In his Ayurvedic Studies Program, Vasant Lad, Ayurvedic Physician, teaches Ayurveda as a science of moment-to-moment living. Each lecture that he gives flows from his own heart in a river of healing wisdom that is inspired by and pertinent to the students who are present at the time of the lecture.
This textbook is a presentation of Dr. Lad's years of teaching in that classroom setting. It conveys the philosophical and fundamental principles of his first year Ayurvedic Studies Program at the Ayurvedic Institute in a dynamic and inspirational way. This book will give the student a detailed foundation upon which to pursue deeper knowledge, including that of the future volumes in this series. From the Author: For the last twenty years, I have traveled extensively teaching the various aspects of ¢yurveda. The great three Ayurvedic textsCharaka, Sushruta and VagbhataSamhitas are quite authentic and contain several layers of meaning for the serious student. However, they are rather difficult for the beginner to follow and understand. I took an extract of these Three Greats and created a practical Ayurvedic Studies Program that I teach at The Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
I love my students. They are sincere, hardworking and study Ayurveda in both the Ayurvedic Studies Program and in the more advanced Gurukula Program. Over the years, the students have repeatedly requested a textbook for our classes. The entire curriculum is taught in an eight-month period and all of its material cannot be put together in a single volume. Hence, I have decided to write three volumes of a general textbook of Ayurveda covering the basic principles and philosophies of Ayurveda, the clinical assessment of health and disease, and the management of disease.

It gives me a great joy to write this preface for Volume I of the Textbook of Ayurveda. This book contains authentic teachings of the basic principles and philosophies of Ayurveda. I am quite sure that it will be a practical guide to all students of Ayurveda.

Love and light,

Dr. Vasant Lad Albuquerque, New Mexico March 2002