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Arthedashmahamooliya Adhyaya (view source)
Revision as of 07:03, 26 November 2017
, 07:03, 26 November 2017→Tattva Vimarsha
=== ''Tattva Vimarsha'' ===
=== ''Tattva Vimarsha'' ===
*The heart is a vital organ with ten channels, circulating ''ojas'', responsible for maintaining life.
*The heart is the center for psycho-cognitive functions and distinct spiritual characters. It has complex bidirectional inter-relationship with a brain.
*Presence and absence of ''ojas'' is an indicator of life and death.
*The heart, ten channels, and ''ojas'' are nourished by diet, exercise, and peaceful mind. The heart and ''ojas'' shall be specifically protected from mental sufferings.
*Non-violence is the utmost one to bestow longevity of living beings.
*Valor is the best among promoters of strength.
*Knowledge is the one which should always be increased.
*Self-control is the best factor for staying happy.
*Discovery/understanding/realization is the best one for feeling exalted/ecstatic.
*Celibacy is the most effective factor in the path for self-realization.
*''Ayu'' (life) is the continuity of consciousness, being alive, bonding with the body and its sustenance. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda Ayurveda] deals with its beneficial factors to stay healthy and happy.
*The end of a lifespan is signaled by various abnormal changes in the sensory perception, in the objects of perception, in mind, in the intellect, and in movement.
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda Ayurveda] is eternal because of the following: It has no beginning; its characteristics are self-evident, and those of things dealt with it are eternal.
*All the sufferings - diseases of both body and mind - are caused by ignorance. All happiness /health is due to the clear knowledge.
*Ayurvedic expert is the one who knows fundamental principles and their therapeutic applications, and he can explain to his pupils of less or high intelligence.
=== ''Vidhi Vimarsha'' ===
There are a few compelling similarities between ancient Greek medical literature and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda Ayurveda]. However, ‘which school of medicine borrowed these ideas from whom?' - Has been an unresolved mystery. Some of the ideas that are significantly common to these two systems are humorism, the mechanism of blood formation, breathing, and circulation. One of the points that are widely debated in this context is the supremacy of brain versus the supremacy of heart. It looks like Hippocrates, Aristotle, Erasistratus and Galen had this confusion over the exact functions of the heart and the brain. They ascribed to the heart the functions such as perception of the sensations, motor control, intellect, emotions, etc. The above verse may be read with this background in mind. [1] Another explanation could, however, be that these vital entities are functionally dependent on the heart, though not exactly located there.
The functions of the brain are in fact well-documented in Ashtaṅga Hṛdaya, in the context of ''prāṇa vāyu'', whose anatomical location is ''mūrdhā'' (head). Vāgbhaṭa in this context explains the functions of ''prāṇa vāyu'' to be the control of higher mental activities, heart, respiration, swallowing, spitting, belching, sneezing and other sensory modalities. Even in Bhela Saṃhitā, the location of mind has been documented to be in the head. (Verse 3, 4)
The detailed information on different kinds of blood vessels, functions of the heart, and physiology of circulation can be found in a published review paper titled “The history of the discovery of blood circulation: unrecognized contributions of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda Ayurveda] masters." ¬¬[1] (Verse 12)
The ideal way of reading, understanding and teaching a good textbook in the manner that is comprehensible for all categories of students has been explained here. Repetition of the concepts that are complex has been further highlighted. The contemporary theories on education to highlight the optimal repetition to enable good comprehension. (Verse 16, 17, 18, 19)
The ideal way of reading, understanding and teaching a good textbook in the manner that is comprehensible for all categories of students has been explained here. Repetition of the concepts that are complex has been further highlighted. The contemporary theories on education to highlight the optimal repetition to enable good comprehension. (Verse 16, 17, 18, 19)
Unlike various healthcare systems available today, Ayurveda is unique in its broad approach to health in particular and life in general. Besides managing diseases, its primary aim is to improve the quality of health and thus, prevention of diseases. Ayurveda considers myriad factors affecting human health in societies – at a macro or gross level – as well as at an individual (or micro level). Since each has a different Prakriti (body type), the factors favoring health have been systematically classified so that a healthcare provider can choose those factors by the person's body type and guide him/her to achieve a state of optimum health while preventing diseases. Similarly, in the case of diseases, personalized treatment with minimal side effects can be provided through Ayurveda. In the current world, where diseases, especially cancer, antibiotic resistant infections and autoimmune diseases are rapidly increasing, it is important to understand what health is and how to prevent disease. Acharya Sushruta has defined health as "a state of a dynamic equilibrium between entities that constitute a human being such as doshas, agni, dhatu, mala, atma, indriya, and manas." These factors have been elaborated at different relevant places in chapters of Charaka Samhita.
Estimation of life span:
Unlike various healthcare systems available today, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda Ayurveda] is unique in its broad approach to health in particular and life in general. Besides managing diseases, its primary aim is to improve the quality of health and thus, prevention of diseases. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda Ayurveda] considers myriad factors affecting human health in societies – at a macro or gross level – as well as at an individual (or micro level). Since each has a different ''Prakriti'' (body type), the factors favoring health have been systematically classified so that a healthcare provider can choose those factors by the person's body type and guide him/her to achieve a state of optimum health while preventing diseases. Similarly, in the case of diseases, personalized treatment with minimal side effects can be provided through [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda Ayurveda]. In the current world, where diseases, especially cancer, antibiotic resistant infections and autoimmune diseases are rapidly increasing, it is important to understand what health is and how to prevent disease. Sushruta has defined health as "a state of a dynamic equilibrium between entities that constitute a human being such as ''doshas, agni, dhatu, mala, atma, indriya,'' and ''manas''." These factors have been elaborated at different relevant places in chapters of [[Charaka Samhita]].
As indicated earlier in this chapter and preceding chapters, Ayurveda is that source of knowledge which teaches and deals with Ayu (life). How so? By its characteristics, it imparts knowledge of joy and suffering, benefit and harm, and authentic/authoritative and unauthentic/unreliable (sources of information). It is also that body of knowledge which informs us about long life and short life (i.e., lifespan) and substances with its properties & actions that decide a person’s longevity.
The end of a life span is signaled by the abnormal changes in the sensory perception, in the objects of perception, in mind, in the intellect, and in movement. These signals help in the prediction of the death of an individual at a particular moment or time or day, after three days, five days, a week or ten days and after a fortnight, a month, six months or a year. Svabhāva (return to the natural state), uparama of pravriti (cessation of all activities), maraṇa (death), anityata (temporary state) nirodha (restriction in the continuation of life)- all these are synonymous with death. This is at the end of life. In the absence of such signs and symptoms, the life span is to be determined as unlimited from the prognostic point of view. In Ayurveda, the life span is determined by nature of the physique, constitution, and special signs. The purpose of this Science (Ayurveda) is to preserve the health of the healthy and cure the disease of the unhealthy.
==== Estimation of life span ====
Non-violence and other factors for sustaining life:
As indicated earlier in this chapter and preceding chapters, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda Ayurveda] is that source of knowledge which teaches and deals with ''Ayu'' (life). How so? By its characteristics, it imparts knowledge of joy and suffering, benefit and harm, and authentic/authoritative and unauthentic/unreliable (sources of information). It is also that body of knowledge which informs us about long life and short life (i.e., lifespan) and substances with its properties & actions that decide a person’s longevity.
The end of a life span is signaled by the abnormal changes in the sensory perception, in the objects of perception, in mind, in the intellect, and in movement. These signals help in the prediction of the death of an individual at a particular moment or time or day, after three days, five days, a week or ten days and after a fortnight, a month, six months or a year. ''Svabhāva'' (return to the natural state), ''uparama'' of ''pravriti'' (cessation of all activities), ''maraṇa'' (death), ''anityata'' (temporary state), ''nirodha'' (restriction in the continuation of life)- all these are synonymous with death. This is at the end of life. In the absence of such signs and symptoms, the life span is to be determined as unlimited from the prognostic point of view. In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda Ayurveda], the life span is determined by nature of the physique, constitution, and special signs. The purpose of this Science ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda Ayurveda]) is to preserve the health of the healthy and cure the disease of the unhealthy.
==== Non-violence and other factors for sustaining life ====
Leading a righteous, non-violent life bestows longevity in human beings while maintaining harmony within societies and the environment at large. As discussed earlier in this (and the preceding) chapter, Valor is the best value among those that promote strength; knowledge is one thing that should always be increased; self-control should always be exercised to stay happy; discovery/understanding/realization helps the most in creating a feeling of exaltation/ecstasy, while celibacy is the most important attribute necessary in the path to self-realization, as per the view of Ayurvedic scholars.
Leading a righteous, non-violent life bestows longevity in human beings while maintaining harmony within societies and the environment at large. As discussed earlier in this (and the preceding) chapter, Valor is the best value among those that promote strength; knowledge is one thing that should always be increased; self-control should always be exercised to stay happy; discovery/understanding/realization helps the most in creating a feeling of exaltation/ecstasy, while celibacy is the most important attribute necessary in the path to self-realization, as per the view of Ayurvedic scholars.
Medical Education: Current medical education is disease-centric but and does not consider disease prevention as its priority. This is because of lack of understanding about what health is and how it can be preserved protected and rejuvenated. To provide complete care, a physician should be trained in both health and disease management. He should receive knowledge from authentic books and understand the practical applications of the concepts from experienced teachers before he starts taking care of people on his own.
Medical Education: Current medical education is disease-centric but and does not consider disease prevention as its priority. This is because of lack of understanding about what health is and how it can be preserved protected and rejuvenated. To provide complete care, a physician should be trained in both health and disease management. He should receive knowledge from authentic books and understand the practical applications of the concepts from experienced teachers before he starts taking care of people on his own.
Besides increased incidence of diseases in humans, there is increasing polarization and intolerance in our societies causing discord and violence. There is environmental degradation of the planet evidenced by global warming and increased pollution. All these phenomena imply a deteriorating health of humans, society and the planet at large. Ayurveda considers the human individual as a microcosm that reflects the health of the universe at large – the macrocosm. A healthy planet would need to have healthy societies, requiring healthy human beings. Imbalances within the bodily elements – the doshas, dhatus, etc. – lead to imbalances between the individual and his environment. This underscores the value of imbibing the knowledge about health from [[Charaka Samhita]].
Besides increased incidence of diseases in humans, there is increasing polarization and intolerance in our societies causing discord and violence. There is environmental degradation of the planet evidenced by global warming and increased pollution. All these phenomena imply a deteriorating health of humans, society and the planet at large. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda Ayurveda] considers the human individual as a microcosm that reflects the health of the universe at large – the macrocosm. A healthy planet would need to have healthy societies, requiring healthy human beings. Imbalances within the bodily elements – the ''doshas, dhatus,'' etc. – lead to imbalances between the individual and his environment. This underscores the value of imbibing the knowledge about health from [[Charaka Samhita]].
References:
=== References ===
1. Patwardhan K. The history of the discovery of blood circulation: unrecognized contributions of Ayurveda masters. Adv Physiol Educ. 2012 Jun;36(2):77-82. doi: 10.1152/advan.00123.2011.
1. Patwardhan K. The history of the discovery of blood circulation: unrecognized contributions of Ayurveda masters. Adv Physiol Educ. 2012 Jun;36(2):77-82. doi: 10.1152/advan.00123.2011.
Glossary:
Glossary: