Ayurveda in translation: One cross-cultural narrativ

This thesis presents data and findings from ethnographic fieldwork conducted in summer 2004 at a retreat center in Northern California by conducting limited observations and open-ended semi-structured ethnographic interviews with students and the teacher. The Alta Mariana Center draws on South Asian healing traditions to teach potential California practitioners. The following research questions were posed; how do cultural constructions of health, illness, diet, and healing affect/effect cross-cultural cognition within a shared learning space? What have been the life experiences of the workshop attendees that led them to the point of studying Ayurvedic medicine? How is Ayurveda presented to Western students by South Asian and American teachers? Are there any epistemological gaps? How are they bridged? Is the resulting "product" Ayurveda? Social parallels with Tibetan medicine are discussed.