Society as an ecosystem for man
Samajika Ayurveda accepts the society as a unit. We can call the group of all smaller societies in the world as the Universal society or simply humanity or ?the ecosystem of human being? on earth in its truest sense. There are many tiny and large societies within this grand social system. Each of these has some individual characteristics and features adding the spice to social life. Fulfilling these individual roles these smaller units of society integrate into this one big unit.
Forms of Society
There are various forms of society. These are based on a variety of factors ? racial, religious, sectarian, political, spiritual, profession or work based and many others. Though in reality there is but one society of human being that is natural. It would be better to call it ?the ecosystem of man? in more scientific terms ? and also not to hurt any sectarian or communal sentiments. Our main concern is this universal society of humanity. Though almost all the principles would be applying to all of these limited societies, still we would be concentrating to the universal appeal only.
Our body and society
There are so many similarities between our body and society. Society and our body is a form of organized living- one is about persons another about cells and tissues. Both caters to the diverse needs of persons and cells in the body. The life of society and body depends on integrated functioning of their various parts. It would be interesting to see the comparable features in Sociology and Physiology. As the ancient Vedic wisdom declares ? ?As is the component or individual or atom so is the whole or community or universe?. Perhaps the ancient Vedic seers might have been inspired by the organization of our body that is one of the most complex creation of the Creator, while they were laying down the universal guidelines for the society.
The beauty of the organization of our body
Daily we have pondered very little over our body when we are healthy (of course, except students of Medicine!). It is only when we get cold or flue or headache or fever or some other little disease and sometimes the big ones ? when we acknowledge our body and feels its needs and demands. According to Ayurveda, this body is the tool for the performance of all the roles and goals in our lives. So we should pay attention to the wisdom of life ? Ayurveda.
The foundation and the inherent pleuripotent nature
Starting as a single cell of zygote in the womb of mother, our body grows in size and develops. Soon there arises the need for some more organized specialized existence. All the cells at this early stage are pleuripotent i.e. they are capable of being transformed into any of the various specialized cells if given proper environment and stimulus.
Physiological division of labor
Gradually as the cells are turned into more specialized tissues, they lose their pleuripotent nature and do only the limited specialized function of that tissue. For any body made up of living units, the growth always warrants the so called ?physiological division of labor?. This is a necessity. It occurs spontaneously. It is natural and there is just no way to escape it.
As the cells have to take on some more specialized functions to live with, so in the same manner every baby is in a very fluid stage in the social sense. Any child in early stage is also in pleuripotent phase. Gradually as he grows, he has to find and fit in some niche for him in our society or in life. The particular place and the role is determined by the balance of effects of past actions in the form of impressions and genetics; and the free will, present efforts and environment of present life.
