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A nineteenth-century
watercolor of a physician taking a pulse. (Photo: Wellcome Institute Library,
London)
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Ayurveda
treats the whole person, not just the disease, and emphasizes
disease prevention rather than the cure of symptoms.
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Spiritual
Ayurveda
"Around
1500 B.C. the book, the Charak
Samhita discussed these spiritual principles. It said that
even if Ayurvedic doctors had a complete knowledge of Ayurveda but
could not reach the inner Self or soul of the patient, they would
not be effective healers. Furthermore, if the practitioner were
more concerned with fame and fortune, and not with spiritual development
(Self-Realization), they would not be effective healers.
To understand the
spiritual nature of Ayurveda, we must know something about the Vedic
roots of philosophy, spirituality, and universal religion. According
to the ancient Vedic scriptures of India there is a goal
to life. We are not simply born, to live, and then to die without
some meaning or purpose. Albert Einstein reflected this idea when
he said God does not play dice with the universe. Order and
reason exist in life. According to Vedic philosophy life
is Divine and the goal of life is to realize our inner Divine nature.
Ayurvedically speaking the more a person realizes their Divine nature
the healthier they are. Thus it is the responsibility of the Ayurvedic
doctor to inspire or help awaken the patient to their own inner
Divine nature. Positive thinking or love is the best medicine. ..."
The
Ayurvedic Encyclopedia by Swami Sada Shiva Tirtha, page
8.
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Ayurveda,
literally,
"the science of life," is the
ancient Indian art and science of healing and rejuvenation through
the use of natural herbs, roots and minerals. It is said that over
3000 years ago, Nature revealed the curative and therapeutic properties
of each tree, plant, herb, root and flower to a great sage, Dhanwantari,
as he sat in deep meditation in the midst of a forest. Ancient Rishis
and sages continued to learn of the beneficial link between the
vegetable, mineral and human worlds, and discovered that bodily
health comes from cultivating a harmonious balance of Nature's three
subtle energies, or doshas: vata, pitta
and kapha, which are present in all life and matter. The
doshas have certain qualities or attributes which characterize their
effects on the human body. The individual remains healthy as long
as these elements are in a state of equilibrium. But if this equilibrium
is disturbed beyond a point, the body succumbs to disease and decay.
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