Author: David Frawley
Publication: The Times of India
Date: November 21, 2002
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/comp/articleshow?artid=28889128
Ayurveda and Yoga can be called
sister sciences of 'self-healing and self-realisation'. Both evolved from
a Vedic background in ancient India, based on the same philosophy, sharing
many practices. Ayurveda, the 'yogic form of healing', is aimed at bringing
us back into harmony with our true Self or Atman. The great Ayurvedic teacher
Charaka defines Ayurveda as the harmony of body, prana, mind and soul.
Patanjali defines yoga as controlling the mind in order to realise the
Purusha.
According to Ayurveda, only when
we are connected to our true Self or Atman can we be truly healthy in body,
mind and soul. This is in contrast with modern medicine which addresses
health and disease mainly on a physical level. Ayurveda's goal is holistic
well-being: Physi- cally, psychologi- cally and spiritually. Physical health,
ho-wever important, is not enough for true happiness. That requires peace
of mind and a spiritual purpose in life.
As organic beings, what comes out
of us generally reflects what goes into us. Our energy and expression mirrors
what we take into ourselves via nutrition. This occurs on three primary
levels. The first is food that builds up the physical body or 'physical
nutrition'. The second is our sensory impressions that build up the mind
or 'psychological nutrition'. The third is our associations which nourish
the heart and the soul or what could be called 'spiritual nutrition'.
The right diet for us would contain
fresh or freshly cooked vegetarian food rich in Prana or the life-force.
The right diet for the mind consists of wholesome impressions drawn from
the world of nature, art or temples. Right association consists of healthy
relationships with friends and family and spiritual guidance at a soul
level from gurus and teachers.
If these three factors of right
food, right impressions and right associations occur then we are happy
and healthy; we are bound to grow spiritually. Unfortunately today, the
quality of life is declining in all three - good food, good impressions
and even good associations. Food is often processed, overly spiced, with
too much oil or it is even re-cooked. We are exposed to mass media scenes
of sex and violence, urban traffic, noise and pollution. Our relationships
are rushed, tense and demanding. We seldom make the time for spiritual
associations and meetings with great souls. What we've gained in technology,
we seem to have lost in terms of real happiness. Whatever we've gained
for the body, we have lost for the soul. While modern medicine has done
well in reducing acute diseases, chronic diseases, depression and unhappiness
are almost epidemic even in the most affluent sections of society.
Many of us consider the role of
right diet and health, but we're often careless about the right diet for
the mind or the right associations for the spirit. We must take as much
care for psychological and spiritual well-being as for physical health
if we want to be happy.
If we follow an Ayurvedic diet using
Ayurvedic herbs, follow yogic systems of exercise and meditation, we can
create a comprehensive life-style for optimal well-being. We can improve
the society in which we live, creating a harmonious relationship with the
world around us.
Without natural forms of healing
and spirituality, our culture could spin out of control, leading to greater
personal and civilisational disorders. New diseases like AIDS might get
intensified and old diseases like malaria could come back as a consequence
of moving away from the organic roots of life. Unless we recognise both
nature and the spirit and build our cultures around them, our future is
bound to have many problems. Such proven ancient systems as Yoga and Ayurveda
can provide us the wisdom to overcome all these difficulties.
