The Rejuvenative Power of Gratitude

Photo by Sadananda at South Boulder Creek

During the Pandemic, we have been very aware of the fact that some people get COVID and are asymptomatic, some get mild illness and recover quickly, and some get serious or fatal illness. This raises a question that has been pondered since antiquity.

“It is to be observed, sir, that the persons taking wholesome food are both diseased and healthy and similarly in the case of unwholesome food. So how can good and bad effects be attributed to diet?” from Charak Samhita.

Obviously, when we are talking about a specific illness such as COVID, we have the opportunity to gain powerful protection through vaccination. That is something I encourage you to do, not only for your own sake, but for the greater good, to protect those more vulnerable to disease and to benefit society as a whole. At the same time, we still have the larger question—how can we support our overall resistance to all diseases? Is there something we can do that enhances our ability to avoid disease and maintain health?

In Ayurveda, that ‘something’ is rasayana, or rejuvenative therapy. Rasayana builds our bala or strength and our ojas—vigor or essence of vitality. Before the classical Ayurvedic texts speak about the treatment of specific diseases, they first discuss rasayana. In fact, rasayana is a discipline in its own right, seventh of the eight branches of Ayurveda. As the texts say, “From the rasayana treatment, one attains longevity, memory, intelligence, freedom from disorders, youthful age, excellence of luster, complexion and voice, oratory, optimum strength of physique and sense organs, respectability and brilliance.”

We can do rasayana to promote longevity, to improve cognitive functioning or even to enhance beauty. There are rasayana herbs to help us recover from specific illnesses and there are nourishing and rejuvenative foods that can be used on a daily basis. But while we have elaborate time-honoured herbal recipes such as Chyavanprash, for powerful rejuvenative effects, there are also methods of rasayana that do not involve taking any herbal medicines. One branch of adravya or non-herbal rejuvenative therapy is achara rasayana, behavioural rasayana. It is here that positive emotions like gratitude fit in.

So often, we focus on the things that are amiss in our lives, blaming ourselves or others for our misfortunes. When we cultivate gratitude, we take a wider view of our lives.

There’s nothing wrong with having a good kvetch when things in our lives are going awry, but at a certain point, we need to move on and focus on the positive. Positive emotions send healthy messages to our neuroendocrine system and help us to come into balance. Gratitude is a great antidote to neurotic emotions, or kleshas, like envy, jealousy and stinginess. Gratitude also inclines us to be more caring and helpful. If I am feeling gratitude that I have a place to live and food to eat, I will naturally think of all the people who are unhoused or food insecure and look for ways to help them.

 There are many methods and techniques to cultivate gratitude. Some people like to keep a gratitude journal, some prefer a gratitude jar, dropping a daily handwritten note about something you are grateful for into a glass jar. Some like to start the day by thinking about all the good things they are waking up to, others meditate at the end of the day, calling to mind the day’s blessings.

 To look a little deeper, should we be grateful only for certain things? Is it wise to pick and choose which things are blessings? In this regard, there is a Hasidic tale.

There was a farmer who had a very fine horse. One day his horse ran away. The neighbours came to commiserate the farmer on the loss of his horse. “Let’s see, let’s see,” replied the farmer. Sometime later, the horse returned with a herd of wild horses. The neigbours came to congratulate the farmer on the return of his horse and the addition of the new horses.  But he  just replied, “Let’s see, let’s see.” The farmer’s son was strong and athletic and enjoyed riding the wild horses. But one day, he fell off and broke his leg. The neighbours were worried and came to commiserate the farmer on his son’s accident. The farmer again replied, “Let’s see, let’s see.” Soon after, war broke out. The Russian army arrived to conscript all the young men of the village to fight in the war—most likely, never to return. Everyone was taken, except for the young man with the broken leg. Then the farmer said, “Now I know it was a good thing that my horse ran away.”

As this tale reminds us , the most profound way to gain the rejuvenative benefits of gratitude is to be grateful for everything that happens and to do our best to share our good fortune with others through generosity and helpfulness.

Alakananda Ma M.B., B.S. (Lond.) is an Ayurvedic Doctor (NAMA) and graduate of a top London medical school. She is co-founder of Alandi Ayurveda Clinic and Alandi Ayurveda Gurukula in Boulder Colorado, as well as a spiritual mother, teacher, flower essence maker and storyteller. Alakananda is a well known and highly respected practitioner in the Ayurveda community both nationally and internationally.

Enliven your holistic health! Visit Alakananda Ma in Alandi Ashram’s ayurvedic clinic to support the overall rejuvenation of your body, mind, and spirit. In-person and virtual appointments available. Book now!