Ayurveda - Perfect Health from Chopra
Ayurveda is a consciousness based system of healing. Consciousness is the underlying realm of our existence that gives rise to our thoughts, feelings, perceptions and interpretations. Even to say that there is a “mind body connections” is not accurate, because our mind and body are two integral aspects of this underlying field of conscious energy. Consciousness and intelligence flow throughout our entire body, and for every state of consciousness there is a corresponding physical response. Listening to the signals of the body and making more conscious choices is the basis of Ayurveda. Ayurveda, the wisdom of life, offers a proven guide for a life of happiness, vitality, love and purpose.
Consciousness - energy and information that is self aware is the ground state of existence. Beyond the constant change in the world around us and the world inside us there is an underlying aspect of our being that remains constant. The wisdom traditions of the world have called the changeless core of our being by many names, pure awareness, spirit, being, we can call it consciousness or conscious energy.
Science is beginning to understand the nature of the world in a way that parallels the ideas of philosophers and sages of ancient times. Your senses tell you that the physical world is material, non changing and solid, but this is an artifact of sensory perception. When viewed through the eyes of the quantum physicist, the essential raw material of the universe is not material. Everything in creation, including your physical body, is made up of subatomic particles moving at lightening speeds through vast empty spaces. At a deeper level, even these elementary particles are simply fluctuations of energy and information.
The moment we shift the focus of our attention, new possibilities for health, happiness and spiritual unfoldment become available to us. In the same way that you probably aren’t aware of your wrist watch until you direct your attention to id, the possibilities for health, happiness and inner peace exist within our own consciousness and are enlivened through our attention and intention.
Your body is dynamic and constantly transforming. You are not a static physical machine that learned to manufacture thoughts and emotions. Rather, you are a network of intelligence in dynamic exchange with everything that surrounds you. Your body is not a frozen anatomical structure, but a river of intelligence that is continuously changing and ever new.
Life is Multidimensional
The universe is non material. This program is based upon the paradigm that views the material world as an expression of an underlying field of conscious energy
Your body is transforming Our bodies are not physical machines. True health, more than the absence of disease, is the integration of our many dimensions - physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Though our senses lead us to believe our bodies are solid, rigid and unchanging, our bodies are in fact rivers of intelligence that are continuously changing and ever new. Whatever we can experience is bound by space and time.
Life is multidimensional According to Vedic philosophy, life is a multilayered spectrum from the most abstract to the densest expression. The essence of this teaching is that one underlying field of intelligence manifests as the multiplicity of forms and phenomena that we call the physical universe. The layers (Koshas) mask our essential nature and become three primary divisions - physical body, subtle body and causal body.
The physical body
The physical body is comprised of three layers: the environment, personal body and energetic body
Environment: Although your senses may tell you otherwise, there is no distinct boundary between your personal and extended body, which are in constant and dynamic exchange. Each breath that you inhale and exhale is a reminder of the continuous conversation, taking place between your physical body and your environment.
Personal body: Recognizing that the vast majority of cells in your body are derived from the food you eat, the physical body is called annamaya kosha, meaning “the covering made of food”. This idea underscores the need to pay attention to the food you consume to maximize nourishment and minimize toxicity.
Energy body: The third layer of the physical body pranamaya kosha, meaning “the sheath made of vital energy”. This vital energy, known as prana, breathes life into biochemicals and orchestrates cells into a vibrant living being.
The Subtle Body
Three layers, the mind, the intellect and the ego
Mind: Within this framework, the mind is the repository of sensory impressions. as the mind cycles through different states of consciousness, your sensory experiences change. Dreaming reality is different that waking reality. This level was the manomaya kosha.
Intellect: This is the aspect of mind that discriminates and makes decisions. This level was the buddimaya kosha.
Ego: The ego is that aspect of your being that identifies with the positions and possessions of your life. It is ultimately your self - image. In yoga, the ego is known as ahankara or the “I- former”.
The Casual Body - the field of pure potentiality
Three layers of the causal body: the personal domain, the collective domain, and the universal domain
Personal: Every individual has a personal soul with unique memories and desires. These memories and desires guide the course of your life to the fulfillment of your soul’s highest purpose.
Collective: The second sheath is the collective domain. This realm calls you to live a mythical life. The gods and goddesses that reside within your soul have one desire - to express their creative power through you. This is where archetypes live.
Universal - The deepest aspect of your being is beyond space, time and causality, yet gives rise to the manifest universe. This is the universal domain of spirit in which all distinctions merge into unity. It is known in Sanskrit as Brahman.
Now that you understand that you are a multi dimensional being, let’s take a few minutes to explore your identity.
Close your eyes, bring your attention into your heart, and listen to the answers that emerge in response to these questions:
Who am I?
What do I want?
What is my purpose?
Directly accessing the field of pure consciousness is the most profound way to influence our state of health. Through the regular practice of meditation (sadhana) we can contact and influence the source of our body, mind and emotions.
Yoga and meditation are techniques to bring us into contact with the subtler, more expanded aspects of our nature. We become more intimate with the dimensions of ourselves that is not bound by time or circumstance.
As we wrap this segment up - I wanted to share this video. Seems to have been updated recently which is wonderful…
In my second Wellness Retreat, I taught the Chopra “Perfect Health” program in Sedona, AZ at the Enchantment Resort and we had an evening with a giant telescope and guided sky watching! I showed this video as a small representation of the vastness of our universe, that we can even comprehend. It still blows my mind :-) Enjoy!
