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Ayurveda should not be commercialized

A discourse critiquing the commercialization of Ayurveda and yoga.

"Ayurveda has become a commercial enterprise in Western countries today. They possess no real knowledge of Ayurveda or its proper effects."

"Yoga is not this thing you can learn everywhere on every corner. Yoga is something that we are doing: yoga and life."

Swami Maheshwarananda addresses the dilution of these ancient sciences into commercial ventures, emphasizing their profound, spiritual depth. He advises that authentic study requires many years and a non-commercial intent, asserting that true expertise will naturally attract those in need. The talk contrasts superficial, widespread offerings with the dedicated, lifelong practice required for real mastery.

Recording location: Hungary, Vep, Summer seminar

Ayurveda has become a commercial enterprise in Western countries today. On nearly every street corner, you find Ayurvedic food, Ayurvedic massage, Ayurvedic therapy, Ayurvedic pañcakarma and daśakarma—five karmas, ten karmas; I don't know how many karmas they have. They possess no real knowledge of Ayurveda or its proper effects. It is a pity, a great pity. Therefore, this is a very good question: if someone wishes to study seriously, they should count on at least five to eight years. This is a very important issue. Ayurveda is one of the oldest medical systems in the world. You will even read about it in the Rāmāyaṇa, which dates to approximately eight to ten thousand years ago. There is a story about Sañjīvanī. There is an Ayurveda faculty or college in England, in London, that teaches very systematically and professionally, but it is very expensive. To understand and know Ayurveda is not enough intellectually. The Vaidya, the doctor, must also learn human psychology, feelings, and many other things. He should even be able to speak with the herbs. An Ayurvedic doctor should not only have intellectual knowledge; he should also know the emotional state of the human psyche. It is said he should even know how to talk to objects. The Ayurvedic doctor should be able to prepare medicines for you. When they take some herbs, they first say prayers, some mantras. They ask the plant, "May you please grant some part of yourself for a person's help." It is a very spiritual science. This is very spiritual knowledge. Do not study Ayurveda with a commercial consciousness focused on money. If you study Ayurveda to become a Vaidya, then money will run behind you like mosquitoes follow you when you go somewhere. Money is nothing; money is the dirt of your hands, that's all. Become a good Vaidya and sit even somewhere in the high mountains; people will come to you. You need not go to people. If we really protect Ayurveda well, then money will follow us. We don't have to be in a busy city; we can go somewhere far away, and people will follow us. Money is just like the dust on our skin. Do not begin Ayurvedic studies by saying money is your goal. Try to truly master it, to become a Vaidya, a knower of that skill. Then money will come by itself. Money is nothing; it's like dust in your hands. If you become a real expert and go hide somewhere in the mountains, people will find you; they will come to you. You don't have to run after them. So, light the flame, and the match will come itself. Then you will get more money than you could think. This is a very good question. Congratulations for asking. Become the Vaidya. I hope this question was from a young person, so you still have a long life to study and become a Vaidya. The same is true with yoga. Not on every corner, but on every street there are a few yoga centers; in every club, in every five-star hotel, in many offices, they are teaching just yoga. It has become a commercial way. But yoga is not this thing you can learn everywhere on every corner. Yoga is something that we are doing: yoga and life. Some have been with me for thirty years, but still they have not even taken the first step. It is endless wisdom. Wisdom cannot be measured in centimeters or kilograms. Those who have been practicing yoga for thirty years according to the system of Yoga in Daily Life—the real yoga is what we do here in this system—even they haven't taken the first step. This knowledge has no end. Recording location: Hungary, Vep, Summer seminar

This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt, what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.

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