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  Ayurveda
- means the knowledge of life. Ayurveda acknowledged as the oldest among
the different streams of medicine in the world, Ayurveda has become a
very popular with the tourists visiting Kerala in the recent years.Ayurveda, literally meaning the science of life, is more than 3500 years old. Traditionally the knowledge of Ayurveda passed through the 'Gurukula' system. Now the traditional knowledge has been improved through scientific research and is taught in various Ayurvedic Colleges in Kerala. Ayurveda is based on the vedic philosophy of healthy living as prescribed in the 'Atharvaveda', a vedic text on Hindu philosophy.It is a system of preventive medicine which provides remedies for various illness and prescribes ideal lifestyles to prevent the onset of sickness and disease. According to ayurveda the human body comprises of 3 constituents known as the 'Tridoshas'. They are 'Vatha', 'Pitha' and 'Kapha'. Though these constituents vary from person to person, one of the Tridoshas predominates the other two. This predominance can be identified by the physical and emmotional characteristics of a person. To stay healthy, the Tridoshas need to function in harmony with each other, as well as with the five basic elements of the Universe, Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. Although Ayurveda acknowledges that infective diseases are spread by germs, the treatment is based on the theory of Tridoshas. Ayurveda does not 'kill' an infection like antibiotics but instead it strengthens the body's immune system to fight disease or infection. |
  Generally
speaking, the average person's level of consciousness is fairly low. He
is enslaved to life and lives on false hopes and illussions. He spends
his life in ignorance, experiening joy and sorrow , success and failure,
love and grief, without ever really coming to the ultimate realization.
The great mass of humanity allows itself to be led and dominated by the
senses. Under the influence of sensation and passion, people commit
errors which they subsequently regret. They delude themselves by looking
for peace, happiness and self accomplishment through the pleasures of
the senses. It is quite normal for the human mind to want to discover
the underlying facts and principles of nature by means of a physical
experience. We notice straightaway that the experiences we have on a
physical level are only temporary, superficial and illusory, since our
senses are limited. It is of course a help to know about material things
to achieve material ends , but such knowledge cannot show us the true
aim of existence.Modern science provides us with leisure, comfort and an easier material existence; but it does not give us peace of mind and inner calm. There are so many examples throughout the world of people who have everything they need materially, and who are neverthless unhappy, restless and tormented. The various Yogas represent all the means allowing man to raise the veil of ignorance and illusion, so that his mind may reflect the light of the Ultimate Reality. The word 'Yoga' comes from the sanskrit root 'yug' meaning 'to join'. It designates 'the joining of the lower human nature to the higher in such a manner as to allow the higher to direct the lower', or 'union with the self'. It also signifies communion with the supreme Universal Spirit to obtain relief from pain and suffering. |
