The mind and Ayurveda
Like the body, the mind has its own constitution. The three types are: sattvic, rajasic and tamasic.
- The sattvic mind, without contamination or negativism, is the purest state the mind can aspire to, and it is very rare. Sattvic types have only pure and positive thoughts, both about themselves and about others. They have self-confidence and high self-esteem, without being selfish. They respect others but do not let themselves be trampled by others. They have a clear idea of what they want and they move to get it. They cause no suffering to any living thing. They enjoy. of excellent physical health, preferring a diet that is pure and free from artificial stimulants. This state does not come naturally to most people; however, the practice of meditation and the noble eightfold path of Buddhism help us in this direction. Ayurveda assists Sattvic aspirants with advice for proper diet, meditation, exercise, thinking and understanding. While we may never achieve it, we should all aspire to the satirical state.
- The rajasic mind is passionate and angry. It can be violent, partial, and prone to irrational mood swings. Rajasic types seek stimuli of all kinds, love rich and spicy food, going out to eat, theater, cinema, novels, alcohol, gossip and extroverted behavior. They are restless, always looking for new challenges and experiences, and are never satisfied. They are often intelligent and creative, but they are never at peace, neither with themselves nor with the world.
- The tamasic mind is low and ignorant. Tamasic types love processed, unhealthy foods and have no vitality or vigor. They show no intelligence, they are ignorant, irrational, greedy and full of destructive thoughts and ideas.
Both rajasic and tamasic attitudes are considered corrupt and can cause ill health. The rajasic and tamasic elements in our lives take the sattvic state away from us.
Uniqueness of the individual
For Ayurvedic treatments to be successful, it is essential that the doctor and the patient recognize the constitutional type of the latter. The constitution of each one has three main elements: doshas, genetic inheritance and karma.
The doshas are the predominant energies which determine the basic type of the body; from parents and antecedents we inherit characteristics and, in some cases, a predisposition to certain diseases and conditions; similarly, through karma, we carry with us in this existence aspects and propensities deriving from previous incarnations.
The three factors interact to give each individual a constitution with a unique character, established at the time of our birth and immutable.
Over time, however, the constitution can be affected by factors such as diet, habits, lifestyle, environment, exercise, work, hormonal changes and stress.
The marmas
Ayurveda therefore considers each individual as unique of its kind, with an individual constitution, both physical and psychological, determined by genetic inheritance, and the influence of doshas and karma. Despite the fact that many changes occur in the body and in the course of life. mind, in essence, the person remains the same from birth, unless an imbalance of dosha is imposed by an unhealthy lifestyle.
Ayurveda identifies a factor that connects the various stages of our lives and maintains our individual identity. This factor is called smirti, which we can translate as "memory", which permeates every single cell of our body.
It is best to learn the art of meditation from an experienced teacher. However, there are a number of guidelines that can help get you started.
Always try to meditate at the same time and place every day. Breathe effortlessly, with a regular rhythm, from the abdomen.
Start with 5 minutes of deep breaths, then breathe more gently. Keep warm, and if possible sit in a place where you are not disturbed or distracted, and which is not usually used for other purposes (eating, working, etc.).
Sit cross-legged on the floor, hands outstretched, palms up.
The eyes can remain either closed or open; however, if they are open, it is necessary to focus attention on an object which is relaxing and pleasant to look at, or which has a special meaning for us.
Try to focus your mind on a single thought, don't wander with the thought.
Choose your particular mantra, which can be a syllable, a word or a phrase. It will have to be repeated, silently or aloud, like a chant, and does not necessarily have to have a precise meaning. The important thing is its simplicity. A common mantra is "OM" which has a powerful vibrational sound when repeated continuously.
Meditation with breathing (Anapanasathi-Bahavian)
Try to focus your attention entirely on the breath, concentrating on the inhalation and exhalation. Continue like this for 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening.
This method is widely recommended for those suffering from heart problems, high blood pressure, and stress-related illnesses.
Ayurveda also teaches us that to be healthy in this life we must allow the vital energy, or prana, to flow unimpeded. If our condition is inadequate, or if we indulge in thoughts and attitudes that disrupt our lifestyle and make us resentful and angry, that energy is blocked. Our body and mind are no longer able to function harmoniously, making it impossible for us to fully live our life.
The matrix of energy points
There are numerous energy points in the body (107 in total), which stimulate some of its functions and maintain its health. Although these points (known as marma points) cannot be identified using scientific tools, it is believed that there is sufficient evidence to be able to say that if one or the other fails or stops, the onset of the disease will occur. Most of these points are found in vital areas such as tendons, major arteries and veins, and major joints.
Ayurvedic texts suggest that marma points are parts of the body where two or more important systems meet, such as nerves or blood vessels, bones and nerves or muscles, ligaments and joints.
A marma point is the site of concentrated energy, and damage to any of these points can result in serious illness. There are three main marma centers: the head, heart and bladder. Violent injury to any of these centers marma can cause death.
The legacy of past lives
Ayurveda teaches that marma points can be used to manipulate the forces of vata, pitta and kapha. In some people, the flow of prana through these points can be blocked by "memories" from previous lives.
Marma therapy
The treatment applied to the marma points can affect bodily functions in a very similar way to what acupuncture does (marma puncture).
Ayurvedic nutrition
This topic is inserted with a pure nod, with the sole intention of making people understand the philosophy that in Ayurveda links health and nutrition in a single concept. The following table is an illuminating example.
Avoid foods cooked the day before and stored overnight, as they have lost their vitality
Disclaimer
The practices described here are not accepted by medical science, have not been subjected to experimental tests conducted with a scientific method or have not passed them. This information is for illustrative purposes only.
