Peace of Mind
Author: Maharishi Ayurveda Date Posted:31 October 2017
When peace of mind is hard to find life starts to feels lacking in joy or delight, much like a grey day when you would prefer the sun to shine.
Maharishi Ayurveda understands this shift in mental wellbeing in terms of imbalance which leads to feeling disconnected from your underlying self. Interestingly the Ayurvedic definition of health is ‘swastha’ which means to be established in the Self. When we say ‘I am not feeling myself’ we are innocently acknowledging that we are feeling disconnected from this underlying source of consciousness and balance within.
You may ask what causes this disconnection in the first place? We don’t like feeling sad, angry, anxious or low in energy... So if we had a choice we would prefer to stay happy right?
It must be a mistake then..
When Peace of Mind is lacking it is often due to Pragyaparadha which is the Ayurvedic term to describe a mistake of the intellect. What do we mean by a mistake of the intellect?
Vedic wisdom understands that we are connected to the rest of creation at our source. Modern physics understands this source to be the Unified Field of all the laws of nature. The physiology is an expression of this Unified field and enlivening our experience of this connection re-enlivens the intelligence in the physiology. Re-awakening this intelligence leads one to act in accordance with nature and restores the expression of the proper sequence of natural law that gives rise to perfect health.
When we forget this connection with the underlying intelligence within us then our thoughts and actions get out of synch with nature and imbalance happens. One makes decisions that gratify the senses momentarily rather than nourishing the totality of life. Examples include over eating, smoking cigarettes or being intoxicated; while this may bring temporary enjoyment, the effects are not for long term well-being. It is as if we have forgotten the consequence of our actions which disturbes the doshas and are disconnected from the reality of our choices.
- Excessive Vata can result in anxiety, panic attacks, mood swings, insomnia, poor concentration, compulsions, hyperactivity and paranoia. Vata is aggravated by insufficient food, lack of sleep, stress, trauma and over stimulation of the nervous system through drugs and excessive activity. Anything that causes the physiology to go out of its natural cycles of sleeping and eating can and will aggravate Vata and contribute towards lack of peace. Even in a balanced person, it is possible to experience hallucinations by depriving one's self of food and sleep.
- Aggravated Pitta can lead to anger, frustration, compulsions and impetuous behaviour. Aggressive behaviour or anger that seems out of proportion to the event, such as road rage, is due to excessive Pitta. Becoming obsessive about something can also stem from Pitta’s tendency towards perfectionism and needing things to be a certain way.
- Out of balance Kapha can contribute towards depression and lethargy. Feelings of despair and apathy are symptomatic of kapha’s heavy, sluggish quality manifesting in the mind.
- More severe mental disorders are often a result of more than one imbalance; manic depression or bipolar swings between an extreme Vata imbalance and an extreme Kapha imbalance. Obsessive compulsive disorders combine anxiety, due to out of balance Vata, and excessive controlling tendencies, resulting from too much Pitta.Most mental disorders will benefit from the Vata pacifying approach of a regular routine, nourishing diet, plenty of rest, warm oil massage and techniques to reconnect the mind and body such as yoga and meditation.
When we do something to restore the connection with the underlying field of consciousness within pragyaparadha can be overcome. The individual becomes reconnected to the cosmic intelligence or Unified Field which helps guide the body back to its natural healthy state.
Peace of Mind Tips
- Sleep : Be sure to get a great night sleep. Be in bed for sleep by 9.45 - 10.00pm. If you have difficulty going to sleep take Blissful Sleep 2 tablets 30 minites before bed along with a strong cup of Slumber Time Tea. Friends have commented how the find their eyelids drooping within 15 minutes of enjoying their Slumber Time Tea!
If you wake in the night or find it diffuclt to get back to sleep once you wake, take Deep Rest 2 tablets at bedtime along with Stress Relief 2 tablets.
- Good daily routine: A lifestyle in accord with the cycles of nature will help to stabilise the whole physiology. Getting up with the sun, around 6am allows you to take advantage of the energising force of Vata time (between 2am and 6am), while going to bed before 10pm is most beneficial for sleep as you are settling down in heavy Kapha time (between 6pm and 10pm) and are asleep before fiery Pitta time re-energises you. Pitta time at night is when cellular metabolism takes place and this is most effective when you are resting.
- Daily Oil Massage: A warm oil massage is particularly soothing to Vata as it helps to pacify the mind and ground the body.
- Yoga: Asana yoga postures provide neuromuscular integration and have been shown to reduce neuroticism, decrease mental fatigue, improve cognitive performance and relieve anxiety and tension.
- Food provides fuel for our bodies, what we eat and drink gets transformed into our physiology. We are aware that we need to include certain food into our diet for healthy bones, strong muscles etc. Well the same is true of our brain. Deficiencies in particular types of foods can mean that the brain is not getting what it needs to create the neuro-chemicals that make us feel good.
- Food that is particularly beneficial to the brain and mental well-being is fresh, organic food, fresh juices, food that has been freshly cooked (reheated, processed, GM food can disturb the physiology’s intelligence), ghee, black pepper (clears the channels of the brain), medjool dates, almonds, walnuts, juicy pears and warm, boiled milk.
- To balance Vata favour a diet of warm, cooked food without predominantly sweet, sour and salty tastes such as carrots, sweet potato, zucchini, ghee, milk, soft cheeses, rice, cous-cous, pasta, mung dahl, stewed fruit and raisins.
- In the case of Pitta related disorders it is important to reduce spicy, acidic food and stimulants of any kind and favour fresh, foods with sweet, astringent and bitter tastes such as sweet fruit, small amounts of dairy products except hard cheese and yogurt, leafy greens, wholeg rains and ghee.
- Kapha related conditions, such as depression, benefit from regular exercise, early rising, uplifting mental stimulation, fresh foods that are predominantly bitter, astringent and pungent in taste such as ginger, fenugreek, mild curry, leafy greens, whole grains, legumes and apples. It is best to have only small amounts of dairy products such as ghee and milk and to avoid heavy, sweet, cold food.
- Food that is particularly beneficial to the brain and mental well-being is fresh, organic food, fresh juices, food that has been freshly cooked (reheated, processed, GM food can disturb the physiology’s intelligence), ghee, black pepper (clears the channels of the brain), medjool dates, almonds, walnuts, juicy pears and warm, boiled milk.
- Maharishi Ayurveda also recommends certain herbal preparations and aromas that uplift and stabilise the emotions.
- Blissful Joy is great when energy and or mood is low and you feel the need for a pick me up.
- Pitta Rasayana is a tonic for Pitta dosha and helps to calm an agitated or over heated mind and body.
- Worry Free is excellent at helping to ease and calm a worried mind.
- Blissful Joy is great when energy and or mood is low and you feel the need for a pick me up.
- Ghandarva Veda music is also used to create balance and improve well-being. This traditional classical music from India, it is precisely calculated to have a positive effect on dosha balance.
- 8.Last but not least practicisng Transcendental Meditation NZ | AUS is the most effective way to reconnect with nature’s intelligence within you. Transcendental Meditation is a mental practice to put the body and mind into a state of deep relaxation and rest. This automatically results in reduced anxiety and increases resilience to stress along with increased creativity, increased happiness and you guessed it.. More peace of mind!
Wishing you the bliss of balance this week and always.
Linda Sinden and the Get Balance Team
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Linda Sinden has been a practising Maharishi Ayurveda Consultant since 1990 and is a regular contributor to our weekly Insights. She has a practice in Auckland, New Zealand and also provides phone or Skype sessions for those who need assistance, but don’t have a consultant in their vicinity. Email: lindasinden@orbislife.co.nz Skype: Linda.Sinden |
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