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Samavaaya-Placebo-Ananda
Recognition of inseparable power
By Jay D Mulder 2012
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HEALTH AS YOUR NATURAL INHERITANCE!
An Ayurvedic Perspective
Samavaaya - Inseparable
Inseparability holds paramount position in Ayurvedic philosophy and practice.1 This ancient
Vedic concept unfolds something that modern medical science has been wrestling with and
fascinated by for centuries, namely the phenomenon of the unexplainable tendency to health
now awarded the nomenclature, ‘placebo’. The debate continues, at a glance some Western
commentators have rejected placebo as totally invalid2 (abhava), others declare placebo as
significant and worthy of study.3
Health appears as an inseparable (samavaaya) attribute of life with all body cells, organs and
systems working as a whole, which are intuitively adjusting towards equilibrium at every
moment. The philosophy of inseparability (samavaaya) is part of the ‘understanding the utility
of substance’ (Padartha Vijnaana), a concept, which is said to be the cement holding the bricks
of Ayurvedic medical theory in place4. As Physics, Chemistry and Biology are unavoidable to
aspirants of Modern Medicine, similarly the knowledge of Padartha vijnaana is a must to grasp
the ‘science of life’, Ayurveda5.
Naturally understanding, nurturing and co-operating with the inseparable inherent powers and
assets of the body is where a ‘science of life’ (Ayurveda) has awareness and clarity. The expert
surgeon executes a procedure only after considering the potential of the subject to recovery.
By examining modern life styles, we know that no matter how hard one, pushes tolerances and
boundaries by excess and poor choices, the body miraculously bounces back. The body is
always moving towards health, there is a natural inborn drive towards equilibrium. Despite
incredibly unhealthy diets (high calorie modern processed foods) and constantly stressful
lifestyle, some people still manage something vaguely resembling health. This shows the
resilience and adaption of the bodily systems and also each sentient beings natural innate
attraction for balance or homeostasis. This concept of inbuilt tendency towards homeostasis is
relative to each individual but undoubtedly visible to some degree in everyone.
A cat, when gently thrown upside down into the air will naturally always land on their feet!
Obviously placebo is greatly influenced by the natural inclination of the body for
homeostasis, which is an inseparable inbuilt mechanism.

1
Mishra, Padartha Vijnana, Samavaya p.330
Daniel E. Moerman, PhD; and Wayne B. Jonas, MD. Deconstructing the Placebo Effect and Finding the Meaning Response
3
Ted Kaptchuk, Placebo: A History, Lecture Harvard University
4
Yogesh Chandra Mishra, Padartha Vijnana. P.65
5
Mishra, Padartha Vijnana, forward by Jyotir Mitra National Professor
2
2
What is Placebo?
Latin, placēbō, “I shall please.”6
The medical concept of placebo;
A patient is given an inert pill, told that it may improve their condition, but not told that it is in
fact inert. Such an intervention may cause the patient to believe the treatment will change their
condition and in a majority of cases is effective relief.7
Understanding Placebo and ‘ananda mayo bhyasat’ of the Vedas
What is ‘ananda mayo bhyasat?’
The Vedānta-sūtra8 presents the concept that every living being is moving towards pleasure
because that is the nature of spirit. The spiritual entities are meant for enjoyment, ‘ananda
mayo bhyasat’. This verse of the Vedas clearly establishes that the nature and constitution of
every living being—beginning with Paramatma (Supreme Soul) and each of the jivatma
(individual soul)—is meant for eternal enjoyment. The natural truth of the matter, no entity
searches for suffering, misery or pain. According to the Vedas enjoyment is a natural
inheritance, from the supreme source.
Understanding Placebo and ‘ananda mayo bhyasat’
Naturally according to the Vedas and Ayurveda, happiness and homeostasis are inseparably
entwined, into the soul and into consciousness and naturally the body. When the body exhibits
this samavaaya – inbuilt homeostasis without manipulation by drugs, science tends to call this
puzzle, placebo. This potent placebo-samavaaya-ananda lies within each life, within each entity,
and manifests to different degrees.
Yet to further the puzzle of existence, the living entity searches for objects externally, trying to
find happiness and health. That item one feverishly searches for, that magic bullet is
understood as an external object, a pill, potion, herb, drug or powerful item. However have we
ever considered that magic we strive for externally, maybe sitting inside of ourselves, laughing!
When health improves we give credit to the object not considering the shakti-power of the
consciousness or the effects of applied knowledge. We apply knowledge like drinking hot
water, which cleanses channels and lightens the heaviness of ama (toxins). We may reflect was
it the hot water which improved health or was it, the application of knowledge that cleansed
the channels and improved health. Knowledge of life (guna) may be the greatest medicine.
This is not to conclude that external objects and medicines have no use, but rather that the
secret and most powerful ingredient or essential adjunct of every medicine is the application
of knowledge by the taker and giver.
6
Wikipedia; Webster Dictionary
Wikipedia; Dictionary
8
Vedavyasa, Vedanta Sutra, Canto 1, Chapter 1, verse 12
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Three Concepts with Oneness and Diffrences
In Ayurveda, spontaneous inclination to health may be classified as inseparable-Samavaaya.
In the Vedas, the inseparable inclination to happiness is termed ‘ananda mayo bhyasat’.
In Medicine and Science, that mystery of unexplainable health is called placebo (I shall please).
Ayurvedic Science of Sameness, Difference and Inseparability
Samanya-sameness, Visesa-difference and Samavaaya-inseparability is the scientific theory of
the (Padartha Vijnaana) ‘understanding the utility of substance’ concept, which is the
philosophical hallmark of Ayurveda, known as Samanya visesa samavaaya! (sameness,
difference, inseparability). By employing this concept we shall analyse the above idea of
inseparability of health-samavaaya, ananda-natural inheritance of happiness and placebo-I shall
please. Firstly we shall analyse the sameness, difference and inseparability of health and
happiness.
Health and Happiness
Ayurveda, defines Svastha or health as;
“sama dosah samagnis ca sama dhatu mala kriyah prasannatmendriya manah svastha
ityabhihiyate” Susruta Samhita.9
“One who is established in the atma (the self, not the body of gross elements, nor the mental
body), who has balanced doshas (elements of growth, conversion and movement), balanced
agni (digestive fire), properly formed dhatus (seven layers of body tissue), proper elimination
of malas (stool, urine and sweat), well functioning bodily processes, and whose mind and
senses are full of happiness and satisfaction, is called a healthy person.”
Health appears to be intimately connected to happiness and happiness to health. Health and
happiness have a oneness, inseparability! You might say the author has made a general blunder
and has grouped health with happiness and happiness with health not distinguishing between
the two. I would propose to the reader that health and happiness are certainly different
attributes yet they have a profound oneness, therefore to separate them entirely as being
completely different, may be the blunder. Rather we may gain insight by applying the Ayurvedic
philosophy to health and happiness of sameness and difference with inseparability.
Discussing the sameness of health and happiness is called samanya.
Realising the differences of health and happiness is known as visesa.
Seeing the inseparable connection between health and happiness is called samavaaya.
9
Susruta Samhita 15:38
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Wealth for Health
Dr Jayraj of Rajah Health Acres Hospitals has made an interesting observation. The Western
Idea in life is to sacrifice health for wealth. By striving for wealth, health generally seems to be
clouded over and lost in the darkness and shadows of objects and bank balance worries. Later
in life when one finds they have many objects of wealth but little health, one attempts to swap
wealth for health. The reason being the entire project of loss of health was also the loss of
happiness, which was thought to be included along with the wealth. The mind made an error
known as prajnan-aparadha, ‘mistake of the intellect’ and saw an oasis but actually it was a
desert. When the time came to become happy with wealth, money and objects, it appears
happiness was not included as a purchasable commodity or by-product of wealth. In search of
rekindling some happiness by health the Wealthy then offer money as if it were worthless
paper for health and happiness. We may reflect, ‘what happiness can be afforded without
health?’
The modern concept of economics is far from complete, it is a mistaken baby idea, it will have
substance, when wealth includes health and happiness!

Placebo and Inert Substances
In medical science for ‘the placebo effect’ to function an inert substance is used, however
Ayurveda considers no substance really inert. Science tells us such inert substances are not
chemically active. Refined substances, toxins and poisons are considered ‘active chemicals’ and
relative to these, simple substances are said to be, ’inert’. The word inert is more a
measurement of tiny power rather than a total inactive calculation. Even though inert
substances are given a relative and silent position behind potent chemicals, we logically
conclude inert substances must possess some gentle action! In Ayurveda every substance that
exists has qualities that gives action! Dravya, guna and karma of padartha vijnaana.
On the platform of the mind, we find no thought is considered an active chemical, yet thought
is the very motivator of existence! Science has not quantified the quality and action of thought.
Thoughts control the very chemical basis of the body via the nervous and endocrine systems. To
measure thoughts as active ingredients is science and to neglect the conscious world and to
also label mild substances as inert could be seen as the workings of a very gross science. Mind
and consciousness are potent activator of even so-called inert substances! Actually the entire
world of substance has no meaning (inert) when not perceived by the mind of consciousness.
When science considers consciousness then that may be labelled whole science.
On the intellectual and philosophical platform what can be completely inert?
Science has nicely avoided what it does not know!
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Ayurveda Mentions the Un-measurable, Unexplainable - Prabhava
Padartha Vijnaana (realisation of substance) presents that substance (dravya) has quality (guna)
and guna ushers in action (karma). For example generally all sour substances are acidic and
increase heat yet amalaki fruit is a sour cooling anti-acidic. This cooling anti-acidic action can’t
be explained in terms of taste nor chemically therefore it is called prabhava, unexplainable.
Amalaki also has a vitamin C which is storable and not destroyed by heat. The ‘prabhava’
concept displays that the ancients had a scientific method of employing the unexplainable.
How thoughts may influence health is unexplainable yet happening right now! This concept, in
itself is a great study. Science avoids the unexplainable like, ‘what is consciousness’, how
conscious thought influences systems, organs, tissue and cells. Ayurveda as a complete science
accepts the unexplainable – prabhava by observation of life (pratyaksha), inference (anuman)
and reasoning (yukti) and referring to textual authority (aptodesha)!
The Vedic conclusion - Life comes from Life10
Thoughts, feelings and emotions are a symptom of the mind and consciousness, further the
consciousness motivates the inert gross world into action. No consciousness, no action
perceived! A science that discards the world of consciousness as inert is not conscious itself. A
thought gives any so-called inert object it focuses on, the desired action. The dynamic part of
life is consciousness, a world, science has barely considered or entered. For it is consciousness,
that is, the very root of life. Atma, ‘Life Essence’ is the basis of all existence.11
It is the conscious soul that gives the inert world meaning.
Modern science needs to consider consciousness in the healing process, then and only then can
it be said, that modern science is science, and also modern science has consciousness!
The scientific concept of inert is possibly the only inert thing in existence?
Modern Society has a Few Problems
Modern society has a rising rate of suicide, depression, schizophrenia and dementia. The
conscious world for such an external gross science appears to be slowly rotting at its very base.
Mental illness from national Australian statistics shows 45% will experience a range of serious
mental health problems in their life.12 The most alarming graph is that young people are
becoming larger group sufferers of mental illness compared to over sixties. In other words 1626 years old have greater incident of mental disease than 66-76! This unnatural idea shows that
modern civilisation has got a cancer of consciousness at the very tender young roots!
The world of consciousness has slipped between our childish fingers as we have tried to grasp
life in two hands only.
10
Bhaktivedanta and Dr Singh, Life Comes from Life
Sri Krishna, Bhagavad Gita, 2:17, ‘Know that which pervades the entire body is indestructible’.
12
Prevalence Australia: 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing
11
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Vagbhata’s Legacy – The great South Indian Ayurvedic Poet
The verse (sloka) is the invocatory verse of Vagbhata's Ashtangahridaya.
Ragadi rogan satatanusaktan
Aseshakayaprasritanaseshan
Oulsukyamoharatithan jaghana
Yo apoorva vaidyaya namosthu thasmi
“ I bow to the Supreme, the Supreme healer of the world who cures diseases of Psychosomatic
origin, which are inherent with human beings from birth to the death”
The first two words ‘ragadi rogan’ give us great insight into the root cause of disease, raga can
be translated as predominated by passion (raja guna of the mind) adi means firstly, source and
primarily and rogan means disease.
‘Ragadi rogan’
Disease is produced firstly of passion and ignorance of the mind.
Samavaaya-Placebo as a Great Asset
Ayurveda supports the concept of inseparability (Samavaaya) holding a prime position in
Padartha-Vijnaana (realisation of the utility of substance) as a valuable daily clinical tool.13 The
consciousness of the Ayurvedic practitioner in regards to their realisation as to the potency of
the samavaaya principle, is paramount in facilitating the healing process. By recognizing the
inseparable healing ability of the body ‘that’ innate tendency within, can have space to weave
it’s own magic. And weave magic the inseparable potency certainly does, there are many
examples of spontaneous remission from a medical death sentence.14
Realisations of the Practitioner
Medical Utility of Samavaaya-Inseparability (Placebo-Samavaaya-Ananda)
1. Life is inseparable from the five great elements.
To live and separate earth, water, fire, air and space is not possible, life thrives in
association with the five great elements yet at the same time life is separate from the
five great elements. The elements are not conscious of themselves. In the Vedas this is
called inconceivable sameness and difference truth, ‘acintya bhedaabheda tatva’.15
The inseparable healing power samavaaya may have many shared attributes with placebo and
ananda?
13
Mishra, Padartha Vijnaana, pp.329-330
Norman Cousins, Anatomy of Illness
15
Bhaktisiddanta Saravati Thakura, Sri Brahma Samhita
14
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2. The soul is inseparable from existence.
To be alive, is to have a soul, the soul is the unexplainable ingredient that science and
the medical profession cannot replace or manipulate. When the soul has departed the
very valuable body is discarded as useless, naturally it is concluded that existence is not
possible to separate from the soul. No surgeon, mystic nor healer can revive a corpse.
3. Actions are inseparable from qualities and qualities are inseparable from substance.
Sweetness is inseparable from sugar as heat is from pepper, substance holds qualities
and qualities hold actions, as pepper by heat cleanses mucus and is an expectorant.
Sweetness by containing earth and water elements is heavy and gives satisfaction with a
building action. Substance with qualities and actions are inseparable, therefore a steady
chain of logic and anticipation can be applied by the practitioner.
4. To preserve Samavaaya or inherence of life giving factors are a must for success in
treatment, in other words to find a balance and restoration of inseparable elements is
to usher in the healing process.
5. Disease is a temporary junction, samyoga which is perishable.
The physician knows the science of samyoga as opposed to samavaaya, disease is a
temporary junction-samyoga which causes an imbalance with the equilibrium to dosha,
dhatu and malas. When the equilibrium is again established the disease is destroyed.
The practitioner knows the disease is a temporary junction-samyoga, which is perishable
and therefore gets success by restoring harmony.
6. Disease and imbalanced doshas cannot be separated.
When equilibrium of the three doshas is restored the body naturally fixes itself.
Therefor Caraka states, ‘Disorders stand in relation to doshas as shadows do to birds in
flight.’16
7. Equilibrium or health is the natural inheritance of life that takes place without control,
manipulation or false ego. That health follows certain principles such as ojas (essence),
bala (strength) and agni (metabolism) and satvaguna (good thinking and habits).
Placebo-ananda-samavaaya are therefore inseparable from ojas, bala, agni and satva.
8. Jagad Buddhi or universe intelligence and Paramatma the soul of all souls and Brahman
the seer of each atom are timeless Vedic concepts, which show the inseparability of
matter and spirit on the highest level. For example, unless the soul perceives matter the
matter has no meaning. So perception of matter pre-supposes the soul is present.
Can a stone perceive a person?
16
M.S. Valiathan, Legacy of Caraka, p.73
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Jagad Buddhi indicates and presupposes the universe has functional intelligence, which
is a day to day reality. DNA has inbuilt intelligence. Intelligence cannot be separated
from the universe. Intelligence presupposes the Intelligent!
The soul of souls Paramatma gives knowledge, remembrance and forgetfulness17
without which life has no meaning. How does a baby know how to suck the nipple at
birth how does the knowledge manifest? Knowledge refers to a teacher?
Brahman is the spirit within all atoms, which gives matter support. According to the
Vedas Brahman rests in every atom and is inseparable, and at the same time all matter
rests inside brahman.18
Clinical Application of Placebo-Samavaaya-Ananda
Dr R. D. Lele, states, ‘Since the placebo effect has been the physician’s most potent therapeutic
asset, it has always been possible to achieve marked symptomatic improvement even with
inactive substances or ineffective procedures, in about 80% of cases safely and inexpensively.’19
Naturally the question may arise that if placebo-samavaaya-ananda can be effective in 80% of
cases then why doesn’t the medical profession and healing modalities embrace this
philosophical and clinical concept for the benefit of suffering humanity. On the other side,
iatrogenic effects from powerful medications are so great of a calamity20 claiming many lives
and producing immeasurable suffering. The detailed report, ‘Will More Doctors Increase or
Decrease Death Rates?’ concludes that because of iatrogenic effects, more doctors practicing
medicine in Australia may simply indicate a higher death rate.21
In the U.K. it has been suggested that if Pirmohamed’s findings on Iatrogenic incidences were
extrapolated to include England, drug induced hospital admissions would account for 5700
annual deaths, about twice the national road toll.22
Humanity in motion has repeatedly concreted itself within such strong belief systems, that
often times prove to simply be an illusion!
Possibly the plain miracle of placebo ananda samavaaya healing energy is the caring nurse of
the student of life, mother nature?
There is a difference between observing life, respecting nature, working with natural cycles and
trying to control, manipulate and lord it over nature.
17
Sri Krishna, Bhagavad Gita 15:15 Matah Smrtir Jnanam
Lord Brahma, Brahma Samhita Chapter 5:35, Andaantara stha paramaanu cayaantara stham
R. D. Lele, Ayurveda and Modern Medicine, p.49
20
Iatrogenic deaths in Australia, Bureau of Statistics , 1994, estimated at 11- 19% of all deaths
21
Jeff Richardson, Stuart Peacock, Monash University, Centre for Health Evaluation, April 2003
22
Anne Lee, Adverse Drug Reaction, Glassgow, U.K.
18
19
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Acknowledging the Potency Within
If samavaaya-placebo is 80% effective with minimum side-effects then why use a medicine with
massive untold contra-indications and life-threatening side effects as a first or regular option?
We are not suggesting to abolish nor discontinue powerful medicines and pharmaceuticals but
to allow ‘reactive medicine’ to find a logical, philosophical and scientific position with nature.
Adopt samavaaya-placebo-ananda as the first option through diet, lifestyle and garden herbs.
First choice is change of diet according to a W.H.O. report23, which states the majority of
degenerative disease could be avoided with diet.
To usher in placebo-samavaaya, appears to be more effective and incredibly safer as a first
option than most pharmaceutical medications.
In the above context placebo-samavaaya is understood to be connected to diet, lifestyle and
naturally consciousness, so to encourage placebo-samavaaya is far from ‘doing nothing’. Rather
placebo-samavaaya is bigger than your imagination and busier than the commercial world. It is
suggested that dietary, lifestyle and changes in consciousness by increasing knowledge and
awareness of life, ‘Ayurveda’ set the scene for placebo-samavaaya-ananda effect to weave an
invisible web of support.
For or Against the Body!
The first course of treatment needs to be favourable for the body, either shodana or
shamanana, building (tonic) or cleansing. Modern medicine, has developed very powerful
medicines and have in a sense developed a third course of action which is very unfavourable for
the body called highly toxic. Ayurveda would say if the treatment be highly toxic, then the body
needs to be prepared for that treatment. If a highly toxic treatment is required, and is the only
option, then should not the doctor first prepare the patient for the future toxic shock? Stress
plays a fine line between the stress that helps one gain strength and the stress that may destroy
a person’s own bodily systems.
19% Australians Die from Medicine Intake and Medical Errors!24
Official Australian government reports 1994 reveal that preventable medical error in hospitals
are responsible for 11% of all deaths in Australia, which is about 1 of every 9 deaths. According
to the report if deaths from properly researched, properly registered, also prescription drugs
were added along with preventable deaths due to private practice it comes to a staggering 19%,
which is almost 1 of every 5 deaths.
History teaches?
That what we accept as the ‘norm’ is often overtime proved to be quite the opposite.
23
24
Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases WHO Technical Report Series, No. 916 (TRS 916)
Ron Law, Executive Director of the NNFA, member of the New Zealand Ministry of Health Working Group advising on medical error
10
Ayurveda shows extreme care on the point of patient preparation for treatment, because even
the gentlest treatment has contraindications, like drinking a glass of water or an oil massage.
Depleting shodanna or increasing shamana therapy with patient preparation with consideration
of contra-indications is a complex clinical science documented by Caraka 2600 years ago.25
Yet modern advanced medicine uses highly toxic procedures and substances with little or no
preparation or strengthening of the individual.
The example of Archie Kalokerinos in outback Australia 1975 when he showed the 50% death
rate of indigenous Australian children vaccinated was simply due to lack of preparation of the
immune system before the children were vaccinated. He suggested that to introduce vaccines
into the blood stream of children with compromised immunity with under nutrition was the
source of the high mortality rate at the time.
Possibly in the future, learned medical persons will consider the beginning of the 21st Century
the time of ‘sophisticated yet barbarian medicine’ which ‘lacked philosophical and procedural
wholeness.’
Modern medicine prides itself on ‘evidence based medicine’ let that not become a cliché’ if the
science of Ayurveda of Caraka Muni could be adopted by the allopathic system, that could
become a perfect platform of administration of even chemotherapeutic substances!
Adoption of the philosophy of Caraka Samhita would bring chemotherapeutic administration
to a level of science.
By the way, mortality and morbidity rates show that the code of the medical profession,
‘DO NO HARM’!
The echoes are not heard in the cemetaries and creamtariors of the world!
Unseen Cause
More often than not, many people over fifty years of age who are heavily medicated are
suffering more from their medications than from old age. A strong will and belief is placed in
powerful commercial pharmaceuticals and a medical system appears as a humanitarian
exercise to make life happy and healthy. The doctor is the best friend. If it were possible a
survey on the quality of life of such individuals would be interesting and revealing, if scales of
health and happiness could be quantified.
This in a sense is a placebo a powerful belief for health and happiness, but misdirected, because
can toxic powerful medicines taken on a daily regime give quality and long life?
25
M. S. Valiathan, The Legacy of Caraka
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The medical profession often resolves the death rate of 1 in 5 as this is considered ‘well worth
the benefit’, but a person may ask, ‘What is the benefit, does the benefit actually exist.’
The benefit of toxic medicine can be no more than placebo and often much less.
Person who are damaged by the ignorance of a medical profession have no voice, they are
dead.
Request for balanced understanding!
There are many fine doctors practicing sincerely in the modern medical system and on the
other hand there maybe many naturopaths trained to follow blind mechanics. This paper is
meant to not eulogise either system, nor condemn a system, but rather to realise the faults in
the consciousness or way of thinking, and to present the Ayurvedic consciousness. Ayurveda
has the ageless and spotless philosophy to bring medicine to its greatest benefit.

Ultimately You judge a medical system by its philosophy!
Purchasing Health or Heaven
“Here is my Gold Card, fix me, Doc!”
When it comes to obtaining health when it is lost or possibly going to heaven one requires
more than a thick wallet! Humans believe in earning, buying and controlling, however the
sublime samavaaya-placebo-ananda is not within the scope of a bank account. When it comes
to purchasing with love and knowledge our purse may appear depleted.
One may proudly reach for cash but unless the head is bent down in reverence to this great
energy, samavaaya-placebo-ananda then mother nature may not care to bless us with a touch
of her hand – namely health. Passion and ignorance will not be helpful to achieve our lasting
goals when goodness shines with knowledge however success will be forthcoming.
In Australia we all knew a rich man who paid a million dollars for a kidney from a servant and
then hundreds of thousands of dollars to the most expert medical specialists of the entire
world, yet he still died after a several years only. A person with hundreds and thousands of
millions of dollars still meets death despite such great wealth.
Despite unlimited capital with the most potent non-inert medicines available and
administered by the most expert and expensive specialists in the entire world a person still
dies!
12
The above point (suchi) requires reflection (buddhi)! Nature (prakruti) is the most powerful
(shakti) ingredient (pada) in life and death, more sublime and potent than wealth, medicines or
expert specialists.
The human being is developing an alienation from the sublime natural world.
The Positive Alternative
Contacting the power within, the pleasure and health and happiness inside yourself, requires an
adjustment in consciousness, from proud to humble, from owner to caretaker, from controller
to assistant, from manipulator to co-operator, from lord to servant, from punisher to nurturer
and from illusion captured to the enlightened seer.
Disease is a thinking thing! Ragadi Rogan.
Can you imagine what the body might do if you became conscious of its power for a moment!
And you supplied appropriate sunshine, fresh air, exercise, fresh vegetables, ghee, fruits, whole
grain being consciousness of digestion in an atmosphere of joy and knowledge? You could be
born again, regenerated on another level?
Therefore a change of thinking (consciousness) could be the greatest medicine!

Acceptance of Death as Essential
Nothing in life is as sure as death!
Death is not the mystery, but not accepting death, nor realising, nor preparing for that ultimate
journey, that is the sublime enigma. The unknown, the unquantifiable and the unexplainable
must be avoided at all cost. It appears humans will do anything to avoid death to have a few
more days to grasp for air even if the only event in life is a little more flatulence. Life is so dear
or is death so bland? The Lord of death, Yamaraj, once asked the King of the world, Maharaja
Yudisthira, ‘What is the most wonderful thing within this world?’26
The great emperor Yudisthira replied:
Ahany ahani bhutani gacchantiha yamalayam
Sheshah sthavaram icchanti kim ashcaryam atah param
26
Vedanta Sutras Canto 7, Chapter 2, Verse 57, also is mentioned in Mahabharat, Vana-parva 313.116.
13
‘Hundreds of thousands of living entities meet death at every moment, yet a foolish living being
nonetheless thinks themself deathless and does not prepare for death. This is the most
wonderful thing in the world’.
‘Everyone has to die because everyone is fully under the control of material nature, yet everyone
thinks, that he is independent, that whatever he likes he can do, that he will never meet death
but live forever, and so on’.27
This is the most wonderful thing!
Accepting and reflecting on this most wonderful thing in the world can give rise to a sense of
equality, joy and calm. On the opposite, fear driven medicine will not be fruitful beyond the
fruits of fear! The concept of a good death free of chemotherapeutics, radiation, drug poisoning
and un-necessary procedures is paramount. A death where one has a chance to empty out the
luggage.
For death, we need clear reflective time, to pack those mental bags, cast them to the wind,
for the naked journey ahead!
Perception of Death
A baby kitten travels very securely and quite snug in the mother’s teeth, being moved between
safe havens, yet the same crushing teeth serve a cruel death to the roaming rodent.
Death being good, bad, cruel, kind, loving or selfish is all a question of the consciousness one
has developed. This conditioned consciousness one has developed is compared to a fine
fragrance moving in the breeze which determines the next life or destination of the soul.
“What ever state of being one remembers when they quit the body, that state they will attain
without fail.”28

It is not, as if there is any second choice, rejection is therefore illogical, preparation and
acceptance of the tides of life manifesting as life and death is wise.
Sri Bhagavan said, While speaking learned words, you are mourning for that which is not
worthy of grief. For those who are wise lament neither for the living nor dead. Never was
there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings, nor in the future shall any of us
cease to be.29
27
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Srimad Bhagawatam, 7.2.57
Sri Krishna, Bhagavad Gita, 8.6, Yam yam vapi smaran bhavam
29
Sri Krishna, Bhagavad Gita, 8.6, Yam yam vapi smaran bhavam
28
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How to Facilitate Samavaaya-Placebo in Clinic
Factors influencing the power of Placebo30
1. A binding connection between Patient and Physician.
2. A strong conviction by the physician.
3. Belief and expectation by the patient.
Caraka states: 31
“When a physician who is well versed in the knowledge of the disease and its treatment does
not enter into the heart of the patient by virtue of the light of their knowledge they will not be
able to treat the disease.''
The Practitioner Supports Samavaaya-Placebo
The Practitioner serves samavaaya-placebo concept by helping remove the cause of
disharmony of the elements of the body and mind by shining the lamp of knowledge. It may be
simple over indulgence in one taste (rasa) thus accumulating by the sameness principle
(samanya) and causing an elemental (doshic) disturbance. In such a case a taste (rasa) which
has different energies (visesa) is the simple requirement. Difference has a decreasing energy
and sameness an increasing energy, this is the application of samanya (sameness) and visesa
(difference) philosophy of Padartha vijnaana. Samavaaya (inseparability) refers to the inherent
ability for health naturally within each living system.32
The practitioner needs to name the consciousness, action and result.
The Ayurvedic consultant needs to pleasantly verbalise:
1. Prajnaapradha – What is the faulty thinking? – Identify the crime against wisdom.
Cold water at inappropriate times disturbing vata and kapha, constant snacking on nuts
disturbing jathara agni thus effecting all three doshas. Muesli or cold whips for breakfast
in improper season with insufficient digestion, with undigested substances blocking the
channels and blocking absorption and the doshas. Disconnection of brain and stomach
by not eating what can be digested, rather eating what tastes good. The practitioner
names the cause which helps to self empower the student (patient) and to take full
responsibility for themself. One is ones own greatest enemy and friend! Knowledge of
time, place, individual, variables and qualities helps the student balance their life.
The diet of the patient may be ‘good’ in terms of popular Western thinking but if the
gunas (qualities) are inappropriate and aggravating the doshas the so-called good is the
very cause of the imbalance.
30
R. D. Lele, Ayurveda and Modern Medicine, p.48
Charaka Vimana 1V-14
32
Prof. Mishra, Padartha Vijnaana
31
15
For example we may think that raw food is great! That is faulty thinking. The actual Ayurvedic
fact is raw food or cooked food is neither good nor bad.
If your digestion is excellent and the season suitable raw food may be excellent for you because
you fully digest it, you have the digestive fire. However if your cooker (stomach and digestionpak) is not so good then you need to use the external cooker (stove) in order to help your
stomach cook (pak) your meals to supply the cellular nutrition. Each cell and tissue level
requires for nutrition specific particle size and structure manufactured by digestion on various
levels.
Undigested Substances
Remember partial digestion of substances is the greatest cause of disease because what
is not digested becomes converted overtime into a poison (ama and visaya). So that
expensive supplement or organic carrot may simply be an extravagant toxin if not fully
metabolised! Western mind set is compared to a square, for example, water is good!
Ayurvedic thinking is circular, water is certainly an essential element of life, and may
display both negative and positive actions. For example cold water in cold season will
certainly cause a vata (cold) disturbance with erratic digestion and many vata
symptoms. If the water is simply heated then it may be wonderful for the cold season.
The substance is neither good nor bad, the knowledge or consciousness of how to
ultilise an item renders a substance good or bad.
Our knowledge or consciousness renders a substance good or bad.
2. Samanya - Like increases like, for example cold water, raw, sweet, nuts, muesli, milk
and yoghurt are all sita (cold) and guru (heavy). A breakfast of muesli, fruit, yoghurt and
nuts, in cold weather is basically, cold, cold, cold plus cold equals extra cool which over
time damages the fire in the stomach. At lunch, a salad and tuna damages digestion
further with more coolness.
How the energies created by faulty action, from faulty thinking, disturb the guna
(qualities) equilibrium thus disturbing the dosha’s (body type, fault) by their karma
(action) by like increases like is the science of Ayurveda called samanya (increase caused
by sameness of guna). What energies which have swelled up momentum and started to
cause symptoms by disturbing the doshas need to be explained to the person.
Also the science of Visesa – Difference brings decrease is explained, that simply by
cooking that muesli in cold season and adding warming spice like cinnamon and pepper
and avoiding yoghurt in winter that cold energy will be balanced. Also a hearty soup for
lunch is better than the iconic cultural illusion of cold fish and salad in cool season or
when digestion is difficult. Also if stressed the digestion is certainly negatively affected
and therefore warming easy to digest food is paramount to maintain health by good
digestion when under stress. Steamed fruit or congee rice are recommended.
16
3. Guna and Doshas –Sita (cold) and guru (heavy) in excess, cause excess kapha ( K is cold
and wet) which congests the strotas (channels) and dampens digestion - jathara agni,
the kapha also disturbs or obstructs vata. Over time all three doshas may be disturbed,
thus causing a chronic disease which could have been prevented had the early signs of
imbalance of the doshas been attended and adjusted, toward equilibrium.
The dosha philosophy of Ayurveda is truly preventative medicine in action!
The Source of the Problem must be Identified
A loving mother displays magnificent healing power with her baby daughter when called to the
bed by ear pricking cries. The mother with a loving voice utters a soft, ‘Darling’, releases the
hand of the baby that was pulling her own hair. The major concept of Ayurveda is that of
knowledge, and just as the sunshine dissolves darkness, the ignorance of suffering is changed to
light and happiness when knowledge is added. The inexperienced child had no idea the pain
causing all that distress was from her own hand pulling her own hair!
The living entity is one’s own greatest friend and greatest enemy33 with dietary and lifestyle
choices and how one performs actions and adjusts to the seasons. These above three are the
primary sources of imbalance and disease.
A realisation, an illumination by profound Vedic thoughts is a wonderful elixir!

The Source of the Vedas?
With a very Brief History!
Caraka lived approximately 2600 years ago after the Vedic age. In other words in Caraka’s time
Vedic India had become conquered by Buddhism.34 Buddhism declined after Shankaracharya
revived Vedic philosophy 1300 years ago with Vedanta (end of knowledge) being regenerated
at the event of Madhvacarya some 780 years ago. We must remember that Vedic India
flourished some 3000 years ago and that the Ayurveda we experience and perceive today, has
passed through massive cultural shifts including Islamic and British rule.
This undoubtedly displays the incredible spirit of Vedas and Ayurveda, as it was said Vedic
medical knowledge was transferred into many other languages.
Ayurveda is not a small secular idea but a universal concept based on,
how life and matter grows, converts and transforms.
33
34
Sri Krishna, Bhagavad Gita, ch.
Introduction to Ayurveda, M.S. Valiathan
17
History has favoured Western block more or less ignoring Ayurvedic Caraka who should be
known as the father of medicine along with the Greek Hypocritis according the Dr Lele.35
Caraka’s neglect is due to a Western ego-centric (Euro-centric) view of world history, which
excluded any credits outside of the square world.
Ayurveda from the Heavens
Ayurveda has been passed down by the Demigods! From Lord Brahma, to Prajapati, to Indra to
Atreya, items with divine Vedic birth are said to be free of the four defects of human beings.
The Four Defects of Material Life
1.
2.
3.
4.
Sure to make mistakes
Sure to have imperfect senses
Sure to be influenced by illusion
Sure to cheat
Is the information you get from a Pharmaceutical company free from the four defects?
Because Science is constantly improving itself by correcting mistakes, adjusting observations
made by imperfect senses, clarifying an old concept, which was closed within illusion and
discovering and re-calibrating an accepted truth is commonplace because the research was
influenced by the four human propensities.
Science itself is an imperfect and relative evolution of knowledge!
In 1988, Nobel laureate Zent Gyorgy36 realised an interesting aspect of the body, namely a
quantum system of communication outside any system science has yet discovered, for example
a system other than the nervous system. This communication system was called connective
tissue consciousness rather than the well known, neurological consciousness. In other words
Zent Gyorgy suggested science had missed a communication system much faster, more efficient
and extremely mysterious made up of the total fabric of the body, connective tissue
consciousness.
Unfortunately scientist are usually busy like the ass or beast of burden ensuring the feed lot is
full of luxurious hay, thus the unexplainable realm of consciousness is often times conveniently
shelved in a dark corner of the mind’s archives.
Glory to the scientist and philosophers of the world in all professions who dare to enter the
non-commercial, mysterious, unexplainable and sublime world of consciousness.
Vedic knowledge is descending, it is perfect, because it is free from the four defects.
35
36
Dr Lele
James Oschman, Energy Medicine in Therapeutics and Human Performance, pp. 36-41
18
We all desire Health and Happiness
Bhagavad Gita gives us the understanding that our mental body driven by the soul basically
consists of false ego, intelligence and mind.37 This very fine body is considered superior to the
gross body in that verse. Naturally the superior can influence the inferior. Realising the sublime
nature of the conscious mental world, and the lesser position of the elements earth, water, fire,
air and space which comprise the body is an important first step. Understanding the param or
superior position of the conscious world of knowledge is the second step.
The world of objects has no value without conscious thought or knowledge of that object!
V.M. Gogte puts forward an interesting concept, that if you think of medicine you can get that
vibration and effect of the substance simply by a profound thought. That may be a possibility
for some talented individuals. Considering the unexplainable qualities of placebo-samavaayaananda this has to be accepted as a possibility!
A medical system that understands the body, mind, consciousness and nature is a science of
life!
The Bodies Own Personal Pleasing System is Immunity
Dr David Servan-Schreiber in his work Anti-Cancer, brings forward the concept of the immune
system as the greatest medicine and enemy of cancer in a chapter entitled Cancers Weakness.
Ojas and Immunity
When food is eaten it is acted upon by vata, pitta and kapha. The vata stage of chewing,
churning, dividing, moving and mixing, the kapha stage of adding moisture and unctuousness
and the pitta stage of food cooking (digestion) with enzymes and acid. Different locations are
predominated by a particular element, the mouth chews and converts partical size as well as
adds saliva. The first portion of the stomach is considered kapha digestion Agnibala means
‘strong digestion’, and jatharagni is the ‘digestive fire’ of the stomach.
In our society we like to eulogise raw food mentioning many advantages of eating raw food,
however raw food is dependent on agnibala, strong digestion, for if the digestion is poor the
perfect raw diet becomes a cause of disturbing equilibrium. Taking raw food according to
appropriate season, preparing the food to a suitable particle size which is light to digest,
preparation of the food that renders it tasty and easily digestible and using adjunct digestives
like spices, vinegar with the application mild heat is required. For example one may take apple
cider vinegar in warm water sipped during a meal or astha churna digestive spices in hot water.
‘The right food for you, first and foremost, is what you can fully digest’.
37
Sri Krishna, Bhagavad Gita,
19
Ayurveda states that boiled water increases its good qualities, that many herbs need cooking or
decocting to release the active ingredients.
A Mental Disease of Modern Society
Modern society has a real problem to accept anything that cannot be sold, packaged, polluted
and exploited. The technological apes of an advanced civilisation find it difficult to cure, treat or
approach mental illness, which in the next decade will become the prime disease of the
Western world. Previously people were put in straight jackets, which are now out of vogue and
considered barbarian. Now the trick is a chemical straight jacket, no need of institutions to lock
deranged persons up, society has advanced to the use pharmaceuticals.
This simple concept of placebo is a great mysterious challenge to modern science you might
ask’ why is that’, science has neglected placebo because it cannot control, manipulate, explain,
quantify nor package placebo.
The Question of an Underlying Illusion of Consciousness
“I will have you home by evening watching your favourite TV show.” declares an advertisement
at Bangalore Airport. The poster from a local hospital shows a smiling confident surgeon with a
pretty and competent nurse filling out a chart in the background.
The plane is preparing to take off, the Indian Hostess nicely explains the usual seat belt
procedures and then states, I am responsible for your safety”. The scenario is the plane runs
into trouble, the air hostess, later announces could everyone please pray to God.
In the Western world the level of IBS is at pandemic levels, these people have re-occurring
diarrheal and constipation. The PBS or subsidised drugs and also herbal sales of laxative is a
multi-million dollar concern. The interesting observation is the Western world cannot control
bowel movements yet the idea of control is firmly imprinted into the consciousness. So much
so that when a disease takes place the living entity is a rush to control, cut, break, destroy,
decrease and eliminate the disease and considers the body later.
You are NOT the CONTROLLER
Mayadaksina Praakriti38
The bewildered spirit soul under the influence of the three modes thinks they are the Lord and
doer, the controller, when actually actions are executed by nature!
The underlying illusion of the modern world is control! Try starting with your bowels!
Modern society projects an air of control, while many have bowel control issues.
38
Bhagavad Gita
20
Knowing that supports Samavaaya-Placebo
Besides the natural inheritance of the body to health there is another point at hand, the
importance of knowing. I may be thrown out of balance into a health crisis, my body is striving
to correct the situation but needs some temporary help, all I need is a particular energetic of a
substance to set myself back into health, but I do not know that energy nor herb which
possesses that needed vibration or quality (guna). That medicine may be sitting on my kitchen
bench, in my herbal pharmacy or in my pocket. But unless I know the attributes and
idiosyncrasies of that substance, there is no gain, because I do not know to take it.
The only limit to a medicine or herb is our knowledge of such a herb!
Vijnaana – Fully Knowing
Knowledge gives a herb (or food) its completeness. When I see the unpredictable surprising
effects of herbs go beyond book or personal knowledge I am no longer surprised. Herbs
(dravya) with guna and karma can be our teachers.
Knowing a herb or medicine is as important as the herb itself!
Here is a scenario: You are very very rich, famous and the possessor of incredible wisdom,
millions of people want to meet you, but there is one problem, you have forgotten!
You are not knowing these things any longer, you are angry and sad because you have nothing.
But the only thing which is stopping you from such opulence and happiness is a memory, a
thought. If you know about something, that something has reality, your subjective reality is
more important than the world of objects. Knowledge compliments reality and gives fullness.
We have become so gross of a world that the essence of life is slipping by and our
consciousness vitiated by ignorance. The world of life and consciousness is being replaced with
a world of plastic and tin objects. In clinical practice we see it all the time, a person simply
wants the magic medicine, fix me I’ll pay.
Health is your natural inheritance and your health will flourish with Ayurveda, knowledge of
life. Knowledge of diet, philosophy, seasons, lifestyle and substances is the Ayurvedic way. How
you apply and live life is your ticket to health. Remaining ignorant and paying some counterfeit
controller in a white coat or with a ‘natural badge’ does seem to have a down side.
Perhaps Knowledge is the greatest medicine you will ever find?
21
THE ROLE OF CONSCIOUSNESS
You have acquired a vast fortune and now you are aware of it, but because your habits are
poor, with poor choices and imbalanced-actions, your judgements are affected. Due to
knowledge distorted by poor habits your fortune is transient, very shortly it is gone.
We must realize that our subjective consciousness plays a vital role in our health and destiny.
Remember correct choices, actions and boundaries are afforded from the mode of goodness.
When the base modes of ignorance and passion are too powerful, goodness is overcome and
defeated.
Veda means to know! Ayus means life! Ayurveda means to know life!
KNOWLEDGE OF SIMPLE QUALITIES
Here is a crude example, winter has shown a glimpse of its face, the nights are crispy and the
days, fine and dry, the children have developed phlegm on the chest and both have developed
coughs and have slight redness in the cheeks. At the shop they both spark up when it is time to
have a drink, they desire a banana yoghurt smoothie! Yoghurt is called a channel blocker in
Ayurveda, because of being slimy, heavy, unctuous and building. Banana is also heavy and
sweet which adds to already blocking qualities of yoghurt. Add some sugar to that, and the
scales just tipped towards a phlegm producing elixir. Now the grand item is a little ice blended
in. Water is certainly nectar but when taken as ice at an in-appropriate season, it is like poison.
Like causes Increase
The simple rule of Ayurveda is like increase like, so naturally as the heavy, cold season of
winter approaches and the children have developed a heavy clogging phlegm that a drink of the
same heavy, cold and clogging nature will increase all the qualities involved. Therefore after the
delicious drink the children need to go to bed for a week and moan and groan.
Now, what drink could the children have taken which would have used the Ayurvedic rule,
difference causes decrease, thus improving their condition? Best warm lemon or lime water,
warm honey drink with garlic, ginger drink with honey. Or just warm honey water would be
great to decrease congestion. Licorice tea which is most agreeable would move mucus. The
qualities needed to improve the condition need to be different from the condition, so warm,
light, cutting, moving and scrapping.
(Please note honey is a sweet substance which has an opposite energy to sugar, honey moves
mucus, is light and warming. Sweet is cooling, mucus producing and heavy).
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Knowing the qualities of substances is an Ayurvedic study called dravyagunavijnana or
realization of the qualities of substances. With knowledge and realization of the qualities of
substances one can live a balanced life.
KNOWLEDGE IS THE GREATEST MEDICINE!
Possibly knowledge may be the greatness medicine! This knowledge could be accepted as a
type of ethereal nectarine cure-all herb. The memory of comfort to relieve worldly stress, the
recollection of self-love to warm the depression of a dark time, the understanding that lightens
your life with knowing. The knowledge of the qualities of substance that balance the doshas
and supports placebo. This ethereal knowing could be a great and inexpensive medicine that
surpasses all others. Let the modern magazines print up the grand headlines, THE MIRACLE OF
KNOWING! We have become product centered, rather than knowledge centered.
Ayurveda is the art of applying knowledge of life to achieve a state of equilibrium. Knowing
what dormant qualities (gunas) and hidden karmas (actions) are the property of a certain herb
or food (substance) also when, where and how the body and mind require these energetic
substances is the great study of Ayurveda!
In other words the weed growing from your tombstone may have saved your life!
Had you known! (German Folklore)
If you have knowledge then that affords you many embellishments of knowing, such as respect
for nature, balanced life, healthy life and possibly (destiny affording) long life.
Knowing the energies, hot, cold, wet, dry, light, heavy, rough and smooth and therefore the
elements of food and herbs opens a treasure chest. It is ours, but if we do not know, the magic
has no reality for us.
Going Deeper than the world of Gross Objects
THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING
How important is it to know, to be aware, and possess understanding? You are a multimillionaire, with vast bank balances and capital there is one big fault you do not know. The fact
is you have no knowledge of your grand success, power and control.
What value does your fortune have? To you, it has absolutely no value. Knowledge of your
fortune is required in order to give that opulence meaning. In this sense to have knowledge
about something is more important than the object or possession of the object.
Similarly for life to have value and full potential, we need knowledge of life, and that is called
‘Ayurveda’.
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For life to be fruitful, magical and potentiated, we also require the knowledge of life. That is
called the Vedas and Ayurveda.
Ayurveda could be called, ‘The handbook of life’!
The inseparable healing potency is not dependent on knowledge alone, but it is suggested that
it is enhanced by knowledge of life.
A DISEASE OF CONSCIOUSNESS!
‘An intelligent person accepts the universe consisting of twenty five elements, including the five
great elements as their teacher while the foolish accept the same as an enemy to be exploited
and therefore they remain foolish!’ Charaka Muni 460 bc
In conclusion the above verse of Charaka confirms that the consciousness of exploitation
alienates the individual from the elements and creates destructive cycles. Also one becomes a
fool, not a pandit. The elements are our teacher when we accept them as such, superior
instructors to be respected, our line of Ayurvedic knowledge opens. Exploitation is driven by
passion and ignorance, accepting a teacher with honour and respect is a symptom of the mode
of goodness.
After all every nanometre of existence is permeated with the elements, every movement,
increase or decrease of energies flows from the five great elements. If we accept these five
great teachers with humility and service they will award us the path of health!
The fine line between exploitation and caretaker-ship is the subject of the Vedas!
A Reflection:
Caretaker-ship preserves, respects and helps placebo flourish, whereas over control,
manipulation, harsh attachment, debilitating fear and lacking the observation of the natural
world may not be fruitful to healing.
Vedic Goal of Life
By all means, cultivate goodness (dharma) and knowledge of life, earn some bread (artha),
enjoy yourself (kama), and may you gain freedom, mukti.
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