Synthasis across systems

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Vaidya Upadhye posted;

 

>>Nervous System, which are symbolized in Ayurveda through the

Sthira/Chala Vayu functions, stabilization versus activation

 

It is brilliant co relation I have came across until now. You have

shown me a

direction for thinking and for new concept.>>

 

 

 

I hope that I have not left the wrong impression. It was not my

intention to imply that Sthria/Chala Gunas were the same thing as the

ANS (Autonomic Nervous System). These Gunas simply were a metaphor I

was using for the primary functions of the ANS. That is the activating

and relaxing functions of the ANS, which are two of its basic

functions. In fact all Gunas being pairs of opposites have a

stimulating/inhibiting effect on the ANS. Gunas refer to affects and

or subjective experiences through the senses. There is a quality of

experience (gunas) and the body responds to that quality (ANS).

Influences stimulate or inhibit according to their nature and the body

must have a mechanism for fulfilling these influences, this is the

ANS. The ANS has three divisions, the divisions we are referring to

when we talk about the opposites are the PSNS (Parasympathetic Nervous

System) and the SNS (Sympathetic Nervous System), there is another

division of the ANS called the ENS (Enteric Nervous System) this is

often called the second brain because it can function independently of

the CNS (Central Nervous System), it's function is to regulate the

digestive system, which works through the SNS and PSNS but can work

independently of them.

 

Although the SNS and PSNS have opposite qualities these are not

antagonistic qualities they are complimentary qualities, they are

functions of balancing within an organism which must remain in

homeostasis to remain healthy and properly functioning. An example is

the heart, which must contract and relax throughout our lives. These

stimulating effects and inhibiting effects are taking place in all

tissues of the body. Indeed there is no movement without these

coordinating functions, without these functions tissue would be

stagnant and nothing would happen. As I mentioned the Gunas are

qualities that influence the ANS either to stimulation or inhibition,

speeding up or slowing down.

 

Throughout history human beings have observed these opposing qualities

in nature. Most of the major philosophical schools were based on a

dualistic model of reality. In the case of several of the important

schools in Asia, this dualistic concept was differentiated into a

five-element system that described all of the multitude of phenomenon

that exist; there is the One, the one has two opposing and

complimentary aspects, as this Duad interacts it creates the infinite

variations. The `Tao Te Ching/Taode jing' by the great sage Lao Tzu,

wrote, " The Tao being full of itself became the two, and the two

became the three, and the three became the ten thousand " chapter 42.

One of the differentiations, as it relates to physiology, which was

observed in India, was the concept of the Nadis, the channels. Like

all things the Nadis have their opposite states and functions. These

two opposing states and functions are Ida and Pingala, this concept

closely relates to the brain (left and right hemispheric functions),

spinal column, and nervous system (both CNS and ANS). So in the broad

sense Ida and Pingala include the functions of the ANS through their

active (SNS, masculine, solar, active, extroverted, right side, left

hemisphere of the brain, etc.) Pingala functions and the inhibiting

(PSNS, feminine, lunar, passive, left side, right hemisphere of the

brain, etc.) functions. What all of this refers to is Prana (the

activating, vitalizing principle, Qi in Chinese) and it's movements

and functions. The five pranas (Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana, Samana)

are different types and functions of Prana, which together represent

all of the movements within our bodies, which make us particular types

of living beings.

 

So it is not correct to think of the ANS as being the same thing as

the Gunas, the Gunas are influences that symbolize the many reactive

and inhibiting processes that affect the ANS. The human body is under

constant influences of many types and when the body responds to these

influences through the nervous system, this affects the ways in which

Prana manifests and flows. We subjectively experience this through the

opposites; cold/hot, wet, oily/dry, heavy/light, gross/ subtle,

dense/liquid, stable/mobile, dull/sharp, soft/hard, smooth/rough,

sticky/clear.

 

Sorry if there was any confusion, this is often the cost of writing in

the internet, we often sacrifice precision for speed, without editing.

 

Here is a link on the vital currents.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vital_currents

 

Liz