In this episode of “5 Minutes,” Dr. Robert Svoboda explores Prajnaparadha, the Ayurvedic understanding of violating one’s own inner wisdom.

Prajnaparadha, commonly translated as crimes against wisdom, is regarded in Ayurveda as one of the primary causes of disease. Within the physical body, there is a natural intelligence that continuously guides us toward what is appropriate at any given moment: what we should eat, what we should drink, and what activities we should perform.

As long as we listen to, respect, and act according to this natural wisdom, the organism remains balanced. The body functions properly and supports us in whatever other activities we wish to pursue in life.

However, when we ignore this wisdom, when we know something is not right for us but do it anyway, this is called Prajnaparadha. Prajna means wisdom, and aparadha means a violation or offense. It is a crime against the innate intelligence of the body.

When Prajnaparadha occurs, two important things commonly happen. The first is that we ignore parinama. Parinama means change, especially changes in the environment, such as seasonal changes, climate changes when moving from one location to another, and other shifts that require adaptation.

When we fail to recognize changes in our surroundings, there becomes a disconnect between ourselves and the environment. This makes it more difficult for the organism to maintain balance. Ayurveda teaches that diseases often arise at junctions, such as the transition between seasons, because these are times when the body must adjust from one state of being to another.

Another way Prajnaparadha affects us is through misuse of the sense organs. This includes overusing them, underusing them, or using them in inappropriate ways.

The deeper cause of Prajnaparadha is upadha, meaning attraction or allurement. When we become attracted to something and begin giving it more attention than everything else in our lives, that attraction can pull us away from our center.

Upadha can be understood as creating a secondary foundation for ourselves. Instead of being established within ourselves, which is one meaning of swastha and a definition of health in Ayurveda, we begin looking outside ourselves for something to depend on. We may project outward and crave something external, or we may become attached to internal desires, but the essential problem is that we are no longer paying attention to who we are and what we are doing.

The true foundation we can rely upon is always within us. It is the prana and the way it moves through our organism.

A crime against wisdom can eventually lead us into the prison of disease. The best advice is simple: when you are tempted to do something that your inner wisdom is telling you not to do, do not do it.

If you say, “I do not know where my inner wisdom is,” I would say that you are simply not listening. Spend time with yourself. Turn your attention inward and begin observing your body. Your body will communicate with you, provide useful information, and help you understand what it needs.

Your organism benefits when you listen to it, because it is always working toward your well-being.