduced by well-read men thousands of years ago after studying human psychology to keep control on the actions of human beings as we are the most intelligent species and capable of doing terrible things if not kept in check.

First, let us go to back to that time when it all originated. Do we expect a sudden mutation from homo erectus to homo sapiens all of a sudden? [Astrolopothecus to Zinzanthropus to Homo erectus to Homo Sapiens are those stages of evolution.] Where did those books come from? As for the history of mankind, if I recollect the existence of the oldest religion, it goes back to only 10,000 to 12,000. However, modern men came around 300000 years ago. What happened to the history in between? I am trying to impress the fact that wisdom and science is not completely

In science if we have to prove any theory by deduction, we start with a hypothesis (assumption).

In Hinduism that hypothesis or assumption is ‘the belief of reincarnation’ meaning that soul is immortal and when we die, the soul takes another form. Without the belief of reincarnation or rebirth; the whole philosophy of hinduism falls flat. So its important to believe in the concept of soul & reincarnation to understand hinduism to its core.

Soul is nothing but your gut feeling. Soul will always tell you to do the right thing, no matter what! Its either black or white – there is no gray area. The moment one does something wrong, he gets caught up in the guilt cycle. To break that cycle, no matter what religion a person belongs to, these 3 pillars do act as guidelines to help you lead a happy & peaceful life:

1) Bhakti – Faith & Belief to shape the quality of our thoughts and have a positive attitude towards life
2) Karma – Every action has a equal and opposite reaction. As you sow, so shall you reap!
3) Dharma – Meaning “duty or responsibility” towards family, friends, society, nature above and beyond you. And always doing the right thing.

The ultimate aim is to do good karma and find your peace!! And one thing that I have realized is that your happiness & sadness is defined by the quality of your relationships (w/ family, friends, colleague, society)

UN and World Polity

Truly speaking, UN with its seemingly democratic nature and composition, has an under pinning rudimentary barbaric, strongman-ship and jungle law pervading its transactions. The current world order is dominated by the brute power of ‘west aligned’, hegemony.

Fire and Fury

It’s in fashion, mainstream media and folks discard every other idea that Trump intends or does. We should ask ourselves, how do we deal with Kim where decades of diplomacy failed, where repeated waves of sanctions have had no meaningful effect in stopping the nuclear ambitions and now, the regime is at its best in exploiting and extorting with a real nuclear armed missile. Nothing wrong if Trump escalates with ‘fire and fury’. Of course, that comes not as a strategy but as a natural (rather naturalized) response. To be true, that’s the only language Kim Jong Un can understand, that’s the only way ‘carrot and stick’, diplomacy can work with DPRK.

Controlling tantrum and tweets

So its difficult to control a tantrum throwing child, especially if he is in the driving seat, you have no controls and your fate is critically and essentially dependent on this driver.

Visit my blog – ‘The world on a leash’ click here

Excerpts from National Review below –

‘First, North Korean leaders know that they would not only lose a war with the United States, they would also lose their regime and, quite possibly, their lives’.

‘Second, to the extent that North Korea has any hope at all of achieving a victory, it has to strike first, achieve a degree of surprise, and find a way to deter the planned American counterattack’.

‘What does this all mean? So long as North Korea does not believe that we are preparing to launch an aggressive attack, they are highly likely to maintain the status quo. They’re keenly aware of the first rule. If there’s a war, they’ll lose. If, however, the DPRK believes the United States is preparing aggressive military action, it may well gamble on a first strike. But, given the first rule, its leaders would have to truly believe the end of their regime was at hand. Only perceived desperate times would justify desperate measures’.

‘Trump’s rhetoric are most troubling. It’s not clear what he stands to gain with his aggressive words, and to the extent they have an effect, they seem to be backfiring. There’s no indication that his words are deterring the DPRK from pursuing an active ICBM force. To the contrary, they are incentivizing North Korea’s rush to create deliverable intercontinental weapons. They aren’t “scaring” North Korea into any sort of compliance with American wishes. Kim Jong-un is countering Trump rhetoric not just with rhetoric of his own but also with actions that frighten every American ally in the region — the kind of actions that raise tensions and increase the chance of miscalculation. Nor is there much evidence that Trump’s rhetoric is triggering a Chinese response decisive enough to force the DPRK into compliance’.

‘Trump, thankfully, has surrounded himself with careful military advisers, but he is not making careful statements. Indeed, he is reportedly ignoring his advisers’ advice. It’s too much to say that he’s actively courting nuclear conflict or even a second Korean War. It’s not too much to say, however, that he’s increasing risks without any clear reward’.

What Are the Chances the War of Words with North Korea Escalates?

How Western Civilization Could Collapse

Politics and Hero Worship

I am surprised by the Modi Gandhi fixation in India.

We all recognize the contributions made by previous generation of Gandhi family but this is not oligarchy and even if we consider oligarchy as a tenet to our political dispensation, we definitely want competent and capable folks, Rahul not being one of those. It’s a national waste of time to discuss Rahul. In fact, imposing a legacy has stymied organic growth (for finding new leader) for a major secular political party. In imposing their clan who has lost ground appeal, they have decimated a major centrist force. That’s a great de-service to the nation. Congress is not Nehru-Gandhi, it was a mass movement with strong grass root leaning. This family has captured it as their own with eventual decay, that started from Indira. Circulating Rahul parodies is diluting the core issues. Obviously if you are discussing mundane things, your bandwidth for core issues is consumed.

We need fresh perspective to address our issues. While BJP dismantles that tenaciously, we have to understand if they are hurting the fundamental nature and ethos of this country, or else, they are bound to be booted. Few boisterous and overzealous policies may not help, but an adequate understanding of key issues, prioritizing those and efficiently executing those while establishing a right and balanced governance for continuity is critical for progress.

Similarly, it a central tendency in a demagogue leaning democracy to criticize even the best achieved by the mainstream government, Modi and BJP being a scapegoat. I presume, this has to stop for a healthy and true constructive democracy.

Ethnic Cleansing

Pragmatism is not above humanity

The clip above shows Indira Gandhi weighing in favor of being pragmatic. Bangladeshi immigration is often cited as an example while dealing with outside immigrants. To those Indians who favor the above approach, let me ask a question – What should we do if Hindus in Pakistan face Ethnic cleansing? The same applies to Hindus from Africa or other lands. In Uganda, Idi Amin started a massacre against Hindus. Their property and other belongings were taken over by the state machinery. Hindus and specifically Indians started emigrating, should we have welcomed them?

Ethnic Cleansing and Emotional Outburst

Below, a clip showing an emotional outburst by a so called humanitarian. Emotions are respectful but they have very limited value in making the right decision. Such issues cannot be solved with an emotional outburst. A complete life cycle view of the immigrants and the natives has to be understood in the context of where both exist and eventually, a solution can be drawn.

 

 

There is no support in favor of ethnic cleansing, either it be a Buddhist by Imperial China from Tibet, Hindu Nepalis from Buddhist Bhutan or Muslim Rohingyas from Buddhist Myanmar. Ethnic cleansing is not restricted to any religion nor is immigration to any nationality.

Pope was the first leader to highlight and focus the attention of the international community towards the plight of Rohingyas (let us stop using religious suffix or prefix and polarize this murky world). I would be happy to see someone like Pope, who thinks beyond his religion or community. I would be happy to see a Muslim (I am purposefully avoiding nationality as a suffix), talking about the plight of a Buddhist in Afghanistan or China or a Hindu in Bhutan when I see that happen, I would surmise that as a true yearning for humanity.

On a side note – this woman is too distraught and emotional, an element that highly introduces bias to influence our thinking. Either she is doing that innocently, and I will give the benefit of the doubt, or she is intending to get us into overriding our intellect through emotion. Irrespective, I will disregard her emotional tone and look beyond and identify the core issue.

Another side note – why should the world media be on hyperedge against Muslims? Can we disregard the recent history? When did the faithful (amongst the Muslims) oppose those gory deeds committed by their brotherhood? If only Muslim terrorism is opposed by mainstream Muslims, should we expect to see fundamental changes in the perspective of the international community? Media is writing what people want to read, with some monetary influence though, but let us ask a question. Why would someone funds a media blitzkrieg against Muslims?

Last, the only Muslim who has raised awareness amongst the faithful to oppose terrorism is Fatehullah Gulen, who is ostracized and banished from Turkey. That opposing terrorism is the onus of the faithful. Outsiders, ie people of other faith will respond eventually. However, to reiterate, the protection of one’s faith rests with the believer, it be Muslims, Hindus or Christians.

 

Why Flu may be bad during 2017-18 winter

Ever wondered why you vaccinated every year against influenza? Well, a short answer is changes in the virus composition that occurs every year. For 2017, the predictions for Influenza are ominous. Trusting reliable news outlet like CNN, early indicators point towards a likely pandemic in Northern Hemisphere for 2017. It may very likely be pandemic and it makes sense to get the vulnerable vaccinated by late September or early October.

Note:  The author presumes that you have read the disclaimer at the bottom of this blog if you have read this note and subsequent article.

Flu MicroMagnetFSUEDU

Ever wondered why you vaccinated every year against influenza? Well, a short answer is changes in the virus composition that occurs every year. A long answer provides the small changes that occur in the Type A & B virus strain (called antigenic shift) or a major change that occurs in Type A or Type B viruses. Multiple flu viruses circulate each year and serial infections with different strains in the same person in a single season are possible.

Why should it matter?

Flu is caused by influenza viruses, and is spread mainly by coughing, sneezing, and close contact. Anyone can get flu. Flu strikes suddenly and can last several days. Especially for those who are vulnerable, it may have prolonged and severe problems. You should consult your doctors for understanding your vulnerability.  However, generally Flu is a cause of concern for young children, people 65 years of age and older, pregnant women, and people with preexisting heart of lung conditions or a weakened immune system are at greatest risk.

As noted earlier, all those vulnerable are vaccinated early on in the winter against a combination of Type A and Type B virus. Since those small changes occur every year (antigenic drift) so a new vaccine is made every year. Generally every 3 – 5 years, the virus undergoes major mutations and since the population is not exposed to these new viruses, they are vulnerable (called absence of herd immunity in medical parlance) and results in pandemic.

How do scientists predict the right combination for the upcoming year?

While the Northern hemisphere is going through its summer and hurricane/tornado season, the Southern hemisphere, that includes Australia and New Zealand, are already undergoing winter with epidemic or endemic existence of Influenza. These same virus travel north, along with international travelers, and infect the population Northern hemisphere during their winter.

What is the prediction for 2017?

If you look at the prevalence of Influenza in Australia and New Zealand, the severity as well as the incidence if 2.5 folds more as compared to earlier year. That portends ominous signs for the Northern hemisphere winter.

What do we do?

Well, a simple answer is get vaccinated on time. Ideal time is before the onset of winter. Ideally, for full immunity to take effect, you need to give at least two weeks for the body to respond. So, if we are presuming the virus to start spreading and infecting the population, you should ideally take the vaccine at least by Sept end.

Who should be vaccinated?

According to CDC barring those with reaction to influenza vaccine and children less than 6 months of age, should not be vaccinated. According to CDC (Center for Disease Control) ‘everyone 6 months of age and older are recommended to get the flu vaccine, including even the healthiest adults. Vaccination is especially important for people at high risk of serious influenza complications or people who live with or care for people at higher risk for serious complications’.

Disclaimer:

This is voluntary awareness service program. You should consult your health care professionals for determining the timing, indications, type and amount of dose. Efforts for this awareness are voluntary and not supported by any commercial or other organizations.  Readers are advised and encouraged to discuss any health related issues with their doctors.

References:

What Australia’s bad flu season means for Europe, North America Sept 3, 2017

Flu season: Why it’s been a particularly bad year for influenza

Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2017–18 Influenza Season

Influenza vaccines — United States, 2017–18 influenza season

Vaccination: Who Should Do It, Who Should Not and Who Should Take Precautions

Key Facts about Seasonal Flu Vaccine

Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) Influenza Vaccine Recommendations

To understand the difference between Flu, Cold and Allergy, visit link here from Harford County Health

Visit Influenza factsheet here