Wisdom from Ayurveda and the Bhagavad Gita
When life becomes difficult and the road feels bumpy, turning to the wisdom of Ayurveda and spiritual teachings has offered me profound guidance. Esteemed teachers in the West like Vasant Lad, Dr. John Douillard, Dr. Robert Svoboda, Dr. David Frawley, and the timeless Bhagavad Gita provide unique yet spiritually aligned perspectives to help us navigate adversity. I want to share it with you in this blog. May it inspire and help you!
Vasant Lad – Ayurvedic Perspective
Vasant Lad emphasizes the importance of balancing the mind, body, and spirit through daily routines, inner awareness, and a connection with nature. His recommendations for tough times include:
- Dinacharya (Daily Routine): Establishing a structured routine helps ground the mind amidst chaos.
- Abhyanga (Self-Oil Massage): This nurturing ritual calms emotional stress.
- Pranayama and Meditation: These practices still the mind’s fluctuations.
- Herbs and Diet: Support the nervous system with ashwagandha, tulsi, and warm, grounding foods.
- Self-Inquiry and Surrender: Trust life as a teacher. As Lad often says, “Don’t try to control life. Observe it. Learn from it.”
Key Idea: Suffering often arises from resistance. Accept, balance, and move gently.
Dr. John Douillard – Modern Ayurvedic & Yogic Integration
Dr. John Douillard integrates Ayurveda with Western science, focusing on resilience and returning to one’s true nature. His advice includes:
- Breathing Techniques (e.g., Alternate Nostril Breathing): Calm stress and reset the nervous system.
- Letting Go of Emotional Attachment: Emotions are transient; avoid over-identifying with them.
- Returning to Rhythm: Proper sleep, mealtimes, and exercise help reset the body’s natural intelligence.
- Spiritual Mindset: Hardship often signals a need to realign with purpose and dharma.
Key Idea: Hardship indicates disconnection from natural rhythm or soul purpose. Return to balance and truth.
Dr. Robert Svoboda – Tantric & Classical Vedic Approach
Dr. Robert Svoboda offers a mystical view grounded in Ayurveda, Jyotisha (Vedic astrology), and Tantra. He suggests:
- Karma and Time (Kala): Hard times may be karmic; patience and non-reactivity are essential.
- Surrender to the Goddess (Shakti): Cultivate humility and devotion, especially during challenging astrological periods.
- Understanding Cycles: Life is cyclical; darkness is followed by light.
- Rituals and Mantras: Use spiritual practice as a grounding force.
Key Idea: Life’s challenges purify. Endure, reflect, and transmute through spiritual practice.
Dr. David Frawley – Vedic Wisdom and Inner Transformation
Dr. David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri) blends Ayurveda, Vedanta, and Yoga to guide inner transformation. He emphasizes:
- Jnana Yoga (Path of Wisdom): Understanding suffering through self-knowledge.
- Aligning with Dharma: Know your deeper purpose beyond temporary emotions.
- Mantra and Devotion: Cultivate inner strength through mantra repetition and connection to the Divine.
- Vedic Psychology: Look beyond the surface mind to the inner Self (Atman).
Key Idea: True healing begins with turning inward. Know yourself as eternal consciousness, not the body or mind.
Bhagavad Gita – Spiritual Guide Through Adversity
The Bhagavad Gita, spoken on a battlefield, serves as a profound metaphor for both inner and outer struggle. Key teachings include:
- Do Your Duty (Svadharma): Perform duties without attachment to results.
- Equanimity (Samatvam): Success and failure are impermanent.
- Act Without Ego (Karma Yoga): Offer actions to the Divine.
- Remember the Self (Atman): You are not this limited body-mind.
- Seek Refuge in the Divine: Spiritual surrender brings peace.
Key Verses:
“You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.”(BG 2.47)
“Be steadfast in yoga, O Arjuna. Perform your duty and abandon all attachment to success or failure. Such evenness of mind is called yoga.” (BG 2.48)
“Take refuge in Me alone. I will liberate you from all sins. Do not grieve.” (BG 18.66)
Summary Table: Key Teachings for Life’s Challenges
| Source | Key Recommendation When Life Gets Hard |
|---|---|
| Vasant Lad | Ground in daily self-care, observe rather than control |
| John Douillard | Return to nature’s rhythms, breathe, realign with purpose |
| Robert Svoboda | Accept karma, deepen spiritual practice, endure with wisdom |
| David Frawley | Turn inward, embrace dharma, strengthen inner awareness |
| Bhagavad Gita | Do your duty with detachment, seek inner Self, surrender to the Divine |
Recommended Reading
Deepen your understanding of these teachings through the following books by the authors and sources mentioned:
- Vasant Lad – Ayurveda: The Science of Self-Healing
A practical and accessible introduction to Ayurvedic lifestyle, self-care, and natural healing. - Dr. John Douillard – Body, Mind, and Sport
Explores how to achieve flow states through breathwork, daily rhythms, and Ayurvedic principles. - Dr. Robert Svoboda – Aghora: At the Left Hand of God
A powerful exploration of Tantra, karma, and spiritual transformation through the teachings of Vimalananda. - Dr. David Frawley – Inner Tantric Yoga: Working with the Universal Shakti
Integrates Yoga, Vedanta, and Tantra to help you harness inner energies and awaken higher consciousness. - Bhagavad Gita – The Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation by Eknath Easwaran
A spiritually rich and accessible translation of this timeless guide to inner strength and self-realization.
Closing Thoughts
Incorporating these timeless teachings into your life can provide a powerful roadmap for navigating challenges with grace, clarity, and spiritual resilience. Whether through Ayurvedic routines, yogic breathing, understanding karma, or surrendering to the Divine, each path leads to the same essential truth: your inner Self is whole, wise, and eternal.
Join me in my Fundamentals of Ayurvedic medicine year program where we explore all of this. Visit www.sankalpaayurvedacollege.com for more details. Love and peace Riïm
