Touch/Feeling and Mind in Ayurveda

Touch/Feeling

Physical and psychological problems can be caused by overuse, under use, and improper use of the senses. Each sense has its overuse, under use and improper use. Here is an example of the sense of touch/feeling:

tathā'tiśītōṣṇānāṁ spr̥śyānāṁsnānābhyaṅgōtsādanādīnāṁ cātyupasēvanamatiyōgaḥ, sarvaśō'nupasēvanamayōgaḥ, snānādīnāṁśītōṣṇādīnāṁ ca spr̥śyānāmanānupūrvyōpasēvanaṁ viṣamasthānābhighātāśucibhūtasaṁsparśādayaścētimithyāyōgaḥ ||37b||

Charaka states that addiction (upaseva) to excessive hot, cold, washing (snāna), massage (abhyaṅga), or rubbing (utsāda), etc., is excessive (atiyoga) touching/feeling (spṛśyāna). Avoiding all touch is underuse (ayoga). Using cold, hot, washing, etc., regularly in the incorrect amount (see Ca. Vi. 8/118) or coming into contact (saṁsparśa) with rough/painful places (viṣamasthāna), or being injured/attacked (abhighāta), or contact with impure/defiled/degraded beings (aśuci-bhūta) is considered improper utilization of touch (mithyayoga).

Wrong use of the senses (asātmyēndriya) is a leading factor of disease in Āyurveda. Among the senses, touch plays a crucial role in Āyurveda and is considered the most important sense for the mind.  

tatraikaṁ sparśanam indriyāṇām indriyavyāpakaṁ, cētaḥ- samavāyi, sparśanavyāptērvyāpakamapi cacētaḥ; tasmāt sarvēndriyāṇāṁ vyāpakasparśakr̥tō yō bhāvaviśēṣaḥ |38a|

“Only (tatraika) the sense of touch/feeling pervades (vyāpaka) all the senses, and it is intimately related (samavāya) to the mind/consciousness (cetas). As touch (sparśana) pervades the mind/sentience (cetas) also pervades. Therefore, touch pervades all senses performing their distinct experience (bhāvaviśēṣa).”[1]  

The basic concept being communicated here is that touch/sensation (as experienced by the function of vāyu/prāṇa) is inherent in all senses, as all senses are sensate experiences carried out by the movement of the vāyus/prāṇa.

On the inter-subjective psychological level, we are also touched or moved by another person. Our ability to have an empathetic relationship, requires the sense of touch and the interoceptive awareness of the sense of touch/feeling. In this way, touch is governing the function of internal sensory input, and the inter-subjective awareness which guides our actions.   

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[1] I would love any suggestions/debate for the translation on the end part of this verse:
tasmāt sarvēndriyāṇāṁ vyāpakasparśakr̥tō yō bhāvaviśēṣaḥ

Therefore, touch pervades all senses performing their distinct experience.