Veda means knowledge or wisdom in Sanskrit and the Vedic texts contain all the information you need to master your mind and emotions, remove ignorance, dispel fear, and eliminate selfishness. Ancient self help books!

Aside from the learning medical terminology, understanding diseases and treatments, and the tenets of proper Ayurvedic lifestyle, studying Ayurveda at Vedika Global means learning to master the mind. Because the mind controls the body, emotions and thoughts, that when left unchecked, become “mind invaders.”

Last week, my teacher Shunya Pratichi Mathur read a passage from the Brahma Sutras, then humorously and quite eloquently talked about how it relates to our lives and our minds. Ultimately, these six steps lead us to liberation and our true purpose in life. But it’s a tough road with plenty of “mind invaders” to battle along the way.

1) Viveka: discrimination. This doesn’t mean discriminating against a person or the coffee that someone drinks, but in what we think. Every day, we’re bombarded with news, information, gossip, and we have the choice not to mindlessly react. We have a choose in what we consume. We can choose not to gossip about someone, choose to turn off the TV, not to eat a donut (though a donut once in awhile is warranted). Ultimately, if it is Truth and peace you seek, viveka is your path. Continue reading →