 Cooperating
69 Living W ithout Enemies
70 Living a God-Realized Life
71 Living W ithout Sickness
72 Living with A we and Acceptance
73 Living in Heaven’ s Net
74 Living with No Fear of Death
75 Living by Demanding Little
76 Living by Bending
77 Living by Of fering the Surplus
78 Living like W ater
79 Living W ithout Resentments80 Living Y our Own Utopia
81 Living W ithout Accumulating
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
OceanofPDF.comPreface
Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their
minds cannot change anything. — George Bernard Shaw
Change Your Thoughts—Chang e Your Life is the end product of my
yearlong journey of research, contemplation, and application of the Tao Te
Ching, a book of wisdom that’s been translated more than any volume in
the world, with the exception of the Bible. Many scholars consider this
Chinese classic the ultimate discourse on the nature of existence; and it
continues to be a valuable resource for achieving a way of life that
guarantees integrity, joy, peace, and balance. I recently read about someone
who overcame life-threatening addictive behaviors by reading and
rereading the 81 verses of this ancient text. Just imagine! In fewer than 100
short passages, it describes a way of living that’s balanced, moral, and
spiritual; and that works for all facets of life on Earth. Legend tells us that the Tao Te Ching was authored by Lao-tzu, a prophet
who was also the keeper of the imperial archives in the ancient capital of
Luoyang. Seeing the continual decay during a period of warring  states, Lao-
tzu decided to ride westward into the desert. At the Hanku Pass, a
gatekeeper named Yin Hsi, knowing of Lao-tzu’ s reputation for being a
man of wisdom, begged him to record the essenc e of his teaching. Thus, the
Tao Te Ching was born out of 5,000 Chinese characters. In all my readin g on the origin s of the Tao Te Ching, I never found a
definitive histor ical record of its writing... yet today it survives in
thousands of versions in virtually every language. In fact, after reading this
classic text one morning and then taking  in a different interpretation that
afternoon, I was hooked. I ordered more translations, five of which were
quite old and five of which were more modern (you’ll find their titles in the
Acknowledgments). Since neither Lao-tzu nor the origins of his verses are
historically certain, I was fascinated by the different ways the 5,000
characters were interpreted by scholars in the editions I studied—especially
when you consider that many of these ancient Chinese symbols are no
longer in use and invite dif fering translations themselves.I then felt called upon to write  an essay for each verse that showed its
valuable wisdom applied to the 21st century. From those ten transla tions I’d
gone over, I pieced together the 81 passages in Change Your Thoughts—
Change Your Life, based on how they resonated with me. This book is my
personal interpretation of the T ao Te Ching, each verse of which gave me an
insight into life and nature. As you read on, know that these pages were
pasted together from what I personally felt were  the most useful aspects of
those ten different translations I studied, and I apologize for any exclusions
(or if the inclusions don’ t seem to be a perfect fit). One of the many gifts of the Tao Te Ching is its mind-stretchin g quality,
especially in the way that Lao-tz u uses irony and paradox to get you to look
at life. If you think that being forceful is the appropriate response, Lao-tzu
urges you to see the value in being humble. If action seems called for, he
asks you to consider nonaction. If you feel that grasping will help you
acquire what you need or want, he counsels you to let go and be patient. And just what is this thing called “the Tao”? As we’re told in the 1st
verse, to name it is to lose it, so here’ s the best that I can come up with: The
Tao is the supre me reality, an all-pervasive Source of everythin g. The Tao
never begins or ends, does nothing, and yet animates everything in the
world of form and boundaries,  which is called “the world of the 10,000
things.”
Commentaries on the Tao Te Ching generally interpret Tao as “the Way,”
Te as “the shape and power” (that is, how the Tao manifests), and Ching as
“book.” Every translation I read referred to the Tao as the Way with a
capital W, and Te as adding light or color to the Way. Well, as I look at the
name I’ve carried with me for over 65 years, Wayne Dyer, I realize what
may have attrac ted me to study ing and writing these essays! As you can
see, the first three letters of my name make up the word Way, while a dyer is
one who adds light or color. It’s no wonder why I’ve been  so totally
involved in reading, writing, interpreting, and, most significantly, putting
into practice these 81 verses. In The Wisdom of China and India, Dr. Lin Yutang states, “If there is one
book in the whole of Oriental literature which should be read above all
others, it is, in my opinion [Lao-tzu’ s] Book of Tao.... It is one of theprofoundest books in the world’ s philosophy...” As you read Change Y our
Thoughts—Change Your Life, you’re going to find your way through Lao-
tzu’s mystical and practical philosophy, along with the joy of applying it to
your life in today’ s modern world. Writing this book was a complete surrender to ideas that didn’ t always
seem to fit a linear rational approach, and it has changed me in a way that’s
like the Tao itself: unexplainabl e and unnameable. Once I knew  that I’d be
spending a year on this project, its creation came abou t in the following
way, which I have journaled for you:
I awake befor e 4 a.m., meditate, consume juices and
supplements, and enter my sacr ed writing space. On a table, I have
some framed drawings of Lao-tzu: In one he’ s clad in simple r obes,
in another he’s standing with a staff, and in a third he’s astride an
ox. I ease into my work and read one verse of the Tao Te Ching,
letting the words stay with me and inviting the forces of both the
outer and the inner life to inform me. Some of the passages contain ideas that seem to be directed to
political leaders —yet in all cases I keep the average reader  in
mind. In other words, I seek the wisdom for everyone, not just for
those in positions of government or business. I jot down a few notes, and for the next three days I think about
what Lao-tzu is offering. I invite the Tao to be with me throughout
the day in all my activities as a backgr ound to the title of this book. “Change your thoughts, Wayne,” I tell myself, “and watch how
your life changes.” And my thoughts do change. I feel the Tao with me, always there, always doing nothing, and
always leaving absolutely nothin g undone. As I’m now Seeing with
a capital S, the landscape looks differ ent. The people I See are
godly creations who are ignoring their own natur e, or even more
poignantly, need ily interfering in the affairs of others. I have a
differ ent perspective now: I feel more peaceful and patient. I keep
being reminded of the cyclical natur e of the world of the 10,000
things and have powerful insigh ts that change what I see. I know
that we humans  are like the rest of the natural world and thatsadness, fear, frustration, or any troubling feeling cannot last. Natur e doesn’ t create a storm that never ends. Within misfortune,
good fortune hides. Following my days of thinking and then applying the wisdom of a
particular verse, I look into the eyes of Lao-tzu’ s pictur e in the
early morning, and I wonder, What did you mean? How does this
apply here, today, to anyone who might want to live accor ding to
these majestic teachings? What happens next is mind-bl owing in that it simply comes. Through the ages, through the atmospher e, through my purple pen
and onto the page, flows what I can only call automatic writing. I
know I don’t own it. I know I can’t touch it, feel it, see it, or even
name it, but the words arrive in the world of the 10,000 things. I
am grateful, bewilder ed, astonis hed, and overjoyed. The next day I
begin another four-day advent ure with this wisdom a Chinese
master recorded 2,500 years ago, feeling so blessed, honor ed, and
completely awes truck by


	overlooking	a	valley
even	more	green	and	lush. That	part	you	already	know. Every	day	I	saw	this
beautiful	view,	except	when	the	valley	filled	with	billowing	mist. On	those
mornings	I	walked	to	school	with	wisps	of	white	curling	around	me,	like
walking	through	clouds. It	was	on	just	such	a	day,	as	I	was	making	my	way
down	the	road,	that	a	stranger’s	voice	called	out. “Come,”	it	said. “I’ve	been	waiting.”
The	voice	seemed	to	come	from	another	world. I	imagine	you’ve	walked
through	fog	and	know	how	it	creates	a	hush	all	around	you,	like	a	cocoon. Then	my	eye	caught	something. An	old	man	was	sitting	under	the	biggest,
most	twisted	tree	by	the	side	of	the	road. “Baba,	I’m	on	my	way	to	school,”	I	said. “You	must	be	waiting	for	someone
else.”	I	grew	up	in	India,	and
baba
	is	a	term	of	respect	that	is	given	to
someone	who	is	considered	a	wise	or	holy	man. “We	need	to	talk,”	he	said	in
a	most	definite	voice. I	drew	closer. Baba	was	sitting	on	the	ground	with	his
legs	crossed. His	beard	was	almost	as	white	as	the	immaculate	cotton	pants
and	shirt	that	he	wore. “You’re	old	enough	to	know	things	now,”	he	said,	not	waiting	for	me	to	reply. “And	who	else	is	going	to	tell	you?”
I	felt	a	shiver	run	down	my	spine. “What	kind	of	things?”	I	asked. “Invisible	things. Secret	things.”	Suddenly	Baba	laughed. “How	mysterious
do	I	have	to	sound	for	you	to	listen?”
I	started	to	forget	about	school. All	kinds	of	images	were	filling	my	mind. Sitting	there	in	that	cross-legged	position,	the	old	man	looked	like	Buddha,
who	became	enlightened	sitting	under	a	tree. His	long	white	beard	made	Baba
look	wizardly,	like	Merlin,	and	the	gleam	in	his	eye	told	me	unmistakably	that
he	must	be	wise,	like	Socrates. “I’m	not	asking	much. Just	give	me	one	day,”	Baba	coaxed.Hesitantly	I	sat	down	beside	him	under	the	gnarled,	twisted	tree. The	sun	was
burning	the	mist	off	now	Between	billows	of	fog	we	could	glimpse	the	green
tea	plantations	that	filled	the	valley	and	surrounding	hills. “This	won’t	be	like	school,”	Baba	said. “I’m	going	to	teach	you	a	new	way	to
see	and	a	new	way	to	be.”
He	pointed	at	the	scenery	“What	do	you	see? I	mean	right	now,	at	this	very
moment?”
“I	see	you	and	this	tree,	and	I	see	the	fog	lifting	from	the	valley,”	I	said. Baba	leaned	closer. “Want	to	know	what	I	see? I	see	your	soul.”	He	was
catching	my	attention	more	and	more. “I	see	a	world	for	you	to	possess. I	see
eternity”	Baba	stopped,	and	I	felt	another	shiver. “Do	you	believe	me?”	he
asked. “I	want	to	believe	you,	but	I	can’t	see	any	of	those	things,”	I	said. “Of	course	not. It	takes	a	new	way	of	seeing,	which	is	why	I	had	to	find	you,”
he	said. “A	few	more	years	and	you	might	be	lost. The	old	ways	are	hard	to
break.”
I	was	at	that	age	when	a	dreamy	inclination	comes	easily	In	fact,	the	reason	I
hadn’t	noticed	Baba	was	that	I	had	been	dreaming	my	way	to	school. Now	it
seemed	as	if	I	had	conjured	up	a	vision	out	of	the	mist. The	old	man’s	eyes	sharpened. “I’m	not	talking	about	fantasies	and	pink
clouds,”	he	said. “You	need	to	know	how	reality	works. Only	what’s	real	has
power,	even	when	it	looks	like	magic.”
“Okay”	I	said. I	had	the	uncomfortable	feeling	that	he	had	read	my	mind
when	I	wondered	if	he	was	imaginary. “In	reality	there
is
	eternity	everywhere,”	said	Baba. “In	reality	your	soul	is
here	for	you	to	experience	it. I’ll	show	you	what	I	mean.”
He	reached	down	and	took	up	a	handful	of	sand	from	the	side	of	the	road. “Feel	it,”	he	said. “What’s	it	like?”
He	dropped	some	of	the	sand	into	my	hands. “It’s	rough	and	sharp	and
grainy,”	I	said. “And	it’s	warm	from	the	sun.”“Would	it	surprise	you	if	I	told	you	that	none	of	that	is	real?”	he	asked. I	felt	confused. “Of	course	it’s	real.”
“But	sand	is	made	of	molecules,”	said	Baba. “And	molecules	aren’t	sharp	or
rough	or	grainy. I	could	take	the	molecules	in	sand	and	turn	them	into	glass,
which	is	completely	smooth. Of	course,	molecules	aren’t	real	either.”
“Why	not?”
“Because	they	are	made	of	atoms,	and	atoms	are	just	blurry	clouds	of	energy
You	can’t	see	or	touch	one,	and	isn’t	that	how	you	measure	real	things,	by
seeing	and	touching	them? Come	to	think	of	it,	energy	isn’t	real	either.”
By	now	I	didn’t	feel	like	arguing;	this	was	a	completely	new	way	of	seeing
things,	just	as	he	had	promised. “Energy	vibrates	everywhere	in	the	universe,”	Baba	said. “But	it	springs	from
the	void,	which	is	empty	and	still. You	won’t	know	what’s	real	until	we	go
there. Shall	we?”
He	let	the	sand	sift	through	his	fingers,	and	for	a	moment	it	was	like	watching
someone	letting	the	whole	world	sift	through	his	fingers,	the	world	I	thought	I
lived	in. “This	is	very	strange,”	I	murmured. “Ah,	so	the	old	ways	are	not	looking	quite	so	certain,”
	he	said,	sounding
pleased. “What	will	be	left	when	everything	solid	vanishes	before	your	eyes?”
“Nothing,”	I	said. “Nothing!”	he	repeated. “That’s	exactly	right. But	when	we’re	through,
nothing	will	turn	into	everything—your	soul,	God,	an	infinite	world	for	you
to	possess. Shall	we?”	he	asked	again. “Absolutely,”	I	said. W
HAT
	I	L
EARNED
Spirituality	is	about	a	new	way	of	seeing	and	a	new	way	of	being. When	Babatold	me	that	one	thing,	he	told	me	all	I	had	to	know. It	wasn’t	even	necessary
to	use	the	word
spirituality
. Words	are	never	as	important	as	reality	itself,	and
what’s	real	is	that	you	and	I	are	like	walking	clouds	at	the	atomic	level. Atoms	are	a	lot	more	empty	than	they	are	solid,	which	means	that
we
	are	a	lot
more	empty	than	we	are	solid	(every	person	is	more	than	99.999999	percent
empty	space;	the	space	between	the	earth	and	the	sun	is	much	smaller	by
comparison). Just	beneath	the	surface,	where	things	look	reassuring	and	solid,	we	all	should
fly	apart	and	float	away	into	a	fog,	but	we


 by generat -
ing and releasing extracellular oxidants, but this process can also be neutralized by DMSO’s anti-inflammatory action. 22
The inability of many antibiotics to enter the blood–brain barrier in mammals
has been a limiting factor in the treatment of bacterial brain infections such as life-threatening meningitis and brain abcess. 23 Although pathogens can invade the brain
in a variety of ways, the main pathway is through the bloodstream, where they can enter the subarachnoid space in places where the blood–brain barrier is vulnerable, for example, the choroid plexus. There is some controversy regarding the ability of DMSO to potentiate the penetration of molecules, including antibiotics, across the blood–brain barrier. Previous studies have shown that DMSO enhances the penetra -
tion into the brain of the protein tracer horseradish peroxidase and of ketoconazole, an antifungal agent. 24,25 The ability of DMSO to carry molecules across the blood–
brain barrier may depend on the size of the molecule to be delivered, its polarity, and molecular weight; however, the exact mechanism for achieving such penetration is unknown. 26 It has been suggested that molecules that exceed 70,000 Da (a unit
of atomic mass) cannot be delivered by DMSO through the blood–brain barrier,25
suggesting that DMSO may shrink the endothelial cells’ tight junctions that make up the blood–brain barrier to allow small molecules to pass through. This idea was tested on seven healthy adult mares using trimethoprim (TMP)–sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), an effective antimicrobial combination against gram-negative organisms. 27
A solution of 40% DMSO was injected intravenously at 1 g/kg for 30 min followed immediately after by TMP–SMZ at a combined dosage of 44 mg/kg. The mares were also given the same treatment a week later without DMSO. The combination TMP–SMZ was 543 Da combined, well under the 70,000 Da theoretical limit of DMSO to enhance molecule penetration into the brain. It was found that DMSO was not able to enhance the penetration of TMP–SMZ into the cerebrospinal fluid but did delay the clearance of TMP from serum and increased TMP serum concentration, a finding that had no immediate explanation. 27
These findings add to the unsettled controversy of how and what molecules
DMSO is able to help penetrate the blood–brain barrier. However, it is clear that penetration of DMSO itself through the intact blood–brain barrier occurs and has been shown to use magnetic resonance spectroscopy. 28
DMSO has been shown to enhance the killing activity of certain bactericidal such
as peroxynitrite, whereas other hydroxyl radical scavengers cannot. Macrophages and other cells able to produce nitric oxide can generate the formation of peroxyni -
trite, a strong and versatile oxidant and the reaction product of nitric oxide and 105 DMSO in Basic Microbiology
superoxide, which are not strong oxidants themselves.29 Peroxynitrite is highly bac -
tericidal, killing E. coli  in direct proportion to its concentration.30 Three hydroxyl
radical scavengers mannitol, ethanol, and benzoate did not significantly affect the
killing potential of peroxynitrite on E. coli  cultures, but 100 mM DMSO did enhance
peroxynitrite-mediated killing. DMSO is a more efficient hydroxyl radical scavenger than the other three scavengers and increases the formation of nitrogen dioxide to enhance the killing power of peroxynitrite. 30
Helicobacter pylori  is a spiral, intragastric bacterium that can be found in at least
a third to half of people worldwide, most of whom have no symptoms. The frequency of H. pylori  infection varies from country to country with 70%–90% of adults har -
boring the microbe in underdeveloped countries to about 50% in the United States found carrying the bacterium in 60-year-olds. 31
H. pylori  can help the human body by helping to regulate the level of stomach acid
secreted, and as it does, it creates a beneficial environment both for itself and its host. When this regulation of acid secretion is disturbed, a series of molecular changes in the stomach can occur where H. pylori  strains become harmful to its host. When that happens, the dark side of H. pylori  is revealed as the causative organ -
ism in peptic ulcer disease and chronic gastritis. The H. pylori  pathogenic strain is
also linked to the development of duodenal ulcers and distal stomach adenocarci -
noma. The discovery of H. pylori  as the cause of peptic ulcer disease came about
after Freedberg and Baron
32 found in 1940 spirochetes in about 40% of gastric biop -
sies. Even thought there were sporadic reports occasionally appearing in the medical literature about the association of H. pylori  and peptic ulcers, the great majority of
gastroenterologists believed that these ulcers arose principally from lifestyle factors or from physical and emotional stress due to acid secretion. The fact that H. pylori
was capable of living in the acidic environment of the stomach was a major reason for most gastroenterologists to dismiss its potential pathogenicity because no one could envision how a bacterium could survive for long in such an environment. Until 1984, anyone training in medicine was taught the axiomatic golden rule,
“no acid, no ulcer,” the intention being that peptic ulcers can occur only when the stomach secretes acid. 33 This long-standing and erroneous principle supported by no
solid evidence of any kind became an unchallenged medical dictum in the teaching and management of gastric ulcers. The “no acid, no ulcer” rule also led to a finan-cial boom for many pharmaceuticals that manufactured a hodgepodge of antacids. However, in 1983, a year before the continued pursuit of antacids for the treatment of ulcer disease, two Australian physicians, Robin Warren and Barry Marshall,
34 boldly
and correctly identified and later successfully treated peptic and duodenal ulcers with antibiotics despite violent opposition by the medical establishment at the time. Their work not only cured a serious gastroduodenal disorder that afflicted millions of
patients worldwide but also prevented a highly lethal cancer of the  s tomach. Marshall
and Warren shared the Nobel Prize in 2005. The Warren–Marshall  d iscovery has
generated over 50,000 scientific publications to this date and has resulted in a signifi -
cant decline of gastroduodenal ulcers in most Western countries.35
H. pylori is presently treated with a triple therapy consisting of two antibiotics,
clarithromycin and amoxicillin, and a proton-pump inhibitor omeprazole.36 This
regimen has considerable side effects. Moreover, the increase in antibiotic resistance 106 Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) in Trauma and Disease
by this bacterium has led to the search for new therapeutic strategies, including anti-
inflammatory agents and hydroxyl radical scavengers. Searching for other options to treat H. pylori, an in vitro  study removed H. pylori
strains  isolated from antral biopsy specimens and cultured these pathogens on sheep
blood agar.37 An agar diffusion test was used to screen the antibacterial effect of 10%
DMSO and 1% allopurinol. It was found that therapeutically administered concen -
trations of DMSO and allopurinol had no growth-inhibiting effect on H. pylori in
vitro.37 No zones of inhibition were produced by either drug.37 This study concluded
that neither DMSO nor allopurinol at the doses used is suitable for H. pylori eradica -
tion treatment. A cautionary note was added to these negative findings by pointing out the limits of in vitro  testing since it could not be ruled out that DMSO may work
to interfere with adherence factors of H. pylori and, in this way, block this microbe
from recolonization of the gastroduodenal epithelium and prevent duodenal ulcer relapse. 37
The role of oxyradicals in the process of acute and chronic duodenal ulceration
in the rat was examined by administering allopurinol and DMSO by gavage. To produce chronic duodenal ulceration, all rats received intramuscular reserpine injec -
tions (0.1 mg/kg) every day for 6 weeks. Pretreatment was given with dose-dependent DMSO and allopurinol. At least 70% of rats were protected against ulceration with 5% or 10% solutions of DMSO, and similar concentrations of allopurinol protected
all  a nimals. Neither agent was seen to protect rats from influencing the hyperchlor -
hydria.38 These findings appeared to indicate that oxygen-derived free radicals
played an important role in the formation and development of gastric ulcers and led to translationally examine DMSO and allopurinol in a clinical setting in patients diagnosed with H. pylori. 38
In a randomized, controlled clinical study on 146 patients, cimetidine, placebo,
and the free radical scavengers allopurinol and DMSO were tested to see their effects on H. pylori  duodenal


latest	book	is
INFINITE	SELF:	33	STEPS	TO	RECLAIMING	YOUR	INNER	POWER. Stuart’s	books	have	been	translated	into	12	languages. Our	spiritual	process	through	life	is	the	journey	from	ego	to	spirit. Because
the	ego	is	usually	insecure,	it	has	many	needs	and	impulses	to	gratify,	and
many	fears	it	must	assuage. The	ego	has	to	sustain	its	ideas	and	the	precious
image	it	has	of	itself. Attitudes	become	sacrosanct. It	is	natural	that	the	human	personality,	and	the	ego	that	dwells	within	that
personality,	would	gradually,	through	self-confirmation,	crown	itself	king	or
queen	of	all	it	surveys. Over	time,	orders	and	desires	of	that	royal	personage
become	edicts	that	cannot	be	challenged	or	broken. Keeping	the	king	happy
and	giving	the	ol’	slob	what	he	wants	become	“Job	One.”
If	a	person	is	very	bright	or	quite	successful	in	human	terms,	it	doesn’t
usually	take	him	or	her	long	to	elevate	oneself	to	the	status	of	a	demigod. Once	the	ego/personality	has	invested	itself	as	a	god,	then	extremes	of	self-
importance	flow	from	that. Orders	are	given,	demands	are	made,	and
situations	are	manipulated. Softness,	spirituality,	and	appreciation	are
repressed. Anyone	defying	the	king	and	queen’s	edicts,	or	the	image	they	hold
of	themselves,	will	feel	the	full	wrath	of	a	despotic	regime. Our	modern	society	breeds	despots. Compared	to	our	ancestors,	things	are
cozy	and	self-indulgent. All	the	ego	will	ever	need	is	at	its	fingertips. We
don’t	dig	for	food,	chop	trees,	haul	sewage—things	are	provided	almosteffortlessly. In	these	conditions,	it	is	natural	that	humans	would	lose	sight	of
gratitude,	investing	instead	in	accolades	and	importance;	we	become	slaves	to
the	effort	of	trying	to	keep	the	ego-king	or	queen	happy. And	there	you	were,	suddenly,	a	spiritual	being	in	a	diaper,	born	into	a	strange
world	of	gratification	and	self-importance,	indulgence	and	mayhem. One	so
young	has	no	way	of	challenging	the	collective	legislation	of	the	ego. Soon
you	were	trained	to	compete	and	strive	and	demand. You	were	taught	the	need
to	keep	the	ego	happy	at	all	costs. History	is	the	story	of	conflicting	political	egos	and	their	struggle	for
importance	and	power. Your	personal	history	tells	of	the	same	wars	and
struggles,	treaties	that	were	written,	territories	that	were	conquered,	the
struggles	you	went	through	sustaining	the	kingdom	of
self. In	the	turmoil	of
these	self-centered	laws,	the	sight	of	God	is	lost,	and	the	reason	and	meaning
of	life	are	set	aside. Spirituality,	for	most,	is	an	underground	resistance
movement	that	scurries	about	in	dark	alleys	when	the	ego	sleeps. So	what	of	the	quest	for	the	holy	grail,	the	sacred	journey? To	me	it	seems	to
be	a	journey	of	just	under	12	inches,	as	we	travel	from	the	head	to	the	heart,
from	thinking	into	feelings,	from	demands	and	gratification	to	appreciation
and	humility. The	spiritual	journey	culminates	in	the	death	of	the	ego	and	the
crowning	of	spirit. As	I	mentioned	in	my	book
Whispering	Winds	of	Change,
	the	story	of	the
crucifixion	is	a	symbolic	teaching	that	represents	our	spiritual	journey. You
see	the	ego/personality	epitomized	by	the	Nazarene,	dying	on	the	cross,
racked	with	anguish. Mary	Magdalene	and	the	other	women	at	the	foot	of	the
cross	represent	the
yin
	softness	of	our	infinite,	spiritual	self	that	can	do
nothing	to	save	the	ego. The	women	can	only	wait. Once	the	Nazarene	dies,	he	is	placed	in	a	tomb	for	three	days. That	is
symbolic	of	silence,	meditation,	and	prayer. It	represents	introspection,
discipline,	humility	and	gratitude—qualities	you	take	on	as	you	journey
inward	through	the	dark	caverns	of	the	inner	self. During	the	introspection
and	healing,	you	prepare	for	the	awesome	presence	of	the	Holy	Spirit,	the
return	of	God	in	your	life. After	the	three-day	period	in	the	tomb,	the	Nazarene	rises	from	death	to
ascend	into	heaven,	at	which	point	he	assumes	a	new	identity—he	becomes
Christos,
	the	Divine	Light—infused	with	the	living	spirit,	immortal,	returnedonce	more	to	the	presence	of	God. Our	journey	is	the	same. On	this	holy	journey,	we	heal	ourselves,	and	we
contribute	to	the	overall	healing	of	the	planet,	for	nothing	will	be	right	until
the	ego	is	deposed. Put	away	foolish	things	that	cannot	last. Embrace	spirit	with	humility	and
gratitude,	and	step	to	the	infinite	self	within. It	seems	to	me	a	beautiful	thing,
that	deep	within	us	all,	we	each	know	how	to	make	that	sacred	journey. I	feel	truly	thankful	to	live	in	this	modern	age,	so	cozy	and	fairly	effortless. It
is	such	a	perfect	time	in	history	for	making	personal	breakthroughs	and
spiritual	transitions. Cool,	utterly	cool,	in	my	view. The	Most	Amazing	Day
Margaret	Olivia	Wolfson
Margaret	Olivia	Wolfson

is	an	internationally	acclaimed	storytelling	artist
and	personal	growth	consultant. Her	unique	performances,	presented	with
music,	have	delighted	audiences	at	the	Kennedy	Center,	the	United	Nations,
the	Sydney	Opera	House,	the	National	Theater,	and	Princeton	and	Harvard
Universities,	to	name	just	a	few. She	is	the	author	of	THE	TURTLE	TATTOO:
TIMELESS	TALES	FOR	FINDING	AND	FULFILLING	YOUR	DREAMS,	and
MARRIAGE	OF	THE	RAIN	GODDESS. Margaret	lives	in	New	York	City. I	thank	you	God	for	this	most	amazing
day:	for	the	leaping	greenly	spirits	of	trees
and	a	blue	true	dream	of	sky;	and	for	everything
which	is	natural	which	is	infinite	which	is	yes. —e.e. cummings
Outside	my	window	is	a	scene	of	breathtaking	beauty. Tree-topped	cliffs
tower	along	the	river,	and	each	time	the	sun	tumbles	loose	from	the	summer
clouds,	it	splashes	the	leaves	with	light	and	glitters	the	river	with	gold. Inside,	more	images	nourish	my	eye. A	Buddha,	his	eternal	belly	laugh
masterfully	captured	by	a	Filipino	woodcarver,	stands	on	a	cherrywood	table
—a	cluster	of	quartz	crystals	twinkling	at	his	feet. A	grouping	of	photos—
family,	friends,	and	faraway	places—rounds	out	the	charm	of	this	display. Further	contributing	to	this	most	amazing	day	is	a	feeling	of	contentment—
arising	from	the	fact	that	I	am	engaged	in	a	cherished	activity. I	sit	and	write
in	a	clean	and	peaceful	apartment,	a	cup	of	apple	blossom	tea	nearby,	its
steam	swirling	upward,	sweetening	the	air. Taking	all	this	in,	I	am
overwhelmed	with	a	soul-w


 better in every way,
including the better elimination of accumulated of
157
Fasting is an effective, safe method of detoxifying the body, that wise
men have used for centuries to heal the sick. Fast regularly with
distilled water and help the body heal itself and stay well. – Dr. James Balch, co-author, Prescription for Nutritional Healing of all harmful inorganic toxins. Distilled water is
especially good to detox your liver and kidneys,
which are the organs most abused by salt and hard
water, inorganic minerals, fluorides, chlorides, etc. Q. What is your opinion of the honey and vinegar
treatment for arthritis advocated by Dr. Jarvis? A.	It’s an excellent treatment – except he should have
specified distilled water. * A 4 cup raw, organic apple
cider vinegar added to gallon of distilled water,
flavored with raw honey – a drink fit for the gods –
and helps you feel like one! Remember, it took years
to build-up your arthritic condition, so don’ t expect
overnight clean-up miracles. W ork with Mother
Nature and be as patient as she is with you. * For
more vinegar miracles read the Bragg V inegar Book. Q. Is distilled water recommended for babies? A. Yes, it’ s not only recommended, it’ s prescribed for
babies! Distilled water should be used internally for
formulas, food, etc., also externally for cleaning babies. 158 Diaper rash and skin problems can result from hard
water deposits and chemicals even on sheets, clothes,
and diapers, etc. Do the final rinse in distilled water. Q. Can animals and wildlife tell the difference
between hard and distilled water? A. Yes. Place a variety of waters befor e a goat, for
example, and he will select distilled water. Use it in
your bird bath and the bir ds will return yearly. Many
a race has been lost because trainers didn’ t provide
their thor oughbreds with distilled purified water. Q. Does hard water affect ever yone the same way? A. No. All human systems are basically similar, but no
two are exactly alike! Mineral deposits from hard
water tend to migrate to the body’ s weakest points:
the intestinal walls, causing constipation; the
kidneys, creating stones; in the arteries, leading to
arteriosclerosis; in the joints, inviting arthritis; etc. There is no we alth greater than the health of the b ody. – Bible
Our prayers should be for a sound mind in a healthy body. – Juvenal Of course, when the functions of any one part of
the body are impaired, the entire system is affected
and gradually weakened. Thus, multiple symptoms
appear as evidence of more widespread systematic
damage. Y our best insurance against all these
symptoms of “ageing” is to drink distilled water. Q. Do athletes drink distilled water? A. Many Famous ones do. Connie Mack, 30 years the
Yankee manager, would not allow his players to
drink hard water – and he had champion healthy
teams. Connie Mack also “practiced what he
preached” and maintained his own perfect health
past 90. W e have lots of champion teams in all sports
and olympic and triathlete champions as well as the
Dallas Cowboys who follow the Bragg Healthy
Lifestyle and drink pure distilled water! Q. We have recently installed a home water softener. Dr. Bragg, is this good, pure drinking water? A. No – don’ t drink it! W ater softeners don’ t eliminate
inorganic minerals, but merely hold them in
suspension in an ionized state. It makes more
soapsuds – but leaves inorganic mineral deposits in
your home and human plumbing to cause problems! 159
 Wise W ater Saving T ips T o Use:
Don’ t leave the water running. T ake shallow baths and
quick showers. Install water-saving aerators or low-flow
shower heads. Use broom instead of hosing sidewalks
and driveways. W ater lawns in early mor nings or late
evenings. Flush fresh water toilets only as needed. Fix
all leaky water faucets and pipes! W ash only full loads. Please Conser ve W ater – visit web:www.waterconser ve.info
As the tide of chemicals born in the Industrial Age has arisen to engulf our
environment, a drastic change has come about in the nature of the most
serious public health problem. For the first time in the history of the world, every
human being is now subject to many dangerous chemicals, from the moment
of conception until death. – Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, 1962 – amazon.com
It’s sad the world did not follow our friend’s wise warnings in her landmark
book. We could have saved billions of wildlife that needlessly died plus humans
that have lost their lives to deadly chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, etc. – P.B. 160 PROMISE YOURSELF
• To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. • To talk health, happiness, prosperity to every person you meet. • To make all your friends feel that they are special. • To look at the sunny side of everything and make
your optimism come true. • To think only of the best, work only for the best and expect
only the best. • To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you
are about yours. • To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater
achievements of the bright, fresh future. • To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every
living creature you meet a smile. • To give so much time to the improvements of yourself that
you have no time to be critical of others. • To be too large for worry, too strong for fear, too noble
for anger, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble. – Christian D. Larson
Your posture carries you through life from your head to your feet. This is your human vehicle and you are truly a miracle! Cherish, respect
and protect it by living The Bragg Healthy Lifestyle. – Patricia Bragg
The nervousness and peevishness of our times are chiefly
attributable to tea and coffee. The digestive organs of confirmed
coffee drinkers are in a state of chronic derangement which reacts on
the brain, producing fretful and lachrymose moods. – Dr. Bock, 1910
Drinking 8 glasses daily of pure distilled water cleanses
and recharges the human batteries! – Paul C. Bragg
The chlorine in your shower water is a powerful toxin (see pages 151-152 ) and
slowly can poison your body! – Kathleen Peddicord, Author
What Doctors Don’t Tell You
For more info on various water distillers, shower
filters, home air purifiers, juicers and other
healthy living essentials. Call 800-446-1990 Exercise and Eat for T otal Health
Enjoy The Bragg Healthy Lifestyle
For a Lifetime of Super Health
In a broad sense, "The Bragg Healthy Lifestyle for the T otal
Person" is a combination of physical, mental, emotional,
social and spiritual components. The ability of the individual
to function effectively in his environment depends on how
smoothly these components function as a whole. Of all the
qualities that comprise an integrated personality, a totally
healthy, fit body is one of the most desirable... so star t
today to achieve your health goals! A person may be said to be totally physically fit if he
functions as a total personality with efficiency and without
pain or discomfort of any kind. This is to have a Painless,
Tireless, Ageless body, possessing sufficient muscular strength
and endurance to maintain a healthy posture and successfully
carry on the duties imposed by life and the envir onment, to
meet emergencies satisfactorily and have enough energy for
recreation and social obligations after the "work day" has
ended. It is to meet the requirements of his environment
through possessing the resilience to recover rapidly from
fatigue, tension, stress and strain of daily living without the
aid of stimulants, drugs or alcohol, and enjoy natural
recharging sleep at night and awaken fit and alert in the
morning for the challenges of the new fresh day ahead. Keeping the body totally healthy and fit is not a job for
the uninformed or the careless person. It requires an
understanding of the body and of a healthy lifestyle and then
following it for a long, happy lifetime of health! The result
of “The Bragg Healthy Lifestyle" is to wake up the possibilities
within you, rejuvenate your body, mind and soul to total
balanced health. It's within your reach, so don't procrastinate,
start today! Our hearts go out to touch your heart with
161
nourishing, caring love for your total health and life! and
Dear friend, I wish above all things that thou may prosper
and be in health even as the soul prospers. – 3 John 2 Health is Y our Birthright –
Protect and T reasure It! This is a priceless book. Please read and re-read this
book until you absorb ever y health nugget it contains. Remember that you and you alone control your life, your
health and the way you look, act, think and feel! Health
comes from the inside out. Y ou can be patched up after
being stricken with disease, sickness and physical pain,
but 100% true,


 104.4 degrees Fahrenheit. The fever broke toward the morning, but he had to endure
another night with chills and a high fever. The Gerson doctors did not stop or block the fever,
only made him comfortable! By the second morning the new tumor had virtually disappeared,
having shrunk by more than 80% thanks to the restored immune system. The patient suffered no
further malaria attacks. A middle-aged woman patient with metastasized melanoma also suffered from early stage
adult onset diabetes and disfiguring osteoarthritis in her right hand when she first arrived at the
Gerson hospital. Within three weeks her blood and urine tests showed no sign of diabetes, while
her painful crooked fingers stopped hurting and gradually became straight again. A few months
later at home she was wakened one night by an agonizing sharp pain  in the right side of her
abdomen, which, she found, had turned dark red and hot. After her first panic she realized that
these symptoms were clustered around the scar caused by an appendectomy ( removal  of the
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author.Page 130Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comappendix ), carried out 35 years before…It all blew over quickly, leaving her with a barely visible
painless scar. These are only a few randomly chosen examples. It must be remembered that virtually every
patient has a long history of health problems that become re-activated while clearing up during a
healing reaction: old pneumonias that can cause renewed chest pain and phlegm; old, apparently
healed fractures that ‘act up’ during a flare-up while healing completely; increased cholesterol
while the plaque within veins and arteries is being broken down and eliminated, and many more
specific symptoms. The key to recognizing these is that they only last a few days and afterwards
the patient feels much better. However, if reactions last too long, a blood and urinanalysis test
may have to be made, or a thorough check carried out to see if the underlying cause is a severe
infection rather than a healing reaction. Occasionally patients may even suffer from a mineral
imbalance and might require an IV (intravenous) injection to re-balance their blood. Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author.Page 131Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comChapter 17
The Full Therapy
Hourly Schedule
The full therapy is prescribed for general cancer patients who are not severely weakened and
have not been pre-treated with chemotherapy. This schedule covers the first 3-4 weeks of the
treatment. For subsequent reductions, see annual schedule below:
Enema MealFlax-
seed
OilAcidoll
CapsulesJuicePotassium
CompoundLugol’s
Solution
1/2 strengthThyroid NaicinLiver
Caps.Pan-
creatin
TabletsInjection
Liver &
B12
6:00
amCoffee
8:00
am 2Orange 4 tsp. 3 drops 1 gram 50mg3
9:00
am4 tsp. 9:30
amCarrot/
Apple4 tsp. 3 drops
10:00
amCoffeeCarrot/
Apple4 tsp. 3 drops 1 gram 50mg
11:00
amCarrot2
12
noonGreen 4 tsp. 1:00
pm1 Tbsp. 2Carrot/
Apple4 tsp. 3 drops 1 gram 50mg3
2:00
pmGreen 4 tsp. 3:00
pmCarrot2
4:00
pmCarrot2
5:00
pmCarrot/
Apple4 tsp. 3 drops 1 gram 50mg3
6:00
pmCoffee Green 4 tsp. 7:00
pmDinner 1 Tbsp. 2Carrot/
Apple4 tsp. 3 drops 1 gram 50mg3
10:00
pmCoffee
For an explanation of the medications, see Chapter 14. Be sure to follow the directions for
changes. Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author.Page 132Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comMake a blank schedule to be filled in later as the medications change and the frequency of
enemas and of liver injections with B-12 are reduced. Castor Oil enemas: to be taken every other day or as per Gerson practitioner ’s order. Directions for following the full therapy are given in Chapters 9 through 13. Please study
them carefully. Annual Schedule
No. of
weeksJuices  Meals
and flax
seed oilAcidol
pepsinPotassium
com-
pound Thyroid Lugol’s
solutionNiacin  Pancreatin    Liver &
B-12
injection
 Coffee
Enemas
                     Castor
oil
Enemas

    2-31
Orange
5 apple/
carrot
4 Green
3 Carrot
Regular
Add
2 tbs. Flax
Oil
3 x 2
caps. 10 x 2
teasp. 3 x 1⁄2
tablet
6 x 1
drop. 6 x 1
tablet. 4x3
 tabs. One daily Every
4
hoursEvery
other
     day
      3same 3 x 2  same. same   3 x 1 same 4 x 2 tabs. same  same    same
         5samesame  same  8 x 2  2 x 1/2 6 x 1  same    same    same  same    same
      4sameAdd
3oz. yogurt. same  same. 3 x 1/2 same  same    same    same  same    same
      5same6 oz
yogurt same  same   same same  same    same   same  same 2
weekly
      4 same 2 x 4
oz. same  same same      same  same    same   same  same    same
      6samesame  same  same  2 x 1/2  6 x 1  same    same Every 2nd
     day 2 daily
 .1
weekly
      6same   same,
much
raw same  6 x 2   same  6 x 1 4 x 1    same 2 weekly 2 daily  —- -
      6same
same
same    6 x 2   same  4 x 1  same    same     same  same  —-—
      9same
same
same
same  same  same  same    same    same  same   —- -
      9same
same same
same   same   same    same 2 weekly 1 daily
      7same
same
same  same. same  5 x 1  same    same 1 weekly   same  —- -
          . Depending on test results, thyroid medication may have to be increased or decreased. Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author.Page 133Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comCHAPTER 18
Adapting the Therapy for Chemo-Pretreated
and Severely Weakened Patients
PLEASE NOTE: the same modifications apply for both categories
Chemotherapy drugs were just beginning to be introduced during Dr. Gerson’s years of
practice, and their effects were largely unknown. This explains why no reference to chemotherapy
can be found in his classic book, A Cancer Therapy—Results of 50 Cases. The large-scale use of
this treatment, based on the theory that strong poisons administered to the cancer patient would
kill the malignant cells but allow the healthy cells to recover, only built up in the years following
Dr. Gerson’s death; by now it is used almost universally all over the world. Sometimes it is applied
as an adjuvant treatment, in combination with other modalities; in other cases it is prescribed
for patients prior to surgery, to shrink their tumor, more often than not in terminal cases. Many
doctors, if questioned, admit that at best chemotherapy can only extend life expectancy by a few
months, and certainly does not promise a “cure.”
Our aim here is not to discuss the positive or negative results of chemotherapy, which are
amply described by Ralph Moss, Ph.D. ( The Cancer Industry, revised edition of the original
The Cancer Syndrome,  1989; ISBN#1-55778-075-7, Paragon House, NY) and many others. (see
Chapter 20, pg. 142 ) We are solely concerned with the changes that need to be made to the Gerson
protocol for patients who have previously been treated with toxic chemicals. When the Therapy was first practiced 18 years after Dr. Gerson’s death in the first Mexican
Gerson hospital, the doctors were reluctant


 we really are can
never die.When you are truly awake, w ith heightened spiritual awareness, you
know th at if you’re always looking for something, it will always elude you. That’ s tr ue of anything in life. T ake success: Making a lot of money is not
what makes a pe rson successful. Rather, a successful person brings success
to everything that they do, and money is most likely only one of the benefits
that they get as a result. Enlightenment is the same thing. Enlightenment is something  that you
bring to all of your interactions, all of your thought processes, all of your
life experiences. It’ s really an attitude or an approach to life. That attitude or
approach is literally one of “living in the light,” and that means you’re
moving toward yourself. Y ou’re  not ever moving away from yourself, and
you see the perfection in yourself and who you are. Y ou don’ t question the
universe. Y ou see everything a nd everyone in it as exactly where they’re
supposed to be. Y ou have an a bsence of judgment and negativity. Y ou’re
balanced as a human being. Enlightenment i s a state of mind in which, once you have it, once you
accept y ourself and your perfection, then there’ s no more trying. Y ou are
already in Detroit. IT ALL WORKS PERFECTL Y
Think about this: If you take a b ite of food and start to chew, y ou’ve got
to do a lot of things with that food in order to make it apply to  you. Let’ s
say you just had  a bite of salad, and now you’ve got lettuce and tomato in
your mouth. W ell, you’ve got to get some saliva into your mouth as well to
help you with that. Y ou’re not trying to salivate; your body knows exactly
what it’ s supposed to do. When you swallow, you don’ t have to monitor the
peristaltic reactions in your throat and esophagus to make sur e that food
goes do wn inste ad of up. It never goes up into your nose—well, maybe
once in a while, if you’re doin g something really silly. But you don’ t eat
your food and say, “Oh, wait a minute, I put it into my no se. It’ s not
supposed to go there.” It goes where it’ s supposed to, and then it breaks
down. Y ou don ’ t have tomatoes and a great big piece of lettuce floatin g around
through your body, saying, “Where are we supposed to go?”  Y ou chewthem up, and dif ferent kinds o f enzymes attack the pieces of food. It all
goes exa ctly wh ere it’ s supposed to, through the digestive system and then
to all dif ferent parts of your b ody—your pancreas needs a little lettuce
today, perhaps. W ithout some co mponent of the tomatoes, maybe your toes
are going to fall of f. Every place in your body gets the proper nutrients
without your having to do anything. Y ou’re n ot going around saying, “Oh my, I’ve got to get all this done. I’ve got so much to do with th is digestion. I’ve got to make sure that my
pancreas and duodenum work. Ugh, how do I turn this lettuce into waste? How am I going to get that out?” Y ou’re not busy doing any of that. It all
works in harmony and perfect ion. Y our heart is beating, and  it does so
thousands of times every single  day. Y ou don’ t need to tell your hea rt to
pump blood for it to do so perfe ctly. Y ou don’ t have to do any of it, yet you
are controlling it all. Enlightenment is like that: Y ou get in harmony, and you start fu nctioning
optimally. Who you are as a hu man being just happens. It all works. Y ou
don’ t have to go around thinking every minute, Is this an enlightened
r esponse? Am I using higher consciousness her e? I don’ t know if I’m being
spiritual enough. Do I need to a djust? Y ou don’ t have to do that any more
than you  have to beat your heart or operate your digestive system. It all
works perfectly when you’re in harmony. If you’re not, then it’ s as if you
were trying to d irect the tomato and lettuce to the right places. Y ou would
get so mixed up and puzzled by it. If yo u tried to beat your own heart, you couldn’ t. Y ou natura lly let it
work. This is the same way you must see yourself within the universe—
allow yo urself to  work perfectly. The way you do so is to focus on yourself
while al so havin g respect and lo ve for everyone. These universal laws that
we’re ta lking ab out here are the very same ones that are in place for your
digestion or your cardiopulmonary system. The necessary enzymes are
released instantaneously, and i t all happens in a perfect way. There are
certain r ules and laws that apply  to everything we do, from how we relate to
each other to how our bodies function. Sometimes after hearing me speak or reading my books, people will
come up to me and say, “I’m a seeker too.” They assume that I ’m this way
because I talk about the higher truths, principles, and laws that are universal
yet elud e so many people. This k ind of amuses me, so I’ll respond, “I’m not
a seeker. I’m n ot looking for a nything. I’m evolving, going through thedream, and enjoying it all. I am  bringing this mind-set to everything that I
do.”
When you’re in harmony wit h these transcendent laws, you are in
enlightenment. Y ou’re not seeking it. Y ou don’ t have to unders tand it, and
you don’ t have to agree with  it. Y ou simply know that it is. In fact,
enlightenment is nothing more than the quiet acceptance of what is. Y our desire to m ake things better is also part of what is, so you learn to
go w ith that. W hen you are focused on making things bette r—helping,
serving, extending love—and are able to send that out into the world, you
are now a part of the spiritually aware, awakened consciousness. THE THREE ST AGES OF ENLIGHTENMENT
I’ve fou nd that there are three specific stages of enlightenment. The first
stage is learning  by hindsight. As an example, I think about this woman
who told me: “T en years ago, my husband came home from work, said,
‘I’m lea ving yo u,’ and walked out. I was devastated. For years, I couldn’ t
get over it. Bu t now I can look back on his leaving me as the most
important turning point in my l ife. I see the blessing in it.” Af ter years of
suf fering, she was able to come to the realization that his leaving her was a
blessing, not a tragedy. In oth er words, this stage of enligh tenment is
reached through  a lot of understanding of the past. Y ou do not immediately
embody the present-based know ledge that there’ s an opportunity in every
obstacle. In the next stage, you do: you understand in your heart that e verything
that com es your way is a blessing. Y ou see that this is more  than just a
hokey p hrase used in self-help. In fact, what I’ve been talking a bout in this
book is not self-help but self-r ealization, which is way beyond self-help. When you begin to realize yourself—when you discover your
magnificent potential—you see that everything that’ s coming at you has an
opportunity in it, even though it may look lik e an obstacle. Y ou think, I
wonder why I cr eated this. I wonder what lesson is in this for m e.  Y ou may
still hav e the suf fering, but it’ s minimal and doesn’ t last. Rather than 10
years, for example, you might move through a challenging situation in 10
weeks, 10 days, 10 minutes maybe.Suf fering is always played ou t in form because it comes from your
thoughts. Becau se you know tha t what you think about expands, you learn
not to focus on the negative. L et’ s say you’re going through a divorce, a
tough time financially, an illnes s, or a death in the family, whatever it is. Now you’re looking at it as, I  can g et something out of this. I can gr ow fr om
this. I can transc end and go pas t it. Y our mind is focused on that instead of
on, Why is this happening to me? S omeday I’ll know why, but I don’ t know
why toda y. It’ s so terrible that I’ m going to be depr essed for six mor e years. Y ou don’ t go t here anymore. Thinking like this belongs back there in
another time in your life. Y ou


 satisfy themost exacting imagination. If a taste for the inner mysteries has been
acquired by the reading of Professor Cannon'sbook, further desires in that direction may besatisfied by reading the physiological prosepoem by Professor Chittenden, in praise of headdigestion as the acme of sensual pleasure, It is agem, and is quoted in Chapter VII. following, insupport of the contention of this chapter. Thispoem appears in the book The Nutrition of Man
(as studied mainly in starving dogs), and onewonders why such a pearl of practical, every-day, Kindergarten, domestic usefulness shouldbe "thrown to the dogs," so to speak.CHAPTER VII
CHITTENDEN ON CAREFUL CHEWING
A Physiological Prose Poem. IT is difficult to imagine a more pleasurable
Epicurean felicity than that described byProfessor Russell H. Chittenden, of theSheffield Scientific School, of Yale University,in America, as the result of careful masticatingand thorough tasting of the commonest of foods. Professor Henry Pickering Bowditch, of
Harvard University Medical School, like SirMichael Foster and all the most eminentphysiologists, were quick to appreciate therevelations of the Cambridge investigation ofFletcherizing as indicating the discovery of themissing link in the chain of processes necessaryfor securing good digestion and healthynutrition, but they looked on it as a question ofprofitable economy rather than material forpoetic enthusiasm. It was given to Professor Chittenden to
discover the rarest merit of decent eating; thepoliteness of it, as well as the poetry; thatelement of respectability which will eventually
recommend it to the socially-refined as one ofthe civilised fine arts ; that expression ofappreciation which is due to Mother Nature forher many beneficences. THE POETRY OF EATING. By Russell H. Chittenden.
" With the mind in a state of pleasurable
anticipation, with freedom from care and worry,which are so liable to act as deterrents to freesecretion, and with the food in a form which,appeals to the eye as well as to the olfactories,its thorough mastication calls forth andprolongs vigorous salivary secretion, with whichthe food becomes intimately intermingled.Salivary digestion is thus at once incited, andthe starch very quickly commences to undergothe characteristic change into soluble products.As mouthful follows mouthful, deglutitionalternates with mastication, and the mixturepasses into the stomach, where salivarydigestion can continue for a limited time only,until the secretion of gastric juice eventuallyestablishes in the stomach-contents a distinctacid reaction, when salivary digestion ceases
through destruction of the starch-convertingenzyme. Need we comment, in view of thenatural brevity of this process, upon thedesirability for purely physiological reasons ofprolonging within reasonable limits the intervalof time the food and saliva are commingled inthe mouth cavity? It seems obvious, in view ofthe relatively large bulk of starch-containingfoods consumed daily, that habits of thoroughmastication should be fostered, with thepurpose of increasing greatly the digestion ofstarch in the very gateway of the alimentarytract. It is true that in the small intestinesthere comes later another opportunity for thedigestion of starch ; but it is unphysiological, asit is undesirable, for various reasons, not totake full advantage of the first opportunitywhich Nature gives for the preparation of thisimportant foodstuff for further utilisation.Further, thorough mastication, by a finecomminution of the food particles, is a materialaid in the digestion which is to take place in thestomach and intestines. Under normalconditions, therefore, and with properobservance of physiological good sense, a large
portion of the ingested starchy foods can bemade ready for speedy absorption andconsequent utilisation through the agency ofsalivary digestion.
" Nowhere in the body do we find a more
forcible illustration of economical method inphysiological processes than in the mechanics ofgastric secretion. Years ago it was thought thatthe flow of gastric juice was due mainly tomechanical stimulation of the gastric glands bycontact of the food material with the lining
membrane of the stomach. This, however, is not
the case, as Pavlov has clearly shown, and it isnow understood that the flow of gastric juice isstarted by impulses which have their origin inthe mouth and nostrils ; the sensations ofeating, the smell, sight and taste of food servingas physical stimuli, which call forth a secretionfrom the stomach glands, just as the samestimuli may induce an outpouring of saliva.These sensations, as Pavlov has ascertained,affect secretory centres in the brain, andimpulses are thus started which traveldownward to the stomach through the vagusnerves, and as a result gastric juice begins to
flow. This process, however, is supplemented byother forms of secretion, likewise reflex, whichare incited by substances, ready formed in thefood, and by substances—products of digestion—which are manufactured from the food in thestomach. Soups, meat juice, and the extractivesof meat, likewise dextrin and kindred products,when present in the stomach, are especiallyactive in provoking secretion. When the latterfoods have been in the stomach for a time,however, and the proteid material hasundergone partial digestion, then absorption ofthe products so formed calls forth energeticsecretion of gastric juice. It is ihus seen thatthere are three ways—all reflex—by whichgastric juice is caused to flow into the stomachas a prelude to gastric digestion. Further, it hasbeen shown by Pavlov that there is arelationship between the volume and characterof the gastric juice secreted and the amount andcomposition of the food ingested, thussuggesting a certain adjustment in the directionof physiological economy well worthy of note. Adiet of bread, for example, leads to the secretionof a smaller volume of gastric juice than a
corresponding weight of meat produces, but thejuice secreted under the influence of bread isricher in pepsin and acid, i.e., it has a greater
digestive action than the juice produced bymeat. The suggestion is that gastric juiceassumes different degrees of concentration, withdifferent proportions of acid and pepsin, to meetthe varying requirements of a changingdietary. "CHAPTER VIII
THE THREE  INCHES  OF  PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY
The Effect of Prejudice—Professor Fisher's Experiment. WHILE Professor Cannon was groping about
in Nature's alimentary preserves incomparative darkness, I concentrated myattention upon the first three inches of thecanal which comprise the field of our personalresponsibility, and which has been neglected bymost of the students of the subject. While the area considered was right out in
front, and open to visual inspection all the time,the opportunity to study its most importantfeatures having to do with nutrition was notcontinuous. Mr. Edison may rivet his attentionon an electrical problem and stick to it for forty-eight hours on a stretch, but Taste is onlyoccasionally on exhibition for observation andcannot be pressed into long service at any onetime. For test of normal Taste only the timerequired for the most economic nutrition is
available. A real body-need with keen appetiteis the first healthy excuse for calling on Taste toperform. Normal appetite, too, being satisfiedwith appetising foods, is of brief duration. Onemay linger over a meal as long as desired,enjoying the intimate memory of the gustatorygratification in leisurely process, but in case of afirst-class labouring man's hunger and theexigency of a railway station dinner in themidst of a desert, industrious application offaithful Fletcherizing for fifteen minutes willusually supply the real needs of the moment foreight hours at least. This estimate involves ahealthy condition of the nutrition department,including an abundance of powerful saliva forthe hastening of the mouth treatment, but sucha beatific facility can be secured in a very shorttime by the faithful and intelligent employmentof all departments of head digestion. A person who specialises on the mouth end of
the alimentary canal has plenty of time to restbetween inspections. He will naturally watchfor any feeling of results that may happen whileMother Nature is doing her twenty-five feet ofdigestion and absorption, but if his part has
been performed properly, there will be no newsof the process until there is something toexcrete from the material ingested. When thisoccurs, if a microscope is handy for minuteinspection, it will be found that most of theexcreta is composed of what I think of as thedandruff of the alimentary canal. It is composedof shapeless particles of skin which have beendiscarded by the mucous surface of the canal inthe same manner that dead skin is beingcontinually detached from the head and allparts of the external surface of the body.Depending on the nature of the food, there maybe small particles also of indigestible cellulosefrom vegetable foods and the condensed solids ofthe digestive juices when they have been usedand worn out. THE EFFECT  OF PREJUDICE. I have noticed that the early prejudices in
favour of or against foods are likely to prevailthroughout life. I have observed this in trying tosecure local appreciation for my own favouriteNew England dishes in foreign countries.Tinning, or canning, science has made it
possible to serve Boston baked beans and brownbread or even an entire Thanksgiving Dinner inJapan or Borneo, but it is impossible to excitenative appreciation for them commensuratewith the cost and trouble of the transportation.In


prevention
for
a
person,
a
completely
different
one
for
a
sick
person
. Therefore,
we
will
analyze
some
questions
in
more
detail. How
to
properly
start
urinotherapy? Each
healing
method
is
only
effective
and
suitable
if
one
knows
well
the
mechanism
of
its
action
and
if
it
meets
requirements
such
as
safety,
clarity
and
simplicity
of
use. In
the
first
phase
of
using
any
method,
intellectual
preparation
is
necessary,
the
acquisition
of
exhaustive
knowledge
about
the
given
matter. The
previous
interpretation
should
be
such
a
preparation. Other
concerns
associated
with
the
use
of
urine
stem
from
the
sexual
area. Urine
comes
from
the
genitals
and
can
be
associated
with
something
forbidden
or
inappropriate. The
sexual
component
of
urinotherapy
has
a
great
energy
charge. All
neuroses
are
associated
with
the
suppression
of
something,
with
moral
prohibitions. These
violate
the
natural
circulation
of
energy,
moreover,
energy
is
wasted
on
following
these
stupid
prohibitions. Know
that
nature
directs
its
processes
so
that
energy
arises
and
circulates
freely
and
is
used
spontaneously,
as
needed. Happiness
and
security
are,
for
example,
natural
states
of
mind. It
is
they
that
strengthen
energy
and
help
its
free
circulation. As
soon
as
we
develop
a
neurosis,
we
block
this
natural
circulation
of
energy,
disrupting
its
normal
passage. This
is
where
all
neuroses
stem
from
sex,
traditions,
superstitions,
prohibitions
and
similar
restrictions,
when
blockages
and
energy
losses
occur. Therefore,
a
free-spirited
approach
to
urinotherapy
and
a
relationship
with
urine
is
an
important
step,
especially
if
it
is
motivated
by
an
effort
to
remove
a
mental
or
physical
blockage. Even
the
ancient
Indians
claimed
that
urine
has
the
ability
to
release
prana
(ener gy)
of
mind
and
body
. Once
you
remove
from
your
mind
the
ossification
that
prevents
us
from
using
urine,
energetic
and
physiological
processes
will
flow
freely,
without
difficulty. Therefore,
urinotherapy
can
be
highly
evaluated
even
from
a
pure
point
of
view
psychological
point
of
view. As
soon
as
we
find
out
that
urine
can
be
useful
for
us
in
something,
our
relationship
with
everything
that
we
previously
considered
unpleasant
changes. We
will
feel
more
flight,
energy
and
will
to
discover
other
mysteries
of
life. Our
relationship
with
nature
will
be
even
more
positive
and
many
will
surprise
and
interest
us
rather
than
cause
fear
and
disgust. After
overcoming
the
psychological
barrier,
it
is
necessary
to
show
the
person
that
the
use
of
urine
is
safe,
effective,
simple
and
clear. When
a
person
is
convinced
from
his
own
experience
that
what
he
heard
corresponds
to
the
truth,
he
himself
suddenly
feels
relief. He
convinced
himself
of
the
safety
of
the
method,
and
now
it
is
difficult
for
anyone
to
convince
him
otherwise. So,
we
present
to
you
the
method
of
correct
and
gradual
initiation
of
urinotherapy. You
will
feel
the
first
results
in
just
a
week,
which
will
be
tangible
in
a
month
and
convincing
in
half
a
year. Then
you
decide
for
yourself
whether
to
continue
or
not.When
to
start
urinotherapy
treatment
and
from
what? Begin
each
new
venture
at
the
beginning
of
the
lunar
month,
after
the
new
moon. This
is
a
natural
natural
cycle,
a
closed
one
at
that,
and
it
is
important
to
act
in
accordance
with
it. This
is
especially
true
for
men
and
children. For
women,
it
is
possible
to
time
the
start
of
urinotherapy
at
the
end
of
menstruation,
one
or
two
days
after
menstruation. Such
a
beginning
does
not
in
any
way
disturb
the
natural
course
of
physiological
processes. In
many
people
after
surgery,
as
in
animals,
excretion
of
feces
and
urine
occurs
through
the
smooth
intestine
and
j
It
is
therefore
logical
to
start
urinotherapy
with
enemas. From
a
physiological
point
of
view
j
e
it
justified
by
that. that
in
today's
man,
the
large
intestine
is
the
biggest
source
intoxication
of
the
body
from
waste
and
harmful
substances
that
accumulate
in
it
from
improper
diet. Enemas
with
water
(and
lemon
juice
or
chamomile)
and
small
enemas
with
urine
will
quickly
clean
the
colon. A
significant
healing
effect
will
be
seen
in
just
a
week,
if
there
are
no
serious
diseases
in
the
intestine. The
procedure
can
be
done
as
follows:
immediately
after
passing
stool,
you
inject
200
-
400
grams
of
urine
into
your
anus
with
a
rubber
balloon
in
two
to
four
doses
in
a
row. The
urine
of
a
child
up
to
10
years
of
age
can
also
be
used,
regardless
of
gender. So
you
will
continue
every
day
for
one
week. This
is
the
first
stage
that
will
show
you
how
to
use
urine
j
simple,
safe
and
useful
for
your
health. In
addition,
it
will
take
as
much
time
as
cleaning
teeth. Then
you
can
proceed
to
second
stage,
which
will
convince
you
of
the
effectiveness
of
urinotherapy. In
this
phase,
in
the
morning,
you
wash
your
nasopharynx
with
fresh
urine
(neti
method),
rub
the
skin
of
your
face
and
hands,
and
also
do
enemas
with
evaporated
urine. Once
the
urine
is
dry,
wash
it
off
with
warm
water
without
soap
and
then
rinse
with
cold
water
and
dry
with
a
towel. If
you
want
to
use
soap,
wash
with
soap
first
and
then
apply
urine
after
wiping
with
a
towel. These
two
j
simple
procedures
will
improve
your
mood,
feelings
and
skin. Gradually
change
your
diet,
starting
with
juices
and
fruits
according
to
the
season
(frozen
and
dried
in
the
winter
-
it
preserves
vitamins
and
especially
enzymes)


ing a basketball, or a sick
kid huf fs when he has a fever, or you take in when you’re laughing with
your friends—this temporary mouthbreathing will have no long-term ef fects
on health. Chronic mouthbreathing is dif ferent. The body is not designed to
process raw air for hours at a time, day or night. There is nothing normal
about it.BREA THE THROUGH YOUR NOSE
The day Olsson and I removed the plugs and tape, our blood pressure
dropped, carbon dioxide levels rose, and heart rates normalized. Snoring
decreased 30-fold from the mouthbreathing phase, from several hours a
night to a few minutes. W ithin two days, neither of us was snoring at all. The bacterial infection in my nose quickly cleared up without treatment. Olsson and I had cured ourselves by breathing through our noses. Ann Kearney, the doctor of speech-language pathology at the Stanford
V oice and Swallowing Center, was so impressed by our data and her own
transformation overcoming congestion and mouthbreathing that, at this
writing, she is putting together a two-year study with 500 subjects to
research the ef fects of sleep tape on snoring and sleep apnea. The benefits of nasal breathing extended beyond the bedroom. I
increased my performance on the stationary bike by about 10 percent. (Olsson had more modest gains, about 5 percent.) These results paled in
comparison to the gains reported by sports training expert John Douillard,
but I couldn’ t imagine any athlete who wouldn’ t want a 10 percent—or
even a 1 percent—advantage over a competitor. On a more personal note, those first few nasal breaths after ten days of
obstruction were so shimmering and rousing that I got a little teary-eyed. I
thought about my interviews with all the empty nose syndrome suf ferers
who’d been told they were crazy, that they should just quit complaining and
breathe through their mouths. I thought about kids who’d been told that
chronic aller gies and congestion were a part of childhood, and the adults
who’d convinced themselves that choking every night was a natural part of
growing old. I had felt their pain, and was lucky enough to breathe life on the other
side. It’ s something I’ll never for get, and will never, ever repeat. EXHALE
Carl Stough spent a half century reminding his students of how to get all the
air out of our bodies so that we could take more in. He trained his clients toexhale longer and, in the process, do what had long been considered
biologically impossible. Emphysemics reported almost total recovery from
their incurable conditions, opera singers gained more resonance and tone in
their voices, asthmatics no longer suf fered from attacks, and Olympic
sprinters went on to win gold medals. As basic as this sounds, full exhalations are seldom practiced. Most of
us engage only a small fraction of our total lung capacity with each breath,
requiring us to do more and get less. One of the first steps in healthy
breathing is to extend these breaths, to move the diaphragm up and down a
bit more, and to get air out of us before taking a new one in. “ The dif ference in breathing in the coordinated pattern and in an altered
pattern is the dif ference between operating at peak ef ficiency and just
getting along,” Stough wrote in the 1960s. “An engine does not have to be
in tip-top condition to work, but it gives a better performance if it is.”
CHEW
The millions of ancient skeletons in the Paris quarries and hundreds of pre–
Industrial Age skulls at the Morton Collection had three things in common:
huge sinus cavities, strong jaws, and straight teeth. Almost all humans born
before 300 years ago shared these traits because they chewed a lot. The bones in the human face don’ t stop growing in our 20s, unlike other
bones in the body. They can expand and remodel into our 70s, and likely
beyond. Which means we can influence the size and shape of our mouths
and improve our ability to breathe at virtually any age. T o do this, don’ t follow the diet advice of eating what our great-
grandmothers ate. T oo much of that stuf f was already soft and overly
processed. Y our diet should consist of the rougher, rawer, and heartier foods
our great-great-great-great-great-great-grandmothers ate. The kinds of foods
that required an hour or two a day of hard chewing. And in the meantime,
lips together, teeth slightly touching, and tongue on the roof of the mouth. BREA THE MORE, ON OCCASIONSince meeting Chuck McGee at that roadside park in the Sierras, I’ve been
practicing T ummo with dozens of others from around the world on Monday
nights. That’ s when McGee hosts a free online session open to anyone who
wants to “become the eye of the storm.”
Overbreathing has gotten a bad rap in the past few decades, and
rightfully so. Feeding the body more air than it needs is damaging for the
lungs right down to the cellular level. T oday, the majority of us breathe
more than we should, without realizing it. W illing yourself to breathe heavily for a short, intense time, however,
can be profoundly therapeutic. “It’ s only through disruption that we can be
normal again,” McGee told me. That’ s what techniques like T ummo,
Sudarshan Kriya, and vigorous pranayamas do. They stress the body on
purpose, snapping it out of its funk so that it can properly function during
the other 23½ hours a day. Conscious heavy breathing teaches us to be the
pilots of our autonomic nervous systems and our bodies, not the passengers. HOLD YOUR BREA TH
Several months after experimenting with carbon dioxide therapy, I was at
home reading the Sunday paper, flipping through the obituaries, and saw
that Dr. Donald Klein had died. Klein was the psychiatrist who spent years
studying the links between chemoreceptor flexibility, carbon dioxide, and
anxieties. He was 90. It was Klein’ s research that inspired Justin Feinstein
to pursue the NIH-funded experiments in T ulsa. I wrote Feinstein with the news. He was crushed. He told me he’d been
planning on reaching out to Klein in the coming weeks regarding what
could be a “game-changing discovery.”
It turns out that the amygdalae, those gooey nodes on the sides of our
head that help govern perceptions of fear and emotions, also control aspects
of our breathing. Patients with epilepsy who have had these brain areas
stimulated with electrodes immediately cease breathing. The patients were
totally unaware of it and didn’ t seem to feel their carbon dioxide levels
rising long after their breathing ceased. Communication between the chemoreceptors and amygdalae works both
ways: these structures are constantly exchanging information and adjustingbreathing every second of every minute of the day. If communication breaks
down, havoc ensues. Feinstein believes that people with anxiety likely suf fer from connection
problems between these areas and could unwittingly be holding their breath
throughout the day. Only when the body becomes overwhelmed by carbon
dioxide would their chemoreceptors kick in and trigger an emer gency signal
to the brain to immediately get another breath. The patients would
reflexively start fighting to breathe. They’d panic. Eventually their bodies adapt to avoid such unexpected attacks by
staying in a state of alert, by constantly overbreathing in an ef fort to keep
their carbon dioxide as low as possible.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        —
Breathholding hacks, or, as Feinstein would call them, carbon dioxide
therapies, have been around for thousands of years. The ancient Romans
prescribed soaking in thermal baths (which contained high levels of carbon
dioxide that was absorbed through the skin) as a cure for anything from
gout to war wounds. Centuries later, Belle Époque French gathered at
thermal springs at Royat in the French Alps to wade in bubbling waters for
days at a time. “ The study of the chemical composition of the four mineral springs at
Royat will show that we have several powerful agents at our command, and
that much is available for the treatment of many morbid conditions, which
resist the usual pharmaceutical applications we make use of in daily
practice,” wrote Geor ge Henry Brandt, a British doctor who visited in the
late 1870s. Brandt was talking about skin disorders like eczema and
psoriasis, along with respiratory maladies like asthma and bronchitis, all of
which were “ cured almost with certainty” after a few sessions. *
Royat physicians would eventually bottle up carbon dioxide and
administer it as an inhalant. The therapy was so ef fective that it made it
stateside in the early 1900s. A mixture of 5 percent carbon dioxide and the
rest oxygen made popular by Y ale physiologist Y andell Henderson was
used with great success to treat strokes, pneumonia, asthma, and asphyxia
in newborn babies. Fire departments in New Y ork, Chicago, and other
major cities installed carbon dioxide tanks on their trucks. The gas was
credited


 boiling water, and scald the lids, lifter,
funnel and tongs ( Boiling W ater Method, Step by Step ). 5. Meas ure the juice and reserv e 1-1/2 cups (375 mL) sugar for every 2
cups (50 0 mL) juice. Return the  juice to the saucepan and stir i n the sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat and boil for 1 minute. 6. S kim of f and discard any foam. Fill hot jars, leaving a 1/4-i nch (5 mm)
headspace. Run a thin non-metallic utensil around the inside of the jar to
allow air to escape. Add more hot syrup, if necessary, to leave a 1/4-inch (5
mm) he adspace. W ipe rims, top with flat lids and screw on metal rings. Return jars to th e hot water ba th, topping up with hot water if necessary. Bring to  a full r olling boil and process jars for 15 minutes ( Boiling W ater
Method, Step by Step ). 7. Remo ve cann er lid and wait 5 minutes before removing jars t o a towel or
rack to cool com pletely. Check seals, label and store in a cool place for up
to 1 year.b l a c k  f o r e s t  f r e e z e r  j a m
This is such an easy jam, and once you have made it, you  will likely
r emember the measur ements without having to look them up. Y ou can
substitute cherries, strawberries, blackberries or r edcurrants for any of the
berries in the r ecipe. MAKES ABOUT 5 CUPS (1.125 L)
2 cups (500 mL) blackcurrants
2 cups (500 mL) wild blueberries
2 cups (500 mL) raspberries
2 cups (500 mL) granulated sugar
1 pkg (1–1/2 oz/45 g) fr eezer jam pectin crystals

1. In a lar ge non-reactive bowl, crush the currants, blueberries and
raspberries using a potato masher. 2. In  a separate bowl, combine s ugar and pectin, stirring until w ell blended. Pour over berries and mix well. Stir for 3 minutes. 3. Ladle  jam into plastic freezer containers or Mason jars, leaving a 1/2-
inch (1 cm) head space. Apply lids securely and label. Let jam stand at room
temperature until thickened, about 30 minutes. Freeze for up to 1 year.c u r r a n t  c a t s u p
I found a wonderful r ecipe for Currant Catsup in  Dr. Chase’ s Combination
Recipe Book (1917). This is my rather liberal interpr etation of that
“r eceipt.”
MAKES 3 CUPS (750 mL)
6 to 8 cups (1.5 to 2 L) fr esh or fr ozen r ed currants or blackcurrants (5
cups/1.25 L strained juice)
2–1/2 cups (625 mL) lightly packed br own sugar
1/2 cup (125 mL) malt vinegar
1 tbsp (15 mL) salt
1 cinnamon stick, 3 inches (8 cm), br oken into pieces
5 whole cloves
1 nutmeg, fr eshly grated, or 1 tsp (5 mL) gr ound nutmeg

1. In a non-reactive bowl or crock, mash the currants using a potato masher. 2. Spoon the mash into a colander or cone jelly strainer suspended over a
non-reactive bow l. Let the juice  drip into the bowl for at least 2 hours, or aslong as overnigh t, covered. Press the pulp using the wooden cone presser or
the back of a wooden spoon. Discard seeds and skin. 3. In a M aslin p an or canning kettle, combine currant juice, b rown sugar,
vinegar and salt. T ie cinnamon,  cloves and nutmeg in a cheesecloth square
and suspend in the mixture. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring
frequently Reduce heat and boil gently for up to 45 minutes, stirring
occasionally, or until thickened to a ketchup consistency. 4.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        A piece of the whole sprig can be
suspended in jam or jelly, or set on the top of a sweet pr eserve as a
decoration. If you can get the roots in the fall, they can be candied. W ild Leeks or Ramps
There ar e many plants that belong to the Allium (Latin for “gar lic”) family,
including onions, garlic and leeks. Allium tricoccam  is native to North
America, found in deciduous forests from eastern Canada to North Carolina
and T ennessee and west as far a s Manitoba, Missouri and Minnesota. Good
with asparagus and artichoke, wild leeks of fer the green tops  and white
onionlike bulb for use in recipes. Use wild leeks in place of cultivated garlic
cloves in the spring recipes in this chapter. s p r i n g  h e r b  a ï o l i
Light, ta ngy citrus dr essings let the peppery taste of the gr eens shine
thr ough, while cr eamy garlic tones even out bitter notes for a headier taste. And, of course, the only truly gr eat dr essing is one you make y ourself. It’ s
r eally not har d, especially if you have high-quality extra-vir gin olive oil or
nut o il a nd a couple of herb vine gars or fr esh lemon juice on hand. T oasted
sesame oil and balsamic vineg ar ar e items to consider adding to your
pantry staples if not alr eady ther e. Y ou can make this exquisite Fr ench mayonnaise any time of year with fr esh
gr eens a t your disposal as the m arket dictates. It absolutely has to be stor ed
in th e r efrigerator, and since it d oes not fr eeze and cannot be home canned,
make up very small quantities, th en chill and serve within a day. Use spring
herbs, su ch as garlic gr eens or wild leek leaves, or other fr esh herbs, such
as tarragon, thyme or sage. Essential:  Y ou  can greatly  reduce the risk of botulism poisoning by gentl y
washing eggs in cool, soapy water. Rinse well and do not return to the
original carton. Store in a clean plastic egg tray in the refrigerator. MAKES 1–1/2 CUPS (375 ML)
6 cloves garlic
1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
1–1/4 cups (300 mL) extra-virgin olive oil or nut oil
1 tbsp (15 mL) fr eshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tbsp (25 mL) finely chopped fr esh herbs (see above)
1/2 tsp (2 mL) sea salt

1. In a b lender o r small food processor, chop garlic. Add egg a nd egg yolk
and process until blended. 2. W ith the motor running, slow ly add the olive oil through the opening in
the l id a nd proce ss just until the mixture thickens and emulsifies. (Aïoli will
get even thicker upon refrigeration,) Add lemon juice. Stir in herbs and salt. Scrape into a jar or small container with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate
immediately Keep refrigerated until ready to use. Use within 1 day
c h a m p a g n e  r a s p b e r r y  v i n a i g r e t t e
In m y view, sp ring dr essings must be worthy of the spring- fr esh salad
gr eens and vegetables bursting with fr esh-tasting vitality. This vibrant,
sweet-tart pink vinaigr ette is the perfect match for a gr een spring mélange. In it s sim plest fo rm, vinaigr ette is an emulsion made fr om oil, vinegar and
salt, wit h no emulsifier used to keep the oil and vinegar fr om  separating. Often D ijon mustar d is added along with traditional herbs like tarragon,
thyme and marjoram. Cr eative chefs and kitchen gar deners ar e
experimenting now with differ ent cold-pr essed oils, fruited vinegars, puréed
vegetables and other less traditional flavours to make exceptional
vinaigr ettes with  zing. The ratio of vinegar to oil is usually one part vinegar
to thr ee parts oi l. When lemon ju ice is used in place of the vinegar, the ratio
changes: two parts lemon juice to thr ee parts oil. MAKES 1 CUP (250 ML)
3 tbsp (45 mL) Sweet Raspberry V inegar (page xx or stor e-bought)
2 tbsp (25 mL) champagne or sparkling white wine
1 tbsp (15 mL) honey Dijon mustard
1 tbsp (15 mL) finely chopped


 put into it. Immunity
from despair in the face of disapproval is the ticket to a lifetime of
delectable personal present-moment freedom.YOU DON’T NEED THEIR APPROVAL  / 73IV
BREAKING FREE FROM
THE PAST
Only a ghost wallows around in his past, explaining
himself with self-descriptors based on a life lived
through. You are what you choose today, not what
you’ve chosen before. W ho are you? How do you describe yourself? To answer these
two questions, you will very likely have to refer to your own history,
to a past that has been lived through, but to which you are un-
doubtedly tied, and from which you find it difficult to escape. What
are your self-descriptors? Are they neat little labels that you have
accumulated over a lifetime? Do you have a drawer full of self-
definitions which you use on a regular basis? They may include tags
such as I’m nervous, I’m shy, I’m lazy, I’m not musical, I’m clumsy,
I’m forgetful, and a whole catalog of additional I’ms that you use. You probably have many positive I’ms such as I’m loving, I’m good
at bridge, I’m sweet, as well. These will not be dealt with here since
the purpose of this chapter is to help you grow, rather than to ap-
plaud you for the areas of your life where you are operating effect-
ively. Self-descriptors are not in themselves inappropriate, but they
74can be used in harmful ways. The very act of labeling might be a
specific deterrent to growth. It’s easy to use the label as justification
for remaining the same. Sören Kierkegaard wrote, “Once you label
me, you negate me.” When the individual must live up to the label,
the self ceases to exist. The same is true of self-labels. You could be
negating yourself by identifying with your trademarks, rather than
your own potential for growth. All self-labels come out of an individual’s history. But the past,
as Carl Sandburg said in Prairie,  “is a bucket of ashes.”
Check yourself out on the extent to which you are chained to your
past. All self-defeating “I’ms” are the result of the use of these four
neurotic sentences:
(1) “That’s me.”
(2) “I’ve always been that way.”
(3) “I can’t help it.”
(4) “That’s my nature.”
There they are in one little package. The connectors that keep you
from growing, changing and making your life (from this instant
on—which is all the life you have) new, exciting and heaped with
present-moment fulfillment. I know of a grandmother who, each Sunday when she has the
family over for dinner, decides exactly how much each person will
eat by deliberately portioning out plates to her own specifications. She gives each person two slices of meat, a spoonful of peas, a clump
of potatoes, and on and on. When asked, “Why do you do that?”
she responds with, “Oh, I’ve always been that way.” Why? Because
“That’s just the way I am.” Grandma’s rationale for her behavior is
her own label which comes from a past of always having behaved
in that manner. Some people will actually use all four sentences in one shot when
confronted with their behavior. You might ask someone why he al-
ways gets upset when the subject of accidents arisesBREAKING FREE FROM THE PAST  / 75and he is likely to respond, “Oh, that’s just me, I’ve always been that
way. I really can’t help it, it’s just my nature.” Whew! All four at
once, and each being used as an explanation for why he will never
be different and never even consider changing. Your I’ms which describe self-canceling behavior can be traced
to something that you’ve learned in the past. And every time you
use one of these four sentences you are really saying, “And I intend
to continue being the way I’ve always been.”
You can begin to unknot the ropes that link you to your past and
eliminate the fruitless sentences which are spoken to keep you just
as you’ve always been. Here is a typical list of “I’ms” that may be included in your own
self-portrait
I’m Fat I’m a Lousy Cook I’m Shy
“Not Musical “a Poor Speller “Lazy
“Not Athletic “Tired Easily “Timid
“Sloppy “Sickly “Afraid
“Stubborn “Gauche “Clumsy
“Immature “Accident Prone “Anxious
“Meticulous “Short Fused “Forgetful
“Careless “Hostile “Not Mechanical
“Vindictive “Solemn “Poor at Mathematics
“Irresponsible “Apathetic “A Loner
“Nervous “Bored “Frigid
You are probably in there several times, or perhaps you are con-
juring up your own list. The point is not which labels you choose,
but that you choose to label yourself at all. If you are genuinely sat-
isfied with any of the I’ms, then let them be, but if you can admit to
any of these or other I’ms getting in your way at times, it’s time to
make some changes. Let’s begin with an understanding of the origins
of the I’ms. People want to label you, to pigeonhole you into neat little76 / Your Erroneous Zonescategories. It’s easier that way. D. H. Lawrence saw the folly of this
labeling process in his poem What Is He? *
What is he? —A man, of course. Yes, but what does he do? —He lives and is a man. Oh quite! but he must work. He must have a job of some
sort. —Why? Because obviously he’s not one of the leisured classes. —I don’t know. He has lots of leisure. And he makes quite
beautiful chairs. There you are then! He’s a cabinet maker. —No, no! Anyhow a carpenter and joiner. —Not at all. But you said so. —What did I say? That he made chairs, and was a joiner and carpenter. —I said he made chairs, but I did not say he was a
carpenter. All right then, he’s just an amateur? —Perhaps! Would you say a thrush was a professional
flautist, or just an amateur? I’d say it was just a bird. —And I say he is just a man. All right! You always did quibble. How Those “I’ms” Got Started
The antecedents to your I’ms fall into two categories. The first
kind of labels come from other people. They were pinned
* The Complete Poems of D. H. Lawrence,  vol. I, edited by Vivian de Sola Pinto and
F. Warren Roberts; copyright 1929 by Frieda Lawrence Ravagli; by permission of
The Viking Press, Inc.BREAKING FREE FROM THE PAST  / 77on you as a child and you carry them around with you to this day. The other labels are the result of a choice you made to keep from
having to do uncomfortable or difficult chores. The first category is by far the most prevalent. Little Hope is in
the second grade. She goes to her art class every day, full of delight
about coloring and dabbling in paint. Her teacher tells her that she
really isn’t all that good, and she begins to stay away from it because
she doesn’t like disapproval. Before long, she has the beginning of
an I’m. I’m not good at art. With enough avoidance behavior she
reinforces this notion and, as an adult, when asked why she doesn’t
draw, she says, “Oh, I’m not good at it. I’ve always been that way.”
Most I’ms are leftovers, hangers-on from a time when you heard
such sentences as: “He’s kind of clumsy; his brother is good at ath-
letics, but he’s the studious one.” Or, “You’re just like me, I was
never good at spelling either.” Or, “Billy was always the shy one.”
Or, “She’s just like her father; he couldn’t carry a tune with a
wheelbarrow.” These are the birth rites to a lifetime of I’ms that
never get challenged. They are simply accepted as a condition of
life. Have a conversation with the people in your life who you feel are
most responsible for many of your I’ms. (Parents, long-time family
friends, old teachers, grandparents, etc.) Ask them how they think
you got to be the way you are and if you’ve always been that way. Tell them you are determined to change and see if they believe you
are capable. You’ll be surprised at their own interpretations and
how they feel you can’t be any different, since “You’ve always been
that way.”
The second category of I’ms originates in those convenient tags
that you’ve learned to place on yourself in order to avoid distasteful
activities. I have been working with a client who is forty-six years
old, and wants very much to attend college, since he missed out on
his opportunity because of World War Two. But Horace is threatened
by the prospect of being in academic competition with young