We are currently facing what Sri Aurobindo describes as an evolutionary crisis. This is not merely a crisis of the body or mind, but a deeper existential and spiritual fragmentation. The global collapse in mental well-being is one such outcome of this larger disruption. Unfortunately, this has led to mental health becoming synonymous with mental disorders only.  A quick online search on "mental health" primarily yields a catalogue of psychological illnesses such as depression, stress, anxiety, and loneliness. Ironically, in an era where we can connect with the whole world in a single click, loneliness is widespread. This means that too much abundance creates scarcity.

To fulfil this scarcity, the West has proposed models like PERMA (Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment) designed by Martin Seligman, and others like Tal Ben-Shahar from Harvard have offered popular courses on happiness, introducing the SPIRE model—emphasizing Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Relational, and Emotional well-being. Though quite holistic compared to earlier Psychology models, there are some missing dots that Ayurveda can connect to make them integral.

On the other hand, in India, we saw overall well-being as a sign of good health through the lens of Ayurveda, the ancient Indian treatise on physical, mental, psychological and spiritual well-being. Ayurveda, upaveda of Atharvaveda, which is also called Mano Veda or Atma Veda, offers an integrated view of health that encompasses body (sharira), mind (mana:) and Consciousness (Atma).

With the thought of re-evaluating the current definition and praxis of mental health, we propose a 3-day Symposium on Mana: svasthya.  The aim of this ‘Mana: svasthya Symposium’ is to prospect on how to research, revive and re-implement the Ayurvedic practices of mental health in the modern context. We will revisit the shastras to explore the concepts from classical texts of Ayurveda and their implementation in the field of Psychology.  
​
​Symposium Objectives :
  • Explore the ancient Indian wisdom of Mana: svasthya through various texts and their application in today’s times.
  • Identify the gaps in the current scenario of mental health and psychological practices.
  • Recognize rich and rigorous scholarship in Ayurveda Mana: svasthya.
  • Provide a forum for academics, researchers, and practitioners to present their scholarship and engage in intellectual dialogue.
  • Encourage academic research and publications in the field of Ayurvedic Mana: svasthya.
  • Cultivate a new generation of scholars in Ayurveda Mana: svasthya ​and develop their networks with senior mentors. 
Takeaways:
  • Deep Knowledge of Mana: svasthya as a concept
  • Application of Ayurvedic knowledge in personal life and as a mental health professional
  • Clarity on world challenges and the role of Ayurveda today
  • Enhance the skills of coaching and counselling based on Sattvavajay Chikitsa.
Participant Profile
  • Ayurveda- PG & PhD students, Interns, Faculty of Maanas Roga
  • Psychology- PG & PhD students, Faculty of Psychology & Indian Psychology
  • Counsellors, Therapists, Life Coaches​
  • Yoga teachers and Enthusiasts

    Ask the Manas team

    Max file size: 20MB