Introduction to Ayurveda
Give the book below a minute to load . . .
This flipbook contains a short movie and slideshow of nearly 600 slides
that form the basis of my presentation:
Introduction to Ayurveda
a 10-day course on Ayurveda that I have given in the United States and India.
In the course, each slide is 'unpacked' just like a sutra,
commented on by the teacher
and strung together like beads on a mala.
Over 7-10 days
I offer a wide-ranging commentary
considering
the fundamental principles, concepts
and practices of the Ayurvedic tradition as well as its
philosophical-scientific basis in
Sankhya-Yoga tradition.
I composed this slideshow-movie-presentation over the past nineteen years
and have used it for Yoga Teacher Training courses in the United States
as well as classes in Ayurveda for the general public in India.
For all of this
I am thankful to my Ayurveda Vaidya (Teacher),
Dr. Sunil Joshi, for sharing this ancient Vedic Vidya with me
during my studies at Kalidas Sanskrit University in Nagpur, India in 2004.
My emphasis in Ayurveda is not the vast range of therapies
that have been developed over thousands of years,
even though they make up an important and valuable part
of the Ayurvedic tradition.
My focus is
to share the simple, profound Ayurvedic principles and knowledge
of proper diet and lifestyle, (Ahar and Vihar), that varies for every person, where they live, time of day, season of the year and stage of life; the implementation of which prevents future sickness and corrects present imbalances;
In the process, I will always attempt to communicate the
Vedic Wisdom that has given birth
to so much of what we know today; in medicine, surgery, herbs, minerals,
yoga asanas, Vastu, Marma, physics, music, architecture,
mythology, philosophy and religion.
Ayurveda is a 'different' approach
(from western medicine)
to the law of karma
seeking first, foremost and always to remove cause and restore health
rather than treat or remove symptoms (and call that 'health').
In accord with the Yoga Sutras:
'The Suffering that has not yet come can be avoided'
('Heyam Dukham Anagatam'- Yoga Sutra 2.16) . . . and how to do that
is what I seek to offer.
The vast majority of symptoms
I have found in the westerners who have come to me,
can be and usually are removed or palliated by proper diet and lifestyle.
"The man who believes that 'nature cures 'would not sell
any 'cure' to the patient.
He teaches him the right way of living in the home.
This system would not only cure him of his particular ailment,
but also save him from falling ill in the future.
Natural healing is thus a way of life, not a course of treatment."
-- Mahatma Gandhi
This accords with the great wisdom of Ayurveda,
rooted in the 'Sanatana Dharma' (Eternal Truth) of the ancient Vedic tradition
and that is what I seek to share with this - Introductory course on Ayurveda.
If you are interested in having me present this consideration,
please contact me:
Peter Malakoff