Ayurveda: Nature’s Wisdom
Ayurveda and the ancient teachings of the Essenes provide beautiful insights into how to live one’s life in harmony with nature, her laws and rhythms. Their spirituality was practicality – especially the guidelines they followed for an intelligently regulated diet and daily routine, techniques for stress management, and exercises for increased fitness and alertness. Living within this balance helps us to take control of our lives and develop radiant health.
The central goal of both Ayurveda and the Essenes is nothing less than a state of perfect health, for the individual and for society and the environment as well, in which every man and woman is inwardly in balance and outwardly in harmony with the environment and the laws of nature.
Nature is permeated by intelligence. Intelligent laws govern the growth of all living things; kittens grow into cats, acorns into oak trees. Indeed, laws of nature regulate everything, from the tiny world of whirling atoms to the huge, enormous world of galaxies.
Attributes of the Elements
Air – carries water and sound, allows movement, dries, touch, caresses, creates mood changes, regulates other elements, transports, light, clear, vision, smell, mobile, brings messages, quick, erratic, pushing, accommodating, diverse, comforting, cocooning, stirring, calming, vast, cooling, subtle, sharp, rough, hard
Water – absorbs, travels, spreads, carries, reflects, habitat, cold, vaporizes, makes sounds, cleanses, refreshes, quenches, moisturizes, moving, blue, green, liquid, sensuous, playing, flowing, wet, squishy, dewy, hydrating, powerful, soft, hard, oily, heavy, light, gross, static, dull, smooth, cloudiness
Fire – spirit, innovative, directive, decisive, burning, boiling, passionate, challenging, risky, angular, aggressive, volatile, explosive, inspiring, cleansing, masculine, contagious, positive, upward, outward, divine, spicy, sizzle, smoky, arid, quick, cracking, lively, powerful, expansive, ash, smouldering, regenerative, transforming, subtle, hot, light, sharp moving rough, hard, clear, dry.
Earth – soft, moist, life-giving, forgiving, decaying, evolving, rotating, ever-changing, damaged, healing, birthing, vibrant, noisy, colourful, quiet, polarities, abundance, mystical, luscious, sensuous, feminine, supportive, unpredictable, dependable, cold, heavy, gross, static, dull, cloudy, rough, hard, dry
Ether – subtle, space, empty, expansive, without form or boundary, no limits, cold
Within Us
Let us learn the revelation of all nature and thought;
That the Highest dwells within us.
That the sources of nature are in our own minds.
As there is no screen or ceiling between our heads and the infinite heavens,
So there is no bar or wall in the soul where we, the effect, ceases, and God, the cause, begins.
Within us is the soul of the whole;
The wise silence,
The universal beauty,
To which every part and particle is equally related;
The eternal One.
When it breaks through our intellect, it is Genius;
When it breaths through our will, it is Virtue,
When it flows through our affections, it is Love.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson