“It is true that learning Ayurvedic pulse assessment is not necessarily an easy task; it is very subtle. (…)
But based on the great success of professionals who have diligently applied themselves to master this ancient skill] Vaidya has recently given a great deal of thought as to how to teach this course in a more step-by-step, in-depth fashion. His goal is to provide the opportunity whereby students could learn the foundation of his lineage’s SV Ayurveda directly from the sutras, learn the principles of pulse assessment and marma therapy which they could then practice at home with friends and family, as well as to provide them with the opportunity to ask questions and discuss their experiences in detail. In this way, the course could be presented over a longer time period, allowing for each student to read the lesson, watch it on the web or DVD, study at his or her own pace, digest the material, ask questions on the on-line forum, discuss the material, listen to Vaidya’s one-hour monthly lecture of the subject matter – and be able to do this within the timeframe that he or she has available. (…)
“SVA differs in many ways from contemporary Ayurveda, which many of us may have studied previously. Vaidya wants to ensure everyone taking this course understands the foundations of Ayurveda in the same way, so now we are going to delve into some of the basic principles from his lineage of SV Ayurveda. We will learn basic theory directly from the shastras and then we will practice based upon those principles which we have learned. (…)
(…) The meaning of “doshas,” is “always out of balance,” or “in the process of maintaining the body.” They are always in action within the body, so they create imbalance. The doshas have to manage the body and mind, and in that process of managing, it is impossible to keep all of the three doshas in balance. A simple example of this, is when we are stressed; our prana vata has to go out of balance, in order to increase the heart rate, so that it can supply more blood to the brain to meet its demands in this situation. Thus, in the process of managing the body and mind, it becomes necessary for the doshas to go out of balance. Why is that? (…)
This is part of a cycle, which in SV Ayurveda is called the Samprapti Chakra, or cycle of pathogenesis. We will use this example of hunger, and the resulting imbalance of pachaka pitta, to illustrate this model of pathogenesis. (…)
Contemporary Ayurveda does not teach much about the nadis, because it does not emphasize the importance of the prana. However, for us it is very important to understand the nadis, because they are the vibrational channels through which prana is received, carried and delivered throughout the body where it is needed. Nadis are very powerful, because they are run by the element of space, the seed element. (…)
Bhava Mishra is a Mishra from the SVA lineage from the 16th century, who compiled the Bhava Prakash, a text of Ayurvedic knowledge based upon the Charaka Samhita, and his own experience. In this verse, he is describing marma from the SVA lineage perspective: marmani tesu tisthanti pranah khalul: meaning that, “in the marmas, prana lives; prana is established in the marmas.”
Bhasma. I located the video on Yasad Bhasma but not the one on Shring Bhasm.
“Dear Pavitra: even though Moringa is fully packed with nutrients and ingredients, it is at the same time highly detoxifying. For that reason, it is best not to give to babies. Infancy is primarily a time for nurturing, in SVA we believe babies should only be fed “somagenic” nurturing food such as squashes, oatmeal, rice, etc. We recommend to start introducing a normal adult diet at the age of 5 years and above.”
The leaf has some added detoxifying power to it though. So depending on what protocol you are following, you may choose one or the other.”
body is able to digest raw food 100%. When it is not, Ayurveda tells us that semi-digested remains in the body create “ama” or toxins. Ama, in its turn, is the raw material for “amavisha,” a highly virulent toxic build-up which is the root cause of all kinds of inflammatory diseases in the body. Certain raw foods, such as: cucumber, celery, lettuce, are easy to digest and they are ok to have with meals or juiced. However, heavy duty greens such as: Swiss chard , collard, kale, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, even arugula – these should always be cooked. They carry sulfur-containing chemicals called “thiocyanates” that can be harmful and imbalancing to normal thyroid activity when consumed raw. However, when they are steamed, and preferably cooked, then they lose that toxic property. The thing is this: for people who have had a not so balanced diet for years, eating preserved foods with bad fat, switching to juicing or raw foods is heaven sent because they find that their bodies get pranically recharged for the first time in a long time. But for people who have had a relatively balanced diet, with good protein, good fat and greens, eating raw is neither a necessity nor desirable. In the big picture, it is all about being able to digest (break-down) and absorb whatever you put in your mouth. Whatever you do not cook on top of the stove, you need to cook inside your body to fully break down and avoid making toxins or ama. But is your metabolism up to it? Do you have a good balance between physical activity and rest? Are all your transformative tissue metabolic fires in good shape? Our digestion and absorption is by and large compromised in this day and age due to the lifestyle we have to lead in urban context. So it is best to avoid raw foods, or eat them in minimal quantities. Same goes for fruit juices. Any liquid, whether water or a fruit juice, will dilute your digestive fire, unless you have added a good amount of, for example, fresh ginger, or some other such spicy ingredient. It is great to have some fruit juices as a refreshing snack, specially in hot weather, in between meals, if they are balanced in the recipe, but best to avoid them with meals. For example, starting your day with orange juice for breakfast, is one of the worst things you could do to your digestive fire! If you are in the mood for some fruit juice it is always nice to squeeze some limes, add a pinch of salt, sugar to taste, and a few sprigs of fresh mint. This is a great rehydrating and refreshing drink. I will be sharing a fruit and vegetables juice recipe in our next issue of the newsletter. Stay tuned!”
Memory Nectar in buttermilk to help the “Yoginis” survive better. Or any other suggestions? Am I just imagining this problem?
important to follow them?