Hysterectomy

1/1993

Ba'ba', how about the women who had hysterectomy and went through surgery into menopause?  What is impact of that on her spiritual practice?

     Hysterectomy has a significant impact . It should not be done, except in emergency. Do you know  that this operation  will affect the entire  physiology  as the hormonal secretions are drastically altered. So, unless there is a serious reason, it should not be undertaken. But if it must be done for medical purpose, then the women should take hormonal  supplements to adjust her system .    

     Now,  regarding sadhana and this operation, there is something  which must be said. If a woman undergoes such an operation, there is a physical impact, psychic impact and spiritual impact. Hormones get depleted, mind gets depressed and psychic force is depleted. That is to say,  ojas is not created, that is the cause of this depression. The brain becomes undernourished. Now for this condition, hormones must be taken, for sadhana ojas must be abundant. The more abundant  the lymphatic flow  and subtle pranic  energies , the greater opportunity for  sadhana. 

     In menopause,  hormones alter but at the slower pace and woman's body adjusts  and continues to produce lymph and ojas.  In a sadhaka,  the high production may continue and with less loss during the menstrual cycle, spiritual  force is enhanced. Now if this alteration comes all of a sudden  due to operation, there is a sudden shift and body can not produce lymphatic fluids  and ojas is depleted. Depression results  much as sudden shifts in hormone during menopause also cause depression.  Now, what to do? Hormone should be taken and  rich foods eaten,  ones which will increase lymph and restore nourishment to body and mind. Oil should not be taken, but foods rich in life force must be taken. There should be curd and sweet milk to nourish lymph. A woman should not have mental strain at this time, until body can adjust. A woman who has had this operation  should not do excess  sadhana for at least one year. Then sadhana may be done, again spiritual practice may become extensive provided body is well. If extensive practice is done  following such procedure it will cause depletion from physical structure. It is not good.                                                                                                         

     But such a woman  can still do devotional practice, keep ideation, do kiirtan, do small sadhana and maintain a loving heart. This will benefit her all-around.  And begin to do longer sadhana. She is not incapable for spiritual attainment. This is a false notion, body adjusts. Women adjust  but it takes some time.