NewVision Natural Health Est. February 5, 2009
Creating Elemental Balance
The Elements At Play
August 2016 I sat my first 10 day Vipassana Course. The first three days were spent learning Anapana (observation of natural, normal respiration as it comes in, as it goes out) which is preparing one to learn Vipassana Meditation technique--likened to preparing one for energetic surgery. The longer your able to sit comfortably without moving is the best way to observe sensations as they arise and pass away like an ocean wave, just like our breath as it comes in and goes out, naturally--without control. By Day 3, just from sitting still about 10 hours per day in intervals of 1 hour, I started to experience gross sensation over my right shoulder. It felt dense/heavy, then burning, then a cooling fluid sensation came and fluttered away. I had experienced something similar to the butterfly fluttering sensation before after taking a homeopathic remedy and in that moment I realized, we are the remedy that we long for. On Day 4, as we began learning the technique, scanning the body from head to toe, then in reverse order, it only seemed natural as we began sweeping the body to do a full body cleansing breath, breathing in foot to head and exhaling head to foot. I didn't know it at the time but I was going ahead. Then suddenly a sensation began in the lower areas of my body, base of spine, throughout legs as as they began shaking then up my spine throughout entire body. It felt as though having intense contractions paired with an orgasmic blissful ecstasy. I came to learn much later on that what I was experiencing was an awakening of spiritual energy--likened to that of Kundalini rising.
Since then, I vowed to continue attending or serving 10 Day Vipassana Courses annually. I learned that it is higher to serve then to donate and that Vipassana Meditation centers are in need of assistant teachers to continue passing down the scientific yet simple and profound meditation technique that Siddhartha Gautama practiced as he became the Buddha or the awakened one. This technique was taken underground and kept in its purest form only taught to monks in monasteries for 2,500 years. Knowing that it would one day be needed to conquer darkness as we live in the Kali Yuga cycle, entering Age of Aquarius. Vipassana Meditation came to the west by S.N. Goenka. I made it my high calling to become Yoga Acharya so that in the future I may assistant teach Vipassana Meditation courses. To understand how fortunate one is to attend a 10 Day Course during this lifetime read short bio of Sayagyi U Ba Khin.
Every time I attend a course whether as student or server, there is a profound impact on my life. It is the ultimate purification of the elements from gross to subtle, in a simple, quiet, serine, safe, and lovingly charged atmosphere.
"The time-clock of Vipassana has now struck-that is, for the revival of Vipassana Practice. We have no doubt whatsoever that definite results would accrue to those who would, with an open mind, sincerely undergo a course of training under a competent teacher-I mean results which will be accepted as, concrete, vivid, personal, here-and-now; results which will keep in good stead and in a state of well-being and happiness for the rest of their lives." ~Sayagyi
After sustained trauma and injury to the body-- my studies have lead me back to go deeper into the teachings of Ayurvedya (Science of Life) the first form of medicine, I now understand that everything I have learned, and practiced stems form this ancient healing art.
According to yogic philosophy--In the spiritual evolution of man. Ayurveda is the foundation. Yoga is the body and Tantra is the head. It is necessary first to understand Ayurveda in order to experience the practices of Yoga and Tantra. Thus, Ayurveda, Yoga and Tantra form an interdependent trinity of life. None of these practices stands alone. The health of the body, mind, and consciousness, depends on the knowledge and practice of these three in daily life.
The goal of Ayurvedya is balance--keeping the Doshas-- Kapha (water & earth), Pitta (fire & water) and Vata (air & ether) in their seats where they manifested through the five elements.
Seat of Kapha (biological water) -- The chest. Cements the elements in the body, providing material for physical structure. Responsible for biological strength and natural tissue resistance. Lubricates the joints; provides moisture to the skin; helps to heal wounds; fills the spaces in the body; gives, strength, vigor, stability; supports memory retention; gives energy to the heart and lungs and maintains immunity. It is present in the chest, throat, head, sinuses, nose, mouth, stomach, joints, cytoplasm, plasma and liquid secretions of the body such as mucus.
Seat of Pitta (bodily heat-energy)-- The small intestine, stomach, sweat glands, blood, fat, eyes and skin. Ruling over digestion, absorption, assimilation, nutrition, metabolism, body temperature, skin coloration, the luster of the eyes; intelligence and understanding.
Seat of Vata (bodily air)-- The large intestine, pelvic cavity, bones, skin, ears and thighs. Governs biological movement - breathing, blinking of eyelids, movements in the muscles and tissues, pulsations in the heart; all expansion and contraction, the movement of cytoplasm and the cell membranes, and the movement of the single impulses in nerve cells. Excess vata will accumulate in these areas.
Dr. Vasant Lad wrote in Ayurvda The Science of Self-Healing, "The constitution is called prakriti in Sanskrit, a term meaning "nature," "creativity" or "the first creation." In the body, the first expression of the basic five elements is the constitution. The basic constitution of the individual remains unaltered during the lifetime, as it is genetically determined. The combination of elements present at birth remains constant. However, the combination of elements that governs the continuous physiopathological changes in the body alters in response to changes in the environment."
"Bliss is the essential nature of man. The central fact of man's being is his inherent divinity."
The medical system of Ayurveda is based on three fundamental concepts:
The Seven Dhatus
Dr. Lad states, "By any method, by any means, by any technique or system, if it creates balance between dosha, dhatu, mala, and agni, between prakruti and vikruti, between ojas, tejas and prana, and re-establishes harmony between body, mind and consciousness, that is called chikitsa." Chikitsa means therapy, treatment or management. It is a broad umbrella encompassing many therapies. Marma chikitsa is the understanding and therapeutic use of marmani--energy points--to balance body, mind and spirit. It is mostly used alongside other types of Ayurvedic therapies. Tanmatra chikitsa involves each of the five sensory pathways of perception as an avenue for treatment . For example, sound therapy uses mantra (sound vibrations), touch therapy uses Marama chikitsa and massage, visual therapy utilizes colors in chromotherapy, and olfactory therapy utilizes essential oils in aromatherapy. Each therapeutic modality has a role and place within Ayurvedic Treatment.
Two important branches are: Shamana, Palliation of Doshas via Marmani is a therapy that pacifies aggravated doshas by enkinding agni, but does not eliminate the excess doshas from the body. Shamana involves techniques such as fasting, exercise, pranayama (breath control) and sun or moon bathing. Other methods include oil massage, application of herbal paste, and shirodhara (pouring a gentle stream of warm oil on the forehead and "third eye" area). Shamana is a milder therapy and is recommended when the body is too weak to undergo deeper cleansing--such as in the of Panchakarma. In Shodhana, the doshas should be "ripe" or mature and ready to be eliminated out of the body, so stronger measures are required. Shamana is the phase of burning ama and neutralizing excess doshas locally. Shodhana is cleansing and detoxification. Panchakarma (panch = five, karma = action) is on e widely utilized branch or subclassification of shodhana that incorporate basti (medicated enemas (internal/external) virechana (therapeutic purging), vamana (therapeutic vomiting), nasya (nasal administration of medicated oils and herbal powders) and rakta moksha (blood-letting/donating blood). To prepare the body for panchakarma , snehana (oleation) and svedana (sudation) are performed first. Then, through the five cleansing actions, accumulated doshas that are present in the marmani, tissues, organs, channels or tother khavaigunyas (defective organs) are removed from the body. Herbal remedies, fasting and exerciese also cleanse the body and are a form of shodhana.
Some implementations after assessment may include:
Five Element Chitkitsa
Tanmatra Related Cognitive Sensory Associated Effect
Element Organ Perception Therapy
Sound Space Ears Hearing Mantra chikitsa Balances space element of cell
Touch Air Skin Feeling Marma chikitsa Improves cellular communication
Color Fire Eyes Seeing Chromotherapy Enhances agni/balances cellular metabolism Taste Water Tongue Tasting Dietary Therapy Improves cellular nutrition
Smell Earth Nose Smelling Aromatherapy Creates mineral balance at cellular level
Panchikarana (quintuplication) No I, no me --negate all the phenomena relating to the body.
If one meditates directly on each of the physical elements he reaches the subtle elements, which make up the Astral world, or the world of the mind. In reality the world only appears physical, but it's a mental world.
The gross, physical reality only appears to be so, actually it is subtle, Astral, like a dream.
Play of the Elements
Gross Ether Air Fire Water Earth
Ether (space of the heart) Grief Desire Anger Delusion Fear
Air (desire) Expansion Running Bending Walking Contraction
Fire (anger) Sleep Thirst Hunger Luster Laziness
Water (delusion) Saliva Sweat Urine Semen Blood
Earth (fear) Hair Skin Arteries Flesh Bone
Ether is experienced in the heart Chakra: grief is the main quality, feeling of void, desire is fleeting like air, anger is hot like fire, delusion is all pervading like water, fear makes one freeze like ice, solid, or earth. They truly belong to the Astral body, although they are experienced in the physical body.
For example, If someone says, "I am grieving", grief is in the mind, where as one is witnessing consciousness.
One negates by saying: grief is the ether portion of the quintuplicated (gross) ether element, it is not the Atman (Self). Same for desire etc. These qualities are not mine, neither they are me. By understanding this, one can give up the two forms of Adhyaroopa: I, mine.
We live in a virtual reality or holographic nature-- bound by emotions one feels limited, leading them into darkness/unconsciousness or rajasic/tamasic tendencies. Understand what "I" feel as emotions is play of the elements. Say Neti Neti, (not this, not that) -- understand what you're actually experiencing.
Vipassana explains that there are 4 Types of people in the world:
Sat (truth) Chit (knowledge ) Ananda (bliss/joy)
Yoga asana and meditation practice can help transmute stuck emotions/stagnant energy/elements within the body.
The Five Points of Yoga are:
Experience Satsang
Sivananda Daily Chants
Sivananda Ashram Bahamas Free Live Satsang via Zoom Daily 6am and 8pm Est.
Bhaja Mana Ma - A simple but dynamic Devi Kirtan, Devi Kirtans praise the Divine Mother. Ananda means bliss, supreme happiness and heavenly joy. Ma is the universal name for mother in many languages. Devi is God in the female form as the universal mother. Consciousness, also called Brahman, Śiva, Atman, Purusha is the static, male pole. Creation, also called Maya, Shakti, Prakriti is the dynamic, female pole. For many it is easier to approach God in a female form: As the relationship towards the earthly mother is usually stronger than towards the father, it is easier to come close to Durga than to Śiva. Devi is manifested as the physical, astral and causal universe, uses the powers of creation, preservation and destruction. She is present in the individual as Maya (illusion), Avidya (ignorance), Trishna (craving) and Krodha (anger). She is also present as Viveka (discrimination) and Mumukshutva (yearning for liberation). As the Devi Mahatmya puts it, she is both the cause for bondage (Bhukti) and liberation (Mukti) of the individual. As everything is her manifestation, nothing is possible without her Grace.
I Am Not This Body, This Body is Not Mine - Song of Will
Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realize - Kirtan Sessions
Since then, I vowed to continue attending or serving 10 Day Vipassana Courses annually. I learned that it is higher to serve then to donate and that Vipassana Meditation centers are in need of assistant teachers to continue passing down the scientific yet simple and profound meditation technique that Siddhartha Gautama practiced as he became the Buddha or the awakened one. This technique was taken underground and kept in its purest form only taught to monks in monasteries for 2,500 years. Knowing that it would one day be needed to conquer darkness as we live in the Kali Yuga cycle, entering Age of Aquarius. Vipassana Meditation came to the west by S.N. Goenka. I made it my high calling to become Yoga Acharya so that in the future I may assistant teach Vipassana Meditation courses. To understand how fortunate one is to attend a 10 Day Course during this lifetime read short bio of Sayagyi U Ba Khin.
Every time I attend a course whether as student or server, there is a profound impact on my life. It is the ultimate purification of the elements from gross to subtle, in a simple, quiet, serine, safe, and lovingly charged atmosphere.
"The time-clock of Vipassana has now struck-that is, for the revival of Vipassana Practice. We have no doubt whatsoever that definite results would accrue to those who would, with an open mind, sincerely undergo a course of training under a competent teacher-I mean results which will be accepted as, concrete, vivid, personal, here-and-now; results which will keep in good stead and in a state of well-being and happiness for the rest of their lives." ~Sayagyi
After sustained trauma and injury to the body-- my studies have lead me back to go deeper into the teachings of Ayurvedya (Science of Life) the first form of medicine, I now understand that everything I have learned, and practiced stems form this ancient healing art.
According to yogic philosophy--In the spiritual evolution of man. Ayurveda is the foundation. Yoga is the body and Tantra is the head. It is necessary first to understand Ayurveda in order to experience the practices of Yoga and Tantra. Thus, Ayurveda, Yoga and Tantra form an interdependent trinity of life. None of these practices stands alone. The health of the body, mind, and consciousness, depends on the knowledge and practice of these three in daily life.
The goal of Ayurvedya is balance--keeping the Doshas-- Kapha (water & earth), Pitta (fire & water) and Vata (air & ether) in their seats where they manifested through the five elements.
Seat of Kapha (biological water) -- The chest. Cements the elements in the body, providing material for physical structure. Responsible for biological strength and natural tissue resistance. Lubricates the joints; provides moisture to the skin; helps to heal wounds; fills the spaces in the body; gives, strength, vigor, stability; supports memory retention; gives energy to the heart and lungs and maintains immunity. It is present in the chest, throat, head, sinuses, nose, mouth, stomach, joints, cytoplasm, plasma and liquid secretions of the body such as mucus.
Seat of Pitta (bodily heat-energy)-- The small intestine, stomach, sweat glands, blood, fat, eyes and skin. Ruling over digestion, absorption, assimilation, nutrition, metabolism, body temperature, skin coloration, the luster of the eyes; intelligence and understanding.
Seat of Vata (bodily air)-- The large intestine, pelvic cavity, bones, skin, ears and thighs. Governs biological movement - breathing, blinking of eyelids, movements in the muscles and tissues, pulsations in the heart; all expansion and contraction, the movement of cytoplasm and the cell membranes, and the movement of the single impulses in nerve cells. Excess vata will accumulate in these areas.
Dr. Vasant Lad wrote in Ayurvda The Science of Self-Healing, "The constitution is called prakriti in Sanskrit, a term meaning "nature," "creativity" or "the first creation." In the body, the first expression of the basic five elements is the constitution. The basic constitution of the individual remains unaltered during the lifetime, as it is genetically determined. The combination of elements present at birth remains constant. However, the combination of elements that governs the continuous physiopathological changes in the body alters in response to changes in the environment."
"Bliss is the essential nature of man. The central fact of man's being is his inherent divinity."
The medical system of Ayurveda is based on three fundamental concepts:
- Prakriti - The individual constitution (5 elements/3 doshas)
- Vikriti - The nature of imbalance
- Lifestyle - The cause of the imbalance
The Seven Dhatus
- Rasa (plasma) contains nutrients from digested food and nourishes all the tissues, organ and systems.
- Rakta (blood) governs oxygenation in all tissues and vital organs and maintains life.
- Mamsa (muscle) covers the delicate vital organs, performs the movements of the joints and maintains the physical strength of the body.
- Meda (fat) maintains the lubrication and oiliness of all the tissues.
- Asthi (bone) gives support to the body structure.
- Majja (marrow and nerves) fills up the bony spaces and carries motor and sensory impulses.
- Shukra and Artav (reproductive tissues) contain the ingredients of all tissues and are responsible for reproduction.
Dr. Lad states, "By any method, by any means, by any technique or system, if it creates balance between dosha, dhatu, mala, and agni, between prakruti and vikruti, between ojas, tejas and prana, and re-establishes harmony between body, mind and consciousness, that is called chikitsa." Chikitsa means therapy, treatment or management. It is a broad umbrella encompassing many therapies. Marma chikitsa is the understanding and therapeutic use of marmani--energy points--to balance body, mind and spirit. It is mostly used alongside other types of Ayurvedic therapies. Tanmatra chikitsa involves each of the five sensory pathways of perception as an avenue for treatment . For example, sound therapy uses mantra (sound vibrations), touch therapy uses Marama chikitsa and massage, visual therapy utilizes colors in chromotherapy, and olfactory therapy utilizes essential oils in aromatherapy. Each therapeutic modality has a role and place within Ayurvedic Treatment.
Two important branches are: Shamana, Palliation of Doshas via Marmani is a therapy that pacifies aggravated doshas by enkinding agni, but does not eliminate the excess doshas from the body. Shamana involves techniques such as fasting, exercise, pranayama (breath control) and sun or moon bathing. Other methods include oil massage, application of herbal paste, and shirodhara (pouring a gentle stream of warm oil on the forehead and "third eye" area). Shamana is a milder therapy and is recommended when the body is too weak to undergo deeper cleansing--such as in the of Panchakarma. In Shodhana, the doshas should be "ripe" or mature and ready to be eliminated out of the body, so stronger measures are required. Shamana is the phase of burning ama and neutralizing excess doshas locally. Shodhana is cleansing and detoxification. Panchakarma (panch = five, karma = action) is on e widely utilized branch or subclassification of shodhana that incorporate basti (medicated enemas (internal/external) virechana (therapeutic purging), vamana (therapeutic vomiting), nasya (nasal administration of medicated oils and herbal powders) and rakta moksha (blood-letting/donating blood). To prepare the body for panchakarma , snehana (oleation) and svedana (sudation) are performed first. Then, through the five cleansing actions, accumulated doshas that are present in the marmani, tissues, organs, channels or tother khavaigunyas (defective organs) are removed from the body. Herbal remedies, fasting and exerciese also cleanse the body and are a form of shodhana.
Some implementations after assessment may include:
- Diet (menu planning)
- Lifestyle recommendations for balance
- Yoga, meditation, pranayama
- Cleansing practices for daily and seasonal routines
- Herbal protocols
- Body treatments
Five Element Chitkitsa
Tanmatra Related Cognitive Sensory Associated Effect
Element Organ Perception Therapy
Sound Space Ears Hearing Mantra chikitsa Balances space element of cell
Touch Air Skin Feeling Marma chikitsa Improves cellular communication
Color Fire Eyes Seeing Chromotherapy Enhances agni/balances cellular metabolism Taste Water Tongue Tasting Dietary Therapy Improves cellular nutrition
Smell Earth Nose Smelling Aromatherapy Creates mineral balance at cellular level
Panchikarana (quintuplication) No I, no me --negate all the phenomena relating to the body.
If one meditates directly on each of the physical elements he reaches the subtle elements, which make up the Astral world, or the world of the mind. In reality the world only appears physical, but it's a mental world.
The gross, physical reality only appears to be so, actually it is subtle, Astral, like a dream.
Play of the Elements
Gross Ether Air Fire Water Earth
Ether (space of the heart) Grief Desire Anger Delusion Fear
Air (desire) Expansion Running Bending Walking Contraction
Fire (anger) Sleep Thirst Hunger Luster Laziness
Water (delusion) Saliva Sweat Urine Semen Blood
Earth (fear) Hair Skin Arteries Flesh Bone
Ether is experienced in the heart Chakra: grief is the main quality, feeling of void, desire is fleeting like air, anger is hot like fire, delusion is all pervading like water, fear makes one freeze like ice, solid, or earth. They truly belong to the Astral body, although they are experienced in the physical body.
For example, If someone says, "I am grieving", grief is in the mind, where as one is witnessing consciousness.
One negates by saying: grief is the ether portion of the quintuplicated (gross) ether element, it is not the Atman (Self). Same for desire etc. These qualities are not mine, neither they are me. By understanding this, one can give up the two forms of Adhyaroopa: I, mine.
We live in a virtual reality or holographic nature-- bound by emotions one feels limited, leading them into darkness/unconsciousness or rajasic/tamasic tendencies. Understand what "I" feel as emotions is play of the elements. Say Neti Neti, (not this, not that) -- understand what you're actually experiencing.
Vipassana explains that there are 4 Types of people in the world:
- Darkness leading towards darkness
- Brightness leading towards darkness
- Darkness leading towards brightness
- Brightness leading towards brightness
Sat (truth) Chit (knowledge ) Ananda (bliss/joy)
Yoga asana and meditation practice can help transmute stuck emotions/stagnant energy/elements within the body.
The Five Points of Yoga are:
- Proper Exercise - Asanas -Sivananda Hatha Yoga
- Proper Breathing - Pranayama - Kapalabathi ~ Anuloma Viloma
- Proper Relaxation - Savasana
- Proper Diet - Vegetarian
- Positive Thinking and Meditation - Vedanta and Dhyana
Experience Satsang
Sivananda Daily Chants
Sivananda Ashram Bahamas Free Live Satsang via Zoom Daily 6am and 8pm Est.
Bhaja Mana Ma - A simple but dynamic Devi Kirtan, Devi Kirtans praise the Divine Mother. Ananda means bliss, supreme happiness and heavenly joy. Ma is the universal name for mother in many languages. Devi is God in the female form as the universal mother. Consciousness, also called Brahman, Śiva, Atman, Purusha is the static, male pole. Creation, also called Maya, Shakti, Prakriti is the dynamic, female pole. For many it is easier to approach God in a female form: As the relationship towards the earthly mother is usually stronger than towards the father, it is easier to come close to Durga than to Śiva. Devi is manifested as the physical, astral and causal universe, uses the powers of creation, preservation and destruction. She is present in the individual as Maya (illusion), Avidya (ignorance), Trishna (craving) and Krodha (anger). She is also present as Viveka (discrimination) and Mumukshutva (yearning for liberation). As the Devi Mahatmya puts it, she is both the cause for bondage (Bhukti) and liberation (Mukti) of the individual. As everything is her manifestation, nothing is possible without her Grace.
I Am Not This Body, This Body is Not Mine - Song of Will
Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realize - Kirtan Sessions
