Pancreas

Location of the pancreas

The pancreas is an organ that makes hormones and enzymes to help digestion. The pancreas helps break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The pancreas is behind the stomach and is on the left side of the human body.

The part of the pancreas that makes hormones is called the Islets of Langerhans. The Islets of Langerhans are a small part (2%) of the total cells in the pancreas. The Islets of Langerhans change which chemical they make depending on how much of other chemicals are already in the blood. So, the pancreas works to keep the level of chemicals in balance in the body. If the Islets of Langerhans stop working, a person will suffer from a disease called diabetes. Doctors are experimenting with taking the Islets of Langerhans cells from a donor body and putting them into the pancreas of a person with diabetes to make that person well.

The pancreas belongs to two systems of the body: the digestive system for its role in breaking down nutrients, and the endocrine system for producing hormones.

Hormones

The pancreas releases these hormones:

·         Insulin (which decreases the amount of glucose or sugar in the blood)

·         Glucagon (which increases the amount of glucose in the blood)

·         Somatostatin (which reduces production of insulin and glucagon)

Digestive enzymes

The pancreas releases many different enzymes to help digestion:

·         Lipase (which breaks down fats)

·         Amylase (which breaks down carbohydrates)

·         Trypsinogen and Chymotrypsin (which break down proteins)

·         Erepsin, which digests peptones into amino acids.

 

 

Generally we can consider the vrittis as types of thoughts but they are broader than that. There are five main fluctuations that affect our outer consciousness:

1.       Correct knowledge (pramana)

2.       Incorrect knowledge (viparyaya)

3.       Imagination or fantasy (vikalpa)

4.       Sleep (nidra)

5.       Memory (smrti)

We all are subject to these five turnings in our minds, and they are not necessarily bad. Correct knowledge can help us do the right thing at the right time. But we can also do the right thing for the wrong reason; even incorrect knowledge can be helpful at times. The truth is, these fluctuations can be good or bad. Even right knowledge can be used in a harmful way. We have often seen things done with the best of intentions turn out drastically wrong. It not that these vrittis are good or bad that makes them worthy of study, it is their effect upon the state of our mind that is of interest. These turnings of the mind obscure the view of our real self and need to be calmed. Like the surface of a mountain lake on a clear moonlit night (our mind) when still, reflects perfectly the full moon (reality). But with even a small ripple, caused by a vritti, the moon’s appearance is distorted.

Yin yogis, like all practitioners of modern yoga, can gain from understanding the Yoga Sutra’s model of citta and the vrittis. Knowing that these five vrittis are operating during your practice, and during your life, can help you increase your ability to calm them. Being aware that the mind moves in notable, observational ways gives you a way to understand what is arising. Knowing that the vrittis exist gives you the opportunity to watch for them.