Can you REALLY practice Ayurveda and stick to a vegan lifestyle?
The answer is a big fat YES!
I first became interested in and excited by Ayurveda during my yoga teacher training. It made perfect sense to me, the whole idea of finding balance within ourselves and between ourselves and the environment. I love the philosophy that our internal environment (microcosm) is a reflection and extension of the outer environment (macrocosm) and this is also at the heart of the teachings of my beloved permaculture.
However, when I learned that ghee was such a big part of the way that Ayurveda is traditionally practiced, I felt very conflicted. I am VERY sure about my reasons for being vegan (health, animal rights and environmental) and I will not start consuming ghee or any other animal products. I understand that in Ayurveda the ghee is considered sacred, medicinal and healing, just like cows are sacred in the Hindu tradition. I learned that there is an Ayurvedic belief that the cow’s dharma, or sacred purpose or duty, is to provide milk for ghee for humans.
I cannot support this belief. I believe that the cow’s dharma is to provide milk for her own calves and to live a free and happy life. I also don’t support the slaughter of male calves that are a natural bi-product of keeping dairy cattle.
So, this left me debating whether:
1. I could trust the rest of the teachings of Ayurveda as absolute truth
2. I wanted to follow Ayurvedic ways
3. Ayurveda would be effective without the sacred ghee
What I concluded
1. There is no absolute truth and everyone has different ideas about how Ayurveda should be practiced.
The more I read and learn, the more that I see that there are as many varieties of Ayurveda as there are types of yoga. I’ve concluded that it is not useful (for me) to think in such black and white, fixed and absolute ways. People are all so different and what brings balance to one person could throw someone else completely off. Therefore, I’m not going to throw the baby out with the bathwater but instead, I’ll assume an attitude of curiosity and experimentation.
2. I have totally fallen in love with Ayurveda and I’m blown away by it every day as I continue to deepen my learning and journey with it. I just won’t be doing the ghee.
3. I look and feel so much healthier and Ayurveda totally works without the ghee! Some might argue that I’m not getting the full benefits, but I feel great and I totally need to live according to my values and beliefs to keep working towards my inner harmony.
What I do suggest is focusing on is seeking out a ‘sattvic’ diet of foods that are fresh, light, nourishing and help you achieve balance. This means selecting whole foods that are high in prana or energy, locally grown if possible and organic/non-GMO.
Secondly, it is useful to choose foods that help to bring you as an individual into balance. If you need to reduce vata you might like to look at increasing nuts and seeds, and combine rice with legumes and spices like cumin, coriander, fennel, ginger, and cardamom. If you need to reduce pitta, ensure that you get enough of things like beans, legumes, root veggies, and grains. Seeds are great, but go easy on the nuts and spicy foods! Kapha people will want to keep things light and stay away from the ‘fake meat’ products and things that are overly sweet or heavy.
All constitutions will thrive on food that has been lightly cooked to ‘wake up the prana’. Avoid processed, frozen, microwaved or leftover food as much as you can. Chew your food really well in a relaxed environment and avoid overeating.
Tips for Ayurvedic Vegans
01 : If you, as I do, feel strongly about being vegan and you also want to follow an Ayurvedic lifestyle, stick to your beliefs, values and ethics! Do what is right according to your conscience for yourself, animals and the planet. Do not allow others, no matter how spiritual or convincing to deter you from your inner truth.
02 : Eat food that is bursting with prana. The fresher, more local and organic that food is, the more prana that it will contain.
03 : Eat for your dosha.
04 : Chew your food well, leave space between meals. Stop eating in the early evening and eat nothing overnight before your breakfast. Allow your food to be digested properly before eating again.