AYURVEDIC PRINCIPLES

 

Ayurveda is the oldest science of health and healing. It originated in India and stemmed from the ancient Vedic period. It began as an oral tradition and was codified over millennia. While historical estimates vary, a commonly cited time frame for the Ayurveda’s genesis is 5,000 years ago. The time-tested principles and nature-based aspects of Ayurveda have sustained its relevance throughout time.

 

While modern medicine may be extraordinarily adept at diagnostics of disease and addressing critical illness, Ayurveda’s most compelling contribution to modern health management is its focus on preserving one’s existing health and preventing disease through wisdom informed action.  This is accomplished by employing a basic understanding of:

 

• The inherent attributes of nature’s elements (matter) and how they interact

• The composition of elements comprising an individual’s unique energetic constitution

• The ability to balance the energetic constitution through appropriate diet and lifestyle, in the ever evolving context of time of life circumstance, time of day, season, life stage.

 

Written by Dr. Vasant Lad, B.A.M.S., M.A. Sc., a brief summary of Ayurveda and its more popularly known focus on Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas can be found here.   https://www.ayurveda.com/resources/articles/ayurveda-a-brief-introduction-and-guide

 

Below you will find translations of key principles in Ayurveda.  These are derived from the classical Sanskrit texts dating as far back as 400 BCE.  Disclaimer: as with all classical language, translations vary. 

 

What is Ayurveda?

Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana 1/41

That which is good (hita) or bad (ahita), as well as the causes of happiness (sukha) or sorrow (dukkha) within the lifespan (Ayuh), resulting in good or bad outcomes and thus, influencing the actual span of life, is the science which explains what is known as Ayurveda.  As per this description, Ayurveda is a knowledge system that describes every possibility, process, mutation and outcome that may occur in one’s life including the primary cause of existence to factors which prolong life or accelerate death.

 

What is Life (Ayuh?)

Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana 1/42

Ayuh is the combnination of the body, senses, mind and soul.

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What is a Healthy Person?

Susrta Samhita Sutrasthana 15/38

One who is established in Self, has balanced energy, digestive fire, properly formed tissues, proper elimination of waste, well-functioning bodily processes, and whose mind, soul, and senses are full of bliss, is called a healthy person.

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What are the Aims of Life?

Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana 1/15

Dharma - fulfilling one’s purpose

Artha - sustaining one’s life comfortably

Kama - fulfilling (righteous) aims and desires

Moksa - spiritual fulfillment

 

What is the Aim of Ayurveda?

Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana 30/26

The aim of Ayurveda is to maintain the health of the healthy,

To relieve the ailments of the diseased.

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What are the Factors that Prevent Disease in this Lifetime?

Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana 2/26

One who adheres to a healthy diet and lifestyle, who considers consequence before action, who is not overwhelmed by sensory stimulation, whose charitable conscientious, sincere, benevolent, and respects all forms of knowledge (books, scholars, etc.,) such a person will have a consistent state of health and will not be faced with disease of the body or mind.

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Therefore, one’s diet and lifestyle are there attempt (either consciously or unconsciously) to maintain their health and well-being. The more one is cognizant of this fact, and actively participates in conducive choices, the more stability is provided to the body. However, the system becomes upset, when there is insufficient support to positive health components like a diminished diet or erratic lifestyle.

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What are the Elements and their Respective Qualities?

Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana 1/27

The great elements are space, air, fire, water and earth.

Sound, touch, visual form, taste and odor are their respective qualities.

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What are the Qualities (Gunas) of Matter?

Ashtanga Hrdayam Sutrasthana 1/18

heavy vs. light

slow / dull vs. sharp / penetrating

cold vs. hot

oily vs. dry

smooth vs. rough

dense / thick / solid vs. liquid

soft vs. hard

static / stable vs. mobile /unstable

gross / big vs. subtle

cloudy vs. clear

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What are the Qualities of Doshas?

Ashtanga Hrdayam Sutrasthana 1/11, 12.1

Vata is dry, light, cold, rough, subtle, and mobile.

Pitta is slightly oily, sharp, hot, lightweight, fleshy smelling, flowing and liquid.

Kapha is oily, cold, heavy, slow/dull, smooth, slimy and stable.

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How Do We Balance the Doshas to Maintain Health?  (Law of similar and dissimilars)

Ashtanga Hrdayam Sutrasthana 1/14.I

Increase of doshas, tissues, and wastes are caused by similar things.

Decrease of doshas, tissues, and wastes are caused by dissimilar things.

(Like increases like.)

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What are the Three Main Causes of Disease?

Ashtanga Hrdayam Sutrasthana 9/63

1. Willful transgressions (acting against one’s inner knowledge of what is right.)

2. Inappropriate use of the sense organs. This includes overuse, underuse, and misuse.

3. A negative effect based on the passing of time or a change in season.