In Ayurveda, every substance we ingest has a profile of at least three categories:
1. Rasa (Taste): Sweet/Sour/Salty/Pungent/Bitter/Astringent
2. Vīrya (Potency): Is it Heating or Cooling?
3. Vipāka (Post Digestive Effect): How does it affect urine/feces/sweat?
And sometimes there is a fourth. Ohhh, I really like this mysterious one:
4. Prabhāva: Unique or Unpredictable Action. 🤷♂️
Prabhāva means a dynamic action that cannot be explained by the logic of the first three categories.
- For instance, two teaspoons of ghee (clarified butter) with milk is a laxative, but, in a smaller dose (half a teaspoon), it is constipating. Why? 🤷♂️
- Rock salt and sea salt both possess the exact same profile of Rasa, Vīrya, and Vipāka, yet sea salt is not good for hypertension whereas rock salt is fine. Why? 🤷♂️
- Gemstones, crystals, and reciting mantras aid healing due to their prabhāva. Why? 🤷♂️
A desire to know Truth and a healthy interest in intellectual pursuits is commendable.
But are you too intense and intent on knowing Truth?
Are your doubts too great and irrational?
Do you need absolute proof of everything? Including Love?
All you fiery ones out there, your pitta dosha (fire) may be aggravated.
There is no shortage of empirical evidence to support the benefits of Yoga and Yoga Nidra. But sometimes we need to lie back patiently and have faith in its mystery – a mystery that cannot always be explained with hard facts.
Ask not whether the mystery and magic resonates with your head.
Rather … does it resonate with your Heart?
I’m happy to unpack more of this in Saturday’s Livekick class.
Prabhāva! Here’s to the Unknown!
May we all remain healthily curious well into our golden years.
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