Did you know that Ayurveda is one of the oldest sciences known to mankind? Indian medical science is probably as old as the Indus Valley Civilisation, dating back to 3000 BC. We’re talking Early to Mid Bronze Age here – around the same time as Egyptian civilisation was developing, and much before the Greeks, Romans or Anglo-Saxons ever took power.
I’ve always believed that knowledge is power, and power (I don’t mean in a conquering sense, but instead in the sense of spirit) lives inside each and every one of us. Sometimes people find this power in religion. Bonding with other people who follow similar principles or say, “ life guidelines,” gives them a sense of united power.
However, as we go about our lives, thinking we are good citizens and continuing our routine activities, power and knowledge sometimes take a very dormant place in our bodies and we do not explore our spirit and psyche in ways we perhaps could. I’m not necessarily saying we’ve all got hidden superpowers, but it’s something that’s at least worth exploring.
Ancient teachings are at times mythological, at times scientific and at other times very abstract, leading to multiple interpretations of their guidelines. It’s hardly surprising that such ancient wisdom, passed down through so many people over so many generations may be changing throughout history.
What I am saying is that there are teachings and sciences like Ayurveda which open up your mind and allow you to remember how to use your energy to unleash this knowledge (which is already embedded in each and every one of us through our predecessors and our own DNA) in order to obtain a healthy you, in all aspects of self – mind, body and spirit.
I have been fascinated with ancient civilisations and sciences, including that of the Maya, if you remember my travels last year to Macchu Picchu. There are indeed similarities between the Hindu and Maya cultures, whose beliefs also encompassed the three universes: mind (serpent), body (jaguar) and spirit (bird). And the sanskrit term yoga can be found also in the Maya word “yok’hah.” Yok’hah Maya is a system of knowledge and practice based on a profound understanding of energy dynamics and cosmology. Not far removed from Ayurveda.
Maybe I am wrong, I am not a historian, but it is nice to think that there is this greater wisdom out there and we as humans are more than capable of mastering it – but only if we really want to! The mystique of the human body intrigued both epicureans and philosophers for ages. In Ayurveda the body is considered to be a blend of five basic elements – sky, water, earth, air and fire. And when these are in perfect equilibrium, the body houses the universal consciousness – a perfect balance of energy that should allow us to control the processes of health and disease from within. Through its methods and practices (yoga and meditation) it teaches us to think openly.
Usually our thinking itself is limited to our own identifications. Society, common values, principles of conduct, and so on. With this limitedness, we often don’t know what is the right decision and we have a hard time deciding what’s good or bad. The moment you say something is bad you can’t stop disliking it! When I was asked a while ago to write down the things that I like, I was struggling after listing about ten! Could it really be true that in this vast existence I have only found ten things to like?!?
Once you start dividing everything into good and bad and like and dislike categories you lose the possibility of openness and inclusion. Perhaps the things you thought you so detested are really not so bad. I’ve noticed that a lot of people surrounding me are very opinionated yet they rarely want to listen. A lot of our misunderstandings and therefore wasting of spiritual energy happens because of ego.
I don’t want to ramble on too long about the physical and mental health benefits of Ayurveda and this pivotal push it gives you to open up to newness – be it body or mind related. I just would like to say that all of us should be more open with ourselves and with the existence that surrounds us. Be open to new possibilities, to change, to acceptance and to love. And you never know, this new found set of principles could just change your future.
