Ayurveda, Yoga and Tantra- The Ultimate diagnosis and treatment of Human suffering By Dr. Swaroop Verma

Ayurveda, Yoga and Tantra , these three allied mountains of knowledge reveal themselves at the same time, from the same stream of eternal wisdom, Sanatan Dharma, through the same group of seers in the same Himalayan region of India.

They all follow the four fold fundamentals of Sanatan Dharma: which subscribes that there is an eternal problem of disease, decay and death. Proper diagnosis of this fundamental problem is needed to find out the real cause. When the cause has been diagnosed then, there is way to cure it. Budha describe them as four noble truths.

Yoga and Ayurveda both have the same complementary approach towards Swastha (health) and Cikitsa (healing) on a very deep level. According to Yoga, a Moodh- Kchipta(Disturbed state of mind) or any negative internal or external stimuli (Klesha) creates a Psycho-physiological disturbance (Vikchepa). This leads to a state of miserable distress (Dukha-Daurmanasya) of the organism and affects the flow of Prana (Swasa-Praswasa) which manifests as Vyadhi (via-a dha-out of track).This phenomenal fact described beautifully in the thirty-first sutra of first section of Yoga-Sutra of Patanjajali. By practicing different steps of yoga a practitioner creates a Nirudhi (Transcendental state of mind) which leads to Samadhi (Sama-a-dha- to put together as one whole). Samadhi is the state of being, integrated functioning homeostasis, a psycho-somatic balance, where the person returns to his own original form (Swaroop), only then is he really Swastha (healthy).

My grandfather Late Dr. Munnalal Verma a celebrated Yogi and dedicated Physician, successfully used these Yogic-Ayurvedic approaches in his clinical practice for years and it has been an fundamental source of my further understanding on the subject.

To bring real Samadhi and Swastha I found a beautiful and profound integrated Ayurvedic and yogic approach, consisting of four comprehensive steps.

1. Understanding the human psyche on a deep level through right knowledge (vidhya), in order to cultivate the correct psychological attitudes. This Vedic knowledge reveals that we are not only a physical machine of biochemical processes or only a psychological victims of socio-religious conditioning, but we are a conscious being which can be aware and rise from our narrow, egoistic, limited personality to on that level where we can experience unlimited vastness of our true being, which is beyond the suffering and the pain. To give a complete and comprehensive picture of human psyche and to take us out from physicality of Maya, this Vedic knowledge describes how every human being made up of seven different bodies including our physical and mental body and how these different body functions together in order to sustain the organism. When we can peel all covering of different bodily layer of our soul then we can realize that Raga ( wrong attachment with Maya) is one of the main cause of Roga ( disease) and can be dealt with by Abhyas (constant de-conditioning practice) and Vairagya (conscious living).

2. Reconditioning of the neuro-muscular and neuro-glandular system through different practice of Yoga which enhances physical and mental immunity.

Now it has been established in the medical community that Ayurveda, yoga and Tantra all these eastern sciences are the first and the best mind-body medicine ever known to human mind. They described beautifully how every mental or emotional trauma accumulate as a complex node on the different vital organ and Neuro-musculo-skelaton system, which greatly influence on our posture and how we hold our body.. And when posture is distorted then Prana can not move freely in the Nadi (Pranic Chenal). This distortion in posture can be corrected through Asana and other Yogic practices.

3. Swastha-Vrata- Ayurvedic health regimen of a healthy lifestyle, wholesome satvic diet, encouraging the natural process of elimination, the avoidance of the suppression of natural urges. All this Ayurvedic healthy regimen and life style is understanding and following one's natural bio-rhythms tailoring it to the cosmic- rhythms. Because, ultimately our personality is made up of four things; what and how we eat (Ahar), how we spend our time (Vihar), what we think (Vichar) and how we relate to each other (Achar).

4. Special Yogic practices to regulate the Pancha Vayu (five kinds of main vital energy or SubVata Dosa). All Yogic practices of Asana, Pranayama, bandha, mudra, kriya, connect to one or two specific Pancha Vayu and regulate the flow of Prana. According to Ayurveda, any disease or discomfort is the result of the flow of one or other Pancha Vayu going out of track (Vyadhi). Ayurveda is the detective tool for tracing the imbalanced Vayu and Yoga and Tantra are excellent therapeutic means to balance it.

While I was living and studying at a well known scientific and literary research institute of Yoga, Kaivalyadhama, India, I realized this integrated and very practical diagnostic and therapeutic fact of Ayurveda and Yoga about Pancha-Vayu.

Ayurveda elegantly describes these Pancha Vayu as Sub Vata Dosha and there is a detailed description of how to diagnose their Dusti (Disturbed state) but the treatment is mainly on a physical and gross level. On other hand in Yoga there is not that much clear description about Diagnosis of these Pancha-Vayu but whole Hatha Yoga is the play of these five life energies on a very deep and subtle level. In fact, in yoga any desired movement or transformation, either kundilini awakening or opening of Chakra or performing a simple Asana (posture), can not be established without involving the Pancha Vayu.

For example, disturbed Udan Vayu Or Udana Vata can create coughing, vomiting, reflex problem on a physical level and psychological or emotional level it can create lack of self-expression, lack of enthusiasm or arrogance, throat and heart chakra related problems etc. This disturbed Udana can be diagnosed by Ayurvedic diagnostic methods and can be managed by those Yogic practices where the emphasis is given to Udan Vayu, posture likeBhujangasana, bandha like Uddiyana bandha, mudra like Viparit karani and kriya likeKapalbhati etc.

Ayurveda is the detective tool for tracing the imbalanced Prana; Yoga and Tantra, being an excellent therapeutic means for balance it.

Yogic and Tantric practices require a healthy and well-balanced body.

Ayurveda provides this necessary tool for achieving the goal of Tantra and Yoga through right nutrition and wholesome lifestyle.

As we see Ayurveda, Yoga and Tantra with their allied application leads to ultimate diagnosis and healing of Human suffering.. They are not only dealt with disease but they are also an comprehensive means to Sadhaka for self realization and achieve the ultimate balance (Swastha).