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This time around when we are talking on the importance of flow, I think it is the right time to write on its relation to the Ayurvedic concepts of well-being and holistic health. Let me begin with the modern definition of flow.

Flow, as proposed by US-based Hungarian psychology professor Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, is the mental state in which a person is fully immersed in what he or she is doing. This flow is considered to be an outcome of a feeling of energised focus, full involvement and success in the process of the activity. Let me illustrate with an example.

You have been driving your car for years single-handedly. Your car breaks down for a day. You borrow your friend’s car which is of a totally different make, class and size. When you sit inside the car to get started you find the first few metres of your drive difficult as you try to adjust with the new environment. Gradually as you move ahead in your journey you get used to the car’s equipment and your drive gets smoother and faster. This is the state of Csíkszentmihályi’s flow. And you will remain in this state until the time you terminate your journey on reaching your destination.

According to Csíkszentmihályi, flow is necessary for success in any pursuit that our mind and body do. This goes a long way in proving the sense of continuity and flow that Ayurveda has been advocating for 5000 years. The fundamental principle, on which this ancient Indian system of medicine is based, is to be in the direction of flow of the natural rhythm.

Creation in its entirety responds to the rhythm of flow. Everything in the universe vibrates at its particular frequency, thus creating its own individual rhythmic signature. When this flow is interrupted, accordant becomes discordant, harmony becomes dissonant and diseases and destruction result. The same applies to the human beings. The human being is a continuous flow of natural energies as against the common view of that of a stationary physical structure.

According to Ayurveda, a human is a manifestation of his or her being at all three levels—bodily, mental and spiritual. Different aspects of life co-exist inside the human being and work together harmoniously to run the various life processes. An anomaly creeping in any single element sends the entire system in disharmony.

Flow in the Body
Inside the human body there are three Doshas which refer to the three biological energies of Vata (space and air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (water and earth). An imbalance of these elemental combinations is the direct cause of physical diseases and disorders. Secondary factors in the disease process, like body tissues (Dhatus), toxins (Ama) and waste materials (Malas) are actually the products of, or dependent upon, an imbalance in the Doshas. Alternatively, if there is a balanced flow in the three Doshas the body remains healthy and free from diseases and disorders.

Vata stands for all movements and actions in the body. If Vata flows in a balanced manner in our body, we will have no eye disorders, no arrhythmia (irregular heart beating), no joint pains and no constipation problems. Pitta stands for all digestion and metabolism functions in the body. If Pitta flows in a balanced manner in our body, we will have no indigestion, no hyperacidity, no fevers, no hypertension and no skin problems (acne, eczema, rashes). Kapha stands for lubrication and the structure of the body. If Kapha flows in a balanced manner in our body, we will have no obesity, no lethargy, no dullness of mind and no diabetes.

Flow in the Mind
Flow at the mind level refers to the level that is dominant in Sattva. Let me elaborate. The mind has three Gunas (states). They are Sattva (knowledge, purity), Rajas (action, passion) and Tamas (inertia, ignorance). An imbalance is caused when Sattva decreases and Rajas and/or Tamas increase(s). As Sattva decreases, mental strength, determination and the power to discriminate (to distinguish right from wrong) also decrease. With regard to flow, at this stage there is an abundance of flow of negative action. When such a state is prolonged, the mind becomes stressed. This may then lead to other mental disorders like anxiety, depression, fear and nervous debility.

To conclude, one should try to attain the state of high Sattva and minimise Rajas and Tamas. Rajas and Tamas also have a role in various functions in the body like action (passion) and sleep. When Sattva is in abundance, the functions of Rajas and Tamas are positive and constructive. In this state they help us in attaining a state of balance or health as there is a smooth flow of positive mental energies and the mind is active but relaxed.

Flow in the Soul
For attaining flow at the spiritual level, it is important to realise the truth that our body and mind are just two aspects of our being and that the soul, which controls both, is our real being. In simpler terms, we need to understand that I is soul—it is neither my body nor my mind.

It is not something new to us. We all are aware of this fact, the reason why whenever we refer to body or the mind, we use the word my, e.g., My body is aching, My mind is a bit off today, etc. We always use the word my for something that belongs to me. This proves that I is neither the body nor the mind. Who is the I then? I is the soul, the energy which, according to Ayurveda, keeps this body and mind alive (Jiva), gives them light (Jyoti) and lets them experience love (Prema). Self-realisation or ‘to be enlightened’ simply means to know this fact that I is soul.

But anomalies arise when we fail to realise this simple yet paradoxical truth and identify the eternal myself with the temporal body or mind. And, this is what is seen in most of the times. Today we live in a total make-belief world unaware of our actual existence, much like a drunken man who can not differentiate between the real and the imaginary. The root cause for such behaviour is an imbalance in our mental energies.

When we ascribe perpetual properties such as I am the most powerful, I am the most handsome/beautiful and I am the richest to the temporary aspects of our being—body and mind—the natural flow is disturbed and we are bound to receive sorrow, pity or disdain. On the contrary, when we remain firm in our path to self-realisation, our soul remains free from any kind of mundane bondage and there is flow of love both in our inner and outer worlds. A permanent shine of happiness will adore our countenance.

Maintaining Flow
From the above, it is easy to conclude that by maintaining the natural flow in our life we can make it healthier, happier and balanced. This is possible by keeping our body Doshas balanced, holding the mind in high Sattva and realising the fact that we are souls. The Jivananda lifestyle regimen that can be followed by one and all, in between our daily chores is a simple way to attain such a flow in our life. It includes a senses-cleansing routine, laughing Yoga, some stretching exercises and the Jiva Meditation. I have been recommending this to all my patients, students and workshop attendees for over a year. The results have been remarkable!
 

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