Dr Sophie Jayamaha

The body gets diseased in a number of ways. The diseases can be categorised according to the underlying disease process or the mechanism that alters the body tissues.   These mechanisms are: 1. Infective 2. Inflammatory 3. Neoplasmic 4. Traumatic 5. Degenerative 6. Cytotoxic These disease processes in the body, are initiated by other causes such as poor hygiene, poor ventilation, dehydration, nutritional deficiency, exposure to chemicals, heat, pressure, high velocity, substance abuse and physical and mental stress etc.  All these causes above are ultimately come under our responsibility. Those causes can be prevented or minimised by managing our behaviour. Our behaviour depends on our attention and awareness. When we are mindful we can manage our attention and awareness to prevent harm and to improve safety and wellness. Mindfulness not only help us to change our behaviour it also has a direct influence in managing the body's stress response. ...

Mindfulness is the state of present moment awareness without interpreting with our own judgment. It is an impersonal experience. Anxiety, anger, panic, fear and stress are all caused by not being in the state of mindfulness. One cannot explore and experience the true nature of the body, mind and the environment without being in the state of mindfulness. We are not fully aware of our experience when we are not mindful. We cannot use the body, mind and the environment appropriately, safely and for our benefit when we are not mindful. You can see with clarity only when you recognise what is distorting reality such as assumptions and denials.It removes our blindfolds and makes us see what we haven't seen before. It removes our fixed views and can be life-changing. That helps to adjust any imbalances in life. Mindfulness allows us to see clearly the influence of our mind on the physical body. It also makes you see that the sadness, depression, fear an...

Mindfulness can be defined many ways but most simple and practical approach is to bring your awareness in to the present moment experience and noticing it without judging only through your own interpretation, because our own interpretations are based on limited information and limited awareness. We can improve our awareness through mindfulness. Everything we see, hear , smell, touch, taste and feel are subjected to how we perceive and interpret with our own limited knowledge about them. Therefore they do not give us the true and whole picture of what we perceive. It is like a blind man touching one part of an elephant and interpreting what an elephant is. When we begin to notice things, places and people as they are without bringing our own interpretation so firmly, we tend to open and allow different perspectives and different views.   Then we begin to notice them differently to how we perceived before. When you change the way you see, what you l...

The convicted driver who was ploughing people in a car, across a pedestrianised area in Melbourne is of Afghan origin. His action may well be a deliberate act of revenge and a protest, against recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel or any other reason. However not every Muslim would protest this way by harming innocent people. It is the mental state of a person which determines his or her behaviour. What is the difference between a mindset of a violent man with a mental illness and a terrorist? Anyone who inflicts harm on innocent people are mentally ill. An act of terrorism is also an act of an untreated mental illness. Mental illness is a more common than terrorism and when untreated it becomes a threat to our peace than terrorism.  People who are under the influence of drugs, alcohol are in mentally distorted states. Other mentally distorted states when people behave violently are anxiety, depression, anger and overwhelming psychological stress. ...

Many of you heard the news of a man who injured more than a dozen of people driving along a crowded pedestrian area in Melbourne, yesterday afternoon. Did you also see his mother being a victim when she was getting harassed by those who wanted to capture her in their cameras? I was moved by the distress of this mother as much as the distress of the innocent people who got injured. The mother became a target of the media when she was coming to courts to support his son.  I do not think she was proud of her son's behaviour, yet she had to be there for her son. That's what mothers do. She was covering her face with her scarf in shame. She had only her handbag to defend her when she was harassed by inconsiderate and insensitive people. Even a mother of a criminal feels motherly instinct to protect and care for her son and she deserves some privacy and the same respect as another citizen of this country. She should not be a victim of being a mothe...

Sensing  I wish I could describe in words exactly my experience of this moment. I feel I am one of the most fortunate few on the planet to be in a place that I am right now. The view I see of calm waters of Morten Bay while I am sitting on the front deck of my residence in this early morning with the cool sea breeze caressing me one could forget all worries in the world. The temperature is just right for the skin. The sky is blue but crowded with fluffy grey clouds with tell tales of rain later in the day. The scene is continuously changing but each one is sensational. The sounds are also pleasing to the ear in general except the domination this morning by a bird’s loud call coming from the tree in front of my house. It is a bit annoying, but I am managing to maintain my peace nevertheless. At the back ground I also hear the soothing sound of the water fountain on the deck. I am sipping my raspberry and blueberry smoothie I made as usual before my breakfast. It is cooling...