Introducing Indian Health Heritage as an inclusive path in Health and Life
Author(s): Nilima Jain
Abstract
Health is Universal – that which applies to all. It has no east, no west. The age of information and technology can be equated to the age of consciousness. This means that this age believes that the ultimate truth is much beyond the physical. Indian culture is known for its ‘Darshana Philosophy’. ‘Darshana’ means ‘to observe’. So an important aspect of Indian culture was to observe with one’s Inner Eye to realize the Consciousness. This was not an intellectual exercise but a vision for Truth, and truth is Universal. Ayurveda is the extension of this culture and is a science that deals with ‘Health’ and ‘Life’. Today, intellectuals are thinking of bringing ‘Science’ and ‘Spirituality’ together. But this is not a new concept and Ayurveda is a living proof for this. Ayurveda is one of the oldest systems of healthcare and is a ‘Science with Consciousness’. The drawback in the world health sector today is the path of ‘exclusiveness’. It is a tendency of modern mind to think either ‘this’ or ‘that’. Indian culture, including Ayurveda, is inclusive. Inclusiveness brings a sense of belongingness. All knowledge has effect. So the journey towards health becomes more effective and beneficial if there is inclusiveness. Conclusion: The first thing to be done to create a healthy world for the coming generations is to choose an inclusive path of knowledge. Technically, all the systems of healthcare are beneficial for health. Path of health is not an exclusive path. People in the world need to be aware of all the options they have before they make their choice.