AFGHAN SHRINES LAST RESORT
FOR AFGHAN MENTALLY ILL
FOR AFGHAN MENTALLY ILL
www.smh.com.au
- The young man sits nearly naked in a small concrete room,
a thick, heavy chain fastened around his ankle and bolted to the wall.
Flies swarm around a wound on his wrist where shackles have rubbed the
skin raw. His own waste has pooled in the corner, turning the dirt floor
into a pungent mud. This is no jail, however, and 23-year-old Jalaludin
has committed no crime. The Mia Ali Baba shrine in east Afghanistan is a holy place and, those who care for it say, spending 40 days here will, God willing, free Jalaludin from his personal prison: mental illness. For 300 years, the shrine keepers here have taken in the mentally ill. They say they are upholding the legacy of their ancestor whom the shrine honours, a holy man by the name of Ali Baba known in this area outside Jalalabad for caring for the mentally ill when they were shunned by others. “This is an obligation for my family but it is also an honour,” said Mia Subadar, one of the shrine's guardians. “Since I have been here, hundreds … have come here and become healthy.”
Shrines
such as Mia Ali Baba are frowned upon by healthcare professionals and
critics, who say they are ineffective and that those who run them prey
on vulnerable people's religion and superstitions to make a profit. But
in Afghanistan, racked by poverty and decades of war, many do not have
access to basic healthcare, let alone facilities for the mentally ill.
With the government saying that more than 60 per cent of Afghans suffer
psychological disorders from anxiety to depression that leaves a huge
void to fill. Those sent here are chained to the walls of the small,
windowless rooms. They are fed only water, black pepper and bread. They
are not allowed to bathe anything except their faces, hands and feet.
Speaking with others is prohibited. If a shrine keeper decides their
situation is improving, they may be unchained for a few minutes so they
can pray, walk outside or visit a proper bathroom. Mohammad Sadeq, 40,
said he did not know specifically what was wrong with him, but he had
wild mood swings. “I am a normal person but whenever I come out of the
house in my village, the children start shouting 'Look at the crazy man'
and they throw stones at me,” he said.
WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?
We
have to become activists of the good. There is so much garbage, so much
cruelty that has to stop. ... Let us put aside all selfish interests.
Consciousness is to serve others, and you have to sacrifice something of
your own for others’ well-being; many people are suffering in this
world. You have the power of change. We want that everyone becomes
conscious and teaches by his own example. We think that the duty of the
humanity is to search the truth and to practice it. ... We believe that
all people, who have certain knowledge, wealth or some other
distinguishing capacity, should be conscious about their personal
conduct and be disposed to utilize their advantages to protect and serve
those less fortunate. We believe that mercy, purity, honesty and
austerity are the fundamental pillars to build a free, sane and just
society. A conscious person should meditate a lot on this truth and try
to practice it in his daily life.Śrīla Bhakti Aloka Paramadvaiti Mahārāja :
“Conscience - even if it pains”
http://www.vrindavan.org/
http://vedicwisdom.weebly.com/concience-even-if-it-hurts.html
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7861504125921203610
Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/
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