Each and everybody on this universe tries to find the peace associated with perfect health of mind, body and spirit and would love to earn perfect bliss (if we can believe that is possible). Life is like a set of scales: it is possible, by using the appropriate measure of each of life's ingredients, for perfect balance to be achieved and illness to disappear. This balance is an integration of body, mind and spirit, leading ultimately to perfect bliss.

THE ELEMENTS

The proverb says that we can keep a sound mind if we have a sound health. Health may be termed as perfect balance between body, mind, spirit and the environment. The basic principle of Ayurveda is that the body is composed of the elements earth, air, fire, water and ether. Our bodies are made up of combinations of these elements, as is the food we eat or anything else we come into contact with. Intake of, or contact with, a particular element will tend to increase that element within ourselves; so, eating a chilli will cause a sensation of heat because it is a fiery food. This also applies to our thoughts and the effect diet they have on our physical bodies: we are what we think.

Everything entering the body — heat, thoughts and experiences as well as food — must be first digested or else it will be incorporated into the being in a form which is unsuitable and will cause disease. Similarly, excesses or deficiencies in our diet, environment or thoughts, which die digestive process cannot compensate for, lead to excesses or deficiencies of particular elements in the body, creating imbalance and hence disease.