Several of our featured Spas and resorts incorporate Ayurvedic treatments as part of their established regimes. But what is Ayurveda exactly? Dr. Praseed Nair, Ayurveda Consultant, explains the philosophy and approach behind Ayuverda…
Life is a journey. For those who know the destination and are confident in the road map, it is a pleasurable one and can be the source of self-realisation. Ayurveda is the marriage of the “science and art of living” which guides you in the journey of life. Ayurveda aims for a holistic human being with a sharp intellect to pierce the hidden truths of nature as well as a heart concerned about fellow beings. That intellectual and spiritual balance leads to, and is reinforced by, a physical efficiency to perform duties properly. A healthy body is nothing more than all these factors in equilibrium. It is the derangement of this state of equilibrium that leads to disease.
That balance is maintained dynamically by intelligently adjusting to the changes happening around you and this has to be done on a personal and a social level to achieve well-being. Well-being is achievable, no matter how much the complex ways of modern man makes it seemingly impossible to attain. Well-being is independence of mind and soul and a sense of self that does not depend upon possessions, position or power. Well being is all about attitude: to flow with the rhythm of the universe, to join the symphony and be one with it. Ayurveda considers man as an integral part of Mother Nature and that is the beauty of Ayurveda. While it cures, it also teaches to synchronise with the nature.
Personal health is the sum total of good food, good regimen, good emotions and good environment. As Individuals, we can take care of food, rest, work, and emotions to ensure that personal balance. Collectively, we can do our best to ensure that the environment is one in which those values are reflected. Ayurveda maintains that the cardinal reasons for all diseases are the distracted, unfocussed or derailed intellect, weak will, and impaired memory. Together, this is termed pranjaparadha. To conceive the right practice of health, you need a clear and focused intellect and to put those conceptions into practice requires a strong will. To avoid the errors and mistakes of the past, memory has to be intact. So pranjapradha remains the reason behind all the reasons that cause diseases.
The solution is to know the right nature of things around us and not to forget our position in the entire scheme of things. Good environmental awareness is essential for a healthy society.
Epidemics, natural calamities like famine, flood, drought etc are all essentially man-made and can be guarded against. Recognising that we are an integral part of the nature means that any harm to nature will harm man’s very existence. Ayurveda which takes into account body, mind, intellect and soul in its pursuit of holistic health, has a universal role to play. Its all inclusive philosophy makes it a healing science suited for the entire world.