Self-Restraint

AIDS is now ravaging many parts of the world including Africa, India and Thailand. It is said that the spread of a virus like Ebola, which causes rapid,violent death, is relatively easy to control, since the virus can be detected quickly and easily. A virus like AIDS, however, is very difficult to prevent because it takes 5 to 10 years before infected people show symptoms of the disease, so that by the time we have discovered it, it has already spread around the world. Human beings have caused all kinds of environmental destruction, such as massive deforestation. As a result, we now find that we are in need of fighting against new viruses one after the other. It is said that some viruses live inside a certain species of animal without making it sick. Yet, biology shows us that when the same virus enters the human body it causes a devastating disease. I have heard a theory on a far more horrible virus. The virus has lived in the human body for several million years and has caused our aging, according to the theory. This means that, in the same way that the AIDS virus accelerates the aging of its victims, the process of aging may be the result of an attack on the body by this similar virus, the theory asserts. It may be concluded that human beings have survived the fight against a variety of viruses, but not enough studies have yet been undertaken about how the body resists viral attacks. From now on we have no choice but to live with the fear of tiny, invisible viruses. I have also heard that modern medical research is now paying close attention to the relationship between aging and stress. I think that our ability to fight against viruses is related to the functions of the mind. I also think that this world in which we are struggling against viruses is naturefs warning to us to change our arrogant attitude to life, by which we have unconcernedly caused the environmental destruction, and restrain ourselves.