The Vedas are not only
meant for the performance of rituals, and are not only the property of
Hindus. They offer great wisdom and knowledge to all of humanity. These
can be employed towards the promotion of health and prosperity, and for
longevity and sound and peaceful mind for all.
Here we have to ask
ourselves, what IS healing? That is, what is ill health, what is good
health, and what is the process from the first to the second. I can say,
from my spiritual vision, and my masters' teaching, that ill health,
whether physical or mental, is essentially the occurrence of a gap, or
an imbalance, in one's being. And healing, the process or act of filling
this gap or imbalance with the appropriate energy or substance, bringing
wholeness. In accordance of the nature of this gap. It is actually part
of the nature of our physical embodiment that an imbalance occurs as
soon as we are born on this earth.
Thus healing is
something nature can do for us, or we can do ourselves. But from the
earliest stages of the evolution of humanity some individuals, through
vision, training and commitment, have dedicated their lives to help
their fellow human beings along the path to healing, which is literally,
wholeness. It is the aim of the healer to identify the nature of the
gap, as well as to decide on the appropriate energy or substance to fill
it with.
There can be no doubt
about the immeasurable achievements of Western, science based medicine.
At the same time it has become obvious in the last few decades that the
bias towards material and factual reality of this science leaves
considerable areas of human reality untouched. Its materialistic
approach has been shown to be superficial and limited. Physical reality
or existence is the lowest level of the creation, consisting of only the
five Mahabhuta or gross Elements, Earth (Prithivi), Water (Apas), Fire (Tejas),
Wind (Vayu) and Ether (Akasha). The entire creation is consists of many
layers of energy beings and subtle principles. Each having their own
character and function. For incarnated, that is, embodied, human beings,
the Vedic doctrine distinguishes three
main layers or sheaths, called koshas in Sanskrit. These three are known
as the Ananda Maya Kosha, which is the spiritual or transcendental body;
the Vijnana Maya Kosha, the astral or energy body; and the Anna Maya
Kosha or physical body.
Each of these three
koshers can be subject to imbalances, which may express themselves in
different ways. The science of Vaidya, Vedic healing, teaches that each
of the koshas has its appropriate healing approach or substance,
according to its nature. These are called mani, mantra and aushada. Or
gems, sacred sound formulas, and herbal or mineral medicine,
respectively appropriate for the transcendental body, the astral body
and the
physical body.
The Anna Maya Kosha is
literally the sheath of food, and forms the gross, physical body. Its
healing is undertaken through the application of aushada or medicines.
These can take the form of herbs or minerals. And are applied through
the traditional healing systems of Ayur Veda or Siddha.
The Vijnana Maya Kosha
is called the sheath of consciousness, and can be identified with what
in the West is sometimes called the astral or energy body. It acts as it
were as a bridge or connection between the transcendental and the
physical planes of existence. It is therefore connected with the power
and functioning of the principle of mantra, or
sacred sound formula. The word mantra literally means 'instrument of
thought or mind'. In mantra three power principles are integrated or
synthesized. These are sound, meter and meaning.
The Ananda Maya Kosha
is translated as the sheath of bliss and forms the transcendental plane
of existence. The higher self or super consciousness. It is most likely
to be vulnerable to imbalances relating to the transcendental or divine
plane. These express themselves through the influences of the planetary
powers. And can be traced through the analyses of a person's horoscope.
Negative planetary influences have been traditionally subsided with the
help of appropriate gemstones. Each planetary power
has its fitting gemstone, according to color and crystal character.
All of space around us
is filled with the waves of cosmic radiation. There are many different
frequencies, and different wavelengths serve different functions. Some
frequencies function as radio or television frequencies. But unless we
have an antenna, receiver and amplifier, we cannot actually perceive the
signals carried by the cosmic radiation. In the same way we are
surrounded by many subtle cosmic radiations of the energy beings, which
exist with us in this creation. Especially important for our existence
and functioning on earth are the planetary powers, the rulers of the
planets of our
solar system. Each planetary power has its own appropriate color and
gemstone. And through the analysis of a person's horoscope it is
possible to discover imbalances. And by wearing the fitting gemstone
such imbalances can be subsided and reorganized.
Lord Surya, the Sun.
This power is the source of all energy. He rules over the moral and
higher mental expression of the individual. And represents courage,
valor and royalty. The gemstone connected to this planetary power is the
ruby. Wearing this stone can stimulate prosperity and popularity.
Lord Chandra, the
Moon.
This Lord rules over the personality. And over those personal traits
which are expressed as emotions. Also over our mental state. Its gem is
the pearl. It promotes prosperity and longevity.
Lord Mangala, Mars.
This is a power with great energy and activity. It rules over
agricultural propensity, animal nature and perseverance. Sometimes
relates to violence. Its gem is the coral. It will promote prosperity,
landed property, and willpower.
Lord Budha, Mercury.
Rules over the intellect and higher reasoning power. This planet is
further connected to scholarship, the power of speaking, tact and
friendship. The emerald is its gemstone. It will give victory and
brightness, and a clear mind.
Lord Guru, Jupiter.
This Lord is the greatest benefic. He rules over high aspirations and
idealism, knowledge and priesthood. Also over honor and diplomacy. The
yellow or white topaz belongs to him. Wearing this stone will prevent
disease, stimulate friendship, and give the wearer a clear mind. This
stone directs the mind to genius. And can help to prevent bad dreams.
Lord Shukra, Venus.
This planetary power is the ruler over art, especially music, and love
and unions. Generally the enjoyment of life. Treasures. Its stone is the
diamond. It stimulates attraction, prosperity, and longevity.
Lord Shani, Saturn.
This is the stabilizing power. It makes people industrious and plodding.
It relates to permanence, but also to deep mysteries. Its gem is the
blue Safire. This stone can give the wearer a peaceful mind, knowledge
and even wisdom.
Lord Rahu, the Dragon's
Head. This Lord has power over all practical purposes. And also over the
highly developed intellect. The stone, which is appropriate for him, is
the cat eye. It will promote a clear mind, strength and stability.
Lord Ketu, the Dragon's
Tail. He rules over spiritual life, and knowledge. The citrine is the
appropriate stone. It will make for a pious life, relief from mental
stress. Peaceful existence.
To know which gem a person should wear it is necessary that one's
horoscope is analyzed by an experienced Vedic astrologer. It is not a
straightforward matter. We should not think that if we want more wealth,
we should wear a ruby. It does not work that way. To decide which stone
someone should wear it is necessary to know which planets are in weak or
negative positions, and in which houses. This in relation to the other
planets. It is
a complicated matter. Sometimes I use my vision directly to decide which
stone a person should wear, without referring to the horoscope.
Sometimes we invoke the
planetary powers on all the nine stones through certain rituals, thus
enhancing their power and function. For this purpose the gems are placed
in a kind of yantra, each in its specific place. This yantra can later
be made into several types of jewelry, like rings or pendants. It is
also possible to heal certain physical and mental
diseases through the setting of different combinations of stones in
different metals. This
shows the power of spirit over matter.
I conclude this short
introduction into Vedic healing with the observation that this is
without doubt one of the most complete methods of healing known to human
kind. Whereas most healing systems address either the physical body
alone, or the physical and the energy body together, Vedic healing
addresses the problem of health imbalances and gaps on the three levels
of the physical, the astral and the transcendental or spiritual. It can
therefore truly be called a holistic path of healing.
