The following topics are taken from Gwen Nitya's Blog
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What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is the Science of Life. It is the traditional healing system of India and Sister Science of Yoga. Ayurveda is a holistic medicine that looks at individuals as the microcosm of the universe. We are all connected and made of the same things - elements, that drive us, shape us, and mold us into who we are. Just as the Earth exists in Space, moves with Air, transforms with Fire, flows with Water, and stabilizes with Earth, so do our bodies. Our bodies exist as mini ecosystems within the larger ecosystem of this planet. Ayurveda teaches that just as an ecosystem requires homeostasis for vitality - whether it be a pond, a forest, or the entire planet - so, also, do our individual bodies require homeostasis. The way to homeostasis - body, mind, and soul is to live in harmony with the natural ebb and flow of each season, each day and, ideally, each moment. Ayurveda teaches us how to nurture our individual and unique ecosystems in a way that brings balance to both our microcosm body and our macrocosm Earth. To study and live Ayurveda is to live consciously, peacefully, and abundantly. Ayurveda is living with Grace.
May all be blessed with the Knowledge of Ayurveda.
Knowledge of Life
Simply put, Ayurveda is all knowledge of that which creates, supports and destroys Life.
What is Life? All that is contained in the Universe (from the supernovas in outer space to the molecules and atoms within rocks, plants, animals and humans) is considered part of Life, and it is this Life which exists upon a foundation of Eternal Tri-Principles known as Vata, Pitta and Kapha. We see this tri-principle truth play out in numerous ways within a simple life and a single day: body-mind-soul, birth-life-death, child-teenager-adult, morning-noon-night, dawn-day-twilight and beginning-middle-end, to name a few. With the knowledge of the Tri-Principles all causes, symptoms and treatments of disease are known. So, simply put another way, Ayurveda is all knowledge of that which creates health, supports health and destroys health.
What is Health? Health is that state of body, mind and spirit which is in harmony with the Tri-Principles. The opposite being dis-ease, that state of body, mind and spirit which is in disharmony with the Tri-Principles. Harmony is equated to good health and happiness, and disharmony is the equivalent of bad health and unhappiness. The knowledge of each – good and bad, supportive and unsupportive, sustaining and destroying – is Ayurveda.
What is the purpose of Life and Health? Why is the knowledge of Ayurveda of value to me, to you? For millennia it has been taught by sacred men and women that there are four primary pursuits of life: Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. These are the ancient Sanskrit words for “Living your passion”, “Creating comfort through a good honest living”, “Seeking pleasure through relationships” and, finally, “Discovering and Being with the freedom of non-attached living”. This is a very shallow explanation of very profound and deep wisdom. But, I hope, the understanding is here: If you desire to seek these pursuits in life, you must value and honor Ayurveda.
What is Health?
When exploring the value of Ayurveda, one must first understand the meaning of health. Health is not just simply "a state of feeling well". It is a state of harmony, balance, equanimity, vitality, joy and peace - body, mind & soul. To be healthy is to be whole, complete, fulfilled and content. All aspects of the self are balanced. The ego-self has a healthy self-image; self-esteem is high, yet humility is present. The Divine-Self is acknowledged, honored and respected. This "healthy" establishment of both the ego-self and the Divine-Self is, in Sanskrit, known as Svastha. Svastha is literally translated as "established in the Self". When one has svastha, one has perfect health. Perfect health is the state of knowing in all moments of life, your value, your worth and your divinity. When one can walk, breath to breath, and live in such a way that this knowledge directs and leads your every waking thought and action, then one has perfect health. Knowing we are one with God (Divinity, The Universe, Heavenly Father, Allah, Buddha, Shiva, Jehovah, Elohim - whatever name you use to acknowledge that which is Divine) puts us in a state of consciousness that is known as Enlightenment. It is this enlightened state that empowers the "Natural Man" to honor his body temple, and in so doing - health manifests.
The Five Great Elements
To understand the Tridoshas (Vata, Pitta & Kapha) you must first have the foundational knowledge of the Pancha Maha Bhutas, Sanskrit for the Five Great Elements. The underlying matrix or field of the Universe is an Ocean of Consciousness. As this Ocean of Consciousness unites with Itself (Purusha & Prakriti/Shiva & Shakti/Father & Mother...) the subtle reality condenses from energy to matter and finally into the 5 Elements: Akasha/Ether, Vayu/Air, Tejas/Fire, Aap/Water & Prithvi/Earth.
In the West we say that all of earth-matter is in either a solid, liquid, gas or plasma state. In the East it is Ether, Air, Fire, Water & Earth.
Akasha/Ether is the field in which all/everything/oneness exists. It is space, openness, connectedness and vastness. We are all connected to each other through the subtle field of Ether. Ether is that element which exists among all of creation. It is the space "between" things, and also that which connects things. This element contains the qualities: cold, dry, light, subtle, flowing, static, sharp and clear. All of the other elements stem from Ether.
Vayu/Air is the idea of motion. Everything moves, transports, crosses over, under and through - because of the Air element. At the atomic level, it is the electrons spinning around the nucleus. At a grosser level, it is the force that moves the blood through our veins and the thoughts through our mind. Because of air, we feel the wind on our face, the ocean waves rise and fall, the tectonic plates rub and collide, a butterfly spreads its wings and an infant smiles. This element contains the qualities: cold, dry, light, subtle, flowing, mobile, sharp, hard, rough and clear. The Air element is the force which allows motion to occur; it is the only element that is inherently mobile.
Tejas/Fire is the idea and force behind transformation and metabolism. It is literally light and heat. It is the potential thermal heat and power that exists at the nucleus of an atom. Fire is the element that converts or changes one state of matter into another. For example, because of Fire, wood is transformed into ash, a caterpillar is transformed into a butterfly, and a seed is transformed from a sprout to a tree. Within the body, the fire element transforms food into energy, light and images into ideas and thoughts, carbs into sugar or fat, and the pungent taste into acid and bile. This element contains the qualities: hot, dry, light, mobile, subtle, static, flowing, sharp, rough and clear. It is the only element inherently hot. Fire ignites, burns, metabolizes, heats and transforms all other elements. Its illumination dispels ignorance and strengthens truth.
As matter condenses even more, the element of Aap/Water comes into existance. Water is the force and idea of cohesiveness and fluidity/liquidity. At the atomic level, it is that which allows molecules to bond. It is the surface tension on water, and water itself. It is blood, mercury, sap, juice - any state of matter that is fluid. It is mucous and pus, saliva and oil. This element contains the qualities: cold, moist, heavy, gross, flowing, static, cloudy, smooth, soft and dull. It is the only element that is inherently moist. Water is the element which allows for softness, empowering love and compassion to be strengthened in the mind.
Finally, matter condenses to the point where it is completely static. Prithvi/Earth element comes into existence. Earth is that element which provides stability and solidity. At the atomic level, the solid state is formed. Atoms and molecules bind so close together that electrons are shared among each other and movement of the solid requires more force. The Earth element is seen as dirt, rock, mountain, steel, wood, bone, and cellular walls. It is that which provides structure. This element contains the qualities: cold, dry, heavy, gross, dense, static, hard, dull, solid, rough and cloudy. Earth in the body gives strength and in the mind empowers mental stability.
We see the Pancha Maha Bhutas all around us. Everything on this earth plane contains all 5 elements. Some things and some people are just more dominant in one element or another. As you walk through your day, take a look around you and "see" Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. See them in your back yard, on the streets where you live, in your place of work or at the haven of your retirement. Notice both the literal elements and the metaphors or ideas they represent. Connecting with Mother Nature on an elemental level is part of Ayurvedic healing. Explore and have fun getting familiar with these states of existance, for as you do, your ability to explore both the gross and subtle realms will be enhanced, and your ability to grasp the idea of the Tridoshas (the foundation of Ayurveda) will be strengthened. As you honor the Pancha Maha Bhutas, they will honor you.
The Tridoshas
All matter is made up of the Five Great Elements (Pancha Maha Bhutas). Within all sentient beings (all life forms that have sense organs), the five elements combine and pair up into energy forces known as the TriDoshas. Dosha, in Sanskrit, means "that which disturbs". The three Doshas are known as Vata, Pitta & Kapha. These energy forces, when they are in balance, maintain homeostasis within the ecosystem of the body. When out of balance, they literally disturb the equilibrium of the body and create disease.
Sentient life is very much connected to the ebb and flow of Mother Nature. The tides rise and fall. The seasons come and go. A life span has its cycle. Within our bodies, the doshas also move with Nature. If they are allowed to swell, peak, and fall, in their natural wave course, then harmony and homeostasis is maintained. But, if the doshas are not honored, if we are out of tune with Nature, if we are simply living in ignorance (numbing our way through life with excessive living or moving through our days on autopilot - unconscious, out of touch and unaware), then the Doshas rise, peak, overflow and accumulate. No natural fall or alleviation occurs, and disharmony and dis-ease results.
Vata, Pitta and Kapha each play a vital role in the creation of balance within our bodies. The ether and air elements pair up and create the Vata dosha. Vata is responsible for motion, movement, transportation, currents and flow. The fire and water elements pair up and create the Pitta dosha. Pitta is responsible for transformation, metabolism, radiance and heat. Finally, the water and earth elements pair up and create the Kapha dosha. Kapha is responsible for stability, structure, lubrication and cohesiveness. It is the result of these three doshas, acting in harmony with Nature, that allows for homeostasis to exist within the ecosystem of sentient beings.
To live an Ayurvedic Life is to live in harmony with Nature. Ayurveda is about living consciously - attuned to the doshas within your body, and the gunas within your mind (subject for another day). Vata, Pitta and Kapha can serve us and guide us and aid us on our journey through this life. Knowing and honoring these forces is like owning the Sacred Blue Pearl and drinking the healing waters of the Fountain of Youth. Ayurveda can also be translated as the Science of Longevity, and it is the knowledge of how to work with the Tridoshas that supports the long life span and the vital and thriving life.
May the knowledge of Vata, Pitta and Kapha unfold within you as you study Ayurveda.