Download 10. Ayurvedic Science Padartha

Padartha Vijnaana, Conspicuous by an Absence in Western Ayurveda 2013
The foundation of Ayurvedic philosophy is known as Padartha Vijnaana –
‘realization and utility of all that is known’. However, Western literature to date
has not mentioned this fundamental and foundational pillar of Ayurveda. To the
Eastern practitioner of Ayurvedic science this makes as much sense as obtaining
half a cow.
Indeed the very words ‘Padartha Vijnaana’ have not been mentioned in the
Western Ayurvedic presentation although this philosophy is paramount for
understanding and applying Ayurvedic concepts as much as the science of
chemistry, biology and physics are unavoidable by modern medicine.
To solidify an Ayurvedic intellectual claim to brilliance, the philosophy of
Padartha Vijnaana requires practical realization by Ayurvedic practitioners, as
much as realization and practical application are the meaning of Vijnaana.
Modern medicine has grown apart from philosophy, as observance of the path of
wisdom has no relevance in the majority of modern medical practice. As a matter
of fact iatrogenic effects when calculated worldwide would equal an Aceh size
tsunami four or five times per year. This is somehow or other generally accepted
as an unfortunate pinprick of a great medical system.
This chapter will explain the Sad (six) aspects of Padartha Vijnaana (‘realization
and utility of all that is known’) as an essential philosophy and science of
Ayurvedic clinical practice. As much as bricks and mortar hold a building in place
so does Padartha Vijnaana give Ayurveda its scientific structure.
The present Western model of Ayurveda was a splendid beginning but as time
unfolds the cracks of faulty logic and over simplification widen to reveal
something quite unintelligible. The over emphasis and treatment focus on
prakruti (body type) is a prime example of gross over emphasis on a single topic.
In clinical practice the prime focus of treatment is vikruti (the imbalanced) while
prakruti holds an entirely minor place in Ayurvedic practice. After all the very
word dosha describes the elements in their excessive or deficient states. Further
the word dosha, can be translated as fault.
It will be shown how this simple yet complex philosophy opens the door into a
fascinating, ‘simultaneously one, yet different world of inseparability’. I propose
that ‘Padartha Vijnaana is the valuable process that the seers employed to reach
levels of knowledge and realization of life, health and nature that draw us today
to their priceless contributions despite the passing of thousands of years.
Padartha Vijnaana, is possibly the philosophical soul of Ayurveda that maintains
that life force which gives Ayurveda resilience and an eternal like preservation?
After all a medical system, which revels in philosophical concepts and ethics that
are many thousands of years old certainly has some potent force making this
possible! Padartha Vijnaana is part of that potent force.
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Firstly, What is the Essence of Medicine?
What distinguishes a medical system, what brings medical application to the
desired level of perfection, that even the Demigods of the higher planets may
offer praise to such a health system?
The answer naturally is, Philosophy (to love wisdom), it is philosophy that
supports action. Philosophical action has wise foundations, which gives birth to
balanced action, wise thought supporting action is less likely to cause a regular
tsunami. Whereas a medical system primarily functioning as a fruitive action
primarily preformed for economic gain, which ignores the very human of the
being is likely to ignore its own fault.
Naturally the root of an action is a thought rising from consciousness, when the
consciousness holds wisdom as paramount then that will carry to the action and
when economic considerations are the desired goal, it can be expected that, ‘the
sunshine of knowledge will be covered by a cloud’.
Medical ethics must transcend economic considerations as an absolute
necessity of human existence.
Take a moment, a deep breath, consider a ten meter wall, of rolling ocean
surging, with sand and debris, decorated with one hundred thousand pale purple
corpses dressed in all the colors of the rainbow. This swirling stew resembles
many pastas, suspended in an unpalatable soup. The unwise portion of the
medical profession of the world supported by a philosophy, which is conspicuous
by its absence, causes such a result every two to three months. The drug related
and procedural clichés of a medical profession with a non-philosophy account
for 300,000 deaths per year in USA and Australia alone.
Do we judge a medical system by powerful drugs? Do we measure by facilities of
concrete and stone, or the ocean of beds available for the sick? Does one measure
a medical system from objects of matter, the powerful machines that can look
inside and through the entire body like never before.
We would be wise to judge a medical system on merit of the philosophy
employed by that system in the treatment of the human condition.
A medical system centered on the natural philosophy of treatment, that
considers primarily the patient, mode of action of the drug, contra-indications,
consideration of attending to cause, anticipating variations with time, place,
circumstance and individual, is a wise medicine.
Application of Philosophy is the matrix of a medical system
Every action is born from a matrix of a thought, no wise thought no wise action!
“ When a cow feeds on newspapers, good quality milk cannot be expected!”
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Medicine and philosophy are intertwined in a simultaneous oneness and
difference, it is not possible to separate them.
Medicine without philosophy can’t exist because such ‘medicine’ is ill motivated
pseudo medicine only, and therefore cannot be truly termed, ‘medicine’.
What is medicine without philosophy? An objective system of vulture and prey!
Of the cheater and the cheated or the blind leading the blind?
Clarification Needed
As we enter the bowels of medicine in search of the very heart and mind of that
system we must inform the reader that good medicine does not belong to any
named system. But ‘good medicine’ is in the possession of all health
professionals of all modalities who above and beyond in the call of their glorious
dharma (occupation of the soul) display the qualities of compassionate
philosophers. You may be lucky and your medical specialist may be a saint or
unlucky if your Naturopath or Healer is an excellent business manager. In other
words we are opening for discussion ‘Universal principles of the science of life’
which is not the property of any labeled group except the soulful lover of
wisdom.
We use the word ‘Good’ to describe ‘medicine’, but if it is medicine it must be
‘Good medicine’, if it is not good it is not medicine.
According to Ayurveda, Philosophy is samavaaya or inseparable from medicine.
So the next time you are with your GP, Naturopath, Health Professional,
Specialist or Surgeon take a moment and discuss the philosophy supporting the
medicines, diets, contraindications and procedures of that system.
Rogi (the diseased) and Roga (the disease)
As a primary principle of medicine Ayurveda considers not only the disease
(roga) but also primarily centers on the diseased (rogi), the person. A system
which shows more interest in the disease (roga), with little consideration of the
rogi or person, is an imperfect system of medicine oblivious to the thoughts and
feelings of the subject being treated.
As a matter of fact two Australian’s compiled a lengthy paper entitled, ‘Will More
Doctors Increase or Decrease the Death Rates?’ Professor Jeff Richardson and Dr.
Stuart Peacock concluded as did Ival Illich in an earlier work, that possibly the
death rate will certainly increase with more available doctors because of the
increased iatrogenic effects of modern medications!
There is a grain of truth in every rumor,
More Doctors could mean, More Death!
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Understanding Padartha Vijnaana
‘Sad Padartha Vijnaana’ - The principles of the science of Ayurveda
Sad - six
Padartha – pada, word, feet, step
_ artha, usefulness, utility, matter, desire, wealth, motive
Vijnaana – Vi, set in motion, Jnaana – applied knowledge
Padartha Vijnaana is Ayurveda (‘Knowledge of life’)
Utilizing all that exists with knowledge and wisdom, ‘Knowledge of life’
Six divisions of Padartha Vijnaana?
(1) Dravya – Substance
(concomitant cause)..………………………….(2) Guna (rope) – Quality - Shakti
(3) Karma - Action
(4) Samanya – Sameness, commonality
(5) Visesa – Difference, specific quality
(6) Samavaaya – Inseparable relationship
Dravya (substance) is the pivotal point, the abode of guna (quality), karma
(action), samanya (sameness), visesa (difference) and samavaaya
(inseparability).
Dravya is the shelter of the five great elements namely earth, water, fire, air and
space as well as direction (diks), soul (atma), time (kala) and mind (manas). The
world is a world of substance perceived in space and time, by the mind in
essential connection to life, the vital spirit soul.
Understanding Dravya Word Etiology
Dru-gatim-dhatu (root verb according to Nirukti)
Dru – going, running, motion, tree, branch, wood
Gatim – go
Dhatu – root verb
Dru-gatim = Dravya: that which reaches a separation (vibhaga) and
combination (samyoga) and is thus transformed (paka) to produce an action
(karma). Dravya is basically all substance, including food and drink.
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Dravya - Substance has been realized by modern science to exist in two states,
namely particle and energetic wave. We understand that a similar concept of
dravya, guna (qualities or potential cause) and karma (matter in motion) was
described by Ayurveda for a very long time.
Dravya (Particle), guna (cause) and karma (energetic wave)
Dravya refers to the different states of matter namely particle and wave.
Particle and energy wave are the same matter but slightly different, this is
samanya visesa (sameness and difference).
Dravya, guna and karma are samavaaya (inseparable) they reside in substance.
Dravya guna karma refers to the constant flow of energy from potential to
active and visa versa, which sustains the universe.
Understanding the flow of life.
Dravya, guna and karma are the cycle of potential to kinetic energy.
Substance stores qualities, qualities cause actions, while actions sustains
life. Thus the flow of potential energy to energy in motion, or particle to wave
then wave to action manifests.
Dynamic Natural flow Described in the Vedas?
Om purnam-adah purnam-idam purnaat purnam-udacyate.
purnasya purnam-aadaaya, purnam-eva-avashishyate1
The Personality of Godhead is perfect and complete. And because He is completely
perfect, all emanations from Him, such as this phenomenal world, are perfectly
equipped as a complete whole.
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Invocation, Sri Isopanisad, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada
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Whatever is produced of the complete whole is also complete by itself. And Because
He is the Complete Whole, even though so many complete units emanate from Him,
He remains the complete balance.
Conclusion; The complete balance is happening before your eyes, to think you can
do better than nature sublime, is your illusion, first class!
Ayurveda gains knowledge from the natural world!
Naturally Ayurveda or Knowledge of life presupposes a observation, harmony
and appreciation of the dynamic natural world.
Dravya and Your Body
Dravya (substance) is nothing but the five great elements panca-maha-bhuta and
your body is nothing but the five great elements. So our bodies, dravya and the
world are all made of the same earth, water, fire, air and space.
Therefore there is a sameness (samanya) between our bodies, dravya and the
five great elements.
The body, dravya and the world of the five elements also have a difference. Your
body is mostly water, but there is a difference between the water in your body
and the water in a bowl.
The same air, which fills the vacant sky circulates through every cell in your
body. The very same water that occupies the oceans and rivers maintains the
moisture in our bodies preserving life. This realization suggests that to pollute
the world is to pollute and disturb natural cycles and to disturb your very own
body as well as every creature and substance. There is undoubtedly a great
oneness of the elements in the variegated world.
Further - Dravya – Substance – Matter
Dravya (substance) – particle – potential energy that holds the guna –energy in
storage.
Guna (quality)– energetic cause that inspires karma.
Karma (action) – effect or wave – energy in motion, kinetic energy.
Vaidya V. M. Gogte,
‘Guna is the cause of karma, and karma is the cause of knowledge of guna’!
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Further according to inseparability,
‘If a particular karma is established there must be a particular guna in that dravya
which has inspired that karma’!
Guna; Superior to Dravya
The same dravya is seen differently only because of gunas (qualities), e.g. Water,
Steam or Ice are simply water! They only differ because of guna! The conclusion
is that guna can radically effect the karma of a dravya. The Western world likes
ice water very much, or freezing cold drinks with meals which disturb agni
(digestive fire). When agni is disturbed the doshas are perturbed. In this way
agni can be said to be far more important than prakruti (nature). Simply the
same water taken warm or hot sipped (not gulped) with meals has a profound
and difference outcome in the body than iced drinks.
Simply by changing the guna of a dravya from sita (icy cold) to ushna (warm or
hot) can have a fostering effect on agni (metabolic fire), thus when agni is
maintained according to time, place, individual and circumstance the doshas are
maintained. When the doshas are pacified one finds health and harmony.
‘Guna is of paramount importance because guna gives rise to a particular
karma’!
Dravya is Superior
Dravya being the abode of diks (place), kala (time), manas (mind) and atma
(soul) encourages the concept that dravya is superior to diks, kala, manas and
atma. However because dravya (substance) cannot perceive itself and therefore
is not consciousness, the conscious manas (mind) and atma (soul) are
considered superior to dravya. The mind and body of five elements are being
fully ultilised by the jivabhuta or Atma (life force). The jiva is superior to manas
and the elements as mentioned in Bhagavad Gita 7:5 by the word para –
superior.
Dravya is simultaneously superior and inferior to manas and atma, superior
because without matter life would have no expression and ultimately in this
world dravya (five elements), manas and atma cannot be separated. However,
because without soul there is no meaning soul is superior.
This is the philosophy of simultaneously sameness and difference with
inseparability.
Dravya as Superior and Guna as Superior
As mentioned in a number of scenarios Dravya is considered superior, however
now let us consider Guna as Superior. Guna is considered as para (superior) to
dravya because without guna a dravya has no meaning. If a chilli is not hot, it is
not a chilli. Also as mentioned a dravya say water is entirely changed by guna to
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ice, steam or hot or cold water. The actions of ice, steam, hot and cold water are
quite different for the same substance, therefore the conclusion is guna is
superior to dravya. Guna is also superior to karma because guna supports karma.
Karma Superior
Yet Karma is superior to guna because without action a guna or dravya has no
meaning. Action is the energy, which is the manifestation of shakti (ultimate
karma), the ultimate power that drives the world to do work.
Ayurvedic Science
Samanya (sameness) Visesa (difference) and Samavaaya (inseparability) of
Dravya(substance) Guna (quality) Karma (action)
Dravya, guna and karma are inseparable, samavaaya
Dravya guna and karma have sameness, a commonality, samanya
Dravya guna and karma are different, a specialty visesa
Sameness and Difference of Padartha and Ayurveda
Padartha vijnaana (sad) is Ayurveda vijnaana!
And Ayurveda vijnaana is Padartha vijnaana
Yet both vijnaanas (knowledge application) are different!
Ancient Ayurvedic Science and Philosophy
Ayurvedic Science – Describes matter in different manifestations, as dravya,
guna and karma as clinical biology, physics and science of Ayurveda.
Ayurvedic Philosophy – employing the concept of sameness, difference and
inseparability gives Ayurveda the ability to enter the quantum world, and view
biology, physics and chemistry in a discerning light. By sublimely dissecting
items of the same and locating the fine differences in the same, Ayurveda enters
the quantum and scientific world.
Guna (quality) of Dravya (substance) indicates Karma (action) namely –
Samyoga and Vibhaga
Samyoga – joining atoms into molecules into substances- creating difference
Vibhaga - separating, splitting substances into molecules and atoms – creating
sameness
Clinical Application Sameness and Difference
Increase Sameness
When gunas (qualities) infer elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) being
present are the same (samanya), an increase is for certain. For example guru
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(heaviness) infers earth and water, therefore a number of foods with heaviness
to different degrees will naturally increase heaviness further. Whereas, a
substance which is light will cause the opposite result, a decrease of heaviness.
Decrease Difference
When gunas (qualities) infer elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) being
present are the different (visesa), a decrease is for certain. When a person feels
heaviness after a meal, light warm substances being different from heaviness will
naturally cause a decrease of heaviness.
Samavaaya (inseparability)
The qualities which are inseparable from a substance, give that substance
meaning, ginger that is cold and bitter has no meaning and is not accepted as a
the substance ginger. When a substance displays the rasa (taste) and gunas
(qualities) of ginger it is accepted as the dravya (substance) ginger. In this way a
substance is known by its inseparable qualities (gunas) therefore guna can be
said to be superior to dravya in this regard. Guna infers certain elements (earth,
water, fire, air and space) for example wet infers water, are present and those
elements are called doshas when functioning (accumulating or deficient) in the
body.
Karma is inseparable from guna, because guna is the cause of karma. Karma or
action sustains life and is evident with separation and combination at the level of
anu (molecules) and paramanu (atoms) ushering in increase or decrease of the
elements and doshas, this brings health when in equilibrium and disease when
out of equilibrium.
Thus due to the samavaaya inseparability of dravya, guna and karma the
practitioner can anticipate an increase or decrease of gunas and therefore
elements thus predicting the outcome of therapy.
Applying the philosophy of Sad Padartha Vijnaana
Samanya visesa samavaaya of dravya, guna and karma.
(Sameness, difference and inseparability of substance, quality and action.)
Actions or the ultimate outcome are governed by sameness (increase), difference
(decrease) and inseparability (certainty).
In other words, in life and clinical practice we find the application of sameness or
commonality, identifying the features that group together gunas because
sameness ushers in augmentation or increase under all circumstances. Thus the
increase or decrease of dosha (element namely earth, water, fire, air and space),
dhatu (plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone, marrow and sukra) and mala (urine,
stool and sweat) can be determined or anticipated.
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An Example of Increase by Sameness of Guna
A favourite Western breakfast of muesli, yoghurt and banana proves an excellent
example of augmentation and thus increase of energies (guna).
Muesli- sita veerya (cold energy), guru (heavy).
Yoghurt- abhisyandhi (channel blocker) and guru (heavy).
Banana-madura rasa (water and earth element) and guru (heavy).
The result according to natural samanya sameness understanding will be an
increase of sita (cold), water and heaviness (guru).
Thus a person indulging in such a sita (cold), guru (heavy), madhura (sweet –
water) and abhisyandhi (channel blocking) meal is sure to accumulate signs and
symptoms which clearly indicate excess of the major gunas of that particular
diet. Because gunas represent the qualities of the elements, excess guna indicates
imbalanced elements and perturbed doshas. Naturally in the above case kapha
dosha will be perturbed, again kapha dosha possess water and earth, which are
all the above, cold, wet and heavy. Pitta will also be deficient from excess cold
wet heavy gunas because pitta is hot and light. Also vata will be obstructed by
excess kapha and deficient pitta, then vata being a special dosha will disturb
kapha and pitta further. The complications of such a simple chilling guna has far
reaching effects as the gunas accumulate and cause health problems.
Samanya (sameness) Ahara (diet) and Agni (digestive fire)
When the gunas of agni (digestive fire) are the same (samanya) as ahara (diet)
and vihara (lifestyle) then increase of those qualities are for certain. For example
a Kapha (earth and water) prakruti (nature) with mandagni (slow fire) indulges
in guru (heavy) diet. The heavy qualities of prakruti and the state of agni will
compound with the heavy choices to form a augmentation of guru. Signs and
symptoms of over nourishment of the dhatus (body tissue), congested srotas
(channels) with disturbed gunas (energetics) will be manifest with poor
digestion and disturbed doshas. And when the doshas are constantly disturbed
then disease is for certain.
Samavaaya (inseparability)
Because guna is samavaaya (inseparable) of dravya we have a steady
expectation in clinical Ayurveda of a certain karma. We have a steady outcome,
which can be anticipated in clinical practice.
Samanya, Visesa and Samavaaya, the Quantum of Ayurveda
Sameness, different and inseparability the quantum of Ayurveda
Quantum mechanics has found at the subatomic level that all particles are
connected, nothing works or has meaning in separation. It is the connection of
parts, which function as the whole. Life has a wholeness called Samavaaya!
Separation is a theory only. C. Dwarakanath in ‘Digestion and Metabolism in
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Ayurveda’ shows that the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and pancreas are all
kosthangas, or parts of the digestive system. The GIT of Western medicine being
the main channel with liver, gall bladder and pancreas is only a part of a whole
system. Parts require to be seen in terms of the whole for them to have meaning,
and the whole is seen in terms of all the parts to understand function! Thus
samanya-sameness and visesa-difference and samavaaya-inseparability are
applied.
Actually Manas-Mind must also be accepted as part of the digestive system?
If some disturbing news is spoken just as one is about to enjoy a beautiful meal,
For example, a son dying, certainly the meal is completely spoiled! This shows
the mind and emotions are also connected to the digestive system. We may ask
the question what is not connected when talking in holistic terms?
A Quantum Understanding
The process the ancients employed for research was the science of analyzing the
sameness in fine detail, then examining the differences and special features to
the sublime while acknowledging the relationships, interdependence and
inseparability of the whole. This is called Samanya visesa samavaaya siddhant
(perfect conclusion of sameness, difference and inseparability)!
V. M. Gogte; Ultimately, no two atoms are the same, because they both must occupy
a different space!
The Process of Ayurvedic Science
We separate the inseparable, we note the fine differences within sameness. We
take learning from things that are similar within things that are considered
different. While anticipating inseparable qualities and actions, and increase
when sameness is present and decrease when differences are noted one
progresses into Ayurvedic science. This is an ancient quantum understanding of
life.
‘the inseparable is philosophically being separated to advance the goals of
knowledge.’
Examples of separating the inseparable!
The example of Dravya (substance), Guna (quality), Karma (action) – or matter
as particle and wave particle. Substance, quality and action reside in the one
dravya yet have a separate existence in padartha theory.
The example of Rasa (taste), Guna (quality), Virya (potency), Vipak (digested
energy), Prabhav (unexplainable energy)- all are gunas with a slight difference.
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Rasa is a guna that is tasted, guna is a quality perceived after taste, Virya is a
powerful guna that brings action, vipak is a guna after digestion and prabhav is a
guna which is unexplainable. For example all sweet dravyas are cold except
honey which is warming, this is called prabhav, unexplainable guna.
The mind and the digestive system?
Earth, water, fire, air and space in your body and in the world?
Your body and the universe?
In conclusion
There is a profound oneness to all substances but also at the same time a
multi faceted difference, which in existing reality cannot be separated as a
working whole.
Padartha is a way of thinking!
Padartha is a science that can resolve contradictions.
Sameness difference and inseparability is Padartha vijnaana
Padartha vijnaana is Ayurveda
The Key
Samanya visesa samavaaya is the philosophical key to understand the process of
the vibration of life, potential energy flowing through to kinetic energy, which
either balances the elements giving health or makes imbalance and disease.
Samavaaya Jnaana – Knowledge of Inseparability
Nyaya and or vaisesika philosophy are Vedic philosophies, which were
employed by Ayurveda, they basically translate as nyaya the path of logical
conclusion and vaisesika the process of perceiving difference. Sometimes these
two Nyaya and vaisesika philosophy are mentioned as one and at other times
they are separated.
A sincere student of padartha vijnaana would ask, ‘What happened to sameness
and inseparability’, in Nyaya Vaisesika (logic and difference)?
The point at hand is, that in order to examine differences as per a logical
analytical study, there originally has to be a sameness in existence. To find a
difference, sameness was present. If there is no sameness in quality then there is
no need to find a difference! Also it is logically understood that the need arises to
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analysis a difference in a sameness, only and when the items which are different
appearing in a sameness have a certain inseparability.
Therefore Visesa (Difference) of nyaya vaisesika philosophy infers sameness
and inseparability are present!
In other words within difference of nyaya vaisesika (logic and difference),
sameness and inseparability are conspicuous by absence!
Therefore when an Ayurvedic practitioner hears the word difference they hear
the inference or echo, sameness and inseparability. Similarly when there is
sameness there must be a difference.
Ayurvedic science
The triad of samanya, visesa, samavaaya is Ayurvedic science!
Samanya visesa siddhant (perfect end knowledge of sameness and difference) is
the key to understanding, vijnaana (practical knowledge)
‘Samanya visesa siddhant’
When we say, Samanya visesa siddhant – the siddhant (perfect end) of
sameness and difference we have not omitted samavaaya, it is there in spirit to
those whose mind’s eye is trained in Padartha Vijnaana. The only reason a
sameness and difference have relevance is because of the wholeness and
inseparability of the whole.
My Request,
Please say;
‘Samanya visesa siddhant’
‘Samanya visesa siddhant’
‘Samanya visesa siddhant’
‘The perfection of understanding sameness and difference’
Understanding Guna (qualities) in Padartha!
Can we say rasa, guna, veerya, vipak and prabhava are Guna (all qualities)?
Certainly rasa (quality perceived by taste), guna (quality perceived by action),
veerya (strong quality which brings action), vipak (quality after digestion) and
prabhava (a quality which cannot be explained) are guna, they are all the same
guna yet they are all quite different and in reality have no separate existence.
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Using Karma (actions) of herbs without Padartha
When a dravya (substance) is labeled by its actions (e.g. kidney tonic, good for
memory etc.) alone and a practitioner is guided by karmas, the result will more
often than not, be a mistake in clinical practice. The philosophy of samanya
visesa requires to be applied to gunas of the diet, lifestyle and medicine. For
example if a person has developed an imbalance of mandagni (slow digestion)
which has gunas of heavy, wet and cold then the diet, lifestyle and medicine need
to be the opposite (different gunas) such as light, dry and hot. The guna appears
to be more specific than the action as guna is the underlying cause of action!
Therefore a practitioner is guided more by the guna of a dravya than a karma.
Karma of a dravya is important to the practitioner but requires to be matched
with guna for the desired result.
Humans want an Action without bothering to know Guna!
The bland evolved humans simply want a result and they want it yesterday! The
object or dravya is seen as a source of a result however the result being favorable
or unfavorable depends on the knowledge of sameness and difference of guna.
The different possible outcomes of treatment depends on many variables which
may only be anticipated by (knowledge) jnaana of (sameness) samanya
(difference) visesa of guna (quality). Therefore on one level, knowledge is
greater than substance because it is knowledge which allows us to apply the
knowledge of guna-karma of dravya in a favorable outcome.
‘Knowledge is possibly the Greatest Medicine’
What is the value of your bank balance without knowledge of it? Subjective
consciousness is superior to dull matter. Knowledge is superior to dravya.
Without knowledge the greatest medicine can turn to poison.
In the Western world especially, millions of people everyday enter a shop to
purchase a product, but in Ayurveda we enter a place to obtain knowledge on
how is ultilise substance for a specific purpose. The concept of a substance to
help is quite lame without knowledge of the substance. We have now become
simply centered on an external product rather than the internal wisdom.
Modern World a Gross Thing Only!
Earth, water, fire, air and space make up a Dravya, the dravya is inert. Only
knowledge can employ the dravya in the desired context according to guna.
‘Knowledge of sameness, difference and samavaaya of guna is the essence
of dravya’!
The focus on knowledge rather than substance has profound implications for any
medical system, confirming that you judge a medical system by application of
knowledge!
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Judge a medical system by application of wisdom and knowledge!
Inseparability in Clinical Practice
Health is samavaaya (inseparable) of life, the body is always searching for
equilibrium. Understanding of samavaaya is also paramount because without
samavaaya vijnaana one may not give the natural homeostasis room to move and
weave its magic! (Further reading; Samavaya Placebo)
Example of Sameness and Difference in Clinical Practice
Pippali Indian long pepper is said by modern research to contain steroids.
Therefor to say, pippali contains steroids is correct. We know modern medicine
has learned to produce and isolate steroids, which are prescribed in a number of
disorders. These artificial steroids have side effects including weight gain,
however the effect of pippali is generally weight loss. Why this reverse role
steroids. Firstly the idea that artificial steroids and pippali are the same is faulty.
They may be similar but they also have a great difference. One is whole and
natural with many phyto ingredients to balance the steroid action, the other is
artificial mono substance with no phyto nutrient support.
One patient who converted from years of steroid use to Pippali use commented,
‘Give me an overdose of pippali steroids any day!’ They are gentle, ama (toxin)
cleansing and less likely to disturb the body than isolated manufactured and
patented product. Artificial steroids are not ama cleansing, gentle and have side
effects. This is a case of same but different steroids!
Vitamin C is not Vitamin C!
The ascorbic acid powder is different from the ascorbic acid or vitamin C in
amalaki or an orange, yet it is the same. The vitamin C is samavaaya inseparable
from the dravya. Corn starch converted in two chemical reactions with the
enzyme of chicken liver may resemble Vitamin C but must have a difference to
the inseparable vitamin C in nature. On the atomic level synthetic powder of
vitamin C has the same molecular structure as Vitamin C in nature, the natural
however has many support molecules that the synthetic lacks. In reality the
complex molecules of Vitamin C and support molecules like rutin and
bioflavonoids are far too complex to duplicate, so the modern Vitamin C is simply
the center of a complex arrangement. Therefore artificial Vitamin C has many
side effects like acidity, diarrhea and rebound syndrome. The artificial also
requires 10,000mg per day while the natural 15mg to prevent scurvy.
Visesa – Differentiation
Substances (dravya) appear the same (samanya) but after application of nyaya
(logic) one may understand the difference (visesa) between two substances this
is basic vaisesika philosophy.
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Samanya – Sameness
The universe of five elements is the same five elements that make up the body of
all creatures. Everything we perceive is nothing but five great elements. By
understanding the profound implications of this knowledge one respects the
elements inside and outside the body. Whatever we do to the air and water of the
world is also circulating to the bodies of all beings. Dosha (functional elements),
dhatu (body tissue) and mala(waste products) are also the same five elements.
Samavaaya – Inseparable
Health or equilibrium is within nature as a intuitive tendency, to learn balance
and to find health we simple need to look at how nature works. How substances
hold qualities that give certain actions according to sameness and difference.
In conclusion;
The knowledge of the ancients when studied in depth is quite astounding to the
thorough investigator while such knowledge puzzles the bystander. Padartha
vijnaana reveals the profound foundation of Ayurveda that lives through the
centuries, through invasion, famines and religious upheavals.
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