Blog Shifted

Blog changes: 1. There is now a general Jiva Blog (Ayur, Edu, Culture), and a separate blog for me just on learning.

For the Jiva Blog, visit:
http://jivablog.wordpress.com or
http://www.jiva.com

For Steve's Blog on Learning, visit
http://stevenrudolph.wordpress.com or
http://www.jiva.com/education

Advanced Ayurvedic Practitioners Course

Students from the Kripalu School of Ayurveda spent a week at Jiva Faridabad learning the art of Ayurveda from Dr. Partap Chauhan. They are currently in Vrindavan studying topics related to Vedic philosophy with Dr. Satya Naryana Das. The program was set up for practioners of Ayurveda who wanted to explore the science in depth.

See some photos of the course that demonstrate students learning about various herbs, as well as how to create their own medicines.

If you are interested to know more about our special Ayurvedic courses, please visit our courses section.

Unlocking the Secret of an Ancient Ayurvedic Text

Bart Staub of the Kripalu Institute in Lenox, Mass. is here at Jiva for the next few months working on a project to unlock the mysteries of Charak Samhita, the ancient Ayurvedic treatise that forms the basis of Ayurveda. Charak, as it is often referred to, consists of numerous sutras written in Sanskrit that explain the causes and cures of disease.

To carry out the task, Bart is meeting with Dr. Satya Naryana Dasa (a PhD in Sanskirt) alongside Dr. Partap Chauhan, Ayurvedic expert, to analyze the text from both a scholarly as well as practical perspective. We are hoping to see one of the most modern, powerful interpretations of Charak that has ever be done.

We'll keep you posted on the updates.

Jiva Suggests Changes for Obama

As Barak Obama enters the Whitehouse, he will be bringing change. Here are some changes we at Jiva feel would benefit not just the US, but the world:

Suggestions by Dr. Chauhan

• Introduce Ayurveda in Schools
  
• Promote Ayurveda in all spheres healthcare
• To do meditation and Yoga (Jivananda)
• Promote the eating of natural foods, and less processed, junk, and microwaved food
• Increase vegetarianism

Suggestions by Dr. Satya Narayana Dasa:

• Make borrowing money difficult
  
• Encourage people not to live so much on credit
  
• Promote education about family unity and respect for elders.
  
• Create more programs on TV that promote life-wellness
  

Suggestions by Steven Rudolph:

• Promote the Multiple Natures concept in schools, colleges, and companies to ensure the right people wind up in the right jobs
• Expand the scope of the school curriculum to cover life-wellness
• Reduce watching TV and do more of anything beneficial

Additional thoughts by Dr. Chauhan:

I believe that most people suffer at an emotional/mental level. To bring a change in them, it is important to bring the education of how we should effectively use our intelligence before we take decisions or take our actions. Majority of the time we don't use our intelligence and do what the mind tells us to do. Generally the thoughts/desires arise in the mind and without using our discriminative power (buddh or intellect) we take the action and suffer in body (physical disorders) and mind (mental disorders). Mind is not designed for discrimination and has to be assisted or guided by the intelligence before we take an action. For example, someone has just finished a delicious lunch and after two minutes sees a chocolate cake on the dining table. Now if he doesn't use his intelligence and just listens to the mind then he will eat the cake and get all sorts of problems like obesity, diabetes, indigestion, and 'ama'. Whereas if he uses the intelligence, then the intelligence will tell the mind to wait for two hours because the liver and stomach are still working and over burdened by the lunch. So in both cases he eats the cake but in the second situation he does not suffers and enjoys the cake. In first situation he does not enjoy but only suffers.

I have just tried to explain the problem people face today. This is called "pragyaparadha" or misuse or non-use of intelligence. So we need to educate people about this very important thing that we possess but we don't use it often. Jivananda program or following simple Ayurvedic daily routine once can very easily clean the senses and subconscious mind. Sattvic food and life style is very important for having a healthy mind and emotions. So we need to promote sattva.

Another thing that we need to change is to inspire people to move from brain (mind) to heart (soul). People need education in a very simple and easy format about soul. They have to realize that they are souls and they are full of love. It may sound a bit deep but it is very easy. The "Jiva Meditation" (JM) can help people realize this very easily. This is also included in Jivananda.

People have been trying to promote many things in the world to help the humanity but I have seen that most of them do not work or work only temporarily. This because the real problem is not in the body or even in the mind. It is in the sub conscious level and ignorance about our real identity.

It's Dr. Chauhan's Birthday

Today, January 15th, is Dr. Partap Chauhan's birthday. If you'd like to send him a birthday message, please do so here with a comment!

Eco-friendly Building

If you want to see a super eco-friendly home, here it is. This morning, we paid a visit to the home of Vasant and Revathi Kamath, pioneering architects based just outside of Delhi.

Here are pics from a walkthrough of their home and beautiful property.


The Kamaths are working with Jiva on the design of "Jivagram", our Vedic village 2 hours south of Delhi in Hodal. The project, on 10 acres of land, will provide Ayurvedic treatment and education--an opportunity to help people get into a complete state of wellness. There will be courses offered to Ayurvedic practitioners, massage therapists, and even the general public--anyone interesting in learning how to use the power of natural elements and therapies to keep balanced.

The Kamath's place is located in the Aravalli Hills, in an area that was stripped of its timber and rock by miners. Over the last 12 years, they re-habilitated the land, and built a home made mostly of materials from the land itself, including clay bricks. Today there are over 50 varieties of trees. Birds, monkeys, and all sorts of animals come to experience the peaceful sanctuary they have created--and I can understand why, as it's the greenest place in the area!

Many of the inside floors and walls are made of mud, and adorned with modern and traditional artwork. The house is simple yet sophisticated, and utterly down to earth.

Their drainage system uses a natural recycling process that purifies the waste and water through an anaerobic chamber. Above the chamber are plants that draw up the water and purify it as well. No chemicals.

It's so hard to capture the beauty of the Kamath's home, the brilliance in their application of eco-responsible design, and their warmth and hospitality. I hope the photos give you a better idea, and demonstrate how lucky we are to have them with us on our project!

Solving the US Healthcare Crisis

Francine Hardaway has posted a great article about how Ayurveda can remedy healthcare in the US. With unemployment rising, and healthcare costs escalating, and health problems on the rise due to unnatural lifestyles, Ayurveda can provide an immediate, effective, low cost solution.

Read the article here on her site dedicated to solving the US Healthcare Crisis.

Jiva's New Group on Facebook

We've just created a Jiva group on Facebook to discuss life wellness. Feel free to join and talk about health, education, Ayurveda, culture and more! The group name is "Jiva".

Creating the group is just one of the steps we're taking to improve our "Social Media" practice at Jiva. Francine Hardaway our friend and mentor from Phoenix, is staying with us in India for a week to help us learn to utilize the many great tools out there that can connect us better with the people we care about.

You can look forward to more developments and improvements in our communication with you over the next few weeks--thanks to Francine!

What Teachers Make

If you are a teacher, have been one before, or have thought of becoming one, you must see this video by Taylor Mali called "What Teachers Make". He delivers this poem in "poetry slam" style demonstrating his pride in being a teacher. Simply inspirational.

Ayurveda and Mexico: An Interview with Liliana Flores Benavides

Recently, Liliana Flores Benavides spent 2 weeks in India on with a group of health enthusiasts from Mexico. A former member of congress in Mexico, Liliana has taken steps to help improve the social and economic climate of the country which has been reeling since the financial downturn of its American neighbor.

I interviewed Liliana here at Jiva. In our talk, she discusses the potential of Ayurveda in Mexico, which has its own indigenous system of natural healthcare, explaining how Ayurveda can provide tremendous benefits to people who are unable to afford expensive and often ineffective allopathic treatment.

Listen to the interview on Radio Jiva.

Liliana and the group came as part of an Ayurtour, where they studied Ayurveda, received treatments for their own health issues, and also explored and experienced India through a variety of cultural activities.

Our New Gurgaon Center

I'm pleased to announce that we just inaugurated a new Jiva Center in Gurgaon, India, located at 328 Galleria Towers (Galleria Market). If you are in Gurgaon, you will now have the ability to get a consultation with our doctors there 6 days a week, Mon-Sat, from 9am to 7pm. For more details call us at +91-124-4227400 or +91-129-4088152.

Have a look at the photos of the new clinic and the inauguration ceremony.


Dr. Chauhan will be visiting the clinic on a weekly basis (dates to be announced shortly). Educational consultations will also be available.

Jiva now has 6 clinics:
- Gurgaon (328, III Floor, Galleria Towers, DLF City, Phase IV, Gurgaon)
- Faridabad
- South Extension II, New Delhi
- Palwal, Haryana
- Vrindavan, UP
- Opatija, Croatia

We are planning to open 15 more Jiva Centers this year. Next in line are:
- Noida, UP
- North Delhi
- Surat, Gujarat
- Mumbai

The Art of Mehndi

Mehndi is a traditional Indian practice of creating temporary skin decoration on the hands, arms, and legs with henna. It is commonly applied by women during festivals and marriages. This past week I spent 3 days in Gujarat at a double wedding (my friend's two daughters both got married in a single grand celebration).

The first night of festivities was kicked off with the female family members getting their mehndi done. While most got simple designs on just their hands and forearms, the two brides received elaborate, exquisite artwork that was so dense, it could be mistaken for full-armed gloves and over-the-calf socks from a distance.

Viewing the mehdni patterns up close is nothing short of an awe-inspiring experience, causing you to marvel at the depth of detail that has been created by an artisan with a simple conical tube resembling an icing dispenser. I've seen mehndi done in various parts of the country, but these artisans seemed to have a technique that enabled them to create extraordinarily intricate patterns. I imagine this is because of the practice of embroidery that is prevalent in this region.

Designs include flowers, geometric patterns, and even romantic depictions of characters reminiscent of Laila and Majnu (the Eastern version of Romeo and Juliette). The artisans also hide the name of the groom within the design, creating an enjoyable challenge for friends and family to find it.

The process of applying mehndi ranges from about 20 minutes for a simple design on a single hand on both sides, to 5 hours for a full bridal treatment. The mehndi must remain on the skin for about two hours to make a lasting impression. During this time, a mixture of lemon juice and sugar is applied to darken the tone. Although some say it is the quality of the mehndi that is responsible for the darkness of the application, others believe it is strength of the husband's love that determines how dark it becomes....

See a photostream here with other pictures of the mehndi ceremony in Gujarat.