Namaste, I am Kanika, an Ayurveda physician and today let us discuss how important is Classical Ayurvedic Text in Ayurvedic study!
The User Manual of Health
You see, all products come with a user manual and this user manual describes everything about the product,its structure, functioning, how to repair, etc. However, isn’t the product its best manual? A product flawlessly exhibits everything about itself to a RECEPTIVE EYE and a person who is receptive can get to know about EVERYTHING everything about the product by just looking at it.
According to the ancient Vedic people the Vedas are the USER MANUAL of the Universe. These Vedas reflect the way in which the universe functions and AYURVEDA is called the fifth Veda. It is a part of the Vedas and therefore what should we do to internalize this cosmic wisdom? I think that books are not ALL that we need
The Indicative Text
Do not look at my finger when I point towards the moon – Buddha, Shurangama Sutra
According to Acharya Charak, the great sage of Ayurveda ALL ancient classical Ayurvedic text is but INDICATIVE in nature and the wise can decipher more than words.
There is no limit to the subject and a description too concise is beyond the capacity of average men.
Therefore, the description here is neither too concise nor too detailed.
This description is enough for men with limited wisdom.
Wise men equipped with skills of observation, foresight, and planning can decipher beyond the words.
Charak Samhita
And so all these classical Ayurvedic texts are like a foundation that can help us to develop our own unique understanding of Ayurveda. They are like a launchpad which can give us an initial push into the world of this divine wisdom. At best, we can say that all ancient classical text is like an alphabet system and when we have learned our alphabet, we can write our own sentences! And this is the reason why all ancient civilizations were able to develop their own unique systems of healing which were completely compatible to their resources and their needs.
The Eternal Wisdom
The science called Ayurveda, a subset of Atharva Veda
was formulated by Brahma with one lakh shlokas and a thousand chapters
But observing the short lifespan and limited intelligence of the humans,
he divided this wisdom into eight parts.
Sushrut Samhita, Sutra Sthana:1/6
According to ancient classical text when Brahma or the creator created Ayurveda, he divided this science into eight branches because no single person can contain all this limitless knowledge in his mind and this signifies the limitless nature of Ayurveda which cannot be contained in books. Here, I am not saying that classical Ayurvedic text is not important!
The Stepping Stones
Classical Ayurvedic Text is the very foundation for the study of Ayurveda. However, all learners of Ayurveda must understand that limitless wisdom cannot be contained in books. All these books are indicative in nature and they can help us to develop an understanding about Ayurveda, just like the books of Math, these books contain rules but they do not solve all problems of life. We can understand the rules and solve our own problems.
The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon,
but only to hold a foot long enough to put the next foot higher.
Thomas Huxley
So, let us start with the text but not end there. You see, we all are unique people. We are part of the whole and let us try to develop our own unique understanding of this wisdom and contribute our part to the whole! I invite you to contribute your share in this limitless wisdom. …
That (the universe/supreme consciousness) is whole
This (the particle/inner consciousness) is whole
The whole emerges from the whole and what remains is also whole.
Isha Upanishad
Ritucharya 