In this era of e-media, a life without gadgets is almost unimaginable. We give such a great deal of importance to understand how the gadgets function and learn in detail how to handle them in the right way, so that it comes to our best use. Hence, a user manual also comes with the gadget to help the users understand the working of it in detail before use. We are pretty much aware of the consequences of handling the gadget without going through the manual.
Have you ever wondered if the most sophisticated gadget on earth called the ‘Human Body’ came with a user manual? Yes, indeed! The creator almighty has bestowed his grace upon us by gifting us with a complete health manual so that we don’t mess up with this gadget and incur an irreversible loss. And, this manual is called ‘Ayurveda’.
Ayurveda is the ‘science of life’ that has been passed on for the welfare of the mankind by our seer-scientists (Maharshis) after a lot of scientific observation, contemplation and experimentation. It is called the ‘way of living’ because it teaches us the best way to achieve healthy-happy-harmonious life!
If we look at the modern-day scenario, undoubtedly, we are technically advanced and productive. But we are declining in ‘Health’. This is the reason why so many hospitals are cropping up everywhere. We have hundreds of new diseases that didn’t exist probably a decade ago. Every day, more diseases are being created solely because, connectivity with one’s own existence is lost. We have completely disconnected ourselves from the ‘true healer’ who is present within each one of us!
In this plight, Ayurveda can become our best guide that can beautifully connect us back to our inner-healer. It can serve as the complete ‘Holistic Manual’ for attaining ‘Holistic Health’.
Let us try to understand what ‘Holistic Health’ is all about!
‘Holistic’ means, parts of something are intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole!
So, how does Ayurveda become ‘Holistic’?
‘Ayurveda’ consists of two words: ‘Ayu’ and ‘Veda’
‘Ayu’ means the union of Body, Senses, Mind and Consciousness to form one single working unit. It denotes the strength of each component individually and also the strength of the bonding between them. Stronger the bond, longer the life-span! It is called ‘Death’ when the bond between the components loosen up and finally separate!
‘Veda’ means Wisdom.
Hence, Ayurveda takes into consideration and addresses all aspects of life as a whole- The gross physical body, the subtle senses, the subtler mind and the subtlest consciousness, thus becoming ‘Holistic’. It gives us the wisdom to create an environment within ourselves that enables smooth, harmonious functioning of all these components so that the outcome is nothing but ‘Health’ and ‘Happiness’. ‘Holistic science’ in its true sense!
Health can be achieved only when we work on achieving an equilibrium of all these 4 components. Otherwise, health is only a word that one knows how to spell; one cannot understand what health really is until a co-ordinated working of all aspects of one’s being is attained.
Ayurveda describes in depth the diet, exercise, cleansing and nourishing techniques, lifestyle, use of emotions, regulation of the mind, preventive and curative aspects of health, spiritual orientation and insights into life-after. Thus, carefully nourishing and balancing all aspects of our being! It serves as an invaluable guide for anyone who is determined to take charge of one’s own well-being!
Ayurveda is rightly called a ‘holistic science’ because it gives a systematic approach to understand human being at all levels. In the present context, it is very important for an individual to understand that he is not a just a physical body alone made up of organs and tissues. He is a thinking being too, made up of complex emotions and mental attitudes. It is equally relevant to get in touch with the spiritual aspect of one’s self. So, even if one spends years of studying just the nutrition and physiology, or even go through medical school training, the knowledge one would gain that is helpful in maintaining true health would still be incomplete!
Today, it is very much in trend to look after the health by depending on external sources. But, being healthy is much more than merely developing huge muscles or eating a balanced diet, or even popping in fortified vitamin and mineral pills. For, if we learn to develop only our muscles and do not realise our mental capacities, then for lack of this mental willpower and inner strength, we suffer and always remain cowardly and insecure. Without understanding the spiritual realm, pain, suffering and fear will continue to bother. Mental peace can never be established. Ayurveda systematically guides one to be aware of the internal environment as much as we focus on the external physical environment, for it is inner contentment and mental satisfaction which are real keys to health.
Ayurveda is not just limited to an individual; it expands to the whole world around us. It not only teaches us to take care of ourselves but also helps cultivate sensitivity to the people and nature around us. It preaches to selflessly extend help to every creature around, after all we are all on a journey, together! It instils so much health, purpose and joy into one’s life that it spills over into the world around.
Ayurveda gives utmost importance to preventive approach, for, it is the easiest and the most rewarding approach. Getting sick and then getting rid of sickness is a painful experience as well as a waste of time and resources. One should learn to look after health so that it doesn’t become a constant source of pain and misery. Ayurveda encourages each one to cultivate and practice those skills which ensure ‘Holistic Health’, rather than fall victim to those which perpetuate diseases.
Ayurveda’s approach is educational i.e. it teaches us methods to improve our health at all levels. It is an individualised science equipping one with comprehensive aspects which allow us to grow and expand our awareness and also provide us the strength needed to prevent from slipping back into the groves of old habits.
For a ‘Holistic-Health seeker’, Ayurveda beautifully complements the process of self-observation and self-regulation of one’s habits at all levels so that life can be transformed into a healthy and joyful process. By learning to naturally enhance and maintain one’s health through Ayurveda, the attention can be focused completely on the purpose of life without facing any obstacles. Life can indeed become a healthy-happy- harmonious journey!
So, if you wish to achieve ‘Health’ learn to understand and nourish all aspects of your being – the physical, sensory, mental and spiritual!
Dr Sadhanashree
Excellent article Dr. Sadhana…
The article makes us aware of Ayurveda as a holistic science which not only enables us to understand ourselves at all levels, but also the world around us. Apart from being a healing system, it also teaches us to be sensitive to others around us so that we could evolve together happily!
Beautiful writing…waiting to read more on this.
The actual meaning of ‘Holistic approach ‘ and its reference with Ayurveda is very well articulated and bridging innerself with ‘expansion’ of oneness to care every creature as Sarvojano sukhinobhavanthu…..is simply great thought!
Being holistic is understanding oneself in every aspect from mind to consciousness level and one should know oneself better…right thoughts n right living style can bring great changes in all aspects is the essence.
Thank you Dr Sadhana for your inspiring article which helps to understand oneself!
Very aptly summarised about Ayurveda-what it is and why its Holistic .Thanks for sharing your thoughts Dr Sadhanashree.This is were the modern medical science has failed ,as in initial stages, health was taken as absence of the diseases .after much deliberations the WHO included the physical mental and social aspects ,but still failed to touch upon two important aspects –one about prevention and more specifically about wellness as a whole(HOLISTIC) and second they did not touch upon the spiritual aspect which affects all the ingredients of a healthy being.Another thing which you have brought to our notice is the interconnectivity of the body as a whole.while many of us still see the different parts individually thus failing in upgrading our health
Thanks for wonderfully touching upon these aspects and breaking the myth of Ayurveda being the” decoction giver” only.Looking forward to understanding the practical aspects of AYURVEDA
A very well presented article. The true essence of ayurveda being holistic is articulated in a simple yet effective way. Keep going👍