Ten: Ayurvedic Portraits

Copyright © 2017 Asya Kovacheva.

Edited by Shirley Suek

Illustrated by Nikola Kovachev (7-year-old)

Cover design by Yavor Ichkov

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-5043-7688-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-7687-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-7686-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017903990

Balboa Press rev. date: 05/31/2017

CONTENTS

Why Ten: Ayurvedic Portraits?

1 Wind

Darkness

Pain

Knowledge

Analysis of Wind Type

2 Wind And Fire

Poison

Manifestation

Faith

Analysis of Wind-Fire Type

3 Wind And Earth

Inertia

Impetus

Balance

Analysis of Wind-Earth Type

ANALYSIS OF VATA DOSHA

4 Fire

Fanaticism

Motivation

Harmony

Analysis of Fiery Type

5 Fire And Wind

Ruin

Fear And Desire

Creativity

Analysis of Fire-Wind Type

6 Fire And Earth

Inertia

Attraction And Repulsion

Humility

Analysis of Fire-Earth Type

ANALYSIS OF PITTA DOSHA

7 Earth

Lethargy

Activity

Wisdom

Analysis of Earth Type

8 Earth And Wind

Stagnation

Aggressiveness

Love

Analysis of Earth-Wind Type

9 Earth And Fire

Insensitivity

Suffering

Happiness

Analysis of Earth-Fire Type

ANALYSIS OF KAPHA DOSHA

10 Wind, Fire And Earth

Illness

Willingness

Life

Analysis of Wind-Fire-Earth Type

Conclusion

Bibliography

About The Author

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my tutors:

Dr Antoaneta Zarkova, who taught me about the herbs, medicine and healing massaging techniques in Ayurveda;

Yuriy Kovachev, who taught me about the spices, food and the philosophy of Ayurveda; and

Susan Harms, who taught me about the biofeedback and introduced me to the world of energy.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

FOREWORD

At some point in life, a person begins to be interested in how to improve their health and how to maintain it if it feels good. In the vast sea of information, there is an island called Ayurveda. This island contains all the knowledge we need about ourselves and how to fit in with this world harmoniously. At first, it seems difficult to understand the philosophy of Ayurveda and it is always helpful to have a guiding hand to facilitate the understanding of this doctrine. Asya Kovacheva has achieved that with this book. The concept of the five elements and three doshas is logically clear in theory but it is difficult to see it manifested in life, in people around us and in ourselves. The three psychophysical characters (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) Asya has brought to life in a very readable and recognisable way. With numerous examples in the form of short stories, Ten: Ayurvedic Portraits interrupts the philosophy of doshas in a very real and understandable manner. Portraits of its characters are an example of how the five elements, carriers of qualities, appear in us as our character traits such as emotions, attraction and repulsion, and inclinations. The book Ten: Ayurvedic Portraits by Asya Kovacheva will be beneficial not only for readers interested in Ayurveda but also for all who are interested in psychology. The book Ten: Ayurvedic Portraits also gives specific recipes which promote well-being. Asya’s book is rare in its approach and insight and is well worth a read.

Yuriy Kovachev,

Ayurvedic lecturer

Sofia, Bulgaria, 2015

INTRODUCTION

WHY TEN: AYURVEDIC PORTRAITS?

I wanted to write about wisdom and about life in the way that it is and the way we dream of it. I, personally, found this wisdom in Ayurveda. It is a philosophy which showed me the paths, explained what each path brings us and where it can take us. However, only we can choose which path to take. This is why I chose to write a book about the choices which are always available to us. Ayurveda is the ancient Indian knowledge of life and encompasses all people. It is a medical and metaphysical science; the mother of all the healing sciences.

According to Ayurveda, we humans are part of the Universe which includes the Solar System of which the Earth is a part. Here on Earth, all the existing elements are present: they are ether, air, fire, water, and earth. Here, while we live in three dimensions, there are other worlds in other dimensions where only some of the elements exist. Combined in certain ways these five elements create three psycho-physiological types which Ayurveda refers to as the three doshas. The word dosha roughly means bioenergy. The three doshas are VATA, formed from ether and air; PITTA, formed from fire and water; and KAPHA, from water and earth.

The title of this book and the entire idea is that in Ayurveda there exist 10 psycho-physiological types:

Each chapter is divided into three parts to give a clear explanation of the principle of the three states of mind (guna): inertia and darkness (tamas guna), passion and change (rajas guna) and happiness and harmony (sattva guna).

Of course, I do not claim to possess wisdom or that I will give an exhaustive treatise on the matter. I have tried to recreate my experience in Ayurveda through stories which describe ten different fates. Ten characters who correspond to each of these ten types. My stories will not provide a complete description of each type since this would be impossible. Their purpose is to recreate one version of the innumerable possible variations of a given type. Each person is completely unique in their physical traits, character, and qualities. My idea was born while studying Ayurveda, when I began to define everyone I knew as one of these ten types. I could see everyone around me, and even myself, as types (dosha) and conditions (guna).

The dosha within us constantly become imbalanced due to external changes. This leads to chaos and brings suffering through emotional or physical discomfort. Illness is chaos while health is order. Each imbalance of the elements within us leads to illness and suffering. Only here on earth, as humans, can we experience extreme suffering and pain, as well as extreme happiness and joy. We experience emotions via the five senses which act at a physical level through our skin, ears, eyes, nose and tongue. The five senses are receptive. We also possess five expressive organs: hands, mouth, legs, sexual organs and the anus which perform actions. Thanks to our sensory capabilities we can accept ideas and experience from the external world. These two groups, realised, have their corresponding subtle manifestations; touch, sound, sight, taste, and smell which act at a mental level. The senses can nourish our vital forces if they are directed towards nature and art. They develop our internal powers, nourish our mind and heart and touch our souls. The Vedas (a large body of knowledge texts originating in the ancient Indian subcontinent) says the senses are the Gods within us, and so it is best for us to be creatively occupied, in order to have a long and happy life.

Our senses can also exhaust our vital force if they are over stimulated. This can lead to a loss of energy from our bodies and mind. The mass media bombards us daily with physical, psychological and spiritual problems which poison our thoughts and fulfilment. According to the Vedas, every illness is born from superfluity: the superfluity of food, thoughts, emotions and impressions.

Extreme emotions such as pain, fear or grief can provoke us to ask questions which are followed by answers which can affect ourselves and life. We humans are souls, eternal particles replete with bliss. Our souls possess an eternal form filled with bliss and knowledge. Our understanding of happiness is important for our health. If this is being confused, it will lead to illness. All illnesses spring from this. All questions concerning us, others and the world are born from here.

"Who am I?"

What do I represent in terms of emotionality and value?

An important element of this question is reason, nourished by our physical bodies and our characters. Reason influences our mind, bodies, and desires. It helps heal them and helps maintain their balance. Our erroneous notions of life lead to a loss of logic and change to our value system. It deforms our physical bodies, emotions, and minds. This can lead to illnesses. The three gunas are very important for our happiness. They are the three qualities of mind, i.e. our psychological nature. They are essential to the quality of our lives and our happiness and I will give an explanation of them here to show why each of the ten chapters in the book consists of three parts.

I. Tamas guna is the quality of ignorance, foolishness, sloth, darkness, insensitivity, death, wretchedness, materiality, attachment, boredom, inertia, laziness, stagnation, ruination, destruction, malodour, somnolence, slowness, stupidity, violence, perversion, darkness, poison, illness, secrecy, indifference degradation.

Tamas is increased by all types of meat and fish, by eggs, all types of fermented food, such as cheese, olives, pickles, wine; all preserved foods; all overripe food such as bananas; food which has stood for more than three hours after preparation; as a result of over-eating and the mixing of incompatible foods such as eating fruit with other food, mixing fruit, mixing tomatoes with cucumbers and others, as well as certain spices such as nutmeg and asafoetida (they are useful, if they are consumed carefully and in suitable doses). Other than through food, tamas can be increased by polluted and unaired rooms, association with people who possess a predominance of these qualities, a predominance of the material over the spiritual which in essence is demonic. The colours of tamas are brown, grey and black. Tamas creates selfishness, egotism, arrogance and a lack of human values. The tamas person is someone in danger of serious physical illnesses such as chronic disease, obesity, gout, cancer and serious psychological problems such as alcoholism, drug addiction, depression, senility and other illnesses.

If it is the leading guna, tamas takes away our power and brings heaviness. However, we need it, in order to exist. Without it we would not have a body, nor would the Universe have any material manifestation. In the correct ratio to the other two gunas, it is necessary. It is important for our health and happiness, it is important that it does not predominate over the other gunas.

II. Rajas guna is the quality of passion, sunset, agitation, instability, inconsistency, emotional fluctuations of attraction and repulsion, fear and desire, love and hate; brightness, glare, dynamics, momentum, purpose, appearance, vigor, excess, action, aggression, imposition, penetration, movement, anxiety, anger, sharpness, power, handling, mixing, motivation, pain, suffering.

Rajas is increased by coffee, black tea, alcohol, energy drinks, chocolate, garlic, onions; some spices like black pepper, cayenne pepper, hot peppers. Also by very bright and noisy places such as bars and discotheques, strongly lit streets with neon signs, noisy events with crowds, activities that increase adrenaline, watching television and generally mass media, stress at work and home, sex, an active life (usually most sports) especially if it is connected with speed and /or a competitive spirit. It gives us passion and makes us strive for success. It generates feelings, emotions, and sensations. The colours are red, orange, yellow, purple, and mixed, bright colours.

Rajas guna brings changes, it is the most unstable of the gunas and leads us from one state to another. Thanks to it we can change, abandon bad habits and become more aware. If it is the main influence in our life, it is better to control it, because it leads to diseases of the physical body such as tics, cramps, sharp pains, acute illnesses, accidents, falls and other injuries, and mental neurosis, suicide, schizophrenia, and others.

III. Sattva guna is the quality of light, love, faith, integrity, self-control, humility, truthfulness, kindness, compassion, unselfishness, kindness, honesty, joy, poise, harmony, peace, happiness, clarity, intuition, knowledge, health, cleanliness.

Foods with such qualities are fresh, ripe fruits and vegetables, all nuts, all the seeds, all the cereals, all pulses, dairy products from well cared for cows and buffalo, spring water, a lot of spices like cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, licorice, mint, coriander, fennel, parsley, mint, saffron and others, many herbs such as rose, chamomile, basil, calamus, Shatavari, ashwagandha, Brahmi, and others. Sattva increases from purity, nature, art, mountains, rivers, and the company of wisdom, good and kind people, pranayama (the control of breath or Prana) and meditation. The sattvic colours are white, sky blue, soft green, silver, gold, baby pink, gentle violet, and colours generally carrying softness, joy, peace and harmony. Sattva guna brings rationality and human values, as well as health, happiness, and prosperity.

Because of the power of understanding, every human has their own