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National Seminar on Contribution of Indian
Philosophical System to Ayurveda 2009
Date : 7 - 8 March 2009
Venue : Priyadarsini Planetarium, PMG Junction,
Thiruvananthapuram
Organized by
Centre For Innovation In Science And Social Action (CISSA), Thiruvananthapuram
Society of Energy Engineers & Managers (SEEM)
Report
Philosophy is an ongoing discussion about knowledge; it is a
broad field of inquiry in which the definition of knowledge
itself is one of the subjects investigated. Philosophy is the
pursuit of wisdom, spans the nature of the universe and human
nature (of the mind and the body), the relationships between
these, and between people. Philosophy is the predecessor and
complement of science, and its foundation. It develops notions
about the issues which underlie science, and ponders the nature
of thought itself. In science, the scientific method, which
involves repeated observations of the results of controlled
experiments, is an available and highly successful philosophical
methodology.
The health has been the continuous concern for man and the
healing tradition of Indian subcontinent i.e., Āyurveda which
its vast literature can provide solutions to many health
problems faced by the current society. Ayurveda also evolved its
own vision for understanding the world and its utilization in
the therapeutic paradigm. For the deconstruction of Āyurveda one
must equip oneself with the methodology adopted by the system in
its course of development. This fact is also emphasized by WHO.
“Practices of traditional medicine vary greatly from country to
country, and from region to region, as they are influenced by
factors such as culture, history, personal attitudes and
philosophy. In many cases, their theory and application are
quite different from those of conventional medicine. Long
historical use of many practices of traditional medicine,
including experience passed on from generation to generation,
has demonstrated the safety and efficacy of traditional
medicine.
However, scientific research is needed to provide additional
evidence of its safety and efficacy. In conducting research and
evaluating traditional medicine, knowledge and experience
obtained through the long history of established practices
should be respected.” General guidelines for methodologies on
research and evaluation of traditional medicine,WHO2000.
The aim of the seminar was to highlight the exchanges between
Āyurveda with its contemporary knowledge systems and the
importance of appreciating these exchanges for the present day
Āyurveda physicians and researchers. Medicine being a secular
discipline had drawn its strength from all streams of Indian
wisdom. Thus was not merely restricted to the orthodox schools
of Indian philosophy. The roles of Jain, Buddha, and Tantric
schools are explored in the seminar. Seminar was blessed by
presentations by Āyurveda scholars, Sanskrit pundits specialized
in various śāstras, modern scientists.
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