Body, mind and soul. Freedom, peace and love. Satyam (truthfulness), ahimsa (non-violence), brahmacharya (self restraint).

These have been an intertwined trilogy of human existence from time immemorial.

Great civilisations flourished on these lofty principles for thousands of years before being beaten into the ground by five powerful weapons of mass destruction: Lust (Kama), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (attachment) and ahamkar (ego), leading to a struggle for power.

According to the enlightened saint of recent times Swami Chinmayananda: "Aryan India raised its entire culture of living, thinking and feeling on the sacred principles of truthfulness, non-violence and self restraint which would lead to freedom, peace and love.

The ancient wise men planned their individual, domestic, communal, social, national and international life upon these three fundamental duties of man unto himself."

Jesus Christ laid the very foundations of Christianity on the same divine principles as did the tenets of Islam, Budhism and Taoism.

Many people visited the Mind, Body And Soul exhibition at the race course in Brighton last weekend. It was a healing alternative to watching a constant barrage of human suffering on television.

Most of us are reasonably free from serious disease of body or mind yet it is quite obvious people find enormous healing from prayer, a relaxing Indian head massage, spiritual healing, meditation, crystals or incense sticks.

The positive vibration alone of an event like this has a lifting effect on the mind and a soothing effect on the soul.

Philosophers throughout the ages have proclaimed: "If you conquer your mind, you conquer the world."

I feel we have not yet mastered the art of living; resolving the conflicts in our hearts and minds. We have more than we need to enjoy our lives yet we are still unhappy and want to search for peace elsewhere.

My favourite stand at the Mind, Body And Spirit exhibition was run by the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.

This organisation has helped many of my patients with stress through its selfless service in teaching universal meditation and positive change (meditation classes are free. Call: 01273 279481).

Its books of wonderful and inspiring thoughts, written by enlightened and loving ordinary people like you and me, are a reminder that human values are not lost after all.

Here is a quotation from the booklet The Gift Of Peace (www.bkpublications.com): "Values are related to each other as if they were members of a great family. From peace and happiness emerges joy. From this state of wholeness, love awakens and, with it, the desire to share and give. Two of its relatives are tolerance and respect. All values have a shared origin which unites them - the peace of spirituality. When you lose the peace you begin to lose everything."

Dr Milind Jani works as a conventional and holistic GP and Dr Asmita Jani as Ayurvedic Consultant from 3 Eaton Gardens, Hove. Call them on: 01273 777448 or email: milind.jani@ntlworld.com