By Sunil Kumar

नमो नमः सर्वेभ्य:

Summing up the salient points from the NIAS lecture that seemed useful to me;

Ayurveda is an astika darshana. It believes in the continuity of the individual existence even after death. (asti paraloka iti matiryasyah sa astikah). It is a pause in the karmic evolution of the individual self(jivatman). Goal-setting in Ayurveda is based on the Astika viewpoint.

Mind stuff survives the death of the body. Death connotes the individual life after life from the subtle elements, also the imprint of past actions, mind, intellect, ego and emotions. Without the knowledge of the self, mind is bound by rajas, tamas- cause of repeated cycle of birth and death. Mind has to try to connect with sattva for better health. Ultimate liberation is transcendence.

Mind is displaced from one body to another. Self is omnipresent does not move from one body to the other. Only one self in the ultimate analysis that is all pervading.

My two questions: The self in Ayurveda is similar to the Brahman in Advaita?

Apart from meditation and moderation, what are other practical ways to maintain an Ayurvedic lifestyle?

Answers from Dr. Rammanohar- Self in Charaka conception is similar to Advaita. Other Sushruta similar to Sankhya.

2nd question: Ayurveda is very flexible. Eat one time a day, two times a day. Fast once a week, 15 days, your choice. Liberal in outlook but make gradual progress.

Body is an instrument of action. Action comes from the prayatna of the mind. Correct action can transform the mind. Immortality is understanding that one’s true nature lies in the self. Analogy of Tamasic is dark room, Rajasic is like a stick to find the light. Sattva is light coming in the room.
Karma is the basis of of bondage and liberations. Improper actions lead to problems. Centering awareness on self pacifies internal stressors to some extent. Reason meditation is important. Illness is due to prajna apradha. Prajna- Higher faculty, Dhi-intellect, Dhriti- Self control. Lack of awareness is the seed of all diseases.

Body and mind influence each other. When the body is affected, mind is also affected. Mind is able to sense the stillness of the self. Approach should be to achieve a sort of sthitha=pragya state. Analogy of ghee and the iron pot. Brahmacharya is not celibacy, but a path to achieve that stillness of self. Brahma-Muhurta, getting up early also part of the Brahmacharya or Sattva-gravitating approach.

Man is a three dimensional being- body, mind, self. Body is temporary but self is omnipresent does not move from one body to another. One self in the ultimate analysis that is all pervading. Embodied being in the body is the subject of Ayurveda. Mind identifies with the body- the cause of ajnana(ignorance). Ajnana is an internal stressor. Mind identifies with the self-jnana. Goal is immortality or Amrita- the ultimate destination of Ayurveda.

Focus is on mental stillness and resilience. Ayurveda aims for happiness in the embodied body which is a temporary but important vessel in the overall journey. The Gita shloka of vasamsi jirnani yatha vihay. Mind stuff survices the death of the body. Healthy ageing is also a goal. Body becomes affected as a part of ageing so healthy approach lies in ability to care for oneself and keep cognitive abilities from deteriorating. When the mind is dominant in sattvaguna, it is able to identify with the underlying consciousness- the source.

When the metabolism is optimal, there is a possible impact on the body-mind complex. Ausadha is that which awakens consciousness and maintains stability. Extreme sadness changes the shape of the heart- what the Japanese have discovered as the broken heart syndrome. Happiness also causes some physiological problems. So the ideal state is to stay somewhere in between.

The metaphorical ‘heart’ as a seat of emotions and as a physiological organ is most profoundly affected by emotions. Physiological parameters such as heart function, blood pressure, autonomous nervous system, hormonal regulations, immune system are affected. Mind affects the impact of the three doshas. Ayurveda practices transform the body.