3 Causes of Disease According to Ayurveda
It's a new week my friends! How are you feeling? Who got vaccinated this week? I am really looking forward to seeing all of you again in person sometime soon.
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Welcome new subscribers this month! I am truly grateful for your interest. Everyone who opens these notes each week helps keep me motivated and inspired to share more :) Feel free to send me an email if there is a topic you'd be interested in learning about from an Ayurvedic perspective.
This week, I am sharing a HUGE and important part of understanding Ayurveda and that is:
The 3 Main Causes of Disease in the body
You might remember the word sattva. Sattva is one of the three gunas (energetic forces that weave together to form the universe and everything in it. The other two are Rajas and Tamas) and means purity or clarity and is related to the mind being calm and tranquil. This is said to be our natural state. You know you're experiencing sattva when you feel balanced, relaxed, and at ease. When imbalances occur in the mind, disruption begins in the body. It is from this disruption that dis-ease begins to form.
Ayurveda says there are three main causes of disease:
1) Prajnaparadha - Crimes against wisdom or "mistakes of the intellect"
2) Asatmendriyartha samyoga - Abuse of the senses
3) Parinama - Time
Prajnaparadhawhen you purposefully sabotage your health and wellbeing by making poor choices over and over again when you know the risks.
It might happen slowly. You know you shouldn't stay up late binge watching another episode because you'll be dragging all day tomorrow but, you do it anyway. This in and of itself is not bad, but when you find you're doing it constantly, abusing sleep night after night your body will break down and you will become sick. Or, maybe you're eating poorly despite knowing how unnutritious the food is, making excuses for yourself that you're too busy to cook, or drinking in the evening night after night telling yourself you need it to relax. Even over-working when you know it's too much on your nervous system is a "crime" against your wisdom. Disregarding your intelligence and common sense will bring you down! Don't trick yourself with your intelligent mind and think it won't matter! This is such an important concept to understand. We will stop at nothing to get what we want if given the opportunity, right? We'll find ways of validating what we want by finding "real information" to back us up, or claims that support our desires when deep, down we really "know" what would serve us better and keep us healthier. With all that said, remember, you're human. We all ignore what we know is good for us sometimes, that's not a bad thing, but be cautious that you don't let these things turn into cravings or addictions.
Asatmendriyartha samyoga- The overuse, misuse or abuse of the sense organs.
Our senses are delicate and the way we see, taste, smell, feel and hear the world determines how we experience our life. When we stare at devices all day, bombard our ears with loud music or taste too much processed food we confuse the flow of our natural state which leads to confusion in the body and spirit and can eventually lead to disease.
Parinama - Time, the seasons and aging
This is the natural rhythmic process of decay over time, the most inevitable part of aging and death. The big problem here is that you can speed up the process of aging by not living in synch with nature's rhythms, and honoring your time of life.
In short, don't let your mind trick you into ignoring what you know is good, common sense, take care of your senses and live in accordance of the seasons and your time of life and you will avoid falling ill from preventable disease.
There is so much more to share about these three causes of disease, but for now, just re-read this a few times, reflect on what you might be able to bring more attention to, and do the best you can!
Ayurveda supports the 80-20 rule. 80% of the time do the very best you can and 20% of the time relax and enjoy yourself.
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Have a fantastic week!
In Health,
Julie Konrad