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In the West, the rich colors of fall leaves are what come to mind when we think of autumn. In Ayurveda, it is moonlight that symbolizes this season. As the trees appear to be allowing the heat they collected during summer to overflow in a blaze of fiery colors, they offer a metaphor for our bodies, which are naturally experiencing a seasonal pitta prakopa, allowing the accumulated heat of summer to overflow and get expelled. The greater contrast between the cool nights and warm days is one of the factors that causes all kinds of heat related conditions to flare up. Moonlight has an amazing power to pacify this seasonal imbalance. Sharad Ritu at Vedika began with a lively weekend course on Ayurveda for Yoga Practitioners, held in partnership with Yoga Bharati. Our community Sanghas featured Ayurvedic beauty treatments for Sharad Ritu, detailed explorations of how to manage the seasonal imbalances of autumn led by Shunya and by Vedika Faculty Vaidya Mahesh Sabade, and how to maximize the opportunity to nourish the body deeply during the following early winter season. Vedika Gurukula students experienced Navaratri, the nine nights celebrating the divine Shakti, through the rituals, diet and contemplations described in the Ayurvedic, Vedic and Yogic traditions. The students observed carefully the impact this had on their body, state of mind, and spiritual awareness as they simultaneously went about the daily life. Then they studied under the light of the full moon on Sharad Purnima.
May you experience the abundant blessings of Ayurveda,
To empower the extended community with tools, inspiration and support to stay healthy in body, mind and spirit, each month a warm, unique open-house is offered at Vedika.
Watch videos from Vedika's fall Sanghas:
1st AYU World Conference on Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy and Unani systems of Indian Medicine: "Indian Systems of Medicine for All" Ayurveda Kerala Global Ayurveda Festival
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Dr. Ram Karan Sharma is an international legend in the field of Sanskrit, a lifelong lover of Ayurveda and an esteemed Adviser to Vedika. Dr. Sharma explained to students on his recent visit that he loves being involved with Vedika because Ayurveda is being promoted here not just as a medical system but as a truly holistic, spiritually based science of life. As co-translator of a multi-volume edition of Charaka Samhita with its major commentary, Dr. Sharma is firmly convinced that the major aspects of Ayurveda are lifestyle, our relationship with nature, and our relationship with the cosmos -- central themes of the Vedas.
He emphasized the role of the mind and consciousness in true health, showing how this theme is expressed in Ayurveda, Yoga and Vedanta. Just as a Patanjali says that when the fluctuations of the mind become still a person experiences their own true nature, in the same way Ayurveda calls health swastha, which literally means being in one's own natural state or being settled in one's self. In this state Ayurveda says that not only are all the physical elements and forces of the body balanced, but the mind, the senses and the soul are in a blissful state free from conflict and tension. Throughout his teaching, Dr. Sharma emphasized the importance of food and thoughts. He quoted the Chandogya Upanishad: “When a person's food is pure, the mind becomes pure. When the mind is pure, memory becomes firm and strong. Then all the knots of the heart can be severed and one is liberated.” He spoke of how such thinking plays a huge role in rasayana, rejuvenation treatment, that in Ayurveda such treatment is not just a matter of special therapies and herbs. A person who wishes to undergo purification and rejuvenation should leave behind all ill-will and desires. Taking the blessings of God and of wise people, one should pray not only for one's own well-being but for the well-being all. When such a prayer resounds in a person, rejuvenation can take place.
To see yourself in all beings and to see the Self of all beings in yourself: this is the ideal perspective for one who wishes to bring health to others, this is the way to look at each patient, this is the ideal way to heal. This is Dr. Sharma's deep conviction which he shared with students at Vedika Gurukula, and what he and his wife Annapurna Devi radiate.
Nipun gave an inspiring talk on his own experiences of seva, including the amazing story of an auto-rickshaw driver in India who is running a gift economy auto service and thriving. The Vedika community resonated with his description of four key shifts in a service-oriented culture: moving from consumption to contribution, from transaction to trust, from isolation to community, and from scarcity to abundance.
Paka Vijnan - Ayurvedic Cooking Class Series
Optimum Weight with Ayurveda & Yoga Spine and Knee Care with Ayurveda Manas Vijnana – Seminar on Health for the Mind
To sign up call 1.877.708.3342 or email registrar@vedikaglobal.org.
Learn and experience the science and spiritual dimensions of Ayurveda for personal, family & community empowerment. 2-Month Experiential Self-Care Course in Ayurveda One-year Certificate Course - Ayurveda Fundamentals for Self Health Care Three-year Certificate Course - Ayurveda Lifestyle & Wellness Counselor Course For more information contact 1.877.708.3342 or registrar@vedikaglobal.org
To find out more about Vedika Global, Inc. and its activities,
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Shakti Namaste
Namaste and happy new year! As the invigorating Hemant Ritu, the early winter season, approaches its final stretch, we prepare to begin studies at Vedika for 2012 on the auspicious Makar Sanskranti day, January 14. Throughout the fall of 2011, studying and experiencing Ayurveda's detailed teachings on the beautiful Sharad Ritu, the autumn season, was a focus for Vedika students and community. They explored how to attune with nature through seasonal fruits, dietary precautions, and festivals that celebrate nature's abundance.
Our special guests at Vedika during the charming Sharad season were Nipun Mehta, founder of ServiceSpace, an incubator of gift economy projects, and two of Vedika's esteemed visiting Faculty members, famous Sanskrit scholar Dr. Ram Karan Sharma and his wife, and Vedanta scholar 
On Sharad Purnima, the full moon night in October, Shunya Pratichi Mathur, Vedika's founder, taught a special class outdoors in the dazzling moonlight in order to allow students to experience the nourishing, healing qualities of this bright full moon and the openness it creates in the mind and the channels of the body. It was a magical night, filled with teachings from Ayurveda's living traditions. Shunya recalled gems from Sharad Purnima nights spent with her grandfather and his other students in Ayodhya near the Sarayu River.
A special dish of milk with pohe, flattened rice flakes, was kept in the moonlight, gathering the cooling, soothing rays of the moon as students studied, contemplated teachings from Charaka Samhita and chanted. Later they experienced these special qualities as they ate it. They also filled glass jars with boiled water and kept them outside exposed to the bright moon rays throughout the night, and the sunlight throughout the following day. At class the next evening, all the students had a chance to taste and benefit from this health promoting and deeply refreshing Hamsodhaka, or sun-moon water as students often refer to it.
Ayurveda Sanghas
Nipun Mehta is founder of 
Vedika's media partner Tathaastu magazine promotes the universal spirit of embracing a healthy, spiritual way of life and leading it with peace, harmony and dignity, Tathaastu: So Be is available not only in North America and India, but also in countries throughout Europe, Asia and Australasia.
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Dr. & Mrs. R. K. Sharma with Vedika teachers and students |
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Vedika Global is a 501(c )(3) not-for-profit organization, dedicated to igniting a community healing and wellness movement with classical Ayurveda infused with Yoga and Vedanta. Vedika's core program is a school offering transformative, lived education – Sadhana -- in the science and spirituality of Ayurveda, including unique wisdom from the Gurukula tradition. Located in the Emeryville/Berkeley area of California, Vedika Gurukula offers authentic education in Ayurveda's oral tradition integrated with the contemporary academic standards for Ayurvedic education in India. Vedika's culture is rooted in the spirit of service -- Seva -- and community upliftment – Sangha. The school includes a teaching clinic and open events to empower the broader community with the wisdom of Ayurveda. Vedika Global, Inc. |