AYURVEDA, The Art of Life - Comments

At first, when the distribution company of the documentary-film asked the support of EL.E.M.E.E.A. on the screening and presented to us its thematic content, I had reserves on and if it would be wise to show this documentary-film to the Greek public nowadays. This because, after living enough time in India close to ayurvedic physicians and healers, in health institutions of various types, spa, clinics and hospitals that apply this traditional system of health, it is my conviction that all this experience is very difficult to be transported rightly, unless someone has some degree of personal experience and has developed a relative awareness. Thereafter, personally me and many others thought that perhaps the projection of the film is a chance for some things and situations come to the front, and, finally, with the right informing, defence and protection may contribute to the better fame of the science of Ayurveda.  Thus, we decided as EL.E.M.E.E.A. to support the projection of this film.

Today, after having watched this film-documentary, I admit that I am fulfilled because personally and with the background I possess, I judge that the film is quite good.  Certainly, it could be even much better.  But whoever watched the film and are, in some degree, aware and know how to distinguish, they will surely receive the appropriate messages; but, those that are not, they will probably remain with the  impression that Ayurveda is an obsolete traditional system of therapeutics, likely a “third-world” like one, that uses a lot of “oil and mud”.  Of course, this is not true…! 

I think that if the movie producers had taken care of anticipating all these thoughts, they would bring out those details that would place the science in the position that it suits to have in the Western world.
The ayurvedic system, as the native traditional health system of India, may be well applied in the popular base of this country and at the same time in luxurious spas, clinics, hospitals of both this country and many other countries, internationally.  In my opinion, the film could contain some details, not so much for me and those who possess the relative knowledge and experience, but for those whose judgement data are more “conventional”.  And this, because there are many good details and arguments that can convince the well-intentioned, restless, “conventional” seeker.
In particular, there were presented scenes of the ayurvedic system as this is applied in the economically weak classes of the Indian population.  India is a country that many “extremes” come together, which is not accidental.   Therefore, there is both the great poverty that is not experienced by «West» and the wealth that is seldom met - and all these in a context of spirituality that nearly demystifies them.  So, the poor is not miserable and the rich is not arrogant.  Thus, within this “knock-down” poverty, there is applied a system in which the physician is supposed to examine 100 or 150 persons per day, almost free of charge or earning a sub-standard wage.  Despite all these adverse conditions, treatments are taking place that finally ease the pain and disease of people.  Isn’t this amazing?

When I first asked a vaidya (ayurvedic physician) why the hygiene rules are not always kept, he answered that these people do not need these rules and they do not demand them.  They own the relative possible immunogenic system.  So simple!
Of course, when all these are applied in other groups of people or other patterns of countries, then the things and the hygiene rules will surely change.  Indeed, even in India, there exist clinics, hospitals, spas that apply the healing system of Ayurveda in such a way and observe the hygiene rules so that one “squirms to enter the place”.  In this places, of course, there are not 150 patients corresponding to 1 doctor, neither the visit costs 1 euro.  I admit that also me, I prefer the more “balanced” situations, where the benefits are combined with the modern requirements and more specifically those of the western world.

Therefore, these details did not become comprehensible in the film and, the most important, were not commented at its presentation, which, according to opinion, it was also the greatest false step. There were given wrong impressions and directions. Certainly, the science of Ayurveda belongs to no one, and cannot be reproduced so simply to the Western world. It is a traditional system of health of 6000 and more years old and contains a general dynamics that simply inspires some people to serve it by their own way.  You may be sure, that the great teachers and experts of this science are found in its origin country, India (without this meaning that all that are appearing are also authentic).  This is because Ayurveda, beyond the principles and laws, requires a particular awareness and spirituality, a dynamics that is not studied; instead, it is an experience of life. 

Based on my personal experience, I have to say that although during the last decades the wisdom of Ayurveda is transported to West, there are still exist some details that the teachers of East did not transmitted to the Westerners, and which make the difference.  An authentic vaidya “feels” the ayurvedic “pulse” and is like making an axonic and magnetic tomography together.  But this is an “art” very far from us.  The “ayurvedic” physicians or healers of West (whose existence is happiness) may know a lot of practices and techniques of this science but they should always combine these with the modern data – and they will do very well.  At the same time, they should certainly recognize and respect the deeper knowledge of some vaidyas.