What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda
The Sanskrit roots translate to:
Ayu = life/ longevity
Veda = knowledge
Ayurveda is a natural system of health and healing. It is viewed as being a whole health system, known as ‘the science of life’ - taking all elements of life and nature into play. Ayurveda merges together science and philosophy with a balance of the physical, metaphysical, mental, emotional and spiritual components with a person’s unique makeup, that being their constitution. It’s purpose is to heal and maintain quality and longevity of life.
Traditional Ayurveda states that the purpose of life is to know or realise the creator, both within and without, and to express this divinity in ones daily life.
Ayurveda is a holistic science that addresses all aspects of health – mind, body and spirit. Its teachings allow us to experience the freedom that comes from living in harmony with ourselves and our environment. With this, we can easily find our path and walk along it with greater ease and joy.
Characterised by looking at the underlying cause rather than at the symptom. In Ayurveda treatment is often seen in the way of diet, lifestyle, herbs, various remedies and practices. The traditional teachings of Ayurveda were delivered orally, then eventually documented in the ancient vedic texts dating back more than 5000 years.
As the sister science to Yoga, Ayurveda complements and builds upon the power of asana, pranayama and meditation by offering guidance around diet (aahar) and lifestyle (vihar) to get more out of these practices, as well as all parts of life. Simple guidelines around how to eat, how to structure the day and how to find connection to nature allows us to come back into rhythm with our bodies and discover true health.
The basis of Ayurveda is formed on the four cosmic principles working together in harmony to have the experience of life without suffering. The four cosmic principles being; Purusha (pure consciousness), Prakruti (all within nature, seen & unseen), Mahat (cosmic intelligence or intellect) and Vikriti (state of imbalance). Everything in Prakruti is made up of three qualities known as the mahagunas (qualities); Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.
The pancha mahabutas are the five elements in which everything in nature, including humans are made up of. The gurvadi gunas are the qualities within people, living environments and all of life. They are directly related to Prakruti as well as the five elements of ethers, air, fire, water and earth, and their controlling dosha.
Gurvadi gunas come in pairs, or opposites. There are 20 describing gunas that provide a working model of the subtle and physical universe. With these 20 attributes we can understand the natural balance of nature working through opposite forces to maintain equilibrium in creation.
The three doshas are a way of describing the function of the five elements at work within us. They fundamental energies that make up the physical body, mind and emotions.
The doshas are used to describe the imbalance of elements within us, as well as the Prakruti, the constitution. All humans have all three doshas and all five elements within them at all times, however, imbalance of the doshas and elements manifests into illness and disease. Ayurveda is a balancing act to kept ourselves in harmony and one with nature and these theories.
Western Medicine vs Ayurveda
Western Medicine is extremely helpful for acute conditions and trauma, it tends to however overlook the importance of individual response to stresses and conditions of life. There is no concept of specialisation in Ayurveda, as there is in Western Medicine. Ayurveda treats the whole person, not just the organ or the system involved.
Ayurveda does not focus on a disease or the symptoms, rather approach the things that all of life needs to be supported by keeping the energy, the flow of energy in balance. Ayurveda recognises the intelligent principle that is in the universe and in the body, & that they are one in the same.
Good health is a harmonious function of the entire individual, that no part of us can work in isolation. We work to restore balance, by eliminating the cause of the imbalance.
Each unique individual is approached and viewed as just that, unique, individual, a creation of their own sorts. When a person is brought back to balance, to one, we return to a wholeness, to equilibrium, known as homeostasis.
Each individual being has aspects of all three doshas within them. The three doshas; being vata, pitta and kapha, reside within us all. More often than not, we have one or two doshas that are dominating. Each dosha is made up of five subdoshas, balanced by the five elements, and our internal and external environment.
Working with our constitutions involves the ideology that like attracts like and the opposite brings balance. Our constitutions are reason behind disease and ill health, vikriti, or our state of imbalance is what we work to reduce. By focusing on bringing back into balance that is not, we prevent disease and illness. We begin to learn to work with our bodies, as energetic beings, instead of against them.
Ayurveda practised today still carries much of the same principles and philosophy that was practised many years ago, however, the challenge it faces is against the modern world and the ‘quick fix’ approach to health and wellbeing. The notion of conventional medicine around today has drowned out much of our history and ancient traditions when it comes to healing and healthcare.
The Western Medical system see’s the practice of complementary medicine to be much less relevant. In India, however, Ayurvedic colleges provide extensive training still exists today. Hospitals throughout India offer Ayurvedic doctors on hand for patients to choose their method of treatment. Ayurvedic practices are welcomed, recommended and sort after.
The Ayurvedic tradition is one of the only systems that is still coexisting with a conventional healthcare system and viewed equally.
