How to cope with dhaaraneeya vegas in a safe and harmless way - #9478
Dhaaraneeya vegas are the urges that must be controlled and restrained according to Charaka samhita and Ashtanga Hridayam: - Lobha - Irshya - Dvesha - Matsarya - Raga or atiraga - Soka - Bhaya - Krodha - Mana - Lajja - Parusa vacana - Anita vacana - Parapida But how to control and restrain these urges in a safe and harmless way? If one doesn't express them in some healthy and safe way (healthy and safe for the person himself and for society) wouldn't the mere suppression of urges and impulses just displace them into the unconscious? Thus resulting in neurosis and (or) other disorders?
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Doctors’ responses
According to Ayurveda, specifically in the Charaka Samhita and Ashtanga Hridayam, Dhaaraneeya Vegas (the urges or impulses that should be controlled) include a range of emotions and behaviors that can affect mental and physical health if not properly managed. These include desires like greed (Lobha), jealousy (Irshya), anger (Krodha), fear (Bhaya), and others. Ayurveda emphasizes that these urges should not simply be suppressed, as doing so can lead to harmful consequences like neurosis or psychological imbalances. Instead, Ayurveda encourages the mindful management and redirection of these emotions and impulses in healthy ways.
To safely control and restrain these urges:
Mindfulness and Self-Awareness: The first step is to develop self-awareness and mindfulness to recognize when these urges arise. Meditation, journaling, or reflective practices help in understanding the root cause of these emotions, reducing their hold.
Redirecting Energy: Redirecting the energy of these emotions into productive activities can help transform the negative feelings into positive actions. For example, using the energy of anger to engage in physical exercise or channeling feelings of jealousy into self-improvement.
Breathing Techniques (Pranayama): Practices like deep breathing or pranayama can help calm the mind, reduce stress, and manage emotions like anger, fear, or anxiety. Techniques like Anulom Vilom (alternate nostril breathing) or Bhastrika (bellows breath) are often used to balance emotions.
Yoga and Physical Movement: Engaging in regular yoga or physical exercises can provide an outlet for emotions like anxiety (Soka), anger (Krodha), and restlessness. Certain asanas can help release pent-up emotions in a safe manner.
Compassion and Forgiveness: Cultivating compassion and practicing forgiveness can help release negative emotions like anger (Krodha), jealousy (Irshya), and resentment (Matsarya). These practices promote mental peace and prevent the accumulation of emotional blockages.
Ayurvedic Herbs and Treatments: Some Ayurvedic herbs like Ashwagandha, Brahmi, and Jatamansi are known for their calming and stress-relieving properties, helping to manage emotional imbalances and support mental clarity.
Channeling Emotions Constructively: Rather than suppressing urges, it’s important to express them in constructive ways. For example, talking through frustrations with a trusted friend or seeking professional counseling can prevent emotions from being bottled up, which could otherwise lead to psychological issues.
By integrating these practices into daily life, one can avoid the harmful consequences of suppression and transform emotional urges into opportunities for growth and healing. In this way, Ayurveda suggests not simply suppressing these impulses, but understanding and managing them through holistic practices that nurture the body, mind, and spirit.
To safely control and restrain these urges:
Mindfulness and Self-Awareness: The first step is to develop self-awareness and mindfulness to recognize when these urges arise. Meditation, journaling, or reflective practices help in understanding the root cause of these emotions, reducing their hold.
Redirecting Energy: Redirecting the energy of these emotions into productive activities can help transform the negative feelings into positive actions. For example, using the energy of anger to engage in physical exercise or channeling feelings of jealousy into self-improvement.
Breathing Techniques (Pranayama): Practices like deep breathing or pranayama can help calm the mind, reduce stress, and manage emotions like anger, fear, or anxiety. Techniques like Anulom Vilom (alternate nostril breathing) or Bhastrika (bellows breath) are often used to balance emotions.
Yoga and Physical Movement: Engaging in regular yoga or physical exercises can provide an outlet for emotions like anxiety (Soka), anger (Krodha), and restlessness. Certain asanas can help release pent-up emotions in a safe manner.
Compassion and Forgiveness: Cultivating compassion and practicing forgiveness can help release negative emotions like anger (Krodha), jealousy (Irshya), and resentment (Matsarya). These practices promote mental peace and prevent the accumulation of emotional blockages.
Ayurvedic Herbs and Treatments: Some Ayurvedic herbs like Ashwagandha, Brahmi, and Jatamansi are known for their calming and stress-relieving properties, helping to manage emotional imbalances and support mental clarity.
Channeling Emotions Constructively: Rather than suppressing urges, it’s important to express them in constructive ways. For example, talking through frustrations with a trusted friend or seeking professional counseling can prevent emotions from being bottled up, which could otherwise lead to psychological issues.
It’s a really insightful point you’re touching on. Whenever we’re dealing with dhaaraneeya vegas, you’re right—simply suppressing them without thinking can lead to some not-so-great stuff like emotional buildup or anxiety. Consciously managing these urges without harm, keeps us healthier in the long run.
The way we deal with them starts with awareness. Check in with yourself regularly. When feelings like lobha (greed) or krodha (anger) bubble up, recognize it. Just giving it a name sometimes gives you power over it. Breathing techniques do wonders too. Try pranayama—nadi shodhana or alternate nostril breathing—is great for balancing the mind and emotions. Takes just about 5-10 minutes a day, so it’s pretty doable for most folks.
When dealing with rajasic emotions like irshya (jealousy) or dvesha (hatred), where things get heated, cooling foods and routines can actually help. Think coconut water, or even that twice-weekly tender coconut. Also, the practice of meditative tasks, like abhyasa (practice with dedication) is calming. It keeps those intense feelings from coming back full force.
Ayurveda is big on recognizing the power of diet and lifestyle choices. Sattvic food, such as fresh fruits, gently cooked veggies, whole grains, are known to promote mental clarity. And don’t forget cow’s ghee—it nurtures ojas and strengthens the mind’s resilience to stresses. Plus, adding some yoga to your routine makes a big difference. Asanas like shavasana or even child’s pose can align the body and mind, reducing internal tension.
Cultivating good company and thoughts (satsang) makes a big difference. Find community or group with similar values, talk with them, or even read inspirational texts that uplift your spirit. Create a habit of journaling, write down these urges and responses you have to them. Seeing it on paper sometimes makes it easier to process and understand.
If things ever feel like they’re getting out of hand, it’s okay to ask for help too. Speaking to a counselor or therapist equipped to integrate modern and Ayurvedic practices can be oh so valuable. They might help untangle some of those knotted feelings. Remember, balance in all things is key, and that takes time, but every step is forward.

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