The esoteric dimension

THE ESOTERIC DIMENSION OF THE AGE-OLD TRADITION OF AYURVEDA

 

A wise way of life

Within the millennia-old Ayurvedic tradition, esotericism is the sum of knowledge and wisdom about all aspects of life (ayus) that are within, behind or beyond the outward appearance, beyond the outward form that is perceptible by the physical senses or beyond the actual expression of the many varied manifestations of life. As a way of life, Ayurvedic esotericism is a true art of living ina wise way, being at the same time a being initiated into the magnificent and fascinating mysteries of life (ayus).

Ayurvedic esotericism

Ayurvedic esotericism includes many initiatory aspects and is based on a deep knowledge and understanding of a set of universal principles (padartha), which reflect and highlight certain fundamental Laws of existence.

Knowledge of the essential principles of Ayurveda is at the core of the entire initiatory tradition of esoteric knowledge. Ayurvedic esotericism has both an advanced and highly developed intellectual and theoretical component, but at the same time it also has an obvious practical, complex, broad and diverse side.

The esotericism that is present within the millennia-old Ayurvedic tradition promotes effective, efficient actions that can lead to the awakening of latent, mystical beneficial aspects and higher spiritual capacities within the being. In all this inner practical work, Ayurvedic esotericism starts from certain esoteric initiatory knowledge. Ayurvedic esotericism almost always contains certain mystical aspects and is a true spiritual science.

A proper perspective

In most modern scholarly works on the age-old science of Ayurveda it ishas often started from the erroneous premise that the traditional Ayurveda system is only a pragmatic healing system and that this millennia-old knowledge is therefore only an exoteric form of medical knowledge.

Precisely because Ayurvedic science was already ina certain helping relationship with most people who turned to Ayurvedic science to-and improve health, the admittedly partial and incomplete premise has been advanced that Ayurveda is awould only deal with treating the human body and restoring people's health, without taking into account the fact that the ancient science of Ayurveda contains many esoteric aspects.

An esoteric science

The traditional science of Ayurveda is also a vast and valuable esoteric science, which encompasses a multitude of important initiatory aspects. These esoteric aspects are present in the traditional Ayurveda texts in various forms, some of these mystical aspects are sometimes only hinted at, others are obviously hidden from the uninitiated, others are concealed or at best appear as enigmatic, unusual and mysterious aspects.

This invaluable collection of esoteric aspects is present in traditional texts that have been known and studied for thousands of years in schools of Ayurveda around the world.