Tantra means instrument of the body.”  It sounds exotic, but it is actually very simple.  Tantra teaches us to use all five of our senses consciously, because our senses are how we are connected with the physical world. Flowers are an expression of joy.  It seems like a miracle that the earth can produce such a variety of species, so colorful, vibrant and full of life.  Is it any wonder that we’ve made such a tradition of giving flowers in courtship?  Sometimes flowers say what words cannot.  Roses are a traditional Valentine’s Day gift.  Red roses were said to be the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love.  Red signifies desire!  Here’s how we can incorporate Tantra, and roses, into a romantic Valentine’s Day celebration for two.

Smell (“Gandha” in Sanskrit)

Women are particularly sensitive to smells.  Our pheromones are the scents that we give off without even realizing it.  These pheromones train us to recognize and desire our partners.  When people stop smoking, they say that they rediscover their sense of smell.  Studies have shown that the loss of the olfactory sense is often accompanied by a loss in sexual interest, so it is a good idea to keep our noses functioning optimally!  Fragrances have quite an allure to them.  Roses just smell like romance.  Use rose scented candles, rose petals in the bathtub.

Taste (“Rasa” in Sanskrit)

The tongue is super-sensitive.  By blocking out the other senses, by closing your eyes for example, you can focus on the taste more fully.  Love is sweet – there’s a reason why we call each other honey and sweetie and cupcake!  Savor and delight in the tastes and textures of various foods and drinks:  whipped cream, chocolate, a strawberry – and yes, rose!  Sweet rose tea is made for romance!  It smells wonderful and tastes divine – and it is the perfect way to end a romantic meal.  Organic India’s Tulsi Rose Tea has the added benefit of helping you to relax, and de-stressââ¬Â¦ to get you in the mood for romance!

Touch (“Sparsa” in Sanskrit)

The skin marks the visible limits of the body, it is where we make contact with the world.  Our skin is our largest organ, and 16% of our body weight.  With touch we experience much of our environment: temperature, clothes, sheets, shower, etc.  Wake up the sense of touch with massage.  Use different materials and textures, such as a feather, a velvet hat, baby powder, a silk scarf, or rose petals.  Infuse sesame oil, or unscented body lotion with rose petals, or rose essential oil for a wonderful massage oil.

Sound (“Sabda” in Sanskrit)

Sounds have a profound effect on the body.  Studies have shown that sounds can open up our inner pharmacy and balance our physiology.  They can help us to be healthier, to feel better.  What sound do roses make?  They’re silent.  Sweet and soft.  Whisper sweet nothings to your loved one.  Play soft, sweet music.  Dance, sing together.

Sight (“Rupa” in Sanskrit)

For romance, it’s all about lighting.  Think pink – use rose colored light bulbs, so you naturally see things more rosy!  Dine by candlelight.  Spread rose petals on the table.  Make a trail of rose petals that leads to a surprise.

Ayurveda has a long tradition of using the energy of gemstones in healing.  Worn against the skin, the gemstones impart energy to the body for various purposes.  Malas are spiritual strands of 108 beads used in meditation or prayer.  We found the most beautiful mala, called “The Rose Love Mala” made in Bali, just in time for Valentine’s Day!  The design consists of:

-Rose Quartz (the Meru, or center stone) is known as the love stone, it opens the heart, enhances feelings of love and creativity, and helps to heal emotional wounds.

-Rhodochrosite is known as the stone of passion.  It opens the heart chakra and increases optimism, spontaneity and the expression of feelings.

-Quartz Crystal increases spiritual wisdom, insight and clarity of thought.

-Tulsi is also called Holy Basil, and the wood of Tulsi is said to be more powerful than any gem in the protection from negative influences.  It is a wonderful tool for meditation and spiritual growth.

The Rose Love Mala from Organic India

According to Ayurvedic texts, everything in nature is made up of a combination of the five elements.  These elements are: air, space, fire, water, and earth.  The elements are much more than the physical element itself, they are symbolic ideas to help us understand how the universe works.  This week and next we’ll look at each of the elements and what they represent.

-Air in Sanskrit is Vayu.  Air represents motion; everything that moves in nature, from a delicate butterfly to earthquake, is propelled by air, or wind.  In our body, air is the movement of our nerves, our breath, and our limbs.  And in our mind, air is what moves our thoughts.  Air corresponds to our sense of touch. 

-Space, or Ether, in Sanskrit is Akasha.  This is the space between things; it connects everything together.  This is a very subtle element; we can’t exactly see it, and yet we know it is there.  In our body it is the empty space, and in our mind it is consciousness.  Space corresponds to our sense of hearing, and it is also the tool with which we express our ideas.

-Fire in Sanskrit is Tejas.  Fire is both hot and bright; heat and light.  Fire represents transformation, it is powerful, and it changes things.  In the body, fire is responsible for our digestion.  In the mind, fire governs our perception.  Fire corresponds to our sense of sight.  It also is evident in our feet, propelling us forward with fiery determination.

-Water in Sanskrit is Apas.  Water is representative of all liquids, it flows along the path of least resistance.  In our body, water represents all of our bodily fluids.  In the mind, water, like tears, represents our loving emotions.  Water corresponds to our sense of taste.

-Earth in Sanskrit is Prithvi.  Earth represents what is solid, and stable.  This shows up as many solid things in nature, such as wood, or metal.  In our body, earth is our bone structure.  In our mind, earth is our mental stability.  Earth corresponds to our sense of smell. 

According to Vedic texts, there are four basic goals of human life.  The purpose of Ayurveda is to keep humanity healthy so that we can fully pursue these goals.  These goals are a fundamental part of our nature, but the attachment to these goals is what causes much of our problems.  When we can look at the highest purpose for each of these goals, and not overindulge, we can achieve the bliss that we seek.

-Kama means pleasure.  In its highest form, this is the pursuit of the preservation of life.  When kept in check, kama brings us joy.  We eat food that tastes good, as is good for us.  We maintain healthy relationships that feed our soul.

-Artha means prosperity.  In its highest form, this is the pursuit of what we need to thrive, no more and no less.  There is no need for waste or greed.  We know that accumulation does not bring happiness.

-Dharma means duty.  Dharma is our purpose in life, and we know we are in our dharma when we are doing what we love, and at the same time we are serving others.  This is how we use our talents to contribute to society.

-Moksha means liberation.  In its highest form, this is the pursuit of spiritual growth.  When we understand that we are on a spiritual journey in this lifetime, this motivates us further.

Feeling a little out of balance from overindulging during the holiday season?  You’re probably not getting enough fiber.  The lack of fiber in the typical American diet may be a contributing factor in the rising rates of heart disease, obesity and digestive problems in the west.  Ayurveda has a solution: Psyllium!  Psyllium is an excellent dietary fiber that helps to bring much-needed regularity to your system.  It is often recommended as a convenient way to maintain gastrointestinal health because it both soothes the digestive system and supports heart health.  Psyllium is one of India’s largest export crops, providing 85% of the world’s supply. Organic India has partnered with a select group of organic farmers in India to create the purest and highest quality psyllium products, grown on certified organic farmland.  This is good for the farmers, and good for us!  The Organic Tri-Active Blends combines Psyllium with Inulin (a prebiotic that helps to grow beneficial bacteria needed to maintain a healthy colon), Aloe Vera Leaf, and Marshmallow Root.  It comes in three yummy flavors: orange, peach, and chocolate, so it can be a regular part of your ayurvedic lifestyle routine.

Tri-Active Blends from Organic India

In India, the New Year is celebrated much the same way as it is here in the west, with parties, music, food and friends.  But on different dates throughout the country, depending on the location, the Hindu New Year is also celebrated.  In the eastern and southern parts of India, the New Year is celebrated during the spring.  Yellow is the symbolic color of spring, and people often wear yellow on this day.  A traditional New Year’s Day salad is made with neem leaves, jagarey, raw mangoes and bananas.  Those who eat the salad are symbolically accepting everything bitter and sweet that is likely to come their way throughout the coming year.  In Kerala, mothers prepare a special tray with food, fruits, flowers and gifts the night before New Year’s Day.  When the children wake up, they are led with their eyes closed to this tray so that it is the first thing that they see in the morning.  In western India, New Year’s Day is celebrated at the end of Diwali, the festival of lights, which is at the end of October.  During Diwali, little oil lamps are lit around houses to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.

Mahatma Gandhi is known as one of the greatest statesmen who ever lived.  But as a child, he had his struggles.  He was very shy and didn’t do well in school.  He fell in with a bad crowd, and even stole and smoked.  Feeling guilty, he confessed his misdeeds to his father, who could not hold back his tears.  This was a pivotal point in Gandhi’s life, and he vowed never again to waver from the path of truth.  He finished school, and went to England to study law.  He tried practicing law in India, but he wasn’t very successful, so he moved to South Africa to work there.  One day, while traveling by train in a first class compartment, Gandhi was ridiculed and thrown out by a white passenger.  The humiliation made him determined to fight racism.  He felt strongly that any protest must be made according to the path of ahimsa, or non-violence.  In 1915 Gandhi returned to India and was welcomed by a huge crowd.  He emphasized people’s rights and the right to independence.  His movement touched a chord with the masses.  One of Gandhi’s most beloved quotes is: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”  Deepak Chopra founded the Alliance for a New Humanity based on this quote.  In so many ways, Gandhi’s work lives on.

Alliance for a New Humanity

In India, all animals are sacred.  But the cow, referred to as Gau Mata or Mother Cow, holds a special place in the pantheon of creatures.  India was originally an agriculture-based civilization, and before money came to the countryside, cows were a symbol of wealth.  Cows became legal tender, exchanged for goods and services and even presented as dowry at weddings.  It was thought that gifting a cow to a priest could bring salvation.  The cow also provided milk, the main source of nourishment for much of the country.  The cow dung is used as buel even today.  Dung mixed with hay and dried warms the home and keeps the kitchen fire burning.  It is also mixed with clay and used as building material.  But since most Indians are vegetarian, once the cow stops producing milk, it is often abandoned.  That’s one reason why there are so many cows wandering the streets.  Cows find that the exhaust from the cars helps keep the flies away, so they’re more comfortable.  It’s easy for these cows to find food.  Bread is often left out for the cows the eat, as this is said to be good karma.  On holidays, wandering cows are offered sweets and grass.

Ayurveda teaches us to eat the freshest food possible.  Organic is best because besides being fresh, there are no pesticides used.  We can also go organic in our homes and offices.  Consider using products that come from nature when making purchases.  For example, a wicker wastebasket is more lovely to look at than a plastic one, and does the job equally well.  Glass is made from sand, and ceramic is made from clay, evoking the element of earth.  Both can be used as candle holders, dishware, picture frames and more.  Wood looks rich and beautiful and adds another natural element to décor.  Fill a basket with pinecones or chestnuts and bring it indoors.  Or display some seashells and seaglass.  You’ll have a something beautiful to look at, and also get the natural fragrances from nature, too.  Fresh cut flowers add color, and plants freshen the air!

In Sanskrit, the word Guru comes from the verb root gri, meaning “to invoke” or “to praise.”  Guru is also an adjective, and can mean heavy, serious, or venerable.  When put together, Guru translates to “heavy one.”  There may also be a connection to the root “gur” which means “to lift up.”  The Guru Gita, or “song of the spiritual teacher” is found in a collection of mantras called the Markandeeya Purana.  In the context of this work, the root gu means “darkness” and ru means “removal.”  A guru is a teacher who has attained enlightenment and has the ability to pass on this wisdom to others, removing the darkness and shining the light of understanding.  Besides a teacher type of guru, there is also an inner guru, the higher self that listens, our inner wisdom and intuition.  According to the Vedas, this inner guru is the most important source of knowledge.  In modern times, we have learned that guru translates to “Gee-You-Are-You.”