Amidst sharp pain and cramps, my little sister demanded that she be given a handful of 'ajwain seeds," as it has been our grandmother’s greatly tried and tested and miraculously helpful remedy for digestive issues. On feeling better, she started googling. ‘contemporary approaches for gaining peace of mind’ telling grandma about her friend who was disturbed and needed assistance. To this, Grandma swiftly replied, “If my ancient remedies can be chosen to cure physiological disturbances; why can’t we outsource? traditional age-hold practices to heal the disturbed mind? The question nudged me and my sister alike. The curiosity kindled a spark to venture into the rich arena of traditional Indian treasures, relatively less explored yet immensely soothing.

Traditional Ways Making it to the Contemporary Minds

Since the concept of mind existed since time immemorial, disturbances related to the same would have been inarguably prevalent. However, the lack of professional support did not prevent people from embarking on the journey of attaining mental clarity and gaining a strong sense of peace. This is a testimony to the fact that the existing practices were robust enough to aid people navigate through the oceans of complexities of life to the shore of peace. One such system that finds its roots in ancient India and has bloomed greatly over the centuries, is that of Ayurveda. The Ayurvedic practices are rooted in matter that is naturally available and easily accessible. This system of medicine promoted the gaining of mental clarity and drove people towards peace by formulating principles governing the diet, usage of herbs and subsequently modifying the lifestyle. For instance, a Sattvic diet or a balanced diet comprising wholesome food items was emphasized. This promoted calmness and clarity.

“"The body benefits from movement, and the mind benefits from stillness." ”
- Sakyong Mipham

Another practice that was religiously followed and passionately promoted was that of Yoga. In contemporary times, we talk extensively about yoga in the area of physical well-being, but in ancient times, this practice was promoted because it was believed to result in a union of the mind and the body. Yoga is a holistic practice which is a combination of asanas (physical postures), pranayama (breath control), and dhyana/meditation. This was known to contribute to achieving emotional balance subsequently leading to a peaceful mind. For instance, postures like Padmasana (Lotus Pose) and Sukhasana (Easy Pose), known to help release physical tension thus promoting relaxation and mental clarity, were performed extensively. This indicates the reliance on this traditional Indian practice.

A practice that absolutely cannot be turned a blind eye to is that of Meditation. This has been a cornerstone of Indian spiritual practices. Dating back to the ancient period, it was used extensively for eradicating intervening thoughts and calming down an unstable mind. Interestingly, this can be performed simply as dhyana or meditation, where the person focuses on his breathing or mantra meditation, where the person recites ‘mantras’ or spiritual hymns such as ‘Gayatri mantra’ while focusing on the breath. The highly regarded scriptures mention the use of this technique by eminent scholars and warriors, thus shedding light on its effectiveness in serving the purpose of stabilising the mind and emotions.

Photo by  Darius Bashar Team  on  Unsplash

“"Spiritual practice is not about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It’s about befriending who we are already."”
- Pema Chödrön

One area that people often turned to in times of distress or during emotional instability was spirituality. This was done with the intent of moving towards a peaceful state of mind and finding oneself in the process. Spiritual practices centred around devotion, selfless service, and community rituals. They involved a myriad of activities, ranging from meditation to altruistic acts. These also served the additional purpose of fostering social connections by giving people the opportunity to interact. In ancient times Spiritual activities were closely associated with devotional activities. For instance, reciting hymns and reading scriptures was done out of devotion, subsequently calming a disturbed mind and giving a person clarity. Additionally, this allowed people to form connections, which promoted a sense of belongingness. Seva or selfless service offered to those in need enabled people to feel good about themselves and experience a sense of peace. Even today, we witness numerous people turning towards the path of spirituality when they want to embark on the journey of self-exploration.

Photo by  Markus Spiske Team  on  Unsplash

Having dived into the ocean of some of the traditional Indian practices used for gaining clarity and feeling peaceful, we have shed light on some of the most prominent activities which have been prevalent. Ayurveda contributed largely by emphasizing the role of balanced nutrition for a healthy mind. Yoga made a significant impact by introducing postures and breathing techniques which led to the union of the mind and the body thus promoting peace. The role of meditation was pivotal in calming the mind and enabling self-reflection which helped gain clarity. Finally, spiritual practices were instrumental in not only helping gain clarity and peace but also fostering social connections. Interestingly, all these practices have survived the test of time and are prevalent in the contemporary world. They have been used extensively to attain the true gem that a man has and will venture out to seek for- Peace!

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