Ayurveda: Art and Science
According to Ayurveda, we all possess conscious and unconscious attributes/qualities/tendencies, to varying degrees since we are all unique. The human, a spirit that expresses itself! A being that is at once physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, or, should we not say, spiritual, emotional, mental and physical…. Are we drifting from our spirituality, cut off from the energy that drives us, detached from our inner harmony?
Let’s go back to the definitions, what is art – a set of procedures, rules for doing something well, a talent, while science is an organized set of knowledge. In the plural, sciences express an experimental aspect of research for the purposes of technical applications and certainly control. Whether it is art or science, self-discipline is required to ensure well-being.
The holistic approach of Ayurveda based on a philosophy and biological knowledge is both art and science. The reality of today’s world puts aside our spiritual value (of immaterial spirit), our innate talent for healing in favor of knowledge that has unfortunately disconnected us from Nature. So how can we resynchronize with our spirituality? I doubt that robotization is a solution… Drugs well beyond alcohol, cigarettes and other addictive substances are not a solution either. A reading of the book “Dopamine Nation” details how much the drift towards intoxication is wreaking havoc.
Ayurveda and yoga offer a harmonious vision, a way of life of self-discipline and discernment, aiming for both inner and societal peace. What a challenge! History is full of periods of war alternating with calmer periods called peace… Was it really peace or a lull to better prepare for the next war??? Making war to achieve peace seems very incongruous to me. As humans, are we capable with our hearts and souls to navigate the world situation and maintain our original goals of a free society where humanity can live in peace and harmony? Yes, if we adhere to honest, simple and respectful teachings with a free mind, goals that are in line with our dreams with the strength to say no when our conscience requires it. I remember a special line from an episode of the puppets Pepino and Capucine (TV show from the 1950s-60s) where PanPan, the enfant terrible of the group says “I play hide and seek with my conscience”. Are we like PanPan?
We live in the era of over-information and over-stimulation; in Ayurveda, abuse or lack creates imbalances. Who says imbalance, says disease. We are then plunged into a constant imbalance i.e. sick and suffering, and rebalancing ourselves is our individual and societal challenge.
Ayurveda and yoga, 2 practices that include the mind, suggest solutions to rebalance:
– Individually: the Niyamas (Blog 17) and of course a daily physical (asanas, pranayama) and mental practice (self-discipline, meditation,)
– As a Society: the Yamas (Blog 14), to develop discernment (to know how to differentiate between true and false), to act with empathy and compassion.
The primordial quality of the human being is a mind captive to a physical-emotional-mental body and our responsibility is to balance everything! Is’nt it the path to integral health!
Om Shanti!