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AYURVEDA AND RELIGION IN CANADA: A CRITICAL LOOK AT NEW AGE AYURVEDA FROM THE INDIAN DIASPORA PERSPECTIVE
This thesis examines how physicians in the Indian diaspora living in Canada - both those trained in Ayurveda in lndia (vaidyas) and those trained in Western medicine in lndia (MDs) - view the practice of Ayurveda in Canada. More specifically, it examines how their views have been influenced by New A...
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| Format: | Printed Book |
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Religious Studies, McGill University, Montreal
2003
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| Online Access: | http://10.26.1.76/ks/004571.pdf |
| Summary: | This thesis examines how physicians in the Indian diaspora living in Canada -
both those trained in Ayurveda in lndia (vaidyas) and those trained in Western medicine
in lndia (MDs) - view the practice of Ayurveda in Canada. More specifically, it
examines how their views have been influenced by New Age thought in general and
Transcendental Meditation in particular and how these perceptions reflect the changing
relation of religion and Ayurvedic medicine. It is the intent of this thesis to show that
Ayurveda in Canada exists mainly as part of the greater New Age movement, as a
transformed system that is inspired by both Hinduism and New Age thought, and that this
transformation of Ayurveda evokes two distinct responses from lndian diaspora medical
personnel in Canada - one unsupportive and one partially supportive. To the dismay of
"traditional" lndians and to the praise of "modem" lndians, New Age Ayurvedic
organizations strongly emphasize their version of "spirituality" as the primary goal of
Ayurveda, whereas lndian forms of Ayurveda - both in the past and today - generally
approach religion and spirituality secondarily. Thus, the role of religion and spirituality
become major controversial issues in New Age Ayurveda. From the "traditional" point
of view, the commercial achievements of New Age organizations (such as the
Transcendental Meditation Movement) are not indicative of a successful introduction of
Ayurveda in North America and run contrary to classical Ayurvedic principles, with
regard to religious and medical practice. But, from the "modem" point of view, the New
11Age Ayurvedic emphasis on spirituality is indicative of an inevitable evolution of the
system in North America. |
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| Item Description: | A thesis submitted to McGill University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts |