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Ojas in Relation to Emotional Bliss and Mental Balance
(part 2 of a 3 part article)
By Bonita Carol
Certified SVA Expert and Licensed Psychology Counselor
In the first installment of my article we discussed the notion of “pragyaparadh” – an experience of seeing life in fragments, appearing separate from the wholeness and source of life as the cause of suffering. In addition, feeling attached to any type of changing relative experience whether it’s being happy, healthy, or clear.Happiness is also a changing relative experience - it comes into our experience and then slips away. Vedic scriptures say “Knowledge is the greatest purifyer” (Bhagavad Gita, chapter 4). Studying Ayurveda itself is considered part of the protocol for feeling more balanced and healthy in life. Understanding and experiencing the non-changing wholeness which is our core nature is a potent path to greater feelings of peace even admist the chaos of human life. The non changing transcendental level of being as the backdrop to all events, all moods, feelings, and experiences. It does not mean that you will always feel happy once you realize this Being because feelings are not static. Even when one has grief, pain, illness, if the knowledge and experience of the eternal part of beingness is there, we can experience peace. Pure consciousness is devoid of qualities, yet if forms the basis of all qualities.
Effect of Over or Under Use of the Five Senses on Mental Health
Modern culture continually bombards all five senses with outer stimuli, such as: air and noise pollution; indoor florescent lighting; incoming advertising; daily driving; overworking; overeating; and mindless entertainment via technology devices such as the internet, cell phone and television. In addition, many people who live in large cities are no longer connected to the natural world and do not have access to nature, whether through gardening, walking in forests, looking at the stars at night, walking barefoot on sand, visually looking at a distant horizon, or swimming in natural waterways. In the larger cities one cannot see the stars in the night sky due to the city lights.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, not only do the senses become over-stimulated creating excess vata, but also the individual becomes out of sync with the natural rhythms and cycles of the body, the natural environment, and cosmos. I believe that this lack of physical perception and experience of nature, can lead to a myopic visual orientation and promote limitation in one’s thinking, leading to depression, black-and-white thinking, and a lack of problem-solving abilities, leading to anxiety and depression. An Ayurvedic protocol would be for the client to observe the sunrise or the sunset to connect him with the rhythms of nature. Take breaks from computer work every few hours with a walk near trees and nature, without the cell phone. Perhaps joining a gardening coop, swimming in natural lakes and rivers, or walking outside on a forest trail.
As an Ayurvedic practitioner and therapist that used to live in Silicon Valley, I have seen the mental and physical damage from individual overworking 60 plus hours on the computer. I remember Vaidya sharing his experiences as well and explaining how “ojas” gets burned from over exposure to EMF radiation and overwork. This is one of the benefits of doing his Transdermal Marma protocol as it helps to lubricate the dried out channels or nadis that carry prana throughout the system.
The Effect of Physical Toxins on Mental Health
Toxins, or ama, form a sticky substance that blocks tissues and bodily channels, disturbing ojas and digestion. In addition to physical ama, there is a type of “mental ama” or mental toxicity that disturbs the mind and can results in excessive anger, fear, self-criticism, greed, or resentment. Undue stress due to intense relational problems, tension at work, loss due to death, divorce, or financial problems can contribute to the creation of ama if the individual lacks resiliency or ojas. Exposure to negativity, violence, and shocking sensory stimuli whether in real life or media increase vata. Ayurveda can assist in reducing depression, anxiety, and memory problems by helping the client eliminate these toxins through Ayurvedic detoxification therapies, diet, and herbal medicines.
Ojas and it’s role in Well Being and Emotional Balance
The ancient Ayurvedic medical textbooks describe a physical compound produced from good functioning digestion of high quality food as Ojas. Vaidya Mishra explained that Ojas is the connecting factor between universal intelligence and inner intelligence. When ojas gets low in the body, depression symptoms gets high. “In simple words, ojas is the will to live life and when the desire of living is exhausted it’s called as depression” (Hirpara, K. 2016, p. 3). Ojas, according to Vaidya Mishra is a neurotransmitter that is enhanced by consuming healthy fats such as clarified butter called ghee, fresh fruits, olive oil and pure water. Emotionally, ojas is enhanced through loving relationships, sleeping well, laughter, cultivating patience, compassion, and living a sattvic life. (Teitlebaum, M., 2009, p. 205).
One of the most important factors responsible for the cause of both physical and mental health issues is low ojas. The strength of ojas is directly proportional to a person’s resistance to dysfunction or disease. Just as in the body, the quality ojas cultivates strength and stability in the mind. “The role of ojas is to stabilize the mind. It allows the mind to resist stress and protects it from faulty impressions that enter through the bodily senses and the external world” (Tabb, K., para 9). When ojas is healthy it helps one feel confident and grounded and allows for feelings of contentment and peace. It is ojas that protects against feelings of depression and fatigue (Tabb, para. 9). Ojas can be observed on the skin as radiance, healthy glow in the eyes, voice and behavior.
Depletion of Ojas Effect on Emotional Balance
Ojas is depleted or weakened by excessive alcohol, fever, excess ejaculation, overwork, fasting, excessive exercise, anger, poor sleep habits, chronic pain, recreational substances, excessive travel and aging as well as exposure to environmental toxins.
As a therapist trained in Ayurveda, it is important that the therapist be alert to the signs that indicate low ojas in order to create a treatment plan. Usually when there is depression, anxiety or other types of physical disease, ojas will be low. The goal in an integrative approach is to increase ojas and eliminate ama and make available stress reducing therapies , meditation, herbal protocols, change of diet, behavior modification and Ayurvedic treatments as recommended. Often there is a connection between the level of sattva and ojas, meaning that sattvic (calm) lifestyle can help to increase the level of ojas, and low ojas is be connected to activity that is kapha or tamasic (destructive or stagnant) in natureThe three energies that govern the mind, and living beings are the three gunas–sattwa, rajas, and tamas. By knowing these impulses that govern the mind, the therapist can better understand the nature of the client undergoing therapy and create the treatment plan.
Ojas is one of many things that can be felt in the pulse. Once, I had taken the pulse of a young man and received a strong image of him cursing and swearing as well as having depleated ojas. He was surprised how I could detect swearing in his pulse and he revealed that he was trying to over come a life threatening illness. The cursing, he said, had been a life long type of defense, with every other sentence cursing since he was 11 or 12 years old. This negativity had gone deep into the vibrational channels of the body, the swear words could be detected within the nadis. His protocol was to start blessinginstead of cursing and also do Transdermal SVA Marma. Vaidya recited the Heart Lotus mantra daily and encouraged us to learn it as well. There are two type of Ojas, one that you are born with and the other where levels increase and decrease. Ojas is born in the heart and so the heart mantra which helps to open the heart petals and allow us to have a strong mind is a great technique to increase our ojas and immunity.
to be continued
(Look for the third and final installment of this article by Bonita Carol in our upcoming issues)
About Bonita Carol
Bonita Carol offers Holistic Psychotherapy and SV Ayurveda as adjunct therapy for personal growth, the Highly Sensitive Person, Sleep, Anxiety, and Trauma Disorders. She holds a masters degree in Counseling Psychology and has studied with Vaidya Mishra since 1997. Online Sessions are available as well as in person 2-Day Rest and Rejuvenation Weekends. You may reach her at
Irina left her natal Ukraine in the mid 1980s, leaving behind a beautiful childhood and home nestled in a quiet orchard with berry bushes and countless patches of fresh fruits and vegetables, surrounded by green forests, clean rivers, and endless fields and meadows of wild grass and flowers. In this pristine environment, she developed a great love for Nature’s restorative powers. Trained as a classical musician from a young age, her love for beauty, aesthetics, and the healing power of Nature and plants found deeper fulfillment through Ayurveda. Before embarking upon her ayurvedic journey full-time, Irina taught classical piano and ran a successful real estate career. She holds a Master’s degree in Ayurveda from MUM (Fairfield, Iowa) 2001. In addition, she has studied SV Ayurveda with Vaidya Ramakant Mishra. She also recently completed an advanced esthetician’s course at the Santa Barbara Cosmetology Academy and received her esthetician’s license in 2017. She is certified in Vaidya Mishra’s Blissful Beauty Marma Facial System, as well as advanced SVA Marma protocols.
Students got to experience bliss and balance through SVA marma – Ayurveda’s ancient energy science as taught by Vaidya Mishra, over this past weekend. Here are some images.
Vaidya Mishra was present in spirit as well as in everybody’s hearts!
Attendees received a gift bag – hand-sewn by Purnima – containing SVA formulations and materials
Over the weekend, students got to delve into introductory as well as advanced teachings of SVA Marma. In addition, they had to opportunity to give and receive SVA Marma treatments, so as to experience the full benefit of this ancient powerful healing modality.
CONGRATULATIONS to the new SVA Marma Graduates! Onwards and forwards they will spread much healing and joy through Vaidya’s precious knowledge by helping others but also using the Marma protocols to stay balanced in their own bliss!
“I see clients from all over Canada- from Halifax to Vancouver!! I can’t tell you enough how grateful I am to Vaidya Mishra for this divine SVA knowledge.
I am the current Manitoba Chair for Ayurveda Association of Canada. I was in Toronto last month and met with some graduating students from the Canadian College of Ayurveda. One of my jobs as the chair and AAC Standards, Practice & Ethics Committee board member is to help new graduates establish their Ayurvedic practice. Although I have trained in many schools, my practice is mostly SVA based. I receive numerous testimonials from clients for different SVA treatments, protocols, and the formulations. I wanted to share this latest testimonial. This client saw a remarkable difference in her health with some transdermal marma treatment and some herbal nectars. She suffered from sever constipation and we addressed that as well.”
Ever since I spent a couple of days at Villa Ananda in 2017, I’ve dreamt of going back. The place is nothing short of breath taking. To sit at breakfast overlooking the ocean as the whales come up for air…. it was heaven on earth!
Our Retreat in 2019 is for Finding Bliss: An Ocean of it awaits YOU! During your week with us, you will reconnect with your inner bliss, which can get lost in everyday living. We will share many ways to find that bliss and how to maintain it when you return home. Here is what you will experience: Set your intentions and connect with others during the Opening Fire ceremony
Open your heart with daily guided SVA Samadhi Marma & then yoga along the beach
Create a state of balance and bliss with SV Ayurveda self care techniques that can be used everyday anywhere!
Release tension and blockages with a complimentary spa treatment
Be awed by the graceful gentle giants during our private whale watching trip
Feed your soul with healthy SV ayurvedic meals and cooking demonstrations
Celebrate your renewed connection with inner bliss as you sing from the heart during a closing kirtan held at sunset on the beach
We will be hosting this very intimate retreat for only 14 guests during the week of March 23 – March 30th, 2019. You can learn more at our website, by joining the Facebook Group and retreat email.
We want you to as excited about the trip as Kathleen Wright of Garden of Yoga and I! We available to answer your questions about the retreat. Please respond back to this message with questions or requests for more information.
Also, if you have a friend or family member who might be interested in attending, please feel free to forward this message to them. Sign up for your opportunity to join us.
Bliss awaits you….
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An Interview with Dr T on the Thyroid Epidemic
Listen to Dr Teitelbaum’s latest interview on the Thyroid epidemic that’s affecting our nation and how it can be addressed successfully through Vaidya Mishra’s SVA protocols
I am excited to be able to share with you my new book on treating the thyroid gland using the ancient science of Ayurveda. The book will be published early 2019 and can be preordered now through Amazon. Readers will learn our groundbreaking SVA approach for both detection and treatment of this very important gland, offering treatments that go beyond the use of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. I will update everyone as we get closer to its publication date.
Support your emotional heart and alkalize to balance out inflammation all just with Ashoka! Vaidya’s transdermal Ashoka formulation is a number one seller! Find out for yourself here !
What’s the big deal about Vaidya’s Samadhi Marma ?!
testimonial #1: “totally Blown Away”
I am totally Blown Away by the difference using the Samadhi set makes in my meditation. I put them on right before I sit down to meditate and I could actually see the light coming in and it went from a gold curtain kind of thing to rainbow colors at one point. My whole body literally feels like it’s filled with light and my stress points from work get activated for a few minutes and then clear out, it’s just incredible! I also felt the silent mind of meditation staying with me well into my post meditation activities. As it turned out, it lasted the whole day. A client I did Reiki on felt the bliss and relaxation when we worked together.
I’m so happy and grateful to have this new support in my practice and life.
[…]
I’m also noticing today that as this is the third day that I have used it right before meditation my body is so dramatically pain-free from its usual stiffness and pain from my everyday massage work, it’s really quite amazing! I’m also noticing my spirits are brighter.
Namaste!
Sri van der Kroef
testimonial #2:
“AMAZING Samadhi Set
“I confess I approached the Samadhi Set with some doubt! I’ve been meditating for almost 30 years and I have a lovely full protocol. Did not really need to add anything. But I was intrigued when a friend invited me to try. And after a single application I am totally blown away!!!! The blissful experience of applying the roll-ons on the marma points in the palms was instantaneous – an experience of soft sweet settling down and softening of the heart accompanied by a silent peace in the mind. I just am literally shocked at how immediate this experience was – literally seconds. It takes a little longer to have a similar experience via meditation… And the aromas of these roll-ons – just incredible! It’s like being in a celestial garden – so uplifting and soothing. Vaidya Mishra – no words can describe what you have gifted us with! I look forward to exploring your other SVA formulations…
Saadar lak lak pranaams to you….
your new devotee,
Savitri M.”
~ announcing ~
SVA Certification for
Health
Practitioners & Therapists
We will soon be announcing details for SVA certification. If you have taken one or more SVA courses with Vaidya, you will be a certified SVA educator who can teach SVA workshops using SVA protocols and educational materials. Be on the lookout for more information via our newsletter.
If you are new to SVA but would like to start learning and gathering credits towards certification, we will have details on that program shortly as well.
As we continue to make the SVA Library of Knowledge more easily accessible, we are happy to announce that SVA Cafe Series – live lectures by Vaidya given over a span of several years – is now available oniTunes,Google Play and Amazon.
Join Vaidya Mishra and take a deep dive into the wonderful knowledge that distinguishes SVAyurveda from the rest.
Enjoy 14-hour-long lectures on some of the most important topics in Ayurveda. Everything from Daily SVA Living to Marma Massage to Probiotics, Detox and more!
Absorbing this information will instill within you a much greater awareness of all aspects in the SVA Universe and help you to better understand your specific situation, what questions to ask your SVA Practitioner and to discover new products that could deliver a great boost to your vitality.
If you do download and enjoy any of Vaidyas material, please give us a review to help spread the SVA Knowledge even farther!… Enjoy!!!
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