Question
Today I watched a programme about the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. It featured Renaissance artists such as Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Raphael, Tizian and many others. The commentator said something that really struck me: "Looking at all these beautiful paintings calms me. That is the spirit of that era. People believed that beauty and truth must go hand in hand with moral righteousness, and they believed that art was good for people, that it nourished and improved their minds and souls.
This reminded me of the classical definition of health according to Sushruta Samhita, Sutrasthana. A more modern overall formulation is:
‘Healthy is someone who is physically balanced, perceives the world clearly, is emotionally stable and feels connected to their inner self.’
I feel that, especially in today's world, the second part of this description is neglected.
Can you explain how important it is to nourish the senses and what the effects are when they are neglected?
Sushrut´s answer
The sense of sight in Ayurveda is nourishment for the mind and soul
In Ayurveda, the senses (Indriyas) are considered to be a direct bridge between:
- the external world
- the mind (manas)
- and the soul (atman)
Everything we see, hear, smell, taste and touch affects not only the psyche, but also
- the doshas
- the nervous system (Vata!)
- Ojas – our subtle life force
That is why Sushruta´s definition of health includes not only physical balance,
but also explicitly: “Prasanna Atma Indriya Manah” – a contented soul, calm senses, and a clear mind. Health is therefore also an aesthetic and spiritual state, not just a medical one.
In Ayurveda, the sense of sight, Chakshu Indriya, is associated with the element of fire (Tejas). This inner fire not only enables us to recognize shapes and colours, but also to:
- Develop clarity
- Distinguish what is essential
- Perceive meaning and direction in life
Seeing is therefore not just a physical process of the eyes, but an act of consciousness.
When we look at something harmonious, natural, or inspiring, this inner fire is nourished – not stoked, but purified and stabilized. The mind becomes calm, Vata comes to rest, and Pitta also finds its balance. Perhaps we all know this feeling.
Looking at a beautiful work of art, the vastness of the sky or a peaceful face can help us to collect ourselves, comfort us and lift our spirits. From an Ayurvedic perspective, such a sight even strengthens Ojas, the subtle essence that represents joie de vivre, stability, and mental resilience.
When the sense of sight is neglected or overstimulated
Ayurveda describes illness not only as a physical imbalance, but also, as a consequence of mishandling sensory impressions. In the case of the sense of sight, this can take two forms:
Lack of nourishing impressions
When beauty, nature and tranquility are lacking, the mind can become dry, tired, and joyless.
An inner hunger arises that cannot be satisfied by external stimuli.
Overstimulation through aggressive images
Too many fast-paced, artificial, conflict-ridden, or garish images overwhelm the delicate nervous system. The inner fire becomes restless, sleep and concentration suffer, and in the long term, mental energy is depleted.
In this way, the sense of sight -actually a gateway to clarity and insight-can become a source of restlessness and exhaustion.
Beauty as part of health
If we take the Ayurvedic definition of health seriously, in which not only the body but also the senses, mind and soul should be at peace, then it becomes clear:
What we look at every day is not a sideshow in our lives, but part of our inner hygiene.
In this sense, beauty is not a luxury, but a form of nourishment – for the mind, for the heart and for the vitality.
Perhaps this also explains why art from other eras, such as the Renaissance, can still move us today: it appeals not only to the eye, but to something deeper within us, something that seeks order, harmony and meaning.
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