Doshas, Dallas and the universe

[Guest guest]

, ayurveda folks!

 

My introduction to traditional Indian wellness has been through the work of BKS

Iyengar (*Light on Life* and other work), Maya Tiwari (*A Life of Balance*),

Deepak Chopra, and other American sources - including this listserve.

Although I've been interested in these ideas and their application for a number

of years, my understanding is still elementary, possibly because I'm so caught

by the profundity of their most basic precepts.

 

I'm from Dallas, where we have large, friendly Indian and Pakistani (and every

other international you can name) communities and a thriving yoga community. We

all share a big blue Texas prairie sky and have the opportunity to be very

healthy here in spite of big city pollution and noise. We have access to fresh,

organic fruits and vegetables, international grocery vendors with all kinds

spices and medicinal herbs, Master Chef Manjuali Devi who teaches at our

Kalachandji's restaurant which is part of a big Krishna temple community, lots

of hike and bike trails, mostly positive attitudes, mostly good weather, and all

the healthy chaos the artistic and intellectual energy of such a diverse

populace can bring to a long summer day.

 

Part of my interest in this listserve is the international nature of the

discussion. Also, it is possible that I might meet someone on this listserve

who lives close-by, and would help me find more local events and opportunities

to learn about ayurveda.

 

Now that I've introduced myself, here's my topic for discussion:

 

Do I understand correctly that the doshas, as a concept, describe the most

fundamental aspects of universal manifestation? What is real or can be

apprehended by the human mind can thus be described by them as

 

1. movement, space, both force and vacuum (vata),

 

2. transformation, direction, fire - also felt as intention and purpose

(pitta),

 

3. form and substance, including earth and water (kapha.)

 

Therefore, all causes and effects, including illness, may be seen as composed of

these forces or aspects of reality.

 

Now, that's what I call profound.

 

All the best, Jenni