II reflections Peeyush Bhorgovo Spirituality of Numbers B elow is a summary of classical Indian teachings on various aspects of life using a template of numbers from 0 to 9. 0) Zero represents a cycle. Everything in nature goes in cycles: dayand night, seasons, etc. Change is the only constant. All that is born has to ·die (to be born again) and that an absolute truth. So, the existing bad (or good) state of affairs will eventually change. Be patient during tough times and prepare for the trough during good times. 1) GOD is one. He is the intelligence that keeps the circle going. We may call him by different names and practice different rituals to appease him, but he is ONE. The soul, without which the physical body is use- less, is a part of that GOD. When the circle of life completes, the soul leaves the body to become one with the heavenly lord. 2) This represents the pair of oppo- sites we see everywhere around and inside us. Ayurveda is based on 20 qualities (10 pairs of opposites: dry/moist, light/heavy, hot/cold, rough/smooth, dense-flowing, hard-soft, fixed-mobile, dull/sharp, gross/ subtle, clear/cloudy) that are attributed to the five elements (No.5) and the three energies (No.3). It recognizes each person's individual balance (constitution) according to which the lifestyle changes and herbs are prescribed. 3) Number three denotes the three do- shas-vata (energy of movement), pitia (en- ergy of transformation), and kapha (energy of mass/inertial-that, when in balance, keep the body healthy. They also correspond physiologically to the derivatives of embryo- logic foregut (kapha}, midgut (pitta) and hindgut (vata). The constitution is estab- lished at the time of conception. Ayurvedic treatment balances the three energies and Panchkarma brings the out of balance en- ergy back to the gastrointestinal tract for elimination. 4) Number four represents fourfold pur- pose of live: dharma (work), arth (material), kaam (physical), moksha (spiritual). Dhar- ma: to do well/work honestly in one's pro-· fession. Arth: to earn money by legal means and to enjoy the comforts money can buy. Kaarn: to enjoy the pleasures of the physical 'body Moksha: work to free ourselves from the bondage of birth and death. Four also signifies the determinants of happiness, which according to a common Indian are: health, affluence, a dedicated spouse, and 52 • india currents > march 2011 an obedient child. 5) This number represents the five ele- ments (panchmahabhut) all matter is made from: ether (space), air, fire, water, and earth. Every element/energy tries to go to its source, so everything solid falls on the ground (gravity). Everything liquid flows to lower grounds, trying to go to the sea (its parent/source). Fire rises up to try to reach for the sun (source of all fire). No.5 also rep- resents the five senses which feed the brain (eyes, ears, skin, nose, and tongue). 6) This represents the pillars of health: eating, sleeping, exercise, cleanliness, dis- cipline, and behavior. Most alternative sys- tems of medicine prescribe a lifestyle during health and disease for prevention and cure, respectively. Living with nature, in balance with the rhythms/cycles of nature is consid- . ered healthy. When we continue to disturb this balance, we fall sick. 7) This number represents the chakras or energy centers in the body: Mooladhaar (earth element), Swadhishthaan (water ele- ment), Manipur (fire element), Anahat (air element), Vislw.ddhi (ether element), Agya (bodily intelligence), Sahasra (universal intelligence). Kundalini yoga activates the dormant energy in the mooladhaar chakra and channelizes it up the other chakras. Seven also represents the dhatoo types (tissues) in the body: rus (plasma), rakta (blood), mamas (muscle), meda (fat), asthi (borre), majja (marrow), shukra-aariav (sperm-ova) . 8) Number eight. represents the eightfold path of aashtang yoga: yam (nonviolence, truthfulness, no· stealing, discipline/celibacy, material detatchment), niyam (physical purification-defecation/ urination/bath, self contentment, medita- tion, self study, religious studies), aasan (physical postures), pranayaam (breathing exercises), praiyahaar (control over senses), dhaarna (union of senses with the mind), dhyaan (union of mind with the soul), and samaadhi (union of soul with the su preme). Yoga (pronounced as YOG) is the spiritual path "that leads the devoted aspirant to good health and ultimately to nirvana. 9) This number represents the nine celestial bodies according to Vedic astrol- ogy: sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Ju- piter, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu. A navaratna (nine stone) pendant or ring has one stone for each celestial body and brings positive energy from that body: Sun-Ruby, Moon -pear!, Mercury-emerald, Venus-diamond, Mars-red coral, Jupiter-yellow sapphire, Saturn-blue sapphire, Rahu-hessonite, and Ketu-cat's eye. Mantras are spoken in the multiples of nine._ Peeyusli Bhargava is a medical doctor who provides Ayurvedic lifestyle and herbal consul- tations in hi« free time. www.nuclearmd.com.
Spirituality of Numbers
Jul 26, 2015
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II reflections
Peeyush Bhorgovo
Spirituality of NumbersBelow is a summary of classical Indian
teachings on various aspects of life usinga template of numbers from 0 to 9.
0) Zero represents a cycle. Everything innature goes in cycles: dayand night, seasons,etc. Change is the only constant. All that isborn has to ·die (to be born again) and thatan absolute truth. So, the existing bad (orgood) state of affairs will eventually change.Be patient during tough times and preparefor the trough during good times.
1) GOD is one. He is the intelligencethat keeps the circle going. We may call himby different names and practice differentrituals to appease him, but he is ONE. Thesoul, without which the physical body is use-less, is a part of that GOD. When the circleof life completes, the soul leaves the body tobecome one with the heavenly lord.
2) This represents the pair of oppo-sites we see everywhere around and insideus. Ayurveda is based on 20 qualities (10pairs of opposites: dry/moist, light/heavy,hot/cold, rough/smooth, dense-flowing,hard-soft, fixed-mobile, dull/sharp, gross/subtle, clear/cloudy) that are attributed tothe five elements (No.5) and the threeenergies (No.3). It recognizes each person'sindividual balance (constitution) accordingto which the lifestyle changes and herbs areprescribed.
3) Number three denotes the three do-shas-vata (energy of movement), pitia (en-ergy of transformation), and kapha (energyof mass/inertial-that, when in balance,keep the body healthy. They also correspondphysiologically to the derivatives of embryo-logic foregut (kapha}, midgut (pitta) andhindgut (vata). The constitution is estab-lished at the time of conception. Ayurvedictreatment balances the three energies andPanchkarma brings the out of balance en-ergy back to the gastrointestinal tract forelimination.
4) Number four represents fourfold pur-pose of live: dharma (work), arth (material),kaam (physical), moksha (spiritual). Dhar-ma: to do well/work honestly in one's pro-·fession. Arth: to earn money by legal meansand to enjoy the comforts money can buy.Kaarn: to enjoy the pleasures of the physical'body Moksha: work to free ourselves fromthe bondage of birth and death. Four alsosignifies the determinants of happiness,which according to a common Indian are:health, affluence, a dedicated spouse, and
52 • india currents > march 2011
an obedient child.5) This number represents the five ele-
ments (panchmahabhut) all matter is madefrom: ether (space), air, fire, water, andearth. Every element/energy tries to go toits source, so everything solid falls on theground (gravity). Everything liquid flows tolower grounds, trying to go to the sea (itsparent/source). Fire rises up to try to reachfor the sun (source of all fire). No.5 also rep-resents the five senses which feed the brain(eyes, ears, skin, nose, and tongue).
6) This represents the pillars of health:eating, sleeping, exercise, cleanliness, dis-cipline, and behavior. Most alternative sys-tems of medicine prescribe a lifestyle duringhealth and disease for prevention and cure,respectively. Living with nature, in balancewith the rhythms/cycles of nature is consid- .ered healthy. When we continue to disturbthis balance, we fall sick.
7) This number represents the chakrasor energy centers in the body: Mooladhaar(earth element), Swadhishthaan (water ele-ment), Manipur (fire element), Anahat (airelement), Vislw.ddhi (ether element), Agya(bodily intelligence), Sahasra (universalintelligence). Kundalini yoga activates thedormant energy in the mooladhaar chakraand channelizes it up the other chakras.Seven also represents the dhatoo types(tissues) in the body: rus (plasma), rakta(blood), mamas (muscle), meda (fat), asthi
(borre), majja (marrow), shukra-aariav(sperm-ova) .
8) Number eight. represents theeightfold path of aashtang yoga: yam(nonviolence, truthfulness, no· stealing,discipline/celibacy, material detatchment),niyam (physical purification-defecation/urination/bath, self contentment, medita-tion, self study, religious studies), aasan(physical postures), pranayaam (breathingexercises), praiyahaar (control over senses),dhaarna (union of senses with the mind),dhyaan (union of mind with the soul), andsamaadhi (union of soul with the su preme).Yoga (pronounced as YOG) is the spiritualpath "that leads the devoted aspirant to goodhealth and ultimately to nirvana.
9) This number represents the ninecelestial bodies according to Vedic astrol-ogy: sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Ju-piter, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu. A navaratna(nine stone) pendant or ring has one stonefor each celestial body and brings positiveenergy from that body: Sun-Ruby, Moon-pear!, Mercury-emerald, Venus-diamond,Mars-red coral, Jupiter-yellow sapphire,Saturn-blue sapphire, Rahu-hessonite, andKetu-cat's eye. Mantras are spoken in themultiples of nine._
Peeyusli Bhargava is a medical doctor whoprovides Ayurvedic lifestyle and herbal consul-tations in hi« free time. www.nuclearmd.com.
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