9/11/23 What is Maharishi AyurVeda?
Ayurveda is the knowledge or science of life. Modern science is now able to illustrate Ancient Vedic Wisdom that had previously been hard to understand from a scientific point of view. Vedic Scripture, which originated in the Himalayas of India and dates back more than 3,000 years, I feel, was thought to be very abstract and viewed like one would view biblical text. Text which for most of my upbring has been intentionally separated from science. Science is a system that we all govern ourselves after, no matter our religious background. The systematic study and observation of the physical and natural world coupled with experimentation and testing has given modern science, which became standard in the mid 19th century, its creditability. From that we understand the human body can be reduced to its parts, its organs, its tissues, its cells. We can scale down even deeper to the elements, to the subatomic particle; protons, electrons, and neutrons. With each new layer of inner discovery, we introduce a new language and concepts into our existence. Still, there is nothing new under the sun aside from our ability to isolate it, name it, and explain it. However, English is not the only language of science. Ancient Vedic Wisdom made these scientific explorations centuries ago. Thanks to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the connection of modern science with Ancient Vedic Wisdom can be realized.
Collectively we have taken our macro understanding of the universe and its inhabitants and used it to explore smaller and smaller levels of nature. We’ve moved from Newtonian Physics to Quantum Mechanics. Modern science is continuing its exploration and study of the unique nature and functions of the microscopic world. Modern pharmacology now treats and detects illnesses on a chemical level, the level of atomic physics. Unfortunately, these treatments keep our physiology riddled with side effects in its attempt to chemically balance imbalances. Ayurveda, however, detects on a level infinitesimal compared to modern medical treatments. A level closer to the core of existence.
Einstein pointed to a Unified Field Theory. The place where everything connects. This unified field is the core unity of nature, and I would equate it to what I have long thought to be consciousness or God. Smaller than the cells in our body or the atoms which compose these cells, Quantum Physics has successfully articulated the foundation of the Unified Field with Quantum String Theory. The short of this notion is, as we continue down the trajectory of understanding our innermost world and the smallest particles which compose our inner world, we come to 3 Superfields. These 3 Superfields as identified by String Theory of 1969, have been long considered in Ancient Vedic Wisdom as the three doshas, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. These Superfields sit closest to the Unified Field of Consciousness. Which means, balancing these doshas treats on a level deeper than the level at which modern medicine treats and detects illnesses. Detecting and treating imbalances at this level can prevent disease and illness before they manifest into something to diagnose, and without the side effects of modern pharmacology.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi revived the Ancient Vedic Scripture and spent many years working with scientists to bring forth Maharishi AyurVeda, a take on the Vedic Scripture that is supported by modern scientific discoveries. Maharishi Ayurveda invites us to approach wellness through a holistic lens where we consider our mind, body, behavior, environment, and consciousness.
The three basic governing principles of Ayurveda are the three dosha. They correlate with specific groups of genes and physiological functions in the body. “Imbalance of the doshas is disease, balance of the doshas is health.” -Ashtanga Hridayam, Sutrasthana, 1.19. The balance of these three Doshas along with balanced digestive fire, well-functioning bodily tissues and elimination processes, and a blissful state of mind, self, and the senses make up a healthy person. When in balance, consciousness expresses itself in the physiology as the final product of balanced digestion and metabolism, Ojas. Ojas is the balance of the three doshas and the essences of all the tissues. It's responsible for overall health, immunity, and strength. It's found in the heart; it pervades all over the body and it regulates the working of the body. By its presence, the body has life, and without it, life is lost. The presence of Ojas is the goal.
On the contrary to Ojas, when imbalances are present and digestive fire is low or deranged to the point of indigestion, the undigested food gets acidified and toxic. When the tissues of the body remain untransformed, spoils, and accumulates in the stomach due to insufficient digestive strength we call that Ama. “Ama is the result of a disrupted microbiome, which allows undigested food, bacteria, or environmental toxins to enter the bloodstream.” Ama can activate the immune system and create inflammation and many different diseases. Ama can present heaviness, laziness, indigestion, constipation, mental and physical fatigue, blocked channels, deranged strength, repeated spitting and or no taste for food. Rekindling the digestive power to treat Ama is always the first step to treatment. The formation of Ama is to be avoided.
In addition to removing any Ama, balancing the doshas is a main treatment focus. To detect imbalance Maharishi AyurVeda uses a process called Nadi- Vigyan which is a pulse diagnoses. This allows a practitioner to read each dosha, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha within a person's physiology to check for balance or imbalance. Identifying a person's Prakriti, or natural disposition toward one of the three doshas, and their Vikriti which is the person's state of imbalance, allows the practitioner to make assessments and offer treatment. As a practitioner I would inspect and observe the appearance of the client, I would assess the pulse, and I would ask many questions to understand the client's lifestyle, habits, diet, and elimination.
Once I have assessed the client, the Principle of Similars and Opposites is used to offer treatment. The three doshas stay in balance like a three-way seesaw. If one dosha is low, then another one must be high. Similars or Samanya treats in a causative way. The input of like qualities will increase like qualities in the body. Opposites or Vishesha treats by using opposite qualities to decrease certain qualities that are expressing themselves in the body. For example, if Vata is increased and conversely Kapha is decreased, the Principle of Similars, Samanya, could be applied to increase Kapha, or the principle of opposites, Vishesha, could be used to decrease Vata. This looks like giving steamed food cooked with ghee to a Vata person experiencing constipation as opposed to dry salad. Oily unctuous food has similar qualities to Kapha and will increase Kapha qualities and pacify Vata qualities, while the dry salad will continue to promote the dryness that led to the Vata imbalance or the constipation.
I can surmise that everything we intake through our five senses must be digested. My understanding of both Modern Science and Ayurveda supports this notion. Food and diet make up a substantial portion of things to be digested but we also digest through our skin, and what we intake through sight, our auditory system, and our emotional body counts as well. Gut health is especially important. It can be impeded by mood and stress factors just as it can be affected by diet. The Ayurvedic approach to therapy considers all the factors that contribute to wellness. This comprehensive approach doesn’t just focus on the treatment of diseases. Treatment through Ayurveda can be preventative, and it can look like diet, lifestyle, behaviors, herbs, and other Multi-Modalities of Mahrish AyurVeda such as Yoga Asanas, Light Technology with Gems, Vedic Architecture, and Jyotish.
Another attribute that sets Maharishi AyurVeda apart not only from the modern medical approach, but also other schools of Ayurveda, is Transcendental Meditation. This healing modality is a technique that was founded by Maharishi. It allows for a direct connection to the Unified Field of Consciousness. This connection fosters inner peace and alleviates stress. We reach the consciousness of the client through our own consciousness. This technique is helpful for everyone, clients and practitioners alike. “Wholeness can only be known through wholeness”. Pure Consciousness is consciousness aware of itself. The ability to reverberate and curve back to know self and the whole is experiencing pure consciousness. To be in this state is to be the knower, the knowing, and the known. This allows one to know imbalance through conscious connection. The regular practice of Transcendental Meditation, which cultivates the ability to transcend, is the best one size fits all treatments in Maharishi AyurVeda.
Our trust in mainstream healthcare is based on our trust in modern science. Clinical studies are performed to support modern science and the pharmaceutical industry. Prescription drugs are meant to help most people, and that has been sufficient for the collective. The collective stands by chemical level treatment even when many side effects present themselves. For many it is the only solution. Ayurveda is not as mainstream because it advises on an individual level. Therefore, clinical studies and testing cannot follow the same blueprint as the modern justifications. Recommendations are made with one's unique physiology and lifestyle in mind. Two individuals with the same symptoms may require completely different approaches to relief because there may be varied factors contributing to their imbalance. This is not the type of approach you can synthesize into a pill and sale. This approach is a road to wellness, not just a treatment for disease.
References
Wallace, R. K., & Morehead, P. (2018-2023). Basic Principles of Maharishi AyurVeda I. Maharishi International University.