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UNEP– LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME 2005. – HUMAN DIMENSIONS – BODY, MIND & SOUL by Dr. Anand Shrivastava Maharishi Ayurveda Products Ltd. MIND, BODY, SOUL DIMENSIONS.
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UNEP– LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME 2005 – HUMAN DIMENSIONS – BODY,MIND & SOUL by Dr. Anand Shrivastava Maharishi Ayurveda Products Ltd
MIND, BODY, SOUL DIMENSIONS Most people think of physical bodies when they define the word health. Yet no one would doubt that the bones, skin, blood, hair, nails, and muscles that make up the body are only part of our nature. The subtle and more powerful aspects – mind, feelings, and consciousness itself – are all parts of a person. Ayurveda defines our true nature as a combination of consciousness, mind, and body.
CONSCIOUSNESS (SOUL) What is consciousness? Consciousness is the underlying field of pure intelligence that gives rise to all of creation. This pure intelligence permeates the entire universe, including the human body. Without that pure awareness, we would have no experience. The content of daily life – from vague thoughts and feelings to concrete objects and complex events – “covers” or hides the underlying field of consciousness, just as the movie hides the screen.
CONSCIOUSNESS (SOUL) If we could transcend normal, everyday mental activities, all the objects of perception – all the pieces of information the senses take in – would be transcended enabling us to unite with our most fundamental nature – pure consciousness, pure intelligence. The mind and body are an expression of this field of pure potential. When consciousness manifests into matter, it appears as the human system. Consciousness creates and maintains every facet of the mind and body.
CONSCIOUSNESS (SOUL) Consequently, when something is wrong with the body, it means something is wrong with its connection to its fundamental constituent, consciousness. In today’s culture, however, people often identify with their bodies. The underlying field of Nature’s intelligence, which operates the entire body from the level of the DNA, is most often unrecognized and neglected.
CONSCIOUSNESS (SOUL) It means that every person is living breathing, talking embodiment of Veda – a storehouse of pure knowledge, pure intelligence, pure orderliness, happiness, and organizing power. Every person has a blueprint for living perfect health and a perfect life within our own body. We have only to connect our mind and body with the consciousness.
CONSCIOUSNESS (SOUL) THE THREE-IN-ONE STRUCTURE OF CONSCIOUSNESS While remaining absolutely unified, consciousness generates a threefold structure – knower, process of knowing, and object of knowledge or, (Rishi, Devata, and Chhandas). This division is, however, purely virtual or conceptual because consciousness is in reality all three. The three-in-one fabric of consciousness provides an architectural foundation for the universe. As consciousness expresses itself as the manifest physical creation, this three-in-one quality is found everywhere and in everything. In the structure of the human physiology, it appears as the three doshas – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
CONSCIOUSNESS (SOUL) THE THREE-IN-ONE STRUCTURE OF CONSCIOUSNESS In a state of perfect health, these three values are experienced in their true unity, called Samhita. Pragya-aparadh occurs when the intellect, the discriminating value of consciousness, loses its connection to wholeness. When this happens he is cut off from the field of infinite orderliness that manages every structure and function of mind & body. This is the primary cause of human suffering.
MIND Our cosmic anatomy functions through two main channels of information: our faculty of wisdom, Buddhi (Intelligence), and our intuitive consciousness. Buddhi’s main function is to provide our mind with it’s inner light, which in turn, directs our senses. Those ignorant of the divine force of Buddhi, are largely controlled by their sensory perceptions and, as a result, the mind is enslaved.
MIND Buddhi illumines the mana (mind) which then directs the indriyas (senses). That enables us to learn through knowledge & to practice through application. Buddhi functions through our use of will, power of choice and self-reflection. The correct use of the trinity of Buddhi, mind and senses make it possible for us to accomplish even the most challenging tasks. The mind plays a vital role in our body’s response to be healthy or to suffer. This depends upon the mind’s disposition to either strengthen or weaken the functioning of the body’s systems.
MIND MENTAL QUALITIES (GUNAS). The Vedic texts identify three different mental qualities (Gunas), which make the mind to operate in three different ways. These gunas are Sattva, Rajas and Tamas and they are related to the three body types (Vata, Pitta and Kapha):
MIND QUALITITIES OF BALANCED GUNAS Sattva: Light, illuminating, clear, happy, origination of thoughts and ideas. Rajas: Mentally dynamic, analytical, discriminating, focused, organized, active, in motion. Tamas: Synthesizing, summarizing, memorizing, established thoughts and ideas. QUALITITIES OF IMBALANCED GUNAS Sattva: Decreased Sattva can lead to sluggish mental functioning. Rajas: Irritable, quick to react, passionate, attached, prone to hatred, worry, grief, fear, jealousy, pride, and other unhealthy emotions. Tamas: Slow to understand and react, incapable of suitable adoption to life’s situations, prone to ignorance, violence, worry, delusion, and other negative emotions.
BODY The whole universe is made of the five Mahabhutas (basic elements), which are: Akash (space), Vayu (air), Agni (fire), Jal (water) & Prithvi (earth). Each individual is born with a unique proportion of the above building blocks, which forms the basic prakriti (nature) of the individual. The above elements are regrouped into three Doshas (basic principles): 1. Vata Air/Space 2. Pitta Fire/Water 3. Kapha Water/Earth
BODY The difference between individuals is: • The degree to which the three doshas interact with one another in each body. • The interplay of the three mental qualities, i.e. Sattva, Rajas & Tamas. • Changes in our physio-psychological aspects influenced by social, environmental, and cultural factors. • By our personal choices.
