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Ayurveda and the Mind
AYURVEDA AND THE MIND is perhaps the first book published in the West that explores specifically the psychological aspect of this great system. The book explores how to heal our minds on all levels from the subconscious to the superconscious, along with the role of diet, impressions, mantra, meditation, yoga and many other methods to create wholeness. "Opens the doors to a new energetic psychology," says Dr. Deepak Chopra, M.D.
358 pages, Paperback
First published March 21, 1997
277 people are currently reading
1795 people want to read
About the author
David Frawley
139 books312 followersDavid Frawley (or Vāmadeva Śāstrī वामदेव शास्त्री), b. 1950, is an American Hindu teacher (acharya) and author, who has written more than thirty books on topics such as the Vedas, Hinduism, Yoga, Ayurveda and Vedic astrology, published both in India and in the United States. He is the founder and director of the American Institute of Vedic Studies in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which offers educational information on Yoga philosophy, Ayurveda, and Vedic astrology. He works closely with the magazine Hinduism Today, where he is a frequent contributor.[1] He is associated with a number of Vedic organizations in several countries. He is a Vedic teacher (Vedacharya), Vaidya (Ayurvedic doctor), and a Jyotishi (Vedic astrologer).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 11, 2013
Wow! This is one of the best books on consciousness that I've ever read! So dense, and so informative. want to sleep with this book under my pillow so I can osmose the continuing stream of wisdom Frawley reveals in this book. Amazing resource for understanding yoga and meditation as medicine.
June 10, 2020
Read for the second time, six years after the first read.
As he says in the introduction, this is incredibly dense material intended for those who have already done a large amount of study to prepare for this to make sense.
I'm amazed to see how little I understood on the first read. Something to return to again in a few more years for a third time through.
________________________________
Review of my third read of this text.
It's more excellent on the third read than the first two. This is just such a dense book. So integrating every sentence takes multiple returns over the years.
There's a lot here on the delusional capacity of the mind, and some exercises to check oneself. This is the content that made me decide I can recommend the book to students.
Because the thing is, something happened between my first read of this book, and my third read. Frawley became an ardent, outspoken Hindu nationalist and supporter of an actual human rights criminal. Readers should check out his twitter feed to understand very clearly the ways that he is using his authority and his teaching now. American readers can understand this by reading deeply into the roots of white supremacy, and understanding the links to fascist authoritarian governments in the US and India. You can also see it if and when the supporters of the Hindu supremacy in India find this review - as in the USA, this is a hateful agenda that brings out angry, anonymous rebuke.
It's profoundly disturbing for anyone rooted in the heart, and in direct experience.
In any case, the real knowledge collated here by Frawley's brilliant mind is a gift. A mind capable of great delusion is also capable of great healing. So it's a good idea to handle this text with care, if you're reading it. It is full of great treasures.
It also articulates an orthodox view that yoga and ayurveda practitioners should understand well on its own terms, even if you don't fully subscribe to this view.
The practical tools for taking a basic understanding of energy and ayurveda principles to the next level are of value to anyone who has a close understanding of their own experience and energy.
Finally, Frawley's lectures against the misuse of media and social media - which are a theme in his work for many years now - are so wise. Again, this is something his twitter self is not perhaps remembering. But it's something we ALL need to hear. The great prana available to us when we have discipline around our relationship with the media is no joke.
The brilliance, generosity and depth of Frawley's past contributions illustrate what is possible for the human intellect at its brightest and strongest.
As he says in the introduction, this is incredibly dense material intended for those who have already done a large amount of study to prepare for this to make sense.
I'm amazed to see how little I understood on the first read. Something to return to again in a few more years for a third time through.
________________________________
Review of my third read of this text.
It's more excellent on the third read than the first two. This is just such a dense book. So integrating every sentence takes multiple returns over the years.
There's a lot here on the delusional capacity of the mind, and some exercises to check oneself. This is the content that made me decide I can recommend the book to students.
Because the thing is, something happened between my first read of this book, and my third read. Frawley became an ardent, outspoken Hindu nationalist and supporter of an actual human rights criminal. Readers should check out his twitter feed to understand very clearly the ways that he is using his authority and his teaching now. American readers can understand this by reading deeply into the roots of white supremacy, and understanding the links to fascist authoritarian governments in the US and India. You can also see it if and when the supporters of the Hindu supremacy in India find this review - as in the USA, this is a hateful agenda that brings out angry, anonymous rebuke.
It's profoundly disturbing for anyone rooted in the heart, and in direct experience.
In any case, the real knowledge collated here by Frawley's brilliant mind is a gift. A mind capable of great delusion is also capable of great healing. So it's a good idea to handle this text with care, if you're reading it. It is full of great treasures.
It also articulates an orthodox view that yoga and ayurveda practitioners should understand well on its own terms, even if you don't fully subscribe to this view.
The practical tools for taking a basic understanding of energy and ayurveda principles to the next level are of value to anyone who has a close understanding of their own experience and energy.
Finally, Frawley's lectures against the misuse of media and social media - which are a theme in his work for many years now - are so wise. Again, this is something his twitter self is not perhaps remembering. But it's something we ALL need to hear. The great prana available to us when we have discipline around our relationship with the media is no joke.
The brilliance, generosity and depth of Frawley's past contributions illustrate what is possible for the human intellect at its brightest and strongest.
October 17, 2024
This is a fantastic book for those who are beginning to learn about yoga, Ayurveda, and Vedanta. I found the language in this book to be particularly geared to the Western mind. As beautifully written as this book is, there were many times I had to re-read sentences because of the way a concept was explained.
As someone who grew up reading and studying this knowledge straight from the original sources, i.e. the Bhagavad Gita, realized Swamis, chanting mantras and prayers, as well as applying and realizing Vedanta through meditation since I was a child, I found the text to be confusing at times. Sometimes the explanations seemed abstract. I found myself having to go back many times to make sure I understood something correctly, not because of any wrong knowledge being shared or because it wasn't stated eloquently, but because I am used to hearing and reading about it in a certain way, different from this book. I think this is a subtle cultural difference, where the same material is being shared, just through a different textual style.
If you are already studying the original Hindu scriptural and spiritual texts, stick with it, and consider that this may or may not be a good accompaniment, only because it may make things more confusing for you.
As someone who grew up reading and studying this knowledge straight from the original sources, i.e. the Bhagavad Gita, realized Swamis, chanting mantras and prayers, as well as applying and realizing Vedanta through meditation since I was a child, I found the text to be confusing at times. Sometimes the explanations seemed abstract. I found myself having to go back many times to make sure I understood something correctly, not because of any wrong knowledge being shared or because it wasn't stated eloquently, but because I am used to hearing and reading about it in a certain way, different from this book. I think this is a subtle cultural difference, where the same material is being shared, just through a different textual style.
If you are already studying the original Hindu scriptural and spiritual texts, stick with it, and consider that this may or may not be a good accompaniment, only because it may make things more confusing for you.
February 8, 2024
Frawley writes on all levels of the mind, consciousness and BE-ing. This book is, by far, the most connected I have felt to an understanding of Life and the way I have always experienced it from so many perspectives. It has truly allowed me to look back and feel the layers of consciousness I was experiencing during different stages of my life...and the layers of the mind in which I currently operate from...and would like to move towards operating from. He explains the state of FLOW in a depth that I have never heard of before in my past 6 years of study on the subject.
Through explanations of the mind from the very gross to the very subtle as well as the Ayurvedic modalities in forms of all types of healing, restructuring, and creating foundations....Frawley details the process of consciousness. From where we, in the Western world, have always been taught it has began (what you think, you become!....which is, absolutely, a large piece to the puzzle), to the pathways in between and all encompassing. Frawley writes as a Thinker, yogi, scholar and Teacher on so many levels and this particular book will be shelved among my favorites with many reads left to come...there is a depth that this one carries that will be left to be discovered from now on. Brilliant.
Cosmo, this one is for you.
Through explanations of the mind from the very gross to the very subtle as well as the Ayurvedic modalities in forms of all types of healing, restructuring, and creating foundations....Frawley details the process of consciousness. From where we, in the Western world, have always been taught it has began (what you think, you become!....which is, absolutely, a large piece to the puzzle), to the pathways in between and all encompassing. Frawley writes as a Thinker, yogi, scholar and Teacher on so many levels and this particular book will be shelved among my favorites with many reads left to come...there is a depth that this one carries that will be left to be discovered from now on. Brilliant.
Cosmo, this one is for you.
August 24, 2017
I am just starting my journey on the subject of Ayurveda. I couldn't have asked for a better book to introduce me. My goal now is to find someone in my area that specializes in Ayurveda and also to keep reading as much as I can on the subject.
May 27, 2014
Very dense reading which requires a lot of time and care, but so deeply rewarding if you do delve into it--transformative even!
January 11, 2021
A book that requires time to digest and consider the principles offered. If the reader is a student of yoga the book will present a review of the basics of vata, pita, kapha, the gunas and an opportunity to evaluate oneself (again). The reader, if like me, will find this a welcome review in hopes that one day the concepts will embed themselves in the mind for quick reference. The book then proceeds to lay out the nature of the mind and the reading gets a bit complicated. This is all a prelude to how ayurveda can be used to heal mental illness. Having spent 25 years in behavioral healthcare, albeit on the administrative side, I was most interested in reading how ayurveda could be used for mental illness. I find there is merit in the ayurvedic approach to treating mental illness as some of the recommendations are in line with what western medicine would recommend and/or prescribe. However, I do not believe that some mental illness can be treated only ayurvedically. Most important for all of us looking to maintain strong mental health is the chapter on the cycle of nutrition for the mind: what we feed our bodies physically, mentally and spiritually will impact us positively and/or negatively. THIS IS THE POINT: Frawley is not writing to cure mental illness but to give all of us the tools we need to peel back the layers to "I AM." Once I worked beyond my behavioral health construct it became more clear. I loved the chapter on meditation as this is an aspect of my life where I am working to evolve. I particularly like the mediation upon the elements exercises and look forward to trying them when the weather permits. Appendix I is a great review of basic yogic concepts. At the end of the book the author states, "Life always involves a choice," and while there are some exceptions with mental health conditions, for the most part we are the authors and perpetrators of our own story and our own mental health.
July 8, 2021
. As a textbook for understanding the ayurvedic conception of psychology this is an excellent text
. However as a prescription for spiritual practice I would personally look elsewhere, I find the approach to be very dogmatic and reductionists, for a long time I was convinced by this book that the best meditation technique for me involved the repeated use of mantras, however since revisiting mindfulness meditation my connection to spirit has developed much faster and utilising other techniques like META meditations have a much faster affect at altering thought patterns than mantras did for me
. I'm not trying to say don't use mantras, they are mystical and buetiful and we havent even began to understand their power in the west I'm just using it as an example to demonstrate the tendency towards reductionism found within this book
. However if you would like to learn more about the mental gunas and the somatic process of disease and health this book is an excellent reference.
. However as a prescription for spiritual practice I would personally look elsewhere, I find the approach to be very dogmatic and reductionists, for a long time I was convinced by this book that the best meditation technique for me involved the repeated use of mantras, however since revisiting mindfulness meditation my connection to spirit has developed much faster and utilising other techniques like META meditations have a much faster affect at altering thought patterns than mantras did for me
. I'm not trying to say don't use mantras, they are mystical and buetiful and we havent even began to understand their power in the west I'm just using it as an example to demonstrate the tendency towards reductionism found within this book
. However if you would like to learn more about the mental gunas and the somatic process of disease and health this book is an excellent reference.
January 26, 2022
The author, Dr. Fawley, has a interesting and very practical way of conveying the essential points of Ayurveda through analogy, parable and metaphor. Much of the discussion and information correlates already with my own spiritual path, but even so I gained a lot of new insights from reading and thinking about what was being conveyed through his words.
Dr. Fawley has a nice way of not tainting the information therein with his personal opinions, but just presents the facts in a very even-minded way. The book is quite dense, each chapter could be read slowly to allow some time and space to think and I just what is being presented.
I'm likely going to go back in the coming months and re-read parts of it again. Would highly recommend this book to anyone that is interested in the subject.
Dr. Fawley has a nice way of not tainting the information therein with his personal opinions, but just presents the facts in a very even-minded way. The book is quite dense, each chapter could be read slowly to allow some time and space to think and I just what is being presented.
I'm likely going to go back in the coming months and re-read parts of it again. Would highly recommend this book to anyone that is interested in the subject.
October 28, 2011
This book I use for more as a reference than as a "good read". that said, it is EXCELLENT. If you want to know more about your psychology, read it. It helps to know a little about Ayurveda beforehand, but it's not absolutely essential.
May 23, 2017
At times, difficult to read because of so much information. It takes a few minutes to process a sentence. But definitely one can learn a lot from some of the main Yogi practices. The book is a good introduction to the way Ayurveda views the mind. It does not delve into details on how to achieve a healed consciousness but rather offers many different practices which may take a very long time (even years) to achieve. I enjoyed the tables offered (it made things easier to understand) as well as the sections on mantra, colour, and gems.
September 25, 2025
There are some very interesting things about the mind and Ayurveda in this book. It gives some useful advice on how to keep your mind healthy. I will definitely return to it and try to find out more. However, I found it a bit hard to follow in places and it got a bit bogged down in details which didn't really help. I would have liked more obvious practical examples.
September 21, 2017
Excelente libro...
Libro excelente que nos indica las aplicaciones de la psicologia Ayurvedica para sanar nuestra mente... Es una obra excelente, bastante completa y recomiendo leerla poco a poco para comprenderla.
Libro excelente que nos indica las aplicaciones de la psicologia Ayurvedica para sanar nuestra mente... Es una obra excelente, bastante completa y recomiendo leerla poco a poco para comprenderla.
September 23, 2017
Хорошая книга о восприятии человеческой психологии в аюрведе. Автор обозревает основные положения аюрведы, доходчиво объясняет отличия различных ответвлений и приводит понятные примеры. Большой плюс, что книгу написал западный человек и читается она легко и понятно
May 24, 2020
Wow, this book has so much information in it that I will need to re-read and almost study it like a text book to get everything out of it. Profoundly interesting and has changed how I look at many things. As I said, will re-read for sure.
February 13, 2023
This is a good basic book to learn more about Ayurveda. It covers a wide range of topics in Ayurveda philosophy. Highly recommended for those who want to learn more about the ancient Indian healthcare system.
December 15, 2017
A well written book for today’s generation to understand ayurveda
October 11, 2021
Ayurveda and the Mind
I enjoyed learning about this form of medicine. I would recommend this book to anyone that is open to exploring a holistic view to wellness.
I enjoyed learning about this form of medicine. I would recommend this book to anyone that is open to exploring a holistic view to wellness.
August 15, 2022
I really enjoyed this book but I think it would have been better to read rather than listen to. I will definitely learn more about ayurveda.
March 29, 2023
Almost a psychological look at the mind through the lens of ayurveda.
April 10, 2023
This book is amazing. Packed with such knowledge. I will be rereading it many times, and refer back to all my highlights!! Can’t wait to read something else by David Frawley
Read
May 14, 2023Similar to the Fovea in our eye, our inner attention has a singular focus which we interpret as a self/ego.
Read
September 11, 2025No dudo que la información sea útil pero hace un año y medio que lo comencé a leer y todavía no lo pude terminar y puedo asegurar que no fue por poca voluntad
February 6, 2023
Everything I needed it to be. Thank you for sharing.
March 2, 2023
Again an advance book targeted towards western readers. Goes over the basic of Doshas and meditation.
Types and mediation of know how. Very interesting but not for beginners.
Book #3 in Indic series
Types and mediation of know how. Very interesting but not for beginners.
Book #3 in Indic series
April 26, 2021
David Frawley's writings on non fiction aspects of the wisdom traditions are mesmerizing literature for anyone starting to discover these traditions via books. His words flow, educate and embellish the understanding as much as uncover the subtle meanings. I like the practical tests given in the book which remind not to be lost in the author's prose but to enrich our daily lived experience with the wisdom it offers.
As an example, he writes, "A Practical Experiment with the Mind
Examine for yourself the nature of your mind. Take an object, preferably one in the natural world, like a tree. Direct your attention to it. Note how your attention changes from instant to instant as you attempt to observe it.
Note how, through a series of shifting perceptions, you construct the idea or total form of the tree, which you never perceive all at once. Try to hold your attention on one point of the tree. Notice how your attention cannot be held in one place but constantly moves around of its own accord.
As a further experiment, examine your emotions. See how your mind functions when you are angry or sad. Note the changing nature of emotions, how the stronger the emotion, the shorter it is likely to last. See how closely like and dislike, love and hate are bound together, and how emotions fluctuate like waves on the sea.
Next look at your thoughts. See how one thought follows lows another in rapid succession in a compulsive and erratic ic flow. Examine the habits of your thinking pattern. Note that much of what you think about has little practical value, but is merely the mind moving obsessively in its own memory grooves.
Finally examine the ego or "I-thought." See how this is the root of the other thoughts and how the mind is basically cally self-enclosed in its function. Try not to think the thought "I." See that this is not possible. The "I" is the inherent referential point, the center of the mind.
Learn to use your mind like a tool, develop various such experiments or observations, and, in this way, you will cease to be the victim of this subtle instrument. Once we learn to observe the mind, we will cease to be the victims of what goes on in our minds. Gaining control of our minds, we will no longer be dominated by the impulses coming from the senses and the conditioning of the external world. We will be able to be who we really are and create what is in harmony with the aspirations of our hearts."
This book covers the basics of Ayurveda and aids in how to apply them in our lived experience. Videos like "Dosha not equal to biological humors" - https://youtu.be/9hPFH0Ise_4 clarified certain misconceptions for novice readers like me.
As an example, he writes, "A Practical Experiment with the Mind
Examine for yourself the nature of your mind. Take an object, preferably one in the natural world, like a tree. Direct your attention to it. Note how your attention changes from instant to instant as you attempt to observe it.
Note how, through a series of shifting perceptions, you construct the idea or total form of the tree, which you never perceive all at once. Try to hold your attention on one point of the tree. Notice how your attention cannot be held in one place but constantly moves around of its own accord.
As a further experiment, examine your emotions. See how your mind functions when you are angry or sad. Note the changing nature of emotions, how the stronger the emotion, the shorter it is likely to last. See how closely like and dislike, love and hate are bound together, and how emotions fluctuate like waves on the sea.
Next look at your thoughts. See how one thought follows lows another in rapid succession in a compulsive and erratic ic flow. Examine the habits of your thinking pattern. Note that much of what you think about has little practical value, but is merely the mind moving obsessively in its own memory grooves.
Finally examine the ego or "I-thought." See how this is the root of the other thoughts and how the mind is basically cally self-enclosed in its function. Try not to think the thought "I." See that this is not possible. The "I" is the inherent referential point, the center of the mind.
Learn to use your mind like a tool, develop various such experiments or observations, and, in this way, you will cease to be the victim of this subtle instrument. Once we learn to observe the mind, we will cease to be the victims of what goes on in our minds. Gaining control of our minds, we will no longer be dominated by the impulses coming from the senses and the conditioning of the external world. We will be able to be who we really are and create what is in harmony with the aspirations of our hearts."
This book covers the basics of Ayurveda and aids in how to apply them in our lived experience. Videos like "Dosha not equal to biological humors" - https://youtu.be/9hPFH0Ise_4 clarified certain misconceptions for novice readers like me.
January 31, 2009
This book is an EXCELLENT introduction to Ayurveda. I highly recommend for anyone with an interest. I am looking forward to reading more by this author and have ordered three more which he published around the same time.
November 21, 2007
a deeper knowledge about the human psychology from a points of view of ayurvedic psychology.
May 3, 2008
Again, another favorite. One of the most comprehensive books on Ayurveda. David Frawley is a genius. Incorporates gem, planets, herbs, yoga etc.
October 5, 2008
Ayurveda is the topic of the day with me :) This book explains how body's biology relate to the mind. Very easy to read, non technical language.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews