Abhyasa and Karma Siddhi: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

‘Knowledge is a GEM, you do not find it until you explore and search for it’ – Acharya Vagbhata

Abhyasa = constant practice
Karma = action, ‘treatments’ in this context
Siddhi = success

In any field of work or job, constant practice is the key for success. They are two sides of the same coin and they have a kind of inseparable relationship. All our actions towards achieving something will end on a fruitful and rewarding point when we would have constantly practiced to reach that point of finish wherein glory is waiting for us. Maybe in other fields, one needs to do this constantly, but in medical practice, only that much is not enough.

The real acid test for a physician starts when he comes open and is exposed to the reality of medical practice. He or she is handling life here. They cannot go wrong, they should not! So, the medical training in the colleges, with experienced teachers during internship days, and working in clinics and doctors for some years with experts in various fields or in a field the student is interested in practicing is mandatory. This will give both courage and confidence. Even after this, they should learn to independently practice i.e. plan and execute prescriptions and therapies under the guidance of their masters until the masters declare one to be ‘fit to go out and practice’.

This should essentially be backed up by a very good hold on theoretical knowledge that he or she has gained from their dedicated studies during student life.

A certification of completion of studies in a medical science or a higher degree of specialization in a particular subject or handling a disease or a gold medal as a proof of excellence will not serve any purpose if one cannot diagnose or treat a disease properly while in practice. A student who has competitively studied for ranks and medals but has not understood the core principles of a medical system will fail in clinical practice.

So, a poor abhyasa will lead to non-attainment of karma siddhi. This shows how much and how regularly abhyasa is needed. So, one should never hurry to venture into clinical practice until and unless he or she is more than hundred percent assured that they are ready to occupy that seat of responsibility.

So, success in clinical practice does not come so easy. It should be earned through dedication, passion and constant practice. Regularly doing the same things will lead to perfection. Constant practice is applicable for both studies and practical experience. Your prescription for amavata, your measure of snehana, your method of administering enema or the suture that you have done will be perfect and yield good results only when you have regularly studied and practiced them.

This demands your attention in classrooms, in clinical training, time spent with experts in the hospitals, out and in patient departments, operation theatres, herb gardens, pharmacies etc. and also how much and how many times you have had your hands on everything possible.

Therefore, for karma siddhi, constant abhyasa – revisions and regular practice is most essential. The physician needs both – adequate theoretical and practical knowledge, regularly practicing and updating them to excel in clinical practice.

Now let us see what Master Vagbhata has to talk about this.

Ref – Ashtanga Hrdaya, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 12, verse 56 (A.Hr.Su.12/56)

Need of both theoretical and practical knowledge and Abhyasa: Regular practice of both by a physician to attain Karma Siddhi – excellence in clinical practice

अभ्यासात्प्राप्यते दृष्टिः कर्मसिद्धिप्रकाशिनी।
रत्नादिसदसज्ज्ञानं न शास्त्रादेव जायते॥५६॥

Acharya Vagbhata says that good practical knowledge and experience can be attained only through constant, dedicated Abhyasa – practice – also includes revisions during academics and updating the knowledge one has already acquired.

This dedicated and passionate learning, revisions and updating oneself and constant practice of everything would definitely reflect the success in treatment procedures and clinical practice i.e. the status and fate of clinical practice which the physician would indulge in, in the coming days of his life. If the preliminary things are checked i.e. good theoretical and practical knowledge followed by dedicated revisions, follow-ups and constant practice, the karma siddhi i.e. success in clinical activities will be fruitful, else the person would miserably fail.

Acharya Vagbhata explains this with a beautiful ‘gem analogy’.

He says, ‘The knowledge of identifying the gems, gold and other precious stones will not be obtained by just the theoretical knowledge i.e. only studying intensively about all the gems in the world i.e. one should also have a practice of handling the gems and precious stones to tell which is a genuine one and which not!’.

The same rule is applicable for learning sciences also. You will not achieve mastery in clinical practice only by theoretical knowledge nor will you attain karma siddhi, until and unless you have practiced over them constantly.