Ayurveda Contest

The annual Ayurveda competition consists of 6 specific tests, which test the mastery of the three main types of ways of knowing that are described within the ancient Ayurvedic tradition.

The three ways of knowing

Within the traditional Ayurvedic system it is stated that any act of knowledge can be achieved through three basic types of tools:

1) The first tool of knowledge (apta) is the sound knowledge that comes from authentic sources of knowledge, such as traditional Ayurvedic texts which are particularly valuable sources of knowledge or ancient Ayurvedic teachings. This type of knowledge corresponds to what we nowadays most often call fundamental theoretical knowledge.

2) The second instrument of knowledge (pratyaksha) is direct knowledge through perception, which includes both selective and refined sensory perception and the various higher capacities of subtle, telepathic, paranormal perception. Direct perception implies a correct recognition is produced by an elevated, refined, attentive and precisely modulated sense of certain distinct subtle aspects.

3) The third instrument of knowledge (anumana) consists in deductive knowledge or, in other words, inferential knowledge, which involves the intelligence of the human being in a broad and complex way. This form of deductive knowledge involves making new, novel connections, which are at the same time based on the intensive use of the intelligence and higher intellectual capacities of the human being.

The six events of the competition

In the annual Ayurveda competition, three of the six tests are structured around each of the three basic knowledge tools, which allow the acquisition of authentic knowledge, and the other three are mixed tests, which aim to test the ability to harmoniously combine the specific features of the three knowledge tools indicated. The names of the tests will therefore refer directly to these three basic knowledge tools.

Sample 1 - APTA

This type of test is designed to test the basic theoretical knowledge of Ayurveda that is specific to the level of study in the Ayurveda course. This test is mainly based on knowing as correctly as possible the notions and ascetics contained in the traditional works of Ayurveda (apta). In the Ayurveda competition, the test of Ayurvedic knowledge involves completing a 45-question grid questionnaire based on the information contained in the Ayurveda courses studied by each group of participants.

Exhibit 2 - PRATYAKSHA-APTA

This type of test simultaneously tests the participants' ability to creatively combine the Ayurvedic knowledge acquired through the Ayurveda course programme with their individual possibilities of direct perception, including selective and objective sensory perception (apta-pratyaksha). This test will test the participants' knowledge of the medicinal plants studied in the Ayurveda course lessons, based on the specific concepts and classification criteria used in Ayurveda.

Test 3 - ANUMANA-APTA

This type of mixed test offers the opportunity to put both theoretical knowledge of Ayurveda and intelligence to good use. This test tests the participants' ability to harmoniously combine intelligence with the skills acquired through Ayurvedic theoretical knowledge (anumana-apta). The questions in this test are intelligence questions, and the participant will use basic theoretical concepts from Ayurveda to solve them. The questions of this test require the participant to trigger certain non-linear mechanisms of thought, starting from the basic Ayurvedic knowledge that has been previously assimilated by each practitioner.

Exhibit 4 - PRATYAKSHA-ANUMANA

This type of mixed test tests both intelligence and perceptual ability at the same time (pratyaska-anumana). This test highlights a higher form of awakening in the plane of knowledge, namely intelligent perception. The test involves the identification of three higher beneficial states to be exemplified telepathically from a larger number of model spiritual states, using both higher perceptual and intuitive ability and intelligence to identify correlations, characteristics and attributes that are representative of those states.

Exhibit 5 - ANUMANA

This type of test involves some test of intelligence, deductive ability and the ability to make meaningful logical connections, which must be correct. The intelligence test contains novel questions, some of them amusing, that highlight non-specific, particular situations in which we can find ingenious, witty solutions by applying the knowledge and principles of ancient Ayurvedic science to everyday life.

Exhibit 6 - PRATYAKSHA

This type of test involves testing the capacities of subtle, paranormal, specific perception and involves direct, undirected perception (pratyaksha) of certain specific aspects of a subtle-energetic nature that are commonly operated with in Ayurvedic practice. The telepathic subtle perception test involves recognising through the modalities learnt in the practical lessons of the Ayurveda course certain specific subtle energetic aspects characterising for example the nature of the three doshas or the system of 20 general qualities within the Ayurveda system.