Śaucam (Sanskrit: शौच) is the quality of having a clean and pure body and mind. It does not imply sterility of thought and action, but rather a conscious effort to disassociate from anger and hate in all its various forms. Science has shown that words and images laden with hate and anger are literally vitriol in the mind, destroying healthy neural circuits and priming the body’s defence mechanisms. Even expressing or listening to angry thoughts can disturb the normal neural functioning of the brain. On the other hand, simply focussing on an image of peace and happiness, either a person or a place, builds new neural circuits of compassion and empathy—the two qualities vital for you to allow yourself to love and be loved.

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