Vāgbhaṭa was a Āyurvedic
physician who flourished during the 6th century, probably in Sindh
in western India. His teacher was Avlokita, another notable Buddhist physician
of whom unfortunately all information has been lost. Since ancient times Vāgbhaṭa major work, the Asṭaṅgahṛdaya, has
been considered the epitome of all medical treaties that preceded it. He starts his treatise by praising the Great
Physician, i.e. the Buddha, ‘who destroys diseases the foremost being lust,
which always clings and creeps over the whole being giving rise to craving,
delusion and discontent’. Being based on a faulty understanding of human
anatomy (the veins carry wind and converge on the navel, etc.) many of Vāgbhaṭa cures are not relevant today, but other things he
wrote certainly would be. Although
primarily concerned with medicine and sickness and health Vāgbhaṭa includes advice on ethical living believing
that the two are related. ‘All beings believe that everything they do is done
because it will make them happy. But there is no true happiness without virtue.
So one should put virtue first.’
The
ethical values he recommended are imbued with distinct Buddhist principles.
Examples of this are included in the first chapter of the Asṭaṅgahṛdaya. ‘One should strive to look after those
who suffer because they have no livelihood, or because they are sick or
distressed. One should even try to see small creatures like one’s own self…One
should aim to be helpful even to enemies who wish one ill. One should maintain
equanimity through good times and bad. Do not crave for success but rather give
heed to those things which nourish
success. Speak at the right time, be kind, moderate and graceful. One should
never break one’s word… Keep to the Middle Way in all things… A good person
fulfills these qualities; gentleness towards family, generosity to others,
restraint of body, speech and mind, and treating the cares of others as if they
were one’s own.’
Vāgbhaṭa did not neglect advice on etiquette and
common-sense precautions so to avoid sickness or accidents that would require consulting
a physician. ‘One should keep one’s body hair, finger nails and beard short,
and one’s feet and bodily orifices clean. Bathe regular, be nicely perfumed,
well-dressed, and acceptably but not ostentatious… Travel with an umbrella and
sandals and keep one’s gaze straight ahead. When it is necessary to go out at
night take a staff, ware something on the head and get a friend to accompany
you…One should not sneeze, laugh, or yawn without covering the mouth. One
should not pick one’s noise or aimlessly scratch the ground with one’s foot.’
You can read more
about Vāgbhaṭa in K.R Srikantha’s Vāgbhaṭa’s Asṭaṅga Hṛdaya: Text, English
translation, notes, appendix, and indices, 1991-5 or perhaps better in Dominik
Wujastyk’s more easily available The
Roots of Ayruveda, Penguin Books, 2003.
2 comments:
Delightful recommendations. To be treated by one who had such a Dhamma-mind must have been healing in a variety of ways. Thank you, Venerable monk, your contributions to the spread of the true Dhamma in the West are difficult to fathom. In the least, my narrow mind finds great nourishment in your writings in line with Dhamma. What a blessed man !
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