The Three Doshas
The Five Elements
Everything in the universe is made up of combinations of the Five
Elements (Pancha Mahabhutas). This includes the human being which
also acquires a soul or spirit. These five elements are known
as:
- Space or Akasha
- Air or Vayu
- Fire or Tejas
- Water or Apa
- Earth or Prithvi
These five elements, it should be understood, derive from and
are expressions of an unmanifest and undifferentiated Creative
Principle, which is One. These five elements are to be understood
in a material sense as well as a subtle sense. By earth we are
to understand not only the terrain of our planet or the iron in
our red blood cells and spleen, but also the quality of steadfastness
of mind, strength of ones moral fiber, ones slow and quiet undeterred
advancement towards a goal, and the resistance to the manifestations
of others. By water we mean to imply the cohesive aspects of reality
which flows into and holds things together, perfectly and simply
witnessed in the ubiquitous H20 molecule. And the other elements
too were intended by the ancient vaidyas (physicians) to communicate
the essential universal principle inherent in a particular element.
By fire we mean the universal force in nature that produces heat
and radiates light; it is our passion to pursue despite obstacles
and delays; it is what burns away the cloak of ignorance (avidya)
and allows the Truth to shine with brilliance. Fire removes doubt
from the mother-substance of human heart and replaces it with
joy. Air is that transparent, rarefied, kinetic force which sets
the universe in motion; it moves the blood through the vessels,
wastes from the body, thoughts through the mind; it moves the
birds to warmer climates in winter, it moves the planets around
their suns. Space is the subtlest of all elements which is everywhere
and touches everything; in the mind it is the vessel which receives
all impressions, in the heart space accepts love; space is receptivity
and non-resistance to what is true.
Thus these Five Subtle Elements (Pancha Mahabhutas) form the basis
for all things found in the material creation, from a grain of
sand to the complex physiology of every human being. Balancing
these elements in just the right way for each unique individual
is the key to maintaining health and treating disease should it
arise, whether it be physical, mental, or spiritual.
The Tridosha
The five elements can be seen to exist in the material universe
at all scales both organic and inorganic, from peas to planets.
When they enter into the biology of a living organism, man for
example, they acquire a biological form. This means that the five
elements are coded into three biological forces which govern all
life processes. These three forces are known as the three doshas,
or simply thetridosha.. The tridosha regulates every physiological
and psychological process in the living organism. The interplay
among them determines the qualities and conditions of the individual.
A harmonious state of the three doshas creates balance and health;
an imbalance, which might be an excess (vrddhi) or deficiency
(ksaya), manifests as a sign or symptom of disease.
The three doshas are known as Vata, Pitta , and Kapha.
You can think of these three doshas as fundamental biological
energies which regulate all the life processes of an individual.
And as we will discuss later, although all individuals are made
up of these same three energies, we all have them in unique proportions.
The doshas obtain their qualities by virtue of their elemental
composition as we can see in the simple diagram below.
Each of the three doshas is composed of two elements as shown
here:
Elements Composing The Tridosha
Vata
Space (Akasha)
Air (Vayu)
Pitta
Fire (Tejas)
Water (Apa)
Kapha
Water (Apa)
Earth (Prithvi)
Thus, Vata is composed of space and air, Pitta of fire and water,
and Kapha of water and earth.. Vata dosha has the mobility and
quickness of space and air; Pitta dosha the metabolic qualities
of fire and water; Kapha dosha the stability and solidity of water
and earth. Interestingly, the Sanskrit entomology of the word
dosha gives it the meaning of blemish, that which darkens. This
alerts us to the fact that when in balance these force are life-supporting
but when imbalanced they are the agents of disease and misery.
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