The word “aus” is translated from Sanskrit as “life”, and “Veda”
is translated as “knowledge”. In other words, ayurveda is the
science of life. Its field of study harmoniously includes both
the gross (physical) and subtle body and the soul. All these terms
(concepts) are the subject of fixed (in-depth) study of ayurveda.
In short, the vital force (prana), the mind, intelligence, and
false ego make up the subtle body of a person. Yet the soul has
a spiritual nature, which stays outside materialistic concepts.
Ayurveda is the branch of science that studies the subject of people’s health widely and deeply. The ayurvedic idea of health has nothing to do with the conventional concepts of modern medical science, which mostly treats our bodily and psychical illnesses. Ayurveda says that the real health is obtained by that person only, who dedicates his live to spiritual self-perfection.
Being a practical and wise science, ayurveda gives us the ability to perceive our spiritual nature step by step. Therefore, first it gives us the knowledge of how to treat and properly use the gross and subtle bodies. However, the understanding of the structure of one’s gross and subtle bodies is only the preliminary stage for achieving real health. Real health and happiness will be attained, when we begin to live and act on the spiritual platform. In other words, both one’s gross and subtle body are meant for educating the soul on how to use them right and attain the supreme spiritual happiness in the process of self-perfection. Thus, ayurveda is the discipline, which in spite of its medical orientation, is intimately connected to spiritual practice.
Ayurveda thinks of us as immortal personalities, which have nothing to do with the material mind and body. The generally accepted understanding of personality is the individual combination of one’s physical and mental functions. As distinct from modern views, ayurveda doesn’t identify the harmonious intelligence-mind-body complex with the term “personality”. Ancient ayurvedic treatises affirm – “I” is the immortal phenomenon, situated outside the gross body and subtle mind, which doesn’t get sick and grow old.
To exist in the material world, the soul uses the material body, which subjected to destruction. With the help of the mind, steady to the influence of time, the soul operates the gross body. The subtle body doesn’t die along with the gross body, but, on the contrary, goes with the soul to the new incarnation. Although the subtle body doesn’t undergo ageing, nevertheless under the time’s influence it accumulates the load of all our deeds, which make up our good or bad destiny (karma). Therefore, using the gross and settle bodies unwisely leads one to illnesses and sufferings. According to ayurveda, both the subtle and gross bodies are given to our spiritual “I” so we would find the means of correct, happy existence. In this way, using the knowledge, which has been tested by many sages, practicing pure life, finally we are supposed to achieve the perfection of life, following the way showed by ayurveda.
Most of the ayurvedic books written in the western world, present ayurveda as a complex of measures, which are aimed at eliminating diseases of the gross body. Usually modern ayurvedic books only briefly describe the activities of the mind, intelligence, and senses. They speak about the soul even less. However the historical facts of ancient ayurvedic evidence say the opposite. Ayurvedic knowledge was given to humanity, so that each of us, having achieved the physical and mental health, could at the ultimate end gain spiritual enlightenment.
Unfortunately, the incorrect method of studying this ancient knowledge led the majority of people to the conclusion that the main point in ayurvedic science are purifying procedures, methods of rejuvenation and the proper diet. However, these are merely ordinary parts of ayurveda, which have a mission to help people purify the consciousness to some degree, and prepare them for spiritual life. In fact, more important aspects of ancient ayurvedic knowledge study the nature of the mind and intelligence and their correct use for achieving healthy and happy life.
Thus, you will meet a completely different (new) approach to studying ayurveda at our ayurvedic portal. Here, we suggest that you open up and apply in practice the knowledge about the interrelation of the gross and settle bodies, nature of a person’s subtle body (mentality) and also the ancient knowledge about our spiritual nature. That is why we have called our portal “Ayurveda for the soul”.
According to the opinion of modern science, the polluted environment, people’s mistakes in behavior, and incorrect attitude toward their bodies are causes of all his diseases. This is true to some degree. Yet, according to ayurveda, the main reason of all our diseases and suffering is the absence of true understanding of one’s eternal spiritual nature. If, working on his character, a person reveals the knowledge about his eternal, imperishable nature, he immediately achieves supreme happiness. Naturally, in this case, he gains the ability to behave in this world properly, and correct attitude toward his gross and subtle bodies becomes his nature. Therefore, when we gain happy life, we naturally receive good health as well. The Vedas say that only by following the way of spiritual practice, one can achieve happiness and health.
As you have understood already, ayurveda studies not only the biochemical reactions of our organism, it goes beyond these primitive conceptions of our nature. Ayurveda, an ancient science about life, offers humanity a deeper approach to understanding real causes of sufferings. As a result of that approach, we gain a real opportunity to treat the heaviest diseases of the body and destiny.
Modern science says that our life is limited to bodily functions and it regards the body as a material space, where the mind exists as a product of the brain’s biochemical reactions. Ayurveda studies the gross body not as an independently existing structure, but as an instrument used by the mind and intelligence, which are subtle by nature. In other words, according to ayurveda, the body is just an instrument, used by the mind, intelligence, and soul to exist in the material world.
Ancient scriptures say that the gross body is not the main cause of our sufferings and diseases. The incorrect activity of our mind and intelligence is a greater source of problems. Therefore a person can’t even treat an ordinary cold without working on his character (improving himself).
As Ayurveda affirms, working on one’s character has to be included in all medical practices as an essential element. The health can become stable and resistant to any unexpectedness only when you clean your mind of all negativism. Yet, the mind is not the ultimate authority in overcoming the difficulties of life. The mind is under the control of the intelligence, which consists of the knowledge about what we consider happiness to be. The subtle intelligence invisibly contacts the source of happiness that we are longing for. Therefore, not the mind, but the intelligence is the real steering wheel of the vehicle of destiny. The soul is the driver of our destiny. So, the conception “I” doesn’t belong to the body, as many consider, and not even to the mind, but to the soul exceptionally. In other words, I am the soul, not the body.
If I am the soul, and not the body, not even the mind and intelligence, when I (the spirit soul) am suffering, I have to do something else in addition to treating the body, mind, and intelligence. This activity for the soul is called spiritual practice in any language of the world. Without spiritual practice, which has been given maximum attention on the pages of this portal, we can’t really be healthy and full-fledged persons. On account of this, on the pages of our portal “Ayurveda for the soul”, besides treatment of the gross and subtle bodies, you will find out how to work on your character correctly. This work should have certain consequences, which slowly, but surely elevate our consciousness and increase the amount of health and happiness. According to ayurveda, treatment has the following levels:
1. The first level is treatment of the bodily disease. This treatment is carried out with the help of a correct diet, ayurvedic medicines, ayurvedic massage, purifying measures, and exercise. This is the harshest (evident) level of ayurveda, it gives only temporary relief.
2. The second level is the prophylaxis of physical and mental diseases. This level includes keeping to the day regime, using rejuvenating ayurvedic remedies, hatha-yoga exercises, pranayama (breathing exercises), and keeping the body clean. All these daily measures relieve bodily and mental suffering to some degree, but they don’t eliminate the cause – the wrong attitude toward life.
3. The third level is the development of a correct attitude toward society. This is: working on your character, developing a positive attitude towards life. Patient on this level of treatment accepts the doctor as his instructor in morality and adviser in accomplishing his social and family duties. Strictly following the advice of the ayurvedic doctor and humbly listening to his instructions, the person, who is improving himself, naturally attains happy relationships with people around him.
4. The forth level is the development of a correct attitude toward the highest goal of human life. At this level of treatment the patient needs a spiritual master (instructor). Here, the main attention is given to the work on one’s convictions and views on life’s sense. This activity - purifying the intelligence, includes developing asceticism, giving donations, reciting auspicious Vedic hymns, prayers and mantras. At this level, the person, by the mercy of his teacher, gets rid of all bad habits completely, and develops the taste for supreme happiness, which helps him quickly reduce bad karma to ashes and attain a happy destiny.
5. The fifth level is developing correct understanding of the spiritual reality. At this level the person attains the highest spiritual revelations in deepest concentration on loving service to all living entities and to the Supreme Lord. Ancient knowledge says, that the actual knowledge can be attained, when we selflessly engage in spiritual practice. Thus, only at this level one can gain topmost happiness and health.
This portal - “Ayurveda for the soul” discusses all the dimensions of ayurvedic treatment and it will undoubtedly help you become orientated well in the real causes of your bodily and mental diseases. After studying the instructions in our portal - “Ayurveda for the soul”, you will get the opportunity to attain not only physical health, but spiritual health as well.
Besides sections of ayurveda, we have published many other sections of the Vedic knowledge. At our portal you can find Vedic astrologers, Vedic psychologists, publications of the topmost aspects of yoga and spiritual teachers. All of them speak about important sections of Vedic knowledge, tightly intertwined with ayurveda. From the pages of this portal our experts offer you to deeply study ancient Vedic knowledge. All experts at our portal are united in striving for perfection and a sincere desire to help you manage all difficulties in your life.
You can contact most of our experts. When you take a closer look at their views on life, you can establish a personal correspondence with them and understand in practice, how to apply the ancient Vedic knowledge in your life.
We wish you happiness and a pleasant time at our portal!
