In this episode of “5 Minutes,” Dr. Robert Svoboda explores Sneha, the Ayurvedic understanding of sincere affection, nourishment, and the feeling of being cared for.

Sneha is a word that I am particularly fond of because it so closely represents what it means. The standard definition of Sneha in Sanskrit is that it represents everything involved with adhesiveness. This can mean something that causes two substances to stick together, like glue, or it can mean a healthy affection that causes two human beings, a human being and an animal, or a human being and a tree to remain connected.

Sneha is also translated into Sanskrit as fat. Ayurveda recognizes a relationship between fat, both the fats we consume and the fat within the body, and affection. Ayurveda teaches that if you do not have enough sincere affection in your life, there is a possibility that you may try to find that affection through fat. You may find yourself eating extra fat because there is a chemical relationship between the fat you consume and your tissues that can create a feeling of being loved and cared for.

This is a temporary experience, but when used properly it can be beneficial. If you consume good quality fats in an appropriate way, they can help the body feel nourished and appreciated. I particularly like to consume fats in the morning with my coffee. That fat can create a feeling of being cared for, and the body can respond positively.

What is not beneficial is becoming dependent on obtaining affection through fat. Then you may always seek more fat when what you really need is to awaken, strengthen, and express the affection within yourself. The purpose of nourishment is to help us become more open to the love of others and to allow that love to manifest as compassion.

Today, the word passion is often emphasized. People are told they must be passionate, and relationships are frequently understood through that perspective. But if we place the prefix com in front of passion, we get compassion. Compassion is a shared experience of warmth, a mutual nourishing quality that connects beings.

Sneha is therefore an excellent representation of motherly love. Ayurveda suggests that instead of only focusing on consuming fat, we can also apply fat to the body. Applying oil or fat to the nose, ears, mouth, and skin allows the entire organism to experience a feeling of being cared for by the environment. The body feels wrapped, protected, and supported.

When Sneha is properly received and digested by the organism, we begin to experience the deeper quality behind physical nourishment. Just as healthy fat can make the body feel relaxed, nourished, and cared for, sincere affection creates the same quality on a deeper level.

The ideal is to receive nourishment and love from outside, digest it within ourselves, and then be able to express that love outward into the world, even when circumstances are difficult. This is the essence of Sneha: a calm, secure, and genuine affection that flows from one being to another.