Page 36 - NAMAH-Oct-2021

Namah Vol. 29, Issue 3, 15th October 2021

a
a
acara Our behaviour patterns and relationship with the self and others
How we conduct ourselves, the decisions we take; the way the world
experiences us. It covers the entire manifestations of all the three above
(ahara, vihara, vicara) into action in everyday living.
a
a
a
a
Let us now go deeper into the framework to What should we focus upon?
understand each of the four pillars in detail.
The primary focus of aahaara is to consume
AAhaara (through our senses) all that which maintains
AAhara is the supporting pillar which helps or enhances energy, vitality and boosts inner
a
maintenance and sustenance of life. In cheerfulness. aahaara, as pointed out earlier, is
AAyurveda, aahaara refers to diet (food). the source that ultimately determines the
Theoretically, it is the gross food that we outcome and directly impacts the other three
partake with our tongue, mouth, throat; pillars, namely vihaara, vicaara and aacaara.
all foods that can be chewed, swallowed,
sipped or licked. Holistically, ahara includes If we feed on a diet of fear or negativity,
a
a
everything that is ingested, consumed, our thoughts and actions automatically get
received and perceived. It is not limited to just directed towards coping/mitigating those
A
gross food. Ahara in effect is the ‘information real and unreal fears. These in turn could lead
a
source’ for our body, mind and intellect. to flight, fright or fight reactions, making us
choose wrong associations and ultimately
Logically then, ahara entails the entire breadth leading to us erroneous action-steps. To
a
a
of activities that our senses and sense organs unhook from this becomes a preoccupation
engage in to receive and perceive from the that forms a vicious loop. This is a state that
world outside. Therefore, going beyond gross is a far cry from experiencing well-being!
food, it includes all that the eyes see, the ears
hear, the sensations experienced by the skin, Moderation is an important cornerstone in
the variety of tastes received by taste-buds ensuring the right quantity and quality of
and the smells picked up by the nose. our ahara intake. The following verse from
a
a
the Bhagvadgıta discusses the importance of
a
i
Each individual is unique with respect to their moderation that is required for experiencing
quality of mind, nature and conditioning. well-being and enabling peak-performance
Thus, it is likely that there will be differences levels in everyday living.
between reception and perception and
experience between individuals. What is युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु |
vital to catch on to is whether the quality and युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दु:खहा
quantity of diet (consumption) is causing an ||6.17||
imbalance /disturbance within the individual
— in the alignment between thoughts, “Those who are temperate in eating and
feelings and action. recreation, balanced in work, and regulated in

36