Whether you are curious about how memory works, why the mind sometimes feels distracted, or what Ayurveda has to say about mental balance, this series offers an accessible place to begin.

It will be especially relevant to those interested in Ayurveda, Yoga, healthy aging and Indian Knowledge Systems, as well as anyone who wants to understand the mind through a traditional Ayurvedic lens.

No prior knowledge of Ayurveda is required.

This course is part of Vedic Threads, Satsangam’s ongoing series of conversations exploring Ayurveda, Yoga, philosophy, the arts, and other Indian wisdom traditions.

Each series brings together experienced teachers and curious learners for four connected sessions of learning, reflection, and discussion.

You can register for individual courses that interest you, or become an Annual Member and continue exploring different topics throughout the year.

Why do some memories stay with us for years, while others disappear within minutes? What happens when we learn something new, recognise a familiar face, or try to recall a forgotten name?

Ayurveda describes cognition as a process involving the senses, mind, intellect and memory. In this opening session, we’ll explore how these faculties work together as we perceive, understand, learn and remember, using examples from everyday life.

Topics covered

• Understanding cognition from an Ayurvedic perspective
• How we acquire, process and understand knowledge
• The roles of the senses, mind, intellect and memory
• Learning, recognition, recollection and forgetfulness
• The relationship between attention, understanding and memory

How can a familiar song bring back a childhood memory, or a particular smell change our mood? And why do some surroundings leave us feeling distracted while others help us settle?

Our senses connect us with the world every moment. Ayurveda explores this relationship through the indriyas, the faculties of perception and action. We’ll look at how sensory experiences interact with the mind, shape our understanding and influence our responses.

Topics covered

• Understanding indriyas in Ayurveda
• The five faculties of perception (jñānendriyas)
• The five faculties of action (karmendriyas)
• How the senses interact with the mind
• The role of sensory experience in perception and memory
• Sensory engagement, distraction and balance in everyday life

Why does the same situation feel manageable on one day and overwhelming on another? Why does the mind sometimes settle easily and, at other times, jump from one thought to the next?

Ayurveda offers a way to explore these changing experiences through manas, the mind. In this session, we’ll examine its nature and functions, how it interacts with the senses, and its role in attention, emotions and everyday responses. We’ll also consider what mental balance means from an Ayurvedic perspective.

Topics covered

• Understanding manas and its functions in Ayurveda
• The relationship between the mind, senses and cognition
• Attention, distraction and mental restlessness
• Mental clarity and balance in the Ayurvedic tradition
• How our mental state influences everyday experiences
• Growing awareness of our thoughts and responses

We often think about eating well and staying physically active. But how much attention do we give to the way we live, our habits, relationships, behaviour and daily choices?

Ayurveda places considerable importance on these aspects of well-being. In our concluding session, we’ll explore Ācāra Rasāyana, which emphasises conduct and ways of living, and Medhya Rasāyana, a traditional Ayurvedic approach associated with intellect and memory. We’ll consider what these teachings mean and how their principles might inform everyday life.

Topics covered

• Understanding Rasāyana and its place in Ayurveda
• Ācāra Rasāyana: conduct, behaviour and daily habits
• The relationship between lifestyle and mental well-being
• Medhya Rasāyana and traditional perspectives on memory and intellect
• Connecting cognition, the senses, the mind and daily living
• Practical reflections on well-being at different stages of life