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April's "Star" of the Month |
A Conversation with |
| Questions by Charlotte Benson Interviewer: Christina Collins Interview Date: 3/15/2012
Collins: So you were just young when this was going on, you were watching this? Lad: Yes. . . I would watch my grandma, how she mixed the herbs, grind them, pound them, cook them and then make herbal tea out of the concoctions, and herbal medicated oil, and that was a fascinating thing to watch her, and that was a very good starting point in my life. Collins: Oh, that�s wonderful. Did anyone else inspire you or mentor you, besides your grandmother along the way? Who has been your strongest support? Lad: There was a little story, when my grandma, my father�s mother, (and I had a very special affection, love for her,) so she had kidney disease, called nephrotic syndrome. During those days, like early 50�s, there was no remedy. The doctor used to come to the home, and so my grandmother, she was totally swollen � so there was this one Ayurvedic doctor, who was my father�s friend, he�d try to feel the pulse, and he found the pulse at the root of the thumb, and then he was counting the pulse, measuring the pulse, feeling the pulse, listening to the pulse and he was smiling. He said, �Okay, I�m writing down these herbs.� And, he wrote about 10 or 20 different herbs, and then asked me to bring these herbs, grind them, make a tea and then give to my father�s Mom. So I was giving this herbal tea. And, the amazing thing is, that I saw my grandma, slowly, slowly improve, and within two months� time she became normal! So that was an amazing thing to observe. The Ayurvedic physician that used to come to our home � he inspired me. He said �you should learn Ayurveda�. Then, my father�s guru was my guru � and he also inspired me to learn Ayurved � and he told me that I would go abroad to England, Germany, and that I would teach the people Ayurved. So that was a turning point in my life, and I was quite a young boy. So, I think there already was favorable situation and environment for me to be attracted to Ayurved.
Collins: Wonderful! People, especially our readers will be excited about that! Could you also tell people a little bit about your webinars? What is your most recent? Lad: Most recent webinar is on how to read the face, and one on how to read the pulse, and on tongue examination. Now we will be doing a seminar on Marma Chikitsa. Those are energy points on the body, and if we gently stimulate them by calamus root oil, or henna oil, it really brings chi, or energy from that point, to the deeper organs. And it does wonderful stress management, and it can be helpful to deal with the pain. So, that webinar is soon happening on regarding reading the face, and reading the Marma Chikitsa by reading the energy points in order to heal the person. Collins: Oh that�s wonderful! I�m really interested in these, especially the face reading one. Lad: That�s great! Collins: Oh yes, and for our Jyotish readers, part of Jyotish is being able to read someone�s face, in order to better know their chart. It proves very helpful in rectification. Lad: That�s great. Collins: Yes, you can see or recognize a �Jupiterian� person, by the way they shine, I mean, it takes training, but it can be done. Lad: Yes, Yes, that is correct, a Jupiterian person has more Kapha nature, and the Moon, the lunar person has more of a round face, and more compassion and very attractive eyes, and the Venus person looks very romantic, the Mars person looks very strong, Pitta. So Ayurveda and Astrology are concurrent and inherent. Collins: Ayurved is such an amazing science! Do you recommend a particular correspondence course for learning, or do you prefer that people take, or attend organized classes? Or both? Lad: If a person has a strong desire to learn Ayurved, or be a practioner, then they should come to the Ayurvedic School and learn. But say, if a person just wants to learn Ayurveda, for self-healing purposes, or just to utilize Ayurveda for self-improvement -- then they can learn from a correspondence course. Collins: Wise advice. There are several out there, are there any specific ones that you would recommend? Lad: Dr. David Frawley has a correspondence course; Dr. Robert Svoboda has also, a very great correspondence course. And also, courses through the Ayurvedic Institute. So many people are coming up with a correspondence course. And so many people are interested in home learning, so the Ayurvedic Institute�s correspondence course is equally bright and brilliant. Collins: Thank you for that -- now, we know the NAMA (National Ayurvedic Medical Association) http://ayurvedanama.org conference is coming up in April 2012, and that you have been on the NAMA board of advisors for over a decade, and that we will see you there in Bellevue Washington? Lad: Yes, I will be there. Collins: Good. I have personally enjoyed your lectures and keynote speaking at past conferences and really appreciate the spiritual quality that comes across when you speak � so inspirational! Tell us, when you are working with a patient or client, how often do you incorporate Jyotish into your consultations, because I understand that you know some Jyotish as well? Lad: Yes, I�m primarily an Ayurvedic physician, and my knowledge of Jyotish is not so great, but people, they love Jyotish, they bring their Jyotish charts, and they bring their Vaastu chart, of their house, and showing east, north, west, south, and their kitchen, master bedroom, and toilet and everything � and then it is amazing � slowly, and even people in India, they think that I do Jyotish, and they bring their Jyotish chart. I tell them that my knowledge of Jyotish is only medical astrology. The whole of astrology is like a vast ocean, and you have to go to the proper Jyotish person who will guide you. But, whatever little knowledge I have, I can use it for my diagnostic tool, and it really helps � to balance the bodily dosha, to clear tissues and organs, for detox programs, and side by side, using Jyotish, crystals, gems and mantras � and also, Ishta Devata and puja. Jyotish and Ayurved they go together. Collins: Yes. All the different limbs of the Veda � work together. Lad: Right. Collins: So what advice would you give to the student, just starting out in Ayurvedic medicine? Lad: You know when people want to study Ayurvedic medicine; they should first learn the basic principles of Ayurveda. Pancha Maha Bhutas, Tridosha Siddantha, Slokas. Philosophy -- Once they know that � and we do teach very basic Jyotish, like how to know ascendants � how to know prikriti, by looking at the 6th house which is rajasthan and, how to understand about relationship by looking into the 7th house, and the family, 4th house, mother, and 9th / 10th house for father, and 5th house education and children. So they know the basic things about Jyotish, but they should know the basic principle of Ayurved, and that is the turning point, the beginning point to learn. Collins: Wonderful advice! So, to be an Ayurvedic practioner, you don�t find that someone needs to be a Hindu, or have a specific religious orientation to study Ayurveda, is that correct? Lad: Actually, Ayurveda is the science of life � and life is in every person Hindu, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Protestant, Catholic, everybody has a life. And, Ayurveda is the Science of Life, so whatever the religious division, anybody can study Ayurved to know about his or her life. Collins: Perfectly stated! Tell us, how long would you say that it would take someone to learn, if they decide to go into the field of Ayurveda? They say to themselves, it�s my passion! How many years do you think it would take to be accomplished and to begin practice? Lad: Well we have a two year course, but a least a minimum of 3 years And when people study Ayurved for 2 to 3 years, they will be very well acquainted with Ayurved, and can definitely practice Ayurved in their day to day life. Collins: Wonderful, just wonderful. So, is there anything else that you would like to let our readers know, or to tell them more? Lad: Ayurved is the science of life and Jyotish is the light of life. Light brings Jyotish, and Life brings Ayurved. These two sciences, Jyotish, which is Vedic Astrology, and Ayurved which is Vedic Science of Healing, they go together. And, they have certain Upaya, so, because of past life karma, people get suffering. Their suffering can be healed through diet, lifestyle, regeneration programs and through Jyotish. Otherwise, through homa, puja, jnana, gemstones, crystals, so that it can bring complete total healing both through Jyotish and Ayurveda. Collins: Wonderful. Thank you so, so much for your time today. We appreciate it so much. Lad: Oh, you�re welcome. Vasant Lad's Biography: Dr. Vasant D. Lad brings a wealth of classroom and practical experience to the United States. He received the degree of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery from the University of Pune, in Pune, India in 1968 and a Master of Ayurvedic Science from Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya in Pune, India in 1980. For 3 years he served as Medical Director of the Ayurveda Hospital in Pune, India. He also held the position of Professor of Clinical Medicine for seven years at the Pune University College of Ayurvedic Medicine, where he was an instructor for many years. Vasant Lad's academic and practical training includes the study of allopathic medicine (Western Medicine) and surgery as well as traditional Ayurveda. In 1979, he began traveling throughout the United States sharing his knowledge of Ayurveda, and in 1981, he returned to New Mexico to teach Ayurveda. In 1984, he founded and began as Director of The Ayurvedic Institute. Dr. Lad is the author of numerous articles and several books; Ayurveda, The Science of Self Healing, co-author of The Yoga of Herbs and Ayurvedic Cooking for Self-Healing. His book, Secrets of the Pulse, The Ancient Art of Ayurvedic Pulse Diagnosis, presents this fascinating subject for the first time. His work from Harmony Books, The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies, is a compendium of classic Ayurvedic treatments for common and chronic ailments. His most recent books, The Textbook of Ayurveda: Fundamental Principles, volume one and two are the first two of a four-volume set of textbooks covering the topics he teaches in his eight-month Ayurvedic Studies Program. Vasant Lad presently is the Director of The Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico and teaches the Ayurvedic Studies Program and, for more advanced study, the Gurukula Program as well as a clinical program in India each year. Dr. Lad also travels the world, consulting privately and giving seminars on Ayurveda, its history, theory, principles and practical applications. The Ayurvedic Institute www.ayurveda.com 505-291-9698 |
 | Questions for this interview by: Charlotte Benson, International Liaison and Jyotish Star Chief Correspondent Diplomate: AFA, NCGR, ISAR Board Member of American College of Vedic Astrology, Inc. President, Arizona Society of Astrologers, Inc. www.charlottebenson.com 602 952-1525 Phoenix, AZ USA. |
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| Jyotish Star Copyright 2012 C. C. Collins - All Rights Reserved |