During the last weekend of February I traveled to Rishikesh to attend an International Conference on Ayurveda and Yoga – “Where Science Meets Consciousness.” I was first introduced to Ayurveda when I was a child. My grandfather grew up in Kerala and was very knowledgeable about medicinal herbs. However I didn’t really incorporate Ayurvedic principles into my lifestyle and really studying this “Science of Life” until the Spring of 2005. One of the Director’s of the Yoga Teacher Training Program I was completing is an Ayurvedic Doctor. Prior to Ayurveda I has spent 1.5 years as a 100% raw/vegan. Essentially, I only ate fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. I came to raw/veganism because my mother has uterine cancer and I had read about Cancer patients curing themselves through raw foods and my body really took to the lifestyle. While I found huge benefits to raw veganism the philosophy behind Ayurveda, “There is no right or wrong but what is appropriate for whom and when” made much more sense to me and I feel much more balanced practicing an Ayurvedic lifestyle and sticking to a dinacarya. Essentially it comes down to knowing your body and listening to your body. Nowadays people have lost their connection with their body and I believe that this is what ultimately causes dis-ease in the world.
The conference was empowering and inspiring. I finally got to hear Dr. Robert Svoboda, Dr. David Frawley and Mother Maya speak and “networked” with other like minded individuals. A mentor of mine (Mark Lund) that lives in Brazil told me that while people in the business world “network” we had to constantly and continuously employ “spiritual networking” because only when we truly change peoples thinking will the world change and we will really evolve. It is just amazing how everything keeps coming together.
Held at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram on the banks of the Ganga the conference drew people from all over the world. Interestingly enough the organizers were mostly Tamil! There is a special connection I feel with my fellow Tamil brothers and sisters and it was amazing to see how an “Akka” or “Anna” will go out of their way for you. The conference reminded me about my love affair with Sanskrit and how I MUST review my Sanskrit. I sacrificed one year of my life to study the language (it really took over my life) but have not been doing translations for close to two years and have forgotten so much, it is such a shame and really unacceptable!
The highlight of the conference for me was the final night’s arati by the Ganga. There were hijras, sadhus, videshis, orphans and ashramites all singing and rejoicing together under the stars and moon. We sang Mahamritunjai’s by the yagna, followed by Tulsidas’ Hanuman Chalisa and many other bhajans. I started crying out of joy. I was just so happy and felt so blessed to be there under the stars and I could feel the Ganga’s love everywhere. I had first heard about Muniji, the ashram leader many years ago from my neighbor back home in New Jersey, Bhanu Aunty. He led our nightly prayers with the help of the orphan boys in the ashram’s gurukul and their voices were filled with so much bakti. I will never forget the dancing sadhu and smiling hijra and happy babies all seated next to me as we sang for Lord Krishna. Even though I subscribe to nondual thought I love singing devotional songs.
In our Saturday evening satsang Dr. Robert Svoboda talked about Sri Adi Sankaracarya’s composition Bhaja Govindam. Growing up I would hear this song and Vishnu Sahasranam sung by the beloved MS Subbulakshmi in my home. I still remember Rajaji’s introduction to Bhaja Govindam with complete clarity and his discussion of how jnana and bakti are one in the same. Rajaji also happens to be the grandfather of my mentor, Ramchandra Gandhi and the composer of my family song, “Kurai Ondrum Illai.” Dr. Svoboda discussed one line in particular of Bhaja Govindam stating that if you do satsang you will want to avoid everyone else. If you stop hanging out with people living in duality then your own delusion will be reduced. Where sat is delusion cannot be and when sat is there you are never confused about your dharma. When you have no delusion then you can attain moksha. Like Lord Siva we should have our eyes half open to the world and the other half in communion with totality. Overall, the conference reminded me that I’m not alone, I’m never alone (In fact if you break alone apart al one can also mean all is one) in my quest for meaning and knowledge and that all I have to do is continue to be true to who I am and my svadharma and everything will be taken care of.
I learned sooo much in the 2.5 days I was at the conference and what follows are my notes from the talks, teachings and workshops I attended.
Dr. Hari Sharma
Ayus = Life
Veda = Science or Knowledge
Ayurveda is used for prevention for healthy people and management of disease for unhealthy people
A healthy person is one who is established in the Self
Health is Swastha in Sanskrit, Sw – Self, Istha – Established
Yoga is a method to become established in Self
Hatha yoga focuses on physical postures (in the US they are building a house but only working on the basement their whole life because they only focus on asana)
Laya is the complete absorption or melting of the mind. Laya yoga teaches one to concentrate upon and merge in the real subtle sounds emanating from various inner creative forces of the Divine in nature.
Karma yoga is union with the divine through good work
Mantra yoga
Raja yoga, 8 fold path, Patanjali
Yama = avoidance of immortal actions
Niyama = righteous conduct
Asana = right posture
Pranayama = control of subtle life forces
Pratyahara = interiorization of mind
Dharana = concentration
Dhyana = meditation
Samadhi = transcendental consciousness
Life consists of consciousness and matter
Creation comes into being sound
Don’t get trapped by the intellect
Microcosm and macrocosm
For experiencing totality for better health practice meditation
Meditation reveals the persons inner infinite unbounded consciousness to overcome co-dependency the mistaken notion of relying on another person, drug or food for support (pragya-aparadh—mistake of intellect) as the person experiences a sense of Self Love
Everyone is addicted to something so get addicted to nonchanging infinite eternal consciousness
The habit of self reliance or inner reliance develops
Neti neti = pure conscious totality
Different modes of vibration create sound
We are prakriti
Aham Bhramasmi, Brihad Aranyaka Upanisad
The goal of life is to realize your inner awareness
Keeping in touch with the source is meditation
Meditators biological age 5-10 years younger, they slow the aging process
Meditate for your health
In the waking state you have awareness, in the dreaming state the gross body sleeps
In deep sleep the channels of the subtle body open and this is VERY GOOD for the rejuvenation of the physical body
Effect of sound and music, form of vibrational energy. Cells vibrate dynamically and transmit information via hormones wave motion, affects plant growth
Good music decreases blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate
Rock music increased cancer cell growth, soothing music decreased cancer cell growth and hanuman chalisa also decreased cancer cell growth
Pranayama creates proper cakra frequency and flow back and forth becomes normalized
*grape fruit seed extract
When you get angry you hurt yourself more than others
Rasayana, massage the body with sesame oil
Sanatana, never distance
Dharma, that which guides you
Experience of getting the yogic feeling, that is yoga
Ayurveda and Woman – Dr. Claudia Welch
Dinacarya (daily routine)
In all dealings accept the middle means avoiding extremes
Live in balance between nourishing qualities
Lunar, heavy, dull, cool, oily, smooth, dense, soft, stable, gross, cloudy, liquid, earth, water
Solar, lightening, light, sharp, fast, hot, dry, rough, (liquid), hard, mobile, subtle and clear, fire, air, ether
Caffeine energy is adulterated energy, nourishing energy is very different
Always a bit of the other in the one
Ignite your quest to learn more
Pancakosa and yoga
Judge Larry Standleyà sentenced a man to one year of yoga
Happiness, taitreya upanisad
Don’t look at what gives happiness but the experience of happiness
Annamaya = physical
Pranayama = life force
Manomaya = mental
Vijnanamaya = intellectual
Anandamaya = bliss
Kosas are subtleties of existence
There is no prana in hair or nails
The mind is an instrument
We are guided by ananda, our very nature is ananda
Abhyasa is discipline, vairagya is to let go
In the sleep state no object can give you joy, happiness is your nature, nothing can improve that. Plants and animals never forget their nature but humans do. Speed is how we have come away from our nature
Tigers are not violent, they eat when they are hungry
You are not in harmony when you eat when you are not hungry
Relax at the body level
Consciously relax
Happiness is object related, bliss is not
By nature you are blissful and happy
Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest the divinity within by controlling the nature internal and external
Abhyasas – raja and karmaVairagya – jnana bakta You can also be peaceful
Bhakti, find god within and outside
Yoga = peace of mind and harmony
Moving away from our nature is unconscious
Gurukul boys know their value and purpose
New Paradigms, illness to wellness and beyond
Health is spiritual, physical and mental well being
Modern science is limited to physical universe
Stress is multidimensional
Four wives story
4th wife = body
3rd wife = status and wealth
2nd wife = family and friends
1st wife = soul, jivatma
4 x 27 surya nadi shodhana
Yoga reduces mental retardation and cancer
PRAYER FOR EATING from the Bhagavad Gita
The act of eating is an internal yagna
Brahmaarpanam brahma havih
Brahmaagnau brahmanaa hutam
Brahmaiva tena gantavyamBrahma karma samaadhinaa
For him the act of offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman.
By Brahman is it offered into the fire of Brahman. Brahman is that which is to be attained by him who realized Brahman in his actions. II 24 II
Aham vaishvaanaro bhootvaa
Praaninaam dehamaashritah;
Praanaa paanasamaayuktah
Pachaamyannam chaturvidham
I, having become the vaishwanara Fire (digestive fire), abide in all living entities and having united with Pranaand Apana. I digest the four kinds of food.
II 14 II
Dr. Robert Svoboda – Yama and Niyama in AyurvedaYamas: ahimda, aparigraha, asteya, brahmacarya, satyaNiyama: soucha, santosha, ishwara, tapas, swadaya
Yama and Niyama same root shared with yantra
Wherever there is yantra, mantra, nyasa, guru and diksha there is tantra
Tantra is about shakti and employing these methods (above) for transformation.
Indian alchemy is rasa vidya, rasayana
The root Yan is limiting or restraining or encasing. Yama deva is a limiting God. Dharma raja.
Any yama is a limitation you place on yourself to move forward and have yama be away from you until the last minute.
Asteya = non stealing (Sadhu on the rock wanting justice story)
Ayurveda is about qualities. Whenever you eat you are stealing the prana from that vegetable. Always be aware that you are stealing and the less you steal the better.
Aparigraha = grab hold, covetous, hording, wanting what someone else has.
Satya = relativity with lying nature doesn’t like things to be absolute
Ahimsa = relativity (cheese mites)
Brahmacarya = a method that lend you in the direction of supreme reality. Abstinence if that is the proper dharma for you.
In beings nonviolence is the best life promoting factorà what you do will be done to you.
Ahimsa promotes life prowess
Not being eaten and to eat is all you have to do.
Instead being a user of the internet you are used by the internet!
Sukha = good space
When akasha is in samya, balance, the space is good
Aurogiya is a lack of disease
Knowledge of reality is the best method to promote pleasure
Brahmacarya is the best path to follow
Patanjali said to do yamas and niyamas before asanas
Kaushalaà kusha grass, verse 51-52 of the Bhagavad Gita, definition of yoga
Niyama = ishwara pranidan promotes chitta vriddhi nirodha, surrender to ishwar. Aliging yourself with ishwara
Ishta is being fond of
In any Sanskrit test the first lines are the most important
Santosha = very satisfied
Saucha = purity, make sure we are pure in thought word and deed
Story of the yogi and the prostitute, he got the karma not her
Swadhaya, Self study
Study of big and little Self
Tapas = burn out parts of your personality obstructing reality and you do this before pranayama and asana
Protect ojas, protect from afflictions of the mind. Chastity of the senses.
Carika Samhita
Life promoting = nonviolence to others and ourselves
Happiness promoting = control of sense organs
Pleasure promoting = knowledge of reality
Don’t get worried. Life is a journey, it will keep continuing. Openness brings insights, not expectations
David Frawley
Yoga and ayurveda are not 2 separate things
Yoga is a sadhana for inner purification and the goal is to transcend the body and mind. Yoga is the practice of veda and dharma
Aurobindo = a yogi should be able to do EVERYTHING better than a nonyogi
Wherever there is veda there is yoga
Yoga is MUCH older than Patanjali. He is just a compiler in the middle
Yogeshwar = Lord Krishna
Samkhya = philosophy and principles
Rishi Kapila is the most famous sage
Ishwara Krishna is different from Lord Krishna
Hiranya Garba is the founder of the yoga tradition
Yoga sastra and dharana related to Hiranya Garba
Yoga darshana is one of the 6 schools of yogic philosophy
Lord Siva is the lord of yoga. Ancient saivaite yoga, 3 headed Siva lord of animals is the oldest image in the world, on seals
Closest number to one is two!
Ayurveda chikitsa tradition, deal with disease of body and mind, vedic system of medicine
First you treat the dosha, then you treat the gunas
Yoga is a remedy for permanent alleviation of ALL suffering
Yama’s and niyama’s are the dynamic foundation for all human life
Ahara are substances you take in and vihara are things we do
Exercise reduces tamas but it is NOT yoga
Yoga is union, all aspects of your nature. If you only do asana it is not yoga
Asana is external medicine of yoga
Physical body rests upon the food we eat. You need to change the input
Spine reflects the condition of the digestive tract
You need to do more pranayama than asana to really practice yoga
Attachment to asana is an obstacle on the path
Asana practice is to reduce rajas
You must transform rajas à tamas to create yoga and when you do this you reduce body consciousness
Great yogi not good at asana (story about yogananda disciple janakananda achieved Samadhi in a chair)
Gaps in between are juicy
Asana becomes more important the older you get
Pranayama is the internal medicine of yoga
Outer limbs of yoga, inner yoga is REAL yoga
Pratyahara is the turning of energy within
Principle of healing by doing less, letting go, eating less and slower, breathing slower
Yoga is not about doing but about being
Turning our energy withing
Dharana is increasing our power of attention, lack of attention and awareness
Mind heals itself when it is in silence, mind requires space for healing
In Ayurveda you always treat the individual
Cikitsa = application of consciousness
Sattvic prana
Yoga is the balance of solar and lunar forces, prana and apana. Foundation of yoga is mantra yoga
Synthesis of yoga = aurobindo
Bakti yoga is the most important, psychological suffering is lack of bakti
We look at our enemies according to their tamas and ourselves according to our sattva
Aham brahmasmi
We must reclaim control of our own health. What does the pain tell you
Medical care has kept us living longer in a state of disease and suffering
The doctor should look at the WHOLE patient
We need yogic doctors, mantra is most important healing toold
Falling away from the sacred has ruined our lives
Ritualistic foundation of our lives is a necessity
Sankalpa shuddhi, higher or true intentions
In America 25% of children are medicated. We don’t need to take anti-depressants, chemistry of the mind and brain is a reflection of how we live
Our true self is our greater universal self
Can’t make a new beginning, start today and make a new ending
Muniji
Parmarth Niketan is not a piece of land but a land of peace…medicine, mantras, meditations and miracles
Meditation is the best medication next comes ganga jal
Biggest miracle is you (me)
Punarnava is here to rejuvenate you…become new, change yourself, your life and the world…you must be the change you want to be in the world
We are here to find ourselves
After so many degrees, where do we stand?
The girt is given to serve and share, that is true yoga
When yoga becomes your life then you see the same unity and divinity in all
Postures are not being perfected, you are being perfected
Selfless motives = great seva
Life is to give
Our personal balance sheet must be maintained
Sirsasana is great but how do you live your life?
What counts in being a true yogi is what is in your heart
Don’t get disturbed by snakes, love them. One day they will change you and not sting you.
