VEDIC PSYCHOTHERAPY

                                                                                                

 AYURVEDIC PSYCHOTHERAPY:                         Dr.Baikuntha Subedi

                                                                                               Executive Member, ADAN

           

                                                                                               

Modern Science seeks cause for every effect .Putting it another way we can say that nothing happens by chance or every  action  and events have some purpose. By the same token it can be also implied that there must be some important cause and purpose of this precious human life. But in reality when it comes to the issue of human life modern science seems to be ignoring this own philosophy. Modern science has not been able to define the ultimate goal of human life appropriately which is the major cause of increasing numbers of psychological illness in modern life. Providing strong philosophical answer for these questions ,Ayurveda  offers major key of psychotherapy for the world ever.

More than explaining the issues like how, why and what for the human life is, Ayurveda presents different practical psychotherapeutic techniques which can be summarized with its some modern outlook as follows.

1.Psychodynamic approach:

‘Satwa’ ‘Raja’ and ‘Tama’ are three dynamic forces predominance of each leads to  different patterns of normal and subnormal behavior. Rather than trying for balance between these three as in physical dosha  (vata, pitta ,kapha) or even  id,ego and super ego ,predominance of ‘satwa’ is always desired. Different  methods for augmentation of satwa  guna or being satwic person are described in detail which includes adopting suitable  diet, habits, neighborhoods and environment ,meditation, increment of  real knowledge, patience, flawless memory, feeling of oneness with universe and many others.

Dream analysis is of important therapeutic and mainly diagnostic value in psychological disorder. Dreams are classified into seven categories.

2.Behavioristic approach:

Learning gets great emphasis in Ayurveda .Suitable socially acceptable as well as rewarding behaviors for different aspects of life should be learned from ‘GURU’ or similar self actualized person being exclusively with him for certain periods. And should be practiced  and adopted throughout the life in different situations.

3.Cognitive approach:

Greed ,jealousy ,anger, fear, sorrow, and pity  etc are the major factors of psychological problem and root cause behind this is giving unnecessary attention and fulfilling  inappropriate demands of  ,I ,Me ,and my ness. So person is cognitively manipulated to develop feeling of own ness with universe by which there remains no need of ‘me’ and ‘myness’. Which in turn help to control foolish pride of a person and  other aforementioned factors of psychological problems.

4.Humanistic approach :

By its very nature Human always strive for goodness and betterment in their life . Clearly defining this ultimate goodness as ‘Moxa’ and proposing detailed step by step methods  (eight in general) to achieve ultimate goal Ayurveda offers a unique psychotherapeutic technique. Those steps are Yam, Niyam, Asan ,Pranayam, Pratyahar Dhyan, Dharana ,Samadhi respectively from bottom to the top. As the person become successful in climbing this eight step ladder, his behavioral (psychological)problems start fading away gradually.

5.Pray and Devotional approach:

Jap, Tap, Hom,Mantra, Mani Dharan etc and Praying and concentrating on God and Deities is another approach of  psychotherapy which are believed to be effective by purifying body and mind as well as by providing deeper consolation to the person.

Ultimate goal of every  psychotherapeutic approach  of Ayurveda is to curtail ‘Pragyaparadh’ and ‘Asatmyaindriyartha samyog’ in  one hand and in other hand to augment   ‘Satwa’ guna (source of desirable behavior).