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Ayurveda, the age old herbal science powerfully
stresses that removal of wastes in as significant to the health and
beauty of the body as the sustenance it receives. Keeping the tissues
cleansed of wastes and facilitate their regular abolition through
normal channels is the key to cleanness and vitality. Only a clean body
can be at its peak and use the nutrients it receives, similarly, only
an open mind is free to enjoy the world.
There are various means to help support the health of
the dhatus (tissues) that one will find all through this volume. At
the same time, one of the best ways to achieve this is by strengthening
Ojas.
THE NATURE OF OJAS
Ojas is the fine essence of all the dhatus (tissues)
and the superfine essence of shukra dhatus (tissues). It manifests in
our physical being as the sap of life energy, giving power to the heart
muscle, variable the heart’s own natural pacemaker, providing
sustenance to all the muscles, main training the action of the liver
and kidneys, and providing us with a strong immune system. On a subtle
level, it is the life force that can be felt when touching a vital
person and sensing the fresh brightness they protect. When ojas is
strong the body is strong, firm, and flexible, the skin is smooth,
clear, and lustrous, the hair is thick, convenient, and shiny, the face
looks calm with a natural smile, the body posture is relaxed and
movement is naturally elegant, and the voice is melodious and speech is
kind. The soma, or substance ojas produces in the brain, is the source
for the capacity to love. It is the subtle, physical sign of what
allows the mind to state itself with natural compassion, loving
kindness, nonviolence, and originality – the uppermost attributes of
beauty. With spiritual practice, ojas is distorted to strengthen the
aura, thus giving the adept’s body deep radiance Spiritual practices
such as meditation, prayer, and chanting are also careful very
strengthening to ojas. Think how many religious paintings portray the
glowing quality of the forms and faces of gods, saints, and holy
people. This glow is ojas.
When ojas is lost or shattered, the opposite of
health becomes apparent. All the character we connections with a lack
of vitality, both physical and mental, manifest. Here are some of the
factors that can add to the destruction of ojas:
- Following a lifestyle that aggravates vata dosha (humor)
- Eating devitalized foods, overly processed, micro-waved, old, stale, junk food, etc.
- Air flight, high speed cars, fast, intense sports with no recreation to balance
- Computers, television. and low level radiation
- Loud music
- Constant distraction
- Over exercising
- Fasting too long or too often
- Being caught up in contradictory emotions : fear, worry, anger, sorrow , grasping impatience
- Overwork
- Lack of faith or self-assurance
- Excessive sex
- Unnatural environments
- Illness
Although ojas can be destroyed, it can also be
regained and strengthened. Aside from religious and spiritual
practices, there are natural, everyday ways to increase ojas.
Subsequent a lifestyle suitable to keep your body in balance is
central, simple attention to appropriate loving care. Then there are
specific remedies. Warm, raw milk and ghee (clarified butter) are
highly valued as foods because they directly nourish ojas as do
rejuvenative herbs such as shatavari (asperagus), ashwaganda (Indian
ginseng), and guduchi (tinospora). (One cup of raw milk, one teaspoon
of ghee, and one – half teaspoon of herbs makes a magnificent night
cap.) A quiet holiday with country walks, good food, rest, and sound
sleep can do speculate. From an Ayurvedic point of sight, it is the
regeneration of ojas in the body that makes a person coming from such a
holiday look rested, refreshed, calm, and happy. It becomes apparent
that many aspects of modern life are destructive to ojas. Therefore
diet, lifestyle, and spiritual do are essential elements in the
reinstatement of ojas, our vitality and natural beauty.
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