|
Ayurveda, the science of life, prevention and longevity is the oldest and most holistic medical system available on the planet today. It was placed in written form over 5,000 years ago in India, it was said to be a world medicine dealing with both body and the spirit. Before the advent of writing, the ancient wisdom of this healing system was a part of the spiritual tradition of the Sanatana Dharma (Universal Religion), or Vedic Religion. VedaVyasa, the famous sage, shaktavesha avatar of Vishnu, put into writing the complete knowledge of Ayurveda, along with the more directly spiritual insights of self realization into a body of scriptural literature called the Vedas and the Vedic literatures. |
|
| The Rik Veda (also known as Rig Veda) refers to the cosmology known as Sankhya which lies at the base of both Ayurveda and Yoga, contains verses on the nature of health and disease, pathogenesis and principles of treatment. Among the Rik Veda are found discussions of the three dosas, Vayu. Pitta and Kapha, and the use of herbs to heal the diseases of the mind and body and to foster longevity. The Atharva Veda lists the eight divisions of Ayurveda: Internal Medicine, Surgery of Head and Neck, Opthamology and Otorinolaryngology, Surgery, Toxicology, Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Gerontology or Science of Rejuvenation, and the Science of Fertility.
|
|
The sage-physician-surgeons of the time were the same sages or seers, deeply devoted holy people, who saw health as an integral part of spiritual life. It is said that they received their training of Ayurveda through direct cognition during meditation. In other words, the knowledge of the use of various methods of healing, prevention, longevity and surgery came through Divine revelation; there was no guessing or testing and harming animals. |
These revelations were transcribed from the oral tradition into book form, interspersed with the other aspects of life and spirituality. What is fascinating is Ayurveda's use of herbs, foods, aromas, gems, colors, yoga, mantras, lifestyle and surgery. Consequently Ayurveda grew into a respected and widely used system of healing in India. Around 1500 B.C., Ayurveda was delineated into eight specific branches of medicine. There were two main schools of Ayurveda at that time. Atreya- the school of physicians, and Dhanvantari - the school of surgeons. These two schools made Ayurveda a more scientifically verifiable and classifiable medical system . |
There are two main re-organizers of Ayurveda whose works are still existing in tact today - Charak and Sushrut. The third major treatise is called the Ashtanga Hridaya, which is a concise version of the works of Charak and Sushrut. Thus the three main Ayurvedic texts that are still used today are the Charak Samhita (compilation of the oldest book Atreya Samhita), Sushrut Samhita and the Ashtangha Hridaya Samhita. These books are believed to be over 1,200 years old. It is because these texts still contain the original and complete knowledge of this Ayurvedic world medicine, that Ayurveda is known today as the only complete medical system still in existence. Other forms of medicine from various cultures, although parallel are missing parts of the original information. |
"God sleeps in the rocks, proclim the hindu scriptures,
dreams in the plants and stirs toward wakefulness
in the animals, and in mankind is awake to his own
ego individuality" |
 |
The eight limps of raja yoga compiled by the Sage Pantanjali Maharishi in the Yoga Sutras, the Eight limps are a progressive series of steps or disiciplines which purify the body and mind, ultimately leading the yogi to enlightenment.
These 8 limps are:
1.Yamas - the Yamas or restraints (Don'ts) are divided into five moral injunctions, aimed at destroying the lower nature. They should all be practiced and developed by the letter but also more importantly in the spirit. They should all be practiced in word, thought and deed. Ahimsa or non violence, Satyam or truthfullness, Brahmacharya or moderation in all things ( control of all senses). Also referes to celibacy, Asteya or non-stealing and Aparigraha or non-covetousness
2.Niyamas- The Niyamas or observances (Do's) are also divided into five and complete the ethical precepts started with yama and these qualities are: Saucha or purity-this internal and external cleanliness. Santosha or contentment, Tapas or austerity, Swadhyaya or study of sacred texts, Ishwara Pranidhaha which constantly living with an awareness of the devine Presence ( surrender to God's Will)
3.Asanas - Postures
4. Pranayama- Regulation of control of the breath. Asanas and Pranayama form the sub-devision of Raja Yoga known as Hatha Yoga
5.Pratyahara- Withdrawal of the senses in order to still the mind
6. Dharana- Concentration. The last 3 steps constitute the internal practice of Raja Yoga. When Dharana is achived, it leads to next step:
7. Dhyana - Meditation is the state of pure thought and absorption in the object of meditation. There is still duality in Dhyana. When mastered Dyyana leads to the last step:
8.Samadhi - The superconscious state. In Samadhi non-duality or oneness is experienced. This is the deepest and highest state of consciousness where body and mind have been transcended and yogi is one of the self or God.
 |
According to classical yoga, as outlined in Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, to really practice any type of yoga on a spiritual level one must have a dharmic or spiritual life-style. These dharmic principles are outlined in the yamas and niyamas, which are the first two rungs of the eight-rung ladder of the classical yoga system. The yamas are restraints related our social dharma that allows us to have a right relationship with the external world. These are non-violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), control of sexual energy (brahmacharya), non-stealing (asteya), and non-possessiveness (aparigraha). Practicing these restraints frees us from hatred, dishonesty, lust, greed, and attachment. (The yamas are also monastic vows and in their strictest sense include celibacy and renunciation of all possessions.) The niyamas relate to our personal dharma, the principles of spiritual living that we must observe in our daily lives. These are purity (saucha), contentment (santosha), self-discipline (tapas), study of spiritual teachings (svadhyaya), and surrender to God (Ishvara-pranidhana). |
|
|
|
