Mimamsa

Mimamsa, meaning to analyze and thoroughly understand the truth, is the fourth of the six philosophies underlying Ayurveda. Founded by the philosopher Jaimini, Mimamsa is a philosophy of attaining freedom through the performance of duty or dharma (action in the light of awareness). It is a positive way of logic that proves the existence of God, asserting that there must be a non-moving mover who moves every object, and that non-moving mover is God.

Mimamsa emphasizes the teachings of the Vedas from the perspective of rituals. Purva Mimamsa is based on the initial teachings of the Vedas, while Uttara Mimamsa uses the later, higher teachings of Vedanta, which are the Upanishads. This philosophy believes that the ultimate creator of the universe is God and that God is eternal, timeless, pure existence. God is both personal—incarnating in human form to bring peace, love, and order—and impersonal as Brahma.

Mimamsa teaches that God as a universal being is reflected in every human being, as the sky is reflected in water. In some persons the reflection of God is 90 percent; in others it may be only 10 percent. To understand our individuality and truly know ourselves is to know God. The philosophy distinguishes between a lower self (jivatman) and a higher Self (paramatman), teaching that through meditation the lower self merges into the higher Self.

Ayurveda has accepted Mimamsa for healing purposes, incorporating rituals such as burning candles, offering flowers, sprinkling holy water, and burning incense—all of which are recognized as having healing power.