The Four Immeasurables are a series of virtues and Buddhist meditation  practices designed to cultivate those virtues.  They are also called the four sublime attitudes, as they are good qualities to possess in god measure. They form a sequence of Buddhist virtues recommended in the Brahmavihara Sutta.

-Metta/Maitri: loving-kindness.  “The wish that all sentient beings, without any exception, be happy.”

-Karuna: compassion.  “The wish for all sentient beings to be free from suffering.”

-Mudita: sympathetic joy.  “The wholesome attitude of rejoicing in the happiness and virtues of all sentient beings.”

-Upekkha/Upeksha: equanimity, or learning to accept both loss and gain, praise and blame, success and failure with detachment, equally, for oneself and for others.  “To not distinguish between friend, enemy or stranger, but regard every sentient being as equal.  It is a clear-minded tranquil state of mind, not being overpowered by delusions, mental dullness, or agitation.”

The Four Immeasurables: Cultivating a Boundless Heart

According to Ayurveda, our fingernails are a by-produce of our bones. And the condition of our nails is a reflection of the condition of the condition of our body tissues.  If we’re having problems with our nails, then we need to look at the balance and nourishment of the whole body.  Here are some examples of what we can find by looking at our nails:

-Horizontal indentations indicate a weakened digestion.

-Vertical ridges indicate that we are not metabolizing minerals or proteins well, and that we have a deficiency in Vitamin B12 and Iton.

-White spots indicate a calcium or zinc deficiency.

-Hang nails indicate a lack of protein, Vitamin C, and folic acid.

-Brittle nails indicate low iron or low Vitamin A, an imbalanced thyroid or kidney function and poor circulation.

-Yellowish nails indicate a liver imbalance.

-Bluish nails indicate a lunch and heart imbalance.

-Pale nails indicate anemia, and low liver and kidney energy.

In addition, we can look at the particular finger where a nail has a problem, and note that there may be an imbalance in the corresponding organ.

-Thumb: brain

-Index finger: lungs and colon

-Middle finger: small intestine

-Ring finger: kidney

Little finger: heart and female reproductive organs

Ayurvedic Beauty Care

Nirvana is a Sanskrit word that has made its way into western vernacular.  We use “nirvana” to describe a heavenly state.  And the Sanskrit roots support this.  Nirvana means perfection, Peace, freedom.  It is considered a state of enlightenment because, when it is reached, all the traces of karma have been swept away and we are absolutely free.  In the yoga tradition, it is believed that this state of bliss is achieved when the mind has been controlled to the point of pure stillness.  The Mahabharata says: “Yoked by that joy, he delights in the practice of meditation.  Thus do the yogis go to nirvana, free from ill.”

Although a vegetarian diet is preferred in Ayurveda, it is not mandatory.  There are certain instances when eating meat, or drinking meat broth can be beneficial, especially in times of illness.  The tradition of vegetarianism comes from India’s religious background.  The Manu-smriti, a Vedic guide for human behavior says, “having considered the origin of flesh foods and the cruelty of fettering and slaying corporeal beings, let man entirely abstain from eating flesh.”  It goes on to say that eating meat “involves killing, and consequently leads to karmic bondage (bandha).”  The Mahabharata, another ancient Indian text, explains that a healthy vegetarian diet is sattvic, increasing purity of consciousness and longevity.  Other references in Vedic literature refer to fruits, vegetables, grain, nuts and dairy products as fit for human consumption.  And the Bhagavad Gita says that lovingly offering food to others also helps us to shed our karma. 

There is an ancient Indian principle that says if you want to check if your rice is ready, then you just test a few grains.  The grains are representative of the status of the entire pot of rice.  So, if we want to check on the status of our society, we can look at a few families, as representative of society as a whole.  Ayurveda says that we are born with a peaceful and loving mind.  When we are raised in an affectionate and nurturing home, then we can bring that love and peace with us out into society and help the world merely by being ourselves.  In our fast-paced culture we sometimes forget about how important it is to come together as a family.  Our homes might have a family room, but how often do we use it?  Everyone has his own computer, TV, cell phone, and schedule, and we’re going in different directions all the time.  We need to remember to connect.  Eating a meal together daily gives us food for our souls as well as our bodies.  Serving together by helping our communities sets a great example for our children, and feels good, too.  Support each other, love each other, appreciate each other.  Being an integral part of a healthy family helps us to function more efficiently on five levels: body, mind, senses, emotions, and spirit.

Seven Secrets to Raising a Happy and Healthy Family: An Ayurvedic Approach

In Sanskrit, maya means “illusion.”  And often, maya is used to refer to material existence.  In the Tao of Physics, Fritjof Capra writes: “Maya does not mean that the world is an illusion, as is often wrongly stated.  The illusion merely lies in our point of view.  Maya is the illusion of mistaking or relative perspective for reality, of confusing the map with the territory.”  One explanation is that the material world exists, but it is only temporary.  It is like a dream, having substance for a short period of time.  Material existence, or matter, is not forever; it is limited and measurable.  Spiritual things, on the other hand, are limitless.  The Demigoddess named Maya creates a situation where we live a life of illusion and forgetfulness.  Her spiritual counterpart, Yogamaya, creates an atmosphere where we can penetrate the world’s illusions and relish intimacy with the source of all existence.

Patanjali is the author of the “Yoga Sutras.”  He is also thought by many scholars to be the author of various ancient texts on Ayurveda and Sanskrit grammar.  Others think that the name Patanjali represents a group of people who came up with these writings.  Sutra in Sanskrit translates to “stitch” as in a thread of knowledge.  The Sutras provide a thorough and consistent philosophical basis for yoga, and they also clarify many important concepts in Indian thought.  Patanjali divided his Yoga Sutras into four chapters or books (“pada” in Sanskrit).

-Samadhi Pada (51 sutras): Sanadhi refers to a blissful state of Oneness.  This book contains the famous verse “Yogas citta vritti nirodhah” which translates to “Yoga is the restraint of mental modifications.”

-Sadhana Pada (55 sutras): Sadhana is the Sanskrit word for practice or discipline.  In this book, Patanjali talks about Kriya Yoga (also called Karma Yoga) and Ashtanga Yoga (Eightfold Yoga).  Ashtanga Yoga describes the eight limbs that together constitute Raja Yoga.

-Vibhuti Pada (56 sutras): Vibhuti is the Sanskrit word for power or manifestation.  The sutras explain that the focus should be on liberation, and not on the attainment of power.

-Kaivalya Pada (34 sutras): Kaivalya as used in the sutras means emancipation and liberation, which is the goal of Yoga.  This book describes the nature of liberation and the reality of the transcendental self.

Acne is a common skin disease that affects more than 85% of the population at some point in their lives.  Acne is more common in men than women during adolescence, and more common in women than men during adulthood.  Ayurveda says that acne is an imbalance of all three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha, with the main cause being the aggravation of the Pita dosha.  Pitta is made up of a combination of fire and water, hence the heat, or redness, of the skin.  Since a Pitta imbalance is deep in the physiology, creams and topical treatments just mask the symptoms of acne.  Ayurveda recommends a Pitta diet and lifestyle routine to tackle the disease at the root cause.  Meditation and yoga help to ease stress, which is a contributing factor.  When experiencing a breakout of acne, try making a paste of turmeric powder and water and applying to the blemishes with a cotton ball.  Turmeric is an antibiotic and antibacterial so will help calm the eruptions.

There are many ways that food can help to boost our immune system.  First, choose food that is fresh, and easy to digest.  It’s also best to choose foods that are grown organically whenever you can.  Favor vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and light dairy products.  You can also cook with immune-boosting spices, like turmeric, cumin, coriander, black pepper, and ginger.  Cook food so that it is easier to digest, but don’t overcook it so that it is mushy.  Eat at peak digestive times.  The largest meal of the day should be lunch, eaten between noon and 1 pm, when Pitta is strongest.  Eat lighter meals for breakfast and dinner.  Eat at the same time every day so that your digestion gets into an efficient routine.  And eat until you are about 75% full.  Don’t stuff yourself, save some space for the digestive process to function.  Choose foods for your dosha type, and also for the season.

Garam Masala, found on spice racks and in recipes, is not a spice in itself, but a blend of spices used throughout India.  Garam means “hot” and Masala means “spice.”  The spices, and some of the proportions in Garam Masala can vary depending on personal taste, and the region.  Here’s a sample recipe so that you can make your own Garam Masala at home.  This recipe makes about ½ cup of Garam Masala, and when kept in an airtight container will keep for 3 months.  I’ve seen different recipes that use mace and/or fenugreek, so experiment and see what you like.

2 Tablespoons cumin seeds

2 Tablespoons coriander seeds

2 Tablespoons cardamom seeds

2 Tablespoons black peppercorns

1 3” stick cinnamon, broken up

1 teaspoon whole cloves

1 teaspoon grated nutmeg

½ teaspoon saffron (optional)

Put all of the spices except the nutmeg and saffron in a dry, heavy skillet over medium-high heat.  Toast the spices about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they turn several shades darker and give off a sweet, smoky aroma.  Let cool completely.  Transfer the spice mixture to a spice mill or coffee grinder and grind to a powder.  Stir in the nutmeg and saffron.