Nature and Armony in the Ayurvedic Medicine

Transcript of a presentation about Ayurvedic Medicine and Sahaja Yoga by Dr.Sujata Kenjale, originally in Italian, on 12th June, 2005 at Biella, Italy.

According to the sacred Indian texts, called Vedas, Ayurveda was passed down from the Gods to human beings, and was described as “The Science of Life”. Let us read this shloka (1) from the Vedas: “HITAHITAM AYUSTASIA HITAHITAM MANAM CHA TADGNA YATROKTAM AYURVEDASYA UCHYATE” Charak S. 1/41

Or: “Ayurveda is the science that teaches what is suitable in how we should behave, and what is not; what the conditions are that create joy or sadness in life, shows what is, and what is not auspicious in order to have a long life.”

Without doubt, we are talking about a treatment that is closely connected to Nature, that we know is made out of five elements: water, earth, fire, air and ether. First ether, the lightest element, was created, which was made from cosmic vibrations and began to move on its own. Then its movement created air and from the friction between these two elements, fire was born, which caused both liquefaction and solidification: water and earth.

These elements together were called PANCHAMAHABHUTA (2). They exist in all manifestations of Nature and so also in human beings, that are an integral part of her. This idea is effectively described in this Shloka: “YAVANTO HI LOKE BHAVISHESHA: TAVANTA PURUSHA” Charak Sha. 5 Or: “ Everything that is found in Nature, is wihin the human body”.

The human body consists of:

- 7 DHATU: the seven essential substances – plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone, spinal marrow and reproductive material.

- 3 MALAS: Waste : faeces, urine and perspiration. These are important because if their elimination is defective, illness can arise.

- 3 DOSHAS: VATA (air, ether), PITTA (fire) and KAPHA (earth, water) – the biological and bio-energetical humours that are important energies for every action of our body (birth, growth and decay). For good health, every Dosha has to maintain its position and quantity inside the body; imbalance leads to illness.

As happens in Nature, where the variations of the five elements create the variations of the day (morning, afternoon and evening), so in the same way, the five elements vary within the human body and go to influence the amount of the three Doshas.

- KAPHA: Increases in the morning, from 06.00 to 10.00 and in the evening from 18.00 to 22.00. This causes the greatest presence of mucus in the membranes and lungs, increases the lymphatic circulation and the immune defences.

- PITTA: Increases from 10.00 to 14.00 and from 22.00 to 02.00 in the morning. This Dosha, constituted from fire, is responsible for the digestion. For this reason, it is important to take the main meal of the day at the moment of greatest concentration of Pitta, or rather at midday, to allow for digestion by 14.00.

- VATA: Increases from 02.00 to 6.00 in the morning and from 14.00 to 18.00. The first time period (2-6) is the most suitable time to expel waste and toxins from the body. The second, however, (14-18) is for physical activity. When there is a prevalence of Vata, the mind is empty of thoughts; this is also the best time for meditation.

The concentration of the 5 elements (and so, also the Doshas) does not vary only during the space of a day but also during the year, with the sequence of the seasons. In Ayurveda there are six seasons: VASANTA (Spring) GREESHMA (Summer) VARSHA (season of rain) SHARAD (Autumn) HEMANT (beginning of Winter) e SHISHIRA (Winter). Obviously the seasons are not the same and not clearly defined everywhere in the world: They change according to the latitude and it is difficult to establish a standard formula regarding the effects of the seasons on Man. On this occasion, to simplify things, we can talk about the 4 “Western” seasons starting with Spring.

SPRING

Spring is the season of the change from cold to heat. In the first part, the colder, the element KAPHA is prevalent in the human body, as in winter. It is a good time to detoxify the body, for example with the techniques of PANCHAKARMA (3). Food should be taken in moderate quantities, avoiding that which is heavy, difficult to digest, acid or sweet. Bitter-tasting foods are recommended. Also to be avoided is resting in the afternoon, because this further increases KAPHA. Physical exercise should be moderate and accompanied by meditation. In this period, it is easier for respiratory illnesses to arise (coughs, colds, asthma) and all problems due to an excess of mucus. Here, a good preventative remedy consist of an infusion made from Basil (a herb in season), cloves, black pepper and fresh ginger. These should be boiled together in water and sweetened with a tea-spoonful of honey.

During the last part of Spring, the temperature rises; so also does the body heat and increases PITTA (fire); so the lifestyle and food of the summer is recommended.

SUMMER

During the summer, PITTA , the fire element reaches its apex and the whole body feels the effects of the increase of heat: the veins dilate, creating low (blood) pressure and retention of water; problems arise such as headaches and stomach acidity.

To lower this heat, it is important to eat fresh and sweet foods, avoiding those that are sour (lemons, vinegar), salted and spicy. Dealing with fire, it is good to take food full of water, above all vegetables (better if eaten raw) and fruits in season, especially melons and water-melons. Drinks should be cool, but not too cold, because that will make the PITTA rise to re-balance the body temperature. Physical exercise should be moderate, so as not to cause more heat and is recommended in the morning, at the hour of KAPHA, accompanied by meditation.

Here are a few remedies not to suffer from the heat:

• Place ice on the liver, or use water in its coldest form against fire.

• Have refreshing baths

• Apply to the skin refreshing oils, such as Sesame or Sandalwood.

AUTUMN

Autumn, like Spring, is also a season of transition and great changes. At the beginning, PITTA prevails, due to the loss of the Sun’s presence, and so it is advisable not to sun-bathe too much. The more the sun moves away from the Earth, the more all Nature is subjected to the force of the Moon. So it is that the human body, which until now has been heated up, almost “burned” and weakened, finds itself having to face the power of the Moon and the excessive presence of VATA (air). To protect oneself from outside air, and also the air of our body (increase of VATA) it is essential to apply oil to the body, best is that of the coconut, or NARAYANAN TAIL (4), followed by a hot bath. The cold outside air feeds the fire of PITTA, ignited during the summer, so it is important to eat food that keeps the fire of PITTA occupied with digestion, and at the same time, reduces VATA.

Suggested examples are fats (better if not animal) - dairy products – rice – acidic (such as tomatoes), sweet and sour foods - and all kinds of nuts, which are not fruit in season by chance. Obviously everything taken without exaggeration!

An excess of VATA leads to problems with joints and those of the nervous system (governed by VATA). In such cases, it is even more advisable to carry out a massage with warm oils, and always keep the body warm. This is the time to increase one’s movement and take advantage of the (internal) fire to burn up calories.

WINTER

We have come to Winter and the sun is still further from the Earth. The days draw in, the presence of the Moon becomes stronger and it begins to get cold. The most obvious characteristic of the cold is stiffening (of muscles, skin etc) and causing obstructions. These reduce the speed of VATA, which results in an increase of KAPHA, that in turn creates more body weight. That is why it is important in winter to concentate on physical activity, and take warm food and drinks.

Spicy and astringent foods, such as mandarins and oranges (fruits in season) are advised, whilst best avoided are fats and sweet-flavoured dishes. It is important to eat heavy, but digestible, food to make good use of the strong presence of the fire that remains in the organism, even in the coldest season.

The imbalance of KAPHA, with the help of VATA, causes ailments like rheumatism, high blood pressure and problems with the respiratory tract, caused by an excess of mucus. Suggested treatment is to have warm baths and apply powdered ginger on the forehead and thorax, which also helps avoid sinusitis. A small spoonful of honey every day helps with the growth of the immune defense system, that becomes weaker in this period.

Up to now we have looked at an outline of the four seasons, but it is necessary to underline that the periods between them are important for self-cleansing and detoxication, especially during the 20 days’ bridge between one season and another. Obviously, our lifetyle should vary with the actual variation in temperature. As a rule, always make good use of what Nature offers, because, you know, nothing happens in Nature by chance.

Aspects dealt with so far have been about the physical body, but we are not only that. In Ayurveda, good health comes from a balance between the physical, mental, subtle and spiritual bodies. To have this, medicines and right nourishment are not enough. It is also necessary to go deep down to the roots of our being, and find that balance with Yoga.

Yoga (Yuj) is a Sanskrit word that means union. Union of the spiritual energy that is within us (Kundalini) with the cosmic energy. The Kundalini is part of the subtle or spiritual system, together with other components such as the three channels and the seven chakras (or seven centers of energy).

The subtle body, like the physical body, is made up of five elements.

The three channels are very important because these are the ducts along which energy flows.

THE LEFT CHANNEL (IDA NADI), governed by the moon, is a cool channel connnected with our past and emotions. It is characterised by the elements of water and earth (KAPHA). An imbalance of the left channel leads to psychological problems, such as depression, and physical ones, such as the tendency to contract infections.

THE RIGHT CHANNEL (PINGALA NADI), governed by the sun, is a warm channel, connected with our future and actions. It is characterised by the fire element (PITTA). An imbalance of the right channel leads to problems arising from the liver, stress, attention and inflammation.

THE CENTRAL CHANNEL (SUSHUMANA NADI), governed by the element of air, is the channel of the present and of evolution. It is essential, in that it gives us balance.

In daily life, the human being continually oscillates from the left to the right channel, always moving his/her attention from the past to the future, and only with difficulty managing to make it stay in the present, or, in the central channel. This power of equilibrium, coming from the central channel, can manifest thanks to the awakening of the energy KUNDALINI. The awakening of the Kundalini is a subject dealt with in all ancient sacred texts, as being an objective that is very important to attain in the life of a human being.

Personally, I had this experience, thanks to the teachings of SHRI MATAJI NIRMALA DEVI, an Indian lady who fought with her family by Gandhi’s side for the indepencence of India. She is married to an ex-diplomat of UNO and has travelled all over the world in the pursuit of her ideal: to give freedom, peace and balance to Man, through spreading the very simple teachings that are found in the techniques of SAHAJA YOGA.

Thanks to these, and to the desire of the person who practises them, the Kundalini can be awakened in the central channel. The Kundalini, when awakened, cleans the seven centres of energy (chakras) that are found along her path, reaches the top of the head and balances the two side channels, granting the state of Yoga, that is the state of peace and joy.

The awakening of the Kundalin is, on its own, a very important event for our well-being. But, anyway, the thoughts and worries of daily life cause imbalance in the subtle body. To maintain the state of Yoga, it is important to meditate. We have seen that the subtle body, like the physical, contains the presence of the five elements. So, for the subtle body too, we can take advantage of their influence to create balance. For example, to reduce an excess of cold in the left channel, we can use fire; while for an excess of heat in the right channel, we can use the element of water, and so on for the chakras too.

The techniques are numerous, but are all based on the same principle of equilibrium between the five elements. The properties of the mind (satwa/air, rajas/fire, tama/water and earth) are also connected to the three channels, so our mental balance also benefits from Kundalini awakening. The subtle body is the root of our being and the kundalini is its vital ‘sap’. The physical body is that which is visible externally. When the root is well, so also is the plant.

In conclusion, the awakening of the Kundalini and the practise of Sahaja Yoga, together with the rules of Ayurveda, bring balance to the physical, mental and spiritual levels. All that we need to enjoy good, all-round well-being is given to us by Nature. We just have to know how to recognise it.

Dott.ssa Sujata Tommasi Kenjale 12th June 2005 Biella, Italy

NOTES: (1) Poetic verse in Sanskrit.

(2) The 5 elements in Sanskrit.

(3) The 5 methods to detoxify and balance the 3 Doshas.

(4) Medicated oil mixed with many herbs to reduce Vata.