Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Grasp Charaka, in chapter 28 of Charaka Samhita Sutra Sthana part speaks about varied sorts of meals and drinks that we take and the importance of following a disciplined routine of meals in order to maintain our bodily, psychological and emotional well being in a state of steadiness. For this to occur, one ought to be smart in selecting good meals by way of high quality, amount and time of consuming. One ought to all the time be indulged in significant consuming following the foundations and rules laid for consumption of meals in Ayurveda texts and in addition by following meals etiquettes with presence of thoughts and software of consciousness. That is so true as a result of ahara – meals is one among the many three supporting pillars of our life, the traya upastambhas (nidra – sleep and brahmacharya – celibacy or superb approach of righteous dwelling, being the opposite two supporting pillars).
Context – Charaka Samhita Sutra Sthana, Chapter 28 – Vividha Ashita Peeteeyam Adhyaya, Verses 36-40
Taking good meals and following good and helpful way of life regimens would assist one to stay away from illnesses of all kinds. We’re from what we eat. Due to this fact, we should always take heed to what and the way and in addition how a lot we eat. One also needs to have a radical data in regards to the meals and every part associated to it together with what’s appropriate and what’s to not her or him.
Grasp Charaka additional tells that solely an individual endowed with Nava Gunas i.e. 9 qualities (which might be talked about forward within the article) would take utmost warning about each subtleties of meals (and in addition way of life actions) and resulting from volunteered self-discipline into these can be able to avoiding / stopping many or virtually illnesses, protect himself / herself from them and have an ideal steadiness of psychosomatic well being. Alternatively, an individual who doesn’t have these qualities can be extremely undisciplined resulting from his mind and thoughts being clouded by rajas and tamas qualities, makes incorrect meals selections, not observe the meals regimens and etiquettes and can develop into sufferer of a big selection of illnesses.
On this article we will see what are these 9 qualities one ought to have, to make superb meals selections and hold oneself wholesome and powerful. Not directly we focus on the advantages of observing correct meals routine and dangerous results of not observing them.
9 qualities you must protect your self from illnesses
Grasp Charaka, whereas differentiating a smart particular person from an ignorant particular person by way of making meals selections says that – a smart particular person all the time choses healthful and good meals as a result of he’s predominant in sattva attribute whereas an ignorant particular person, his thoughts being dominated by rajas and tamas qualities would all the time want making unhealthy selections and therefore are victims of many food-induced and psychosomatic illnesses. Alternatively, the smart one who is sattvika in nature might be wholesome as a result of he’s disciplined in not solely making good meals selections but in addition would observe wholesome meals regimens as a behavior, all through his life.
Associated Studying – ‘Rajas and Tamas – Wholesome food choices and prevention of diseases’
Can an clever and realized particular person keep away from illnesses?
Sure and no. Sure, when the realized and clever particular person can also be bestowed with or has inculcated the 9 qualities (which we’ll focus on forward) in himself might be devoid of rajas and tamas qualities and therefore can keep away from illnesses of meals origin. Alternatively, it’s not enough for an individual to be clever and realized, it can be crucial for her or him to overcome their rajas and tamas qualities and inculcate these 9 gunas – qualities. This can allow him to make sensible meals selections that are additionally wholesome and healthful.
What are these 9 qualities that one ought to have in order to protect himself from illnesses?
श्रुतं बुद्धिः स्मृतिर्दाक्ष्यं धृतिर्हितनिषेवणम्| वाग्विशुद्धिः शमो धैर्यमाश्रयन्ति परीक्षकम्||३७||
लौकिकं नाश्रयन्त्येते गुणा मोहरजःश्रितम् | तन्मूला बहवो यन्ति रोगाः शारीरमानसाः||३८||
A smart, clever, realized and inquisitive one who is bestowed with or who has inculcated the under talked about 9 qualities will make sensible meals selections and would observe a healthful routine and is therefore proof against meals induced illnesses and in addition varied sorts of illnesses of bodily, psychological and emotional origin.
The 9 qualities are as under defined –
1. Shrutam
An individual who’s properly realized could have sound data of each subtlety of meals and its selections, in regards to the high quality, amount, etiquettes and time and reasoning behind each meal. He would learn about good and dangerous selections and in addition their penalties. He would know the results of constructing good and dangerous selections of meals and in addition about faulty and unwholesome meals mixtures. He would make a follow of significant consuming and observe it day by day, all through his life. Shrutam additionally means an obedient particular person. These individuals observe the directions given by a smart particular person or doctor religiously and inculcate good practices associated to meals and way of life modifications of their life. If shrutam is an obedient scholar of Ayurveda, he would respect what has been talked about within the shastras – treatises or taught from his trainer, follow and in addition advocate the identical (shruti can also be a synonym of aptopadesha i.e. teachings of nice gurus documented within the treatises, so, shruta can also be an individual who’s an ardent follower of shastra, and therefore is taken into account smart and clever).
2. Buddhih
An clever particular person can also be a properly realized particular person. He could have a presence of thoughts in every part, the subtleties of meals selections and their good and dangerous penalties on this context. Intelligence backed up by an excellent data is a gamechanger in making good meals selections which kinds a basis and backdrop for complete well being.
3. Smriti
An individual who’s wealthy in sattvika guna of the thoughts and has balanced rajas and tamas qualities could have good reminiscence. This reminiscence backed up with superb intelligence tapped from good data of the ideas from treatises and teachings of masters will assist her or him to recollect the details and figures about meals and meals selections. If these individuals or anybody nearer to them have suffered from some illness resulting from incorrect meals selections by way of high quality or amount or resulting from untoward mixtures, they might positively have these experiences saved of their reminiscences. Subsequent time they might not make the identical mistake as a result of they’re cautioned by the reminiscence information that their system has saved. Good reminiscences of excellent experiences of meals will assist one to make wholesome selections of meals. Reminiscence of dangerous experiences with sure meals or meals mixtures will alert the particular person from committing the identical errors once more. On this approach, she or he is not going to commit prajnaparadha – aware errors, which is a crucial causative issue for a lot of illnesses.
4. Daksha
A smart particular person is blessed with ability and self-discipline. Daksha additionally means capability, ability, experience or honesty. After we talk about meals selections, an individual who’s expert in meals sciences may even be self-disciplined within the selections he makes. He might be an individual who would share his experience with others by means of teachings and talks or write-ups and would encourage the individuals to eat wholesome meals. Within the trendy period, we are able to discover many weight loss plan specialists speaking sense about meals on social media and creating meals consciousness by means of their write ups, together with meals bloggers and vloggers. On the similar time, these persons are additionally dedicated to do what they educate and preach as a result of they’re sincere to themselves.
5. Dhruti
Dhriti means dedication or firmness. It additionally means perseverance, endurance, steadiness or advantage. A smart one who can also be decided will overcome temptations associated to meals selections. He might be cautious, regular and stand agency to his selections of taking solely healthful meals and observe meals regimens since he could have utmost endurance and perseverance to take action. One could have good Dhriti when his rajas and tamas qualities of thoughts are in a state of steadiness and when he has conquered his senses.
6. Hita Nishevana
One ought to be habituated to consuming ‘only good foods’ and may have the power to do it each time and follow a healthful routine. Doing something repeatedly and never breaking the foundations of something and abiding to a great format wants immense data, intelligence, reminiscence, self-discipline, experience, dedication and perseverance. One is endowed with this high quality provided that one has balanced his rajasika and tamasika bhavas.
7. Vak Vishuddhi
Vak Vishuddhi means readability and purity of speech. A smart and realized particular person might be bestowed with readability of speech, which can also be pure. So, this particular person is aware of what to talk and when. There might be no manipulation in what he tells. These individuals inform what they do and do what they inform. Vak Shuddhi displays the sattvika nature of the particular person. This attribute is required to observe, educate and preach healthful regimens.
8. Shama
Shama means quietness, tranquillity or psychological steadiness / quietness. It additionally means calmness and peace of thoughts. Smart persons are bestowed with the advantage of being quiet, tranquil, calm and composed and would have peace of thoughts. This state is attainable solely when the attributes of the thoughts are in a state of steadiness individually and mutually. These persons are wealthy in sattva guna and have management over rajas and tamas qualities. In a state of tranquillity, the particular person would take correct selections associated to healthful routine and would additionally observe the identical.
9. Dhairya
Dhairya means braveness. Smart and realized persons are brave and courteous. Dhairya can also be stated to be a great medication for the thoughts. Braveness helps one to make sturdy and steady selections and management oneself from diverting from the choices that are made. It wants braveness to abstain from unwholesome meals and routine and in addition to decide on and observe solely healthful meals and routine.
To Sum up,
The one who is bestowed with the above stated 9 options or qualities is taken into account as a smart particular person. Since he’s smart, he’ll clearly make aware selections associated to meals and consequently would get pleasure from good well being and longevity.
Placing it the opposite approach, to be wholesome one ought to observe a healthful routine in relation to meals and way of life practices. (The above stated 9 qualities will not be restricted to creating good selections of meals however are relevant for selecting something good). To observe a healthful routine, she or he ought to be smart. Knowledge and intelligence of an individual who’s eligible to make healthful selections is measured on the premise of 9 qualities like shruta and so forth that he has.
One ought to be bestowed with the above stated 9 qualities to be smart. Such an individual would have conquered his rajas and tamas attributes and therefore would observe a healthful routine. It is a basis to get pleasure from good well being and longevity.
Alternatively, an ignorant particular person is not going to possess these 9 qualities. It is because his thoughts might be enveloped by moha (tamas) i.e. illusions and rajas i.e. attraction and attachments. These individuals is not going to observe a healthful routine and therefore succumb to numerous issues of physique, thoughts, senses and feelings.
Additional on,
प्रज्ञापराधाद्ध्यहितानर्थान् पञ्च निषेवते| सन्धारयति वेगांश्च सेवते साहसानि च||३९||
तदात्वसुखसञ्ज्ञेषु भावेष्वज्ञोऽनुरज्यते| रज्यते न तु विज्ञाता विज्ञाने ह्यमलीकृते||४०||
An ignorant particular person might be indulged in prajnaparadha i.e. obsessed to do mental errors or sins (mental blasphemy – doing the incorrect issues knowingly). He additionally indulges himself in ahita arthas i.e. unwholesome gratification of 5 senses and vega dharana i.e. forcibly withholding the pure urges of the physique. He may even take pleasure in extreme sahasa i.e. adventurous actions past his or her capability or in rash behaviours. Doing these items would solely yield non permanent pleasure. However a smart particular person won’t ever take pleasure in such actions since he has readability of thoughts and consciousness. Due to this fact, he’s all the time wholesome and comfortable.
