you	could	call
them	the	motto	for	this	book.
To	see	a	world	in	a	grain	of	sand
And	a	heaven	in	a	wild	flower,
Hold	infinity	in	the	palm	of	your	hand
And	eternity	in	an	hour.You	Won’t	Believe	Your	Eyes
W
e’ll	never	find	anything	invisible	if	you	believe	your	eyes,”	said	Baba.
“Most	people	do	that	all	the	time.	Its	a	bad	habit.”	He	pointed	to	a	rock	lying
beside	him	on	the	ground.	“Even	though	this	is	really	an	energy	cloud,	a	rock
looks	very	solid	and	heavy,	doesn’t	it?”
“Yes,	because	it	is.	A	cloud	wouldn’t	hurt	if	you	dropped	one	on	your	foot,”	I
said.
“Ah,	you	do	trust	your	five	senses,”	said	Baba.	“Why	shouldn’t	you?	After
all,	the	world	is	flat,	just	the	way	your	eyes	see	it.”
“Well,	no,	that’s	something	I	couldn’t	trust,”	I	said.
“Oh,	but	the	sun	moves	across	the	sky	and	sets	in	the	west	at	night,	doesn’t
it?”	said	Baba.
“No,	it	only	looks	that	way,”	I	admitted.
“So	you’re	already	in	the	habit	of	not	trusting	your	eyes,”	said	Baba,	smiling
a	certain	way.	I	came	to	call	this	his
I	know	a	secret
	smile,	and	one	could
never	quite	tell	when	it	was	coming.
“Maybe	I	can’t	trust	my	eyes	all	the	time,	but	how	can	I	rely	on	what	I	can’t
see	at	all?”	I	asked.
“Here’s	a	clue	wrapped	in	a	story,”	said	Baba.	“One	night	while	you	were
asleep,	your	body	started	talking	to	itself.	The	heart	spoke	up	first.	Tm	sick	of
pumping	blood	all	day	for	the	stomach.	Why	should	I?	I	should	be	working
just	for	myself.’
“When	it	heard	this,	the	stomach	replied,	‘You	should	talk.	I	digest	food	all
day	for	the	brain.	It	takes	whatever	I	give,	and	frankly,	I	should	be	working
just	for	myself	too.’
“When	the	brain	heard	this,	it	said,	‘I	think	all	the	time	about	what	to	put	in
the	stomach.	Do	you	realize	how	easily	it	gets	upset?	If	anybody	should	be
working	just	for	themselves,	it’s	me.’“You	can	see	why	this	argument	is	silly,”	said	Baba.	“In	reality	every	part	of
the	body	works	for	every	other	part.	How	do	you	see	that?	In	your	mind.
Knowledge	goes	beyond	the	senses.	I	will	teach	you	to	see	with	your	mind’s
eye.	Then	you’ll	have	no	trouble	seeing	invisible	things.”
W
HAT
	I	L
EARNED
To	be	spiritual	you	have	to	believe	in	something	invisible.	Baba	taught	me
this	at	the	very	beginning.	First	you	have	to	stop	trusting	that	only	your	five
senses	are	right.	It’s	a	hard	habit	to	break,	because	common	sense	says,	“I
want	to	see	it,	touch	it,	taste	it—then	I’ll	know	it’s	real.”	But	I	can	make	you
taste	something	right	now	that	is	totally	invisible.
Close	your	eyes	and	see	a	bright	yellow	lemon	in	your	mind’s	eye.	Now	see	a
knife	cutting	the	lemon	into	slices,	and	then	see	yourself	biting	into	one	slice.
Did	you	notice	that	your	mouth	started	watering?	This	happened	exactly	as	if
you	were	biting	into	an	actual	lemon.	All	it	took	was	a	mental	picture,	which
you	produced	out	of	nowhere,	and	suddenly	your	body	went	into	action.
Millions	of	cells	in	your	brain	formed	the	image;	a	signal	was	sent	along	the
network	of	nerves	inside	your	head	to	your	mouth;	your	salivary	glands
received	the	message	and	began	to	flow.
Here	are	some	amazing	facts	that	follow	from	this	simple	experiment:
There	was	no	picture	of	a	lemon	inside	your	head
.	When	you	thought	of	a
lemon,	your	brain	cells	didn’t	paint	an	image	or	project	one	on	a	screen.	Your
brain	is	as	dark	as	the	blackest	cave—there’s	no	light	or	color	inside	it.	So
where	did	that	picture	come	from?
There	was	no	taste	of	lemon	in	your	mouth
.	You	didn’t	actually	experience
real	lemon	juice.	Your	salivary	glands,	which	you	may	think	need	food	to
react	to,	here	needed	nothing	at	all.	So	where	did	the	sourness	come	from?
Someplace	mysterious.	Some	place	Baba	was	leading	me	to,	step	by	step.Everything	Is	Connected
N
ow,	let’s	say	you	believe	there	really	is
something
	in	the	universe	that	you
can’t	see,”	said	Baba.	“What	does	it	do?	If	it	had	nothing	to	do,	even	if	you
called	it	God,	our	lives	would	stay	the	same	as	they	are.	People	probably
wouldn’t	bother	looking	for	it	in	the	first	place.”
“Probably	not,”	I	said.
The	sun	was	rising	higher	in	the	sky,	and	we	were	comfortable	sitting	in	the
cool	shade	of	the	tree.	Every	once	in	a	while	I	felt	a	darting	worry	about
missing	school,	but	as	long	as	I	kept	listening	to	Baba,	even	this	worry	was
far	away.
“So	it’s	a	fine	puzzle	to	figure	out	what	this	invisible
something
	could	be
doing.”	Baba	took	in	a	big	breath	of	air.	“Go	ahead,	do	that,”	he	said.	“The
answer	is	right	here,	waiting	to	be	noticed.”
I	took	a	deep	breath.	“I	don’t	notice	anything,”	I	said.	“Isn’t	there	something
in	the	air?”	asked	Baba.	“Spring.
	You	can’t	miss	it.	When	the	birds	start
singing	and	the	buds	come	out	on	the	trees,	when	hearts	flutter	and	you	see
lovers	holding	hands	in	the	park,	isn’t	spring	in	the	air?”
“Sure,	but—”
“Well,	why	is	it	spring?	There’s	no	reason	for	it.	The	earth	tilts	a	few	degrees
on	its	axis—so	what?	Yet	in	the	arctic	snow	a	polar	bear	knows	that	it	is	time
to	come	out	of	hibernation.	Flowers	know	that	it	is	time	to	sprout	without	fear
of	dying	in	the	frost.	Locusts	buried	seven	years	in	the	ground	know	that	it	is
time	to	creep	forth.	How	can	all	this	happen	from	a	little	tilt?”
Before	I	could	hazard	a	guess,	he	said,	“I’m	going	to	show	you.	Imagine	that
you	are	a	bird.	You	don’t	think	about	spring;	you	don’t	think	in	words	at	all.
How	do	you	know	that	it’s	time	to	fly	north	again	and	mate?”
“Spring	fever?”
“Good	enough,”	said	Baba.	“Let’s	call	it	an	impulse	that	happens	only	in	the
spring.	One	impulse	seems	to	strike	every	creature.	The	locust,	the	polar	bear,the	flower,	and	the	bird	live	far	apart,	but	they	feel	the	same	impulse	in	their
own	way.	Even	in	the	darkest	depths	of	the	ocean,	where	sunlight	never
reaches,	the	horseshoe


 energy—were it not for the present clamour for sugar, converted into alcohol it could rival petrol at present prices—but human food is much more
than calories. With the increasing world pressure on the primary
foods, there is no doubt that the cane producing lands would do better to grow primary foods ra ther than sugar—less cars and
gadgets, and less foreign exchange, but better health, and a happier
people.
But it is the use of lands, capable of growing primary human
foods like cereals, for meat production, that constitutes the greatest
economic folly. It requires some tw elve to fifteen times more land
to produce a pound of meat than a pound of cereal, which means that some two to three thousand million more people could be fed if the world became vegetarian. It is not suggested that the world
population should so increase. Rather, the aim is to emphasize how
wasteful it has become to use land for the production of animal food, a wastefulness which the planet can no longer tolerate.
Since the power of demand is still largely in the hands of the
industrial communities, and their clamour for meat, far from being satiated, is for ever increasing,  and since much of the animal
feeding stuffs is produced in the po orer parts of the world, it means
that the nutrition of the poorer two thirds of the planet is being increasingly sacrificed so that the gluttony of the more prosperous communities can be met. One can doubt that such a situation will be tolerated for much longer, for more  than oil, the West has been
meeting its protein surfeits at the expense of a planetary majority.
The situation is already threatening. The shortage of animal
food is boosting prices, a main factor in the inflationary costs of feeding. Those countries formerly exporting animal foods are now
consuming it themselves. And there is no unexploited land left on the planet. If the industrial communities do succeed in even
maintaining their present levels of consumption of animal foods, it
can only be at the cost of a deteriorating world situation, leading inexorably to worldwide starvation. And starving people are desperate people. With the means of making atomic weapons now well within the capacity of the poorer, increasingly more poorly fed peoples of the world, it is not impossible that the planetary
holocaust will be the result of greed.
Wisdom would conclude that a worldwide adoption of a
vegetarian dietary is the proper means of planetary justice and
survival. Wisdom would also prepar e for this inevitable change in
good time, so that it came about in good order, without the
widespread disaster which such momentous change will exact if it
comes about in violence and chaos. Unfortunately, it is not only the greed of the presently prosperous countries that is involved. Many of the poorer peoples have come to imitate the dietary habits of the West, as they have attempted to catch up with its industrial
advantages. Former peasantries, only eating animal foods on rare
festive occasions, now insist on a daily intake, as the mark of emancipation. And many of the poorer peoples are, by culture and tradition, the opposite of vegetarian.
The prospects are undoubtedly grim. Success is only likely to
be achieved if the overall bad habits of civilization, as well as the
mounting pressure of population, can become corrected. In all
probability, all these problems are interconnected. Wrong eating must in some way at present unrealized, play its part in the population stampedes of recent times, just as this stampede has its reverse influence on world food resources. The challenge of a world
food reform calls for a better understanding of the forces at work
behind the extraordinary rise in the human population of this planet.

II. The Unloving Crowd

Although the earth could support a considerably larger number
of people than exist at present on a vegetarian dietary, congestion is fast becoming a dehumanizing influence. Human society differs from the often vast aggregations of individuals one finds among
other animals, wherein the individual is subordinate to the group
structure, in that society is the radiation of the humanizing predispositions engendered within each  individual. It  is only when
such conditions* are fulfilled in the individual that society is itself a humanizing force. Constraint, limitation of individual freedom, subordination of the individual to the needs of vast societies are thus
inherently antihuman.
Human love is so powerful a force, that it can no doubt be
exercised in large social groupings, possibly extending to a planetary scale. But this requires first of all the reality of love and its achievement between individuals, as well as a social structure
which preserves individual liberty, in the sense of allowing and
encouraging every individual to develop along humanizing lines. Unfortunately, the larger the social groupings in human history, the greater the interferences in such  liberty. The rise of the first
civilizations were attended by such dehumanizing devices as slavery, and although slavery has been condemned for over a
hundred years, human beings have become increasingly subordinate
to the vast social groups, with the crises of coercion expressed in the totalitarian regimes.
Under such conditions, humanization is thwarted. If human
beings are not thugs and bullies, they become passive and uncaring,
which is a form of dehumanization. But the effects of overcrowding,
inevitable with the rise of the gigantic modern metropolis, are more insidious. Even in rats, spared the precarious balance of the human mind, overcrowding results in an tihuman parallels—in killing and
maiming without reason, in a neglect of the young, in queer sexual
practices, and in inexplicable bursts of communal madness. In its
over-plentifulness, human life is becoming dangerously cheap. The
calculations of over-kill, in the event of a nuclear war, are symptomatic of such cheapening.
Quite apart from the increasing pressure on the resources
offered by nature, the impact of overcrowding on the environment
has the antihuman consequence of  leading to a disorderly, ugly
environment. This is evident enough even where order prevails—in architecture, where the pressure of economics and maximal utilization of space has filled the cities with concrete and glass boxes devoid of human meaning. Where the population pressure
results in a breakdown of order, the results are appalling, in the
clutter and dirt of modern cities, in the noise and enervating bustle, in the congestions of crowd and traffic, in the pollution of the air, in the loss of sunlight, not. to mention those hideous consequences of urban disorder, the slums and semi-slums that fester around all
cities, and increasingly within them.
As the crowded cities have spread, forever consuming more of
the countryside, so nature has become increasingly devastated, and
rendered meaningless. It is one of the most depressing observations to find the degree to which city inhabitants, including the young, come to lose all contact with nature, to the point where they feel lost
and awkward, if not actually listless and violent, when brought into
contact with what is precariously le ft of nature. The fact is that
unless nature is free and uncorrupted, it does lose much of its
meaning to the human being. For one thing, the sense of an invigorating purity one can experience in unspoilt and beautiful scenes, is ruled out—by as little as a carelessly discarded wrapper! Since the appreciation of purity, as much as beauty and harmony,
are essential Humanizing attributes, this loss of environmental
purity results in an impure human being, necessarily more callous, more able to accept the hideousness of the environment in which he finds himself.
Anthropologists are agreed about few things, but most of them
concur that large-scale conflict—what has come to be known as
war—is a relatively recent occurren ce. It has increased in severity
and extent, and in its dehumani zation, as population pressure has
increased. What then is the reason fo r this extraordinary soaring in
the human population, itself a recent phenomenon? If the human species has existed for hundreds of thousands of years, and a
human-like primate for millions, this crisis of over-population is all
the more extraordinary.
The hominids of the Palaeolithic roamed over most of the
world. If it was only a matter of food, then surely they would have stumbled upon conditions in some part of the world where the kind
of rapid increase we are witnessing would have occurred. All the
evidence indicates that the hominids,  like the higher primates, have
never known a population explosion. They have been as a group, restricted breeders. Gorillas a nd chimpanzees maintain stable
populations; overcrowding only comes from human encroachment into their habitats. It cannot be disease, in the form of the sweeping
and devastating epidemics known in the crowded and unsanitary
conditions of the urban past, that kept their numbers down, for the
surviving bands of gorillas, already seriously menaced by human intrusion, are superbly healthy.
One way in which population stability is maintained in such
primates, is by varying the length of nurture. Nursing mothers are
not sexually harassed by the males, so that if nurture is prolonged, the occasions for breeding are reduced. The males are not inconvenienced, for although ever-ready to mount a receptive female, they only become sexually aroused on signals of one kind or another from the females, and can spend a life of bachelor
uninvolvement if no such signals come.
More usually, nursing persists long enough after birth to cut
down the breeding cycles


 not touch before they actually start liking it. As their bodily flora starts to improve, a lot of cravings go away and the normal sense of
taste returns, so your child will start developing a new liking for different
foods. But to start this process off your child needs your help. On his/her
own your child is not capable of braking the vicious cycle of cravings,
toxicity and abnormalities in taste. Once your child has a good balanced
diet, you can allow him/her not to eat a small number of foods which they
particularly dislike. We all have these likes and dislikes. However, make
sure that it is within normal proportions,
It is very important to keep the whole process positive! Talk to your child,
explain why you want him or her to eat this food, what good it will do in
their bodies. Try to talk on this subject at every meal time using language
and phraseology on your child's level making it fun, a game and a laugh.
And when your child complies do not put any limits on your praise or
expression of delight! Let your child really feel how happy he or she has
made you by eating the good food! Your enthusiasm combined with the
reward, given at the same time, will make this experience for your child
something to look foreword to, to anticipate with pleasure at the next meal
time.
In conclusion I would say that about 60-70% of parents who come to see
me with their children say up front that any idea of introducing any diet
into their child's life is impossible! "My child will not eat it!" However,
having implemented the ABA principles, which I have described here,
most of these parents soon forget just how fussy with food their child used
to be. Sitting down to a meal with your family becomes a normal and plea
surable procedure, as it is supposed to be! SUPPLEMENTATION FOR
CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH GAP SYNDROME
We all love our small or grown up children very much and we are prepared
to do our best for them, no matter how difficult or expensive it might be.
That makes us vulnerable to try anything and everything in the hope that it
will help our children. I meet family after family who give their child 10,15,
20 or more of various nutritional supplements without any idea if any of
them are doing any good. Nutritional supplements are expensive and the
market is full of hundreds of various brands. Many of them have question
able quality and the whole industry is not regulated very well.
I cannot emphasise enough that an appropriate diet has to be the
number one intervention in successful nutritional management of the
GAPS child or adult. No pill in the world is going to come close to the effect
of the diet on your patient's condition. When it comes to digestive dis
orders in particular, and GAP Syndrome is essentially a digestive disorder,
we have to be very careful what we introduce into the gut of the patient.
Why? Because a lot of supplements may irritate an already inflamed and
damaged gut lining and interfere with the healing process. You do not want
to put a lot of effort into implementing the diet and then spoil the whole
process by a pill.
However, some supplements can be very beneficial and some are essen
tial. The supplementation protocol has to be very individual and ideally
should be worked out by a qualified practitioner. Here we are going to con
centrate on absolute essentials. A majority of my patients progress very
well with the use of diet and these essential supplements without adding
anything else.
The essential supplements for GAPS patients:
1. An effective therapeutic strength probiotic.
2. Essential fatty acids.
3. VitaminA.
4. Digestive enzymes.
5. Vitamin and mineral supplements.
Let us have a good look at each of these supplements. 1. PROBIOTICS
Probiotics are the beneficial bacteria in the form of a nutritional supple
ment of fermented food, which can be taken in an attempt to replace or
supplement damaged indigenous flora. Contrary to antibiotic meaning
"against life" probiotic means "pro-life" or "for-life"
The use of probiotic bacteria in the form of fermented foods goes back to
pre-Christian times. For thousands of years people fermented milk, fruit
and vegetables, beans, fish, meats and cereals. Fermenting food improves
its taste, makes food more digestible and preserves it. Today many cultures
around the world routinely consume beneficial bacteria in fermented
foods: sauerkraut - fermented cabbage (Russia, Germany and Eastern
Europe), table olives and salami or fermented meat (Mediterranean coun
tries), keffir (Russia), mazun (Armenia), kumiss (Russia and Asia), lassi
(India), Gioddu (Sardinia), yoghurt and cheese (all over the world), fer
mented fish (Korea, Sweden, Japan, Russia), fermented grains (Africa) and
fermented soybeans (Asia),
A Russian scientist Ilia Metchnikoff at the beginning of the 20th century
put the subject of probiotics on a scientific basis. Working at the Pasteur
Institute in Paris Metchnikoff noticed that country people in Bulgaria regu
larly consumed fermented milk products and lived to an unusually great
age in good health. He isolated a bacterium, which he called "Bulgarian
bacillus" and used it in his scientific trials. Now this bacterium is known as
Lactobacillus bulgaricus and is widely used in yoghurt production.
Following his discovery the use of Lactobacillus bulgaricus as a health sup
plement became very popular in European countries. When antibiotics
came along the probiotics were largely forgotten. However, after
Metchnikoff fs death in 1916 his research was continued in various countries
around the world. In Russia, Scandinavia and Japan probiotic bacteria
have been in use as a treatment for humans for decades. In the West the
probiotics were used mainly in farm animal feed and a lot of scientific data
has been collected about their health-giving properties for the animals. In
the last couple of decades the use of probiotics for humans has become popular again and we have started to see more and more scientific publi
cations on this subject. The scope of disorders where probiotics have been
successfully used as part of treatment is rapidly growing.
Naturally the biggest use of probiotics we have seen is in the treatment
of gastro-intestinal disorders:
• viral infections of the digestive tract
• necrotising enterocolitis in infants
• intractable paediatric diarrhoea
• pseudomembranous colitis
• traveller's diarrhoea
• Clostridium Difficile enterocolitis
• Helicobacter infection
• enteropathogenic Ecolnnfection
• inflammatory bowel disorders: Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and
chronic pouchitis
• irritable bowel syndrome
• lactose intolerance
• prevention of colonic cancer in laboratory studies
In many cases adding probiotics to the treatment regimen not only
improved the clinical picture but also cured the condition.
Apart from digestive problems many other health problems have been
shown to respond to treatment with probiotics:
• allergies including food allergy
• autism
• chronic viral infections
• urogenital infections
• hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and biliary disease
• tuberculosis
• meningitis
• malignancy
• arthritis
• diabetes
• burns of various degree
• perioperative care and intensive care in surgical patients and patients
with massive blood loss
• clinical infections
• autoimmune disorders These are only the conditions about which scientific papers have been
published. But, if you talk to any doctor or practitioner with experience in
using probiotics, this list becomes much longer.
So, what bacteria do we consider to be probiotic?
1, LactobacilliThis is a large family of bacteria, which produce lactic acid -
hence their name. Most commonly known members of this family are L.
acidophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. rhamnosus, L. plantarum, L. salivarius, L.
reuteri, L. johnsonii, L. casei
and essential inhabitants of the human gut, mucous membranes of the
mouth, throat, nose and upper respiratory tract, vagina and genital area.
They are found in large numbers in human breast milk. Lactobacilli get
established in the body of a new-born baby in the first few days and
form a complex relationship with the host for the rest of his/her life. By
producing lactic acid they maintain acidic environment (pH - 5.5-5.6)
on mucous membranes, which suppresses the growth of pathogenic
microbes. Apart from lactic acid they produce a plethora of active sub
stances: hydrogen peroxide - a powerful antiseptic; anti-bacterial, anti
viral and anti-fungal agents, which do not allow pathogens to get a hold
in the gut. Lactobacilli engage immune system and stimulate activity of
neutrophils, macrophages, synthesis of immuno-globulins, alpha and
beta interferons, interleukin-i and tumour necrosis factor. They are
involved in orchestrating the cell renewal process in the gut, keeping the
gut lining healthy and intact. They are the most numerous inhabitants of
the stomach and


chives
dill
fennel
mint
Peel the orange and split into segments.  Separate the chicory leaves and arrange like the spokes
of a wheel  around a large dish.  Put the watercress and orange in the middle. Combine all the
dressing ingredients in a jug and stir vigorously.  (If you have no fresh herbs, use a generous
pinch of dried herbs.) Pour over the salad and serve immediately.
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007.  All rights reserved.
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www.thegersonway.comRadish, Apple and Celery Salad
Preparation time: 15 minutes (does not include soaking)
Serves 2
radishes, chopped
green apples, chopped
celery, chopped
raisins (presoaked)
lettuce
Dressing :
1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp. water
1 tsp. sugar (or honey)
1 or 2 cloves garlic, crushed
dill, chopped
yogurt
Chop the radishes, green apples and celery into small chunks.  Add the raisins. For the dressing,
mix together the apple cider vinegar, water, sugar (or honey), garlic and dill. Add enough yogurt
to make a creamy dressing.  Pour over the salad and serve on a bed of lettuce (include radicchio
or red leaf, if available).
 Variations: Use other herbs instead of dill, omit the yogurt or add some flaxseed oil.
Raw Turnip, Watercress and Orange Salad
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Serves 2
1 turnip, peeled and cut
1 orange, segmented
watercress
Dressing:
orange juice
flaxseed oil
Peel and cut the turnip into matchstick -size pieces.  Segment the orange and add to the turnip
pieces.  Add the watercress and toss in the dressing.
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 229Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comRice Salad
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Serves 2
green  bell pepper, chopped
red bell pepper, chopped
tomato, chopped
1 cup cooked brown rice
Dressing:
1 tbsp. flaxseed  oil
1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 clove garlic
sugar
Chop the peppers and tomato. Prepare the dressing, mixing well, and add the chopped peppers
and tomato.  Spoon onto the rice.  Serve with a mixed green salad.
Romaine Lettuce with Yogurt Dressing
Romaine lettuce
chives, chopped
Dressing:
yogurt
sugar
lemon juice
crushed garlic
Coarsely shred the lettuce. Pour on the dressing and sprinkle with chopped chives.
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 230Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comSalad Kebabs
Preparation time: 15 minutes
tomatoes, thinly sliced
zucchini s, thinly sliced
whole radishes, thinly sliced
lettuce hearts, thinly sliced
carrots, thinly sliced
Dressing:
lemon juice
yogurt
flaxseed oil
herbs (mint, dill or parsley)
Thread on wooden skewers thinly sliced pieces of tomato, zucchini, whole radishes,  lettuce
hearts and raw carrot.  Dip into the salad dressing before serving.
Salad Lorette
cooked beets, thinly sliced
celery stalks, thinly sliced
lettuce
Dressing:
flaxseed oil
lemon juice
Thinly slice the beets and celery and mix with lettuce.  Add  dressing.
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 231Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comSpanish Salad
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Serves 2
onions, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic
red bell peppers, seeded and sliced
tomatoes, sliced
parsley, chopped
Dressing:
flaxseed oil
1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp. water
sugar (optional)
Thinly slice the onions and put into a bowl which has been rubbed over with a cut clove of
garlic.  Seed  and slice the red peppers and lay them on top of the onion.  Add a layer of sliced
tomatoes.  Crush the garlic and sprinkle on top.  Pour over the dressing and sprinkle with
chopped parsley.
Tomato and Watercress Relish
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Serves 2-4
cherry tomatoes (red and yellow), halved
watercress
fresh chives (or green  onions), finely chopped
herbs, finely chopped
Halve the tomatoes and place in a bowl.  Steam the watercress over boiling water for 10 seconds,
rinse well in cold water and shake dry.  Trim off any woody stems and cut or tear the remaining
stems and leaves into small pieces.  Add to the tomatoes.  Add the finely chopped chives (or
green  onions) and herbs  and toss together.
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 232Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comTomato and Zucchini  Salad
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Serves 2
tomato, chopped
zucchini, chopped
green onion, sliced
beet
lettuce
Dressing:
flaxseed oil
yogurt
lemon juice
Chop the tomato and zucchini  into chunks.  Slice the green  onion and add. Finely grate the raw
beet (or chop cooked beet into chunks) and mix into the salad. Lay on a bed of lettuce. Pour
over dressing.
Tomato Salad
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Serves 2
tomatoes, sliced
onion, sliced
1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp. water
sugar (optional)
parsley, chopped
chives
Slice the tomatoes and spread out over a flat dish.  Slice the onion and arrange the onion rings
over the tomatoes.  Mix the apple cider vinegar  with water (and optional sugar, if used).  Pour
over the tomatoes and sprinkle  with chopped parsley and chives.
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 233Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comWatercress, Endive and Grapefruit Salad
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Serves 2
watercress
endive (frisé e or escarole, or both)
grapefruit
yogurt
Tear the watercress into smaller pieces, remove woody stems and put in a bowl with the endive
leaves.  Cut the grapefruit in half. Juice 1/2 and segment the other half.  Add the segments to
salad leaves.  Mix the grapefruit juice with yogurt and pour over the salad.  Toss well and serve.
Zucchini  Ribbon Salad
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Serves 2-4
3 large zucchinis, cut lengthwise
1 lb. tomatoes, quartered
6 green  onions, thinly sliced
Dressing :
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
pinch of sugar
2 tbsp. flaxseed  oil
freshly chopped cilantro
Using a vegetable peeler or cheese slicer, cut the zucchinis  lengthwise  into thin ribbons, running
along the side so that the ribbons include the green skin.  Place into a bowl.  Quarter the tomatoes
and thinly slice the onions. Add to the bowl.  Toss in the dressing just before serving.
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 234Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comSoups
Apple and Fennel Soup
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30-45 minutes
Serves 4
1 lb. potatoes, peeled and diced
2 bulbs fennel, trimmed and chopped
2 leeks, sliced
2 Granny Smith apples, cored and chopped
1 tsp. sugar (optional)
1 tart eating apple
Peel and dice the potatoes, trim and chop the fennel, slice the leeks, and core and chop the
apples into small pieces. Put these ingredients into a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil,
turn down the heat and simmer


several
years
of
applying
enemas
and
urine
therapy,
came
to
the
conclusion
that
cleansing
and
healing
enemas
with
urine
(own
fresh,
quarter
urine,
children's,
pregnancy,
activated
by
cold,
etc.)
are
the
best
healing
method
ever
invented
by
mankind.
With
a
method
that
repels
99
percent
of
diseases,
it
exceptionally
strengthens
the
body's
defenses,
adjusts
the
activity
of
our
glands
with
clockwork
precision,
and
in
a
natural
way,
without
the
use
of
dangerous
hormonal
drugs
with
many
side
effects,
keeps
our
hormonal
system
in
ideal
condition.
If
you
add
other
urinotherapy
practices,
such
as
applying
compresses
with
urine
(preferably
clay
ones),
fasting
on
water
and
urine,
using
urine
as
a
homeopathic
remedy
or
in
a
bath,
you
get
an
ideal
remedy
that
is
free
and
always
within
reach,
absolutely
reliable
and
harmless,
because
urine,
as
you
will
see,
comes
from
your
blood
and
has
almost
the
same
composition
as
blood
plasma.
If
you
combine
urine
therapy
with
the
program
of
seven
cleansing
steps
that
I
describe
in
my
book
"Doctor
Yourself",
then
you
have
a
chance
to
cure
even
such
severe
and
chronic
diseases
as
psoriasis,
eczema,
diabetes,
atherosclerosis,
high
blood
pressure
and
even
cancer.
I
recently
relocated
for
work
to
Sana'a,
the
capital
of
Yemen:
late
medieval,
minimal
sanitary
conditions,
2,600
meters
above
sea
level,
lack
of
oxygen
by
about
one
quarter
(you
boil
potatoes
here
for
an
hour
and
scratches
take
a
month
to
heal),
strong
sunlight,
stray
ions,
large
mental
strain
and
I
don't
know
what
else.
If
I
don't
count
the
ban
on
alcohol
consumption,
the
great
popularity
of
chewing
khat
(a
weaker
variety
of
marijuana)
and
eternally
veiled
and
unavailable
women.
Because
I
try
to
get
to
know
as
much
as
possible,
I
don't
separate
myself
from
local
people
at
all
(including
women),
I
eat
and
drink
from
the
street
if
I
feel
like
it,
I
don't
refuse
invitations
to
sit
next
to
the
executioners,
and
I
use
the
sun
as
much
as
I
can.
I
have
tamed
the
stray
ions
so
that
one
of
them
lies
at
my
feet
as
I
write.
I
call
him
Abdul.
Otherwise,
every
morning
a
large
Russian
cockroach
greets
me
in
the
kitchen,
whom
I
call
Serjožo
familiarly,
it
reminds
me
of
my
stay
in
Russia.
Fortunately,
there
is
no
Glafýra
bug,
which
often
woke
me
up
in
Moscow.
I
just
want
to
say,
completely
without
jokes,
that
by
regularly
using
urine
in
an
enema,
internally,
to
wash
the
nose
and
eyes,
in
the
bath
and
after
shaving,
I
definitely
broke
the
superstitions
about
the
difficult
transition
of
a
European
to
tropical
or
other
hostile
countries.
Although
I
have
to
admit
that
the
attack
of
various
viruses
and
microbes,
unknown
to
us
andall
the
more
dangerous,
was
really
hard
during
the
first
months
of
our
stay.
But
thanks
to
urinotherapy
and
local
medicines
(habbasoda
-
black
seed
and
karkade
-
hibiscus)
I
overcame
a
very
unpleasant
food
poisoning
in
two
days
(I
got
poisoned
in
the
best
local
hotel)
and
in
a
similar
way
I
cured
the
ugly
shingles
all
over
my
face
until
I
went
to
sleep
severe
headaches.
I
didn't
take
a
single
pill
with
me
and
I
haven't
recognized
doctors
for
several
years.
My
favorite
writer
Mr.
Hrabal
somewhere
mentions
a
teacher
who
hid
rodents
from
his
students
only
because
his
salary
was
not
increased.
I
think
it
would
be
a
great
pity
if
various
taboos,
stupidity
and
prejudices
pushed
out
such
an
excellent
medicine,
which
was
already
called
the
drink
of
the
gods
by
the
Indians
five
thousand
years
ago.
Urine
therapy
is
discussed
in
many
spiritual
and
medical
books.
It
is
already
said
in
the
Bible:
"You
have
left
the
fountain
of
living
waters
to
dig
leaky
cisterns
that
hold
no
water."
Saint
John
says
in
the
New
Testament:
"Whoever
believes
in
me,
as
the
scripture
says,
rivers
of
living
water
will
flow
from
his
belly."
Urine
is
also
mentioned
as
an
important
medicine
by
the
famous
Persian-T ajik
physician
and
philosopher
Avicenna
in
his
Canon
of
Medical
Science
in
II.
century
AD.
However,
we
are
most
interested
in
the
oldest
and
most
extensive
book
on
urinotherapy
-
Shivambukalpa,
whose
name
translates
as
The
Practice
of
Using
Urine
for
Body
Renewal.
This
book
consists
of
107
verses
and
is
part
of
the
exquisite
Damar
Tantra.
It
talks
about
the
fact
that
only
urine
purifies
a
person
and
is
heavenly
nectar
for
him.
It
gives
him
strength,
cures
diseases
and
banishes
old
age.
Urine,
shivambu
in
Hindi,
is
the
basis
of
all
medicines.
To
this
day,
Buddhist
monks
are
only
allowed
to
use
their
own
urine
as
the
only
medicine.
It
is
also
a
medicine
for
the
brave.
In
addition,
a
person
who
wants
to
achieve
success
in
the
application
of
urinotherapy
must
renounce
salty,
bitter
and
spicy
food,
eat
easily
digestible
food
in
small
quantities,
must
not
exert
too
much
physical
effort,
must
control
his
emotions
and
sleep
on
the
bare
ground.
Purification
of
the
body
and
the
correct
technique
of
using
urine
leads
to
the
cure
of
congenital
diseases
within
one
month
and
completely
cleanses
the
insides.
After
two
months,
the
senses
become
significantly
clearer.
After
three,
all
diseases
subside.
After
seven
one


	182–83
Time,	27,	198,	206,	210–13,	235
Total	recall,	177
Traits,	230
Transcendence,	96,	97,	102
Transcendental	movement,	104
Transformation,	2,	3,	6,	24,	219–20,	233,	237,	239
Transmigration,	96,	97
Truth,	74,	115,	215
Twins,	244Uncertainty,	179
Unconscious	impulses,	13
Understanding,	114,	185
Unfulfilled	desires,	8
Uniqueness,	178
Unity,	31,	162,	233
Universe:
Big	Bang,	27,	125,	162,	172,	199,	206,	212,	239
binding	effect,	181
coordination	of,	205,	207
dark	matter,	163
evolution	of,	238
“in-formed,”	220
re-creation	of	self,	173
Sat	Chit	Ananda,	246
self-awareness,	195,	199–202
unpredictability,	210
Unpredictability,	187–88,	210
Vacuum	state,	246
Van	Lommel,	Pim,	37,	42,	258
Vedanta,	122,	256
on	afterlife,	47,	83,	194
on	Akashic	dreams,	84
and	angels,	162
as	applicable	to	present	time,	30
on	bliss,	65
on	consciousness,	87
on	eternity,	64,	106
and	freedom,	71,	87,	88
and	God,	60
and	heaven,	58,	130
key	assertions	in,	213
on	shifting	of	allegiance,	131
soul	in,	31,	37,	77
as	teaching	of	rishis,	29,	63
Vedic	perspective,	16,	72
Vedic	scriptures,	104,	105
Vibrations,	3–4,	7,	10,	27,	125,	198,	207,	245–46
Vigyanmaya	Kosha,	148,	153
Violent	death,	8
Virgin	Mary,	135–36,	144Virtual	fluctuations,	198,	200
Virtual	reality,	27,	205
Vishnu,	139–41
Vitality,	146–47,	152,	164
Water	element,	3
Wells,	H.G.,	60
Western	culture,	2,	229
“What	Will	You	Give?”	(poem),	33
Wheeler,	John,	246
White	Tara	(goddess),	39
Wholeness,	146–50,	152–53,	166,	232
Willingness,	114
Wisdom,	46
Witnessing,	13,	14,	231,	233,	235,	248
Wittgenstein,	Ludwig,	25
Worldview,	228,	229–36,	232,	233
Wrongdoing,	74,	76
Yama	(lord	of	death),	1,	21–22,	45–46,	55–57,	69,	83,	108,	139–40,	155,	169–
70
Yoga,	116,	150–51
Zero	point,	198,	206–7,	212,	239,	241
Zero	Point	Field,	199–202,	212,	213,	220,	241,	267ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My	longtime	editor,	Peter	Guzzardi,	encouraged	me	to	write	a	book	on	death
and	dying,	which	evolved	into	this	book.	As	always,	his	instincts	were	astute,
and	he	has	been	an	invaluable	guide	every	step	of	the	way.
To	David,	Carolyn,	Felicia,	and	the	entire	staff	at	the	Chopra	Center,	I	am
reminded	every	day	of	your	dedication	and	kindness	to	me.	Thank	you.
To	my	family,	who	gives	me	more	loving	devotion	than	I	could	ever
return	in	a	lifetime.Deepak	Chopra	and	The	Chopra	Center	for	Well	Being	at	La	Costa	Resort
and	Spa,	Carlsbad,	California,	offer	a	wide	range	of	seminars,	products	and
educational	programmes,	worldwide.	The	Chopra	Center	offers	revitalizing
mind/body	programmes,	as	well	as	day	spa	services.	Guests	can	come	to
rejuvenate,	expand	knowledge	or	obtain	a	medical	consultation.
For	information	on	meditation	classes,	health	and	well-being	courses,
instructor	certification	programmes,	or	local	classes	in	your	area,	contact	The
Chopra	Center	for	Well	Being	at	La	Costa	Resort	and	Spa,	2013
Costa	Del	Mar	Road,	Carlsbad,	CA	92009,	USA.	By	telephone:	001-888-424-
6772,	or	001-760-931-7566.	For	a	virtual	tour	of	the	Center,	visit	the	Internet
website	at
www.chopra.com
.
If	you	live	in	Europe	and	would	like	more	information	on	workshops,	lectures
or	other	programmes	about	Dr.	Deepak	Chopra	or	to	order	any	of	his	books,
tapes	or	products,	please	contact:	Contours,	44	Fordbridge	Road,	Ashford,
Middlesex,	TW15	2SJ.	Tel:	+44	(0)	208	564	7033;	fax	+44	(0)	208	897	3807;
email:
info@spiritualityworks.com
;	website:
www.spiritualityworks.com
If	you	live	in	Australia	and	would	like	more	information	on	workshops,
lectures,	or	programmes	presented	by	Dr.	Deepak	Chopra,	please	contact
What’s	On	The	Planet	Pty	Ltd,	PO	Box	161,	Brighton	Le	Sands,	NSW	2216,
Australia,	or	email
deepak@theplanet.com.auThis	ebook	is	copyright	material	and	must	not	be	copied,	reproduced,
transferred,	distributed,	leased,	licensed	or	publicly	performed	or	used	in	any
way	except	as	specifically	permitted	in	writing	by	the	publishers,	as	allowed
under	the	terms	and	conditions	under	which	it	was	purchased	or	as	strictly
permitted	by	applicable	copyright	law.	Any	unauthorised	distribution	or	use
of	this	text	may	be	a	direct	infringement	of	the	author’s	and	publisher’s	rights
and	those	responsible	may	be	liable	in	law	accordingly.
Version	1.0
Epub	ISBN	9781407024004
www.randomhouse.co.uk
1	3	5	7	9	10	8	6	4	2
Published	in	2008	by	Rider,	an	imprint	of	Ebury	Publishing
First	published	in	the	USA	by	Harmony	Books,	an	imprint	of	Crown
Publishing	Group,	in	2006
Ebury	Publishing	is	a	Random	House	Group	company
Copyright	©	Deepak	Chopra	2006
Deepak	Chopra	has	asserted	his	right	to	be	identified	as	the	author	of	this
Work	in	accordance	with	the	Copyright,	Designs	and	Patents	Act	1988.
All	rights	reserved.	No	part	of	this	publication	may	be	reproduced,	stored	in	a
retrieval	system,	or	transmitted	in	any	form	or	by	any	means,	electronic,
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Liquid Gold
The Lore


Energetically, Dolphin pose helps us to see things from a new
perspective. It stimulates the fourth, ﬁfth, and sixth chakras,
facilitating a release at the heart, clear communication, and mental
focus.
Energetic tip: When coming out of the pose, pause and sit back
on your heels, feeling the reversal of the upward and downward
passages. Like two rivers converging, these passages meet at the
center of the chest, liberating the jiva atman, the individual spirit
that connects us with all things.
Engage mula bandha, uddiyana bandha, and ashvini mudra.
Stimulates udana vayu.
Therapeutic applications:  Relieves mild headaches, fatigue,
sinusitis, and mild depression.
Helpful tips: If you have any shoulder sensitivity or high or low
blood pressure, practice Viparita Karani (see this page).
OceanofPDF.comHEADSTAND: SIRSASANA
Overview:  Traditionally known as the “king of all poses,”
Headstand opens the crown chakra, which is the energy center that
connects us to inﬁnite intelligence. Although many risk factors
come with practicing Headstand, it can powerfully shift our mind,
body, and consciousness when done safely. By reversing our
relationship to the Earth, Sirsasana also reverses the ﬂow of gravity
in our body and changes how we relate to the world and to
ourselves.
How-to:  From Dolphin pose, lower the knees onto the ﬂoor.
Switch the position of your head, so that the crown of your head
touches the ﬂoor. Interlace the ﬁngers behind your head and press
your forearms into the ﬂoor, lifting your shoulders up, away from
the ears. Walk your feet in as close to your face as you can. Bend
one knee and then the other toward the chest. Lift your tailboneand slowly begin to extend your legs toward the ceiling, pressing
through the balls of the feet, and peeling the toes back. Stay and
breathe for as long as you can without strain. Please note that you
should not practice this pose for the ﬁrst time without the guidance
of a teacher or an expert, especially if you have any preexisting
neck, shoulder, or blood pressure conditions.
Benefits:  Physically, Headstand strengthens the legs, the pelvic
ﬂoor, the abdomen, and the back, and opens the chest and the
shoulders. This pose stimulates the pituitary and pineal glands in
the brain and improves digestion, while helping to improve
lymphatic circulation and venous blood ﬂow to the heart. It can
also reduce swelling in the feet and ankles.
Energetically, Sirsasana moves us into our fears and helps to
shift our perspective. It stimulates the sixth and seventh chakras,
harnessing the qualities of insight and innovation while also
promoting our connection to unbound intelligence. Engage mula,
uddiyana, and jalandhara bandha. Stimulates udana vayu.
Therapeutic applications:  Relieves headaches, sinusitis, asthma,
insomnia, infertility, edema, and mild depression; helpful for
postnatal conditions.
Helpful tips:  Practice at the wall to help with balance. If you have
any neck injuries, practice Dolphin pose or, alternatively, place two
or three blocks underneath each shoulder and bend at your
elbows so that the elbows align underneath each shoulder. Place
your hands in front of the blocks and spread the ﬁngers wide. Kick
one foot up at a time so the legs are either against a wall or up
toward the ceiling.
OceanofPDF.comSHOULDER STAND: SARVANGASANA
Overview:  Traditionally referred to as the “queen of all poses,”
Shoulder Stand is referenced in many classical yoga texts,
including the Siva Samhita and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. This pose
can induce a deep state of pratyahara, or sense withdrawal, when
mastered.
How-to:  Lying ﬂat on your back, extend your arms alongside
your body with the palms facing down. Inhale, and on your exhale,
use your abdominal muscles to lift your legs so that your feet touch
the ﬂoor behind you. Curl the toes under and lift your hips away
from your shoulders. Draw your shoulder blades toward one
another and bend your elbows, placing your palms ﬂat on your
upper back. Lift one leg toward the ceiling followed by the other
one, pressing through the balls of the feet and peeling the toes
back. Stay here and breathe.Benefits:  Physically, Shoulder Stand strengthens the legs and
the core. It stretches and supports the back, stretches the
shoulders and the back of the neck, helps regulate the thyroid
gland, and aids in digestion. Shoulder Stand also helps improve
lymphatic circulation and venous blood ﬂow to the heart. It can
also help reduce swelling in the feet and ankles.
Energetically, this pose reduces anxiety and calms the nervous
system by stimulating the parasympathetic nerves at the back of
the neck. It helps induce pratyahara, or sense withdrawal, bringing
us into a deep state of quiet and introspection. Shoulder Stand
stimulates the ﬁfth and sixth chakras, facilitating our ability to be
silent, communicate with clarity, and build insight, intuition, and
higher vision.
Engage mula, uddiyana, and jalandhara bandha. Increases
udana vayu.
Therapeutic applications:  Shoulder Stand reduces anxiety, high
blood pressure, and varicose veins. It alleviates thyroid imbalances,
insomnia, and edema, and can ease the symptoms of menopause.
Helpful tips: Place a ﬂat, folded blanket underneath your
shoulders to create more space in the back of your neck. If you
have any neck sensitivity, avoid this pose and practice Legs Up the
Wall pose instead (see this page).
OceanofPDF.comPLOW POSE: HALASANA
Overview:  As a physical shape, Plow pose is like Staff pose (see
this page), rotated 180 degrees. It evokes the same qualities as a
Seated Forward Bend with the added beneﬁt of inverting. This
pose can elicit profound physical, mental, and energetic responses
that lead to a deep state of awareness when done safely.
How-to:  From Shoulder Stand, bend at your hips and allow your
feet to lower down toward the ﬂoor overhead. Keep your toes
curled into the ﬂoor. Lift your tailbone toward the ceiling and
release your hands and elbows toward the ﬂoor. Draw your
shoulder blades in toward one another and interlace your ﬁngers,
bringing your palms to touch so that your upper and lower arms
are ﬁrmly pressing into the ﬂoor. Lift your chest toward your chin
and your chin away from your chest. Stay here and breathe.
Benefits:  Physically, Plow pose stretches the hamstrings, the
lower back, the upper back, and the back of the neck. It also
extends the chest, the shoulders, and the upper arms. This posestrengthens the abdomen and the muscles along the spine. It also
regulates the thyroid gland.
Energetically, this pose is calming and cooling. It activates the
ﬁrst and ﬁfth chakras, creating a deep release in the unconscious
through the hamstrings while also cultivating an internal space of
silence for clear, unbridled communication at the throat.
Engage mula, uddiyana, and jalandhara bandha. Increases
udana vayu.
Therapeutic applications:  This pose relieves lower backache,
headache, fatigue, insomnia, and sinusitis. It helps to ease
symptoms of menopause and to maintain thyroid regulation.
Helpful tips:  If you feel tension in the back of your neck, place a
carefully folded blanket underneath the upper back to create more
space in the cervical spine. Place a strap or a belt around the upper
arms to keep the elbows from splaying away from one another.
Place a bolster or a chair underneath your toes if your hamstrings
are tight. If you have any cervical spine injuries, practice
Paschimottanasana (see this page) instead.
OceanofPDF.comSEATED TWISTS
Not only do seated twists aid in our digestion and in
keeping the spine healthy, but they also help to ﬂush old
blood out of our organs and bring in fresh blood. This
squeeze-and-soak action is cleansing and detoxifying, and
it allows us to let go of what is no longer serving us so that
we can awaken to new possibilities.
OceanofPDF.comHALF LORD OF THE FISHES POSE: ARDHA MATSYENDRASANA
Overview:  According to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (1.26–27), this
pose is meant to destroy many diseases. Although modern science
might dispute that, this pose keeps the spine strong, aligned, and
lengthened. The ancient yogis considered the integrity of the spine
a measure of proper health, as it supports the ﬂow of breath and
life force energy.
How-to:  From Staff pose (see this page), bend the right leg, and
cross the right foot over the left leg


, sesame - Digestive time approx. 2 hours.
Nuts - Almonds, filber ts, peanuts (raw), cashews, brazil, walnuts, pecans etc. - 2 1/2 to 3 hours to digest.
Dairy
Skim milk, cottage or low fat pot cheese or ricotta - approx. 90 min. digestion time
whole milk cottage cheese - 120 min. digestion
whole milk hard cheese - 4 to 5  hours digestion time
Animal proteins
Egg yolk - 30 min. digestion time
Whole egg - 45 min.
Fish - cod, scrod, flounder, sole seafood - 30 min. digestion time
Fish - salmon, salmon trout, herring, (more fatty fish) - 45 min. to 60 digestion time
Chicken - 1½ to 2 hours digestion time (without skin)
Turkey - 2 to 2 ¼ hours digestion time (without skin)
Beef, lamb - 3 to 4 hours digestion time
Pork - 4½ to 5 hours digestion time
(Editor's notes
Note1: raw animal proteins have much faster digestion times than the above times for cooked/heated animal proteins.
Note2: The digestion times given are under an ideal situation of eating only one food, chewing well, and having efficient dig estion, as is the case
e.g. after a fast. They are digestion times for optimally  healthy persons, with good eating habits. The digestion times are to a large part derived
from Dr. Gian -Cursio's and Dr. Bass' practices.
Digestion times are much longer on a conventional diet, and for persons with non -optimized digestive systems, or pers ons lacking in energy, and
for meals with many ingredients put together haphazardly = not in the optimum sequential order.)

EAT SMALLER AMOUNT - FEWER VARIETIES
The smaller the amount of a particular food eaten, the less is the digestive time for that food. The greater the amount
of a food eaten, the more is the digestive time prolonged.
..... Remember the less you mix and the fewer the varieties you use, the easier it is to digest and the less you will be
tempted to overeat. The greater the variety, th e greater the tendency to overeat.
In experiments with dogs, - 1 variety was given, the dog ate and was satisfied. Another variety was given and he ate
that too. Then another and he ate more. This continued till he was so loaded with food he could hardly m ove. Each
new variety re -stimulated the appetite over and over again......

THE IMPORTANCE OF BLENDED SALADS
Due to the liquification of vegetables by blending:
1  - Absorption and assimilation of its vitamins, minerals proteins etc. is increased to appro ximately 5 times as
compare to eating and chewing the salad.
2  - A blended salad will digest and leave the stomach in 15 to 20 min. compared to 30 to 60 minutes for a tossed
salad eaten whole.
3  - To avoid oxidation during the blending, when the whirl -pool begins to form, stop the blender, pour it in a dish and
begin to eat it. The oxidation is no more than when the salad is thoroughly masticated before swallowing.
4  - For people who have difficulty with handling of roughage (as in ulcers, coliti s etc.), or digestion of raw food,
blending it usually solves the problem.
5  - Since digestion and assimilation of vegetables becomes greatly simplified when blended, the energy saved on
digestion can make the difference between lingering illness and rapi d recovery in serious cases.
 copyright © Dr. Stanley S. Bass   (718) 648 -1500    www.drbass.com  12

Conservation at energy in the digestive process is the key to all healing. (Success in healing is measured in terms of
energy available. T his was known by the early masters of Natural Hygiene).....

BASIC PURPOSE IS SAVING ENERGY
..... Energy is the most important factor needed for recovery of health and it must be conserved at all costs and not
wasted in unnecessary digestion. Sequential eating will maximize the conservation of energy without fail.
Try it - feel the difference - and you'll never go back to your old ways - I promise you that!

www.drbass.com/attentive.html
Self-mastery through Attentive Eating

"We should first enjoy the sight and aroma of the food and feel gratitude. Then, as we put the food
in our mouth, it is good to close our eyes to help us concentrate our attention - on the taste of the
food and to shut out all distractions."

INTRODUCTION
Of all the subjects in exis tence, it is my considered opinion, after deep reflection, that what I am about to write in this
booklet is perhaps THE most important subject. A subject which can radically change a person's life in all of its
aspects - physically, mentally, emotionally a nd spiritually. - Attentive eating.
It seems strange to think that the manner in which one eats, the "how", can have such an important influence in one's
life.
Once I grasped the "big idea", I tested it thoroughly in my own life and then recommended it to more than dozen
patients and friends to compare its effects. Two of them were professional psychotherapists and they both were
profoundly impressed and fascinated with. the results.
The utter simplicity of the technique caused many people to refuse to even  believe that it could lead to important
changes, resulting in the refusal to even try the method.
While the method is so simple in its essence, that even all of the lowliest creatures practice it instinctively, yet, man is
so conditioned in his habits, th at he has to unlearn his present method of eating and relearn what he once knew
thousands of years ago.
Even if a person refuses to change his diet to higher quality foods and insists on remaining with his present
conventional diet, still, he will experience profound changes in all aspects of his life by applying the technique to his or
her life.
So let us not delay any further - let us penetrate this mystery.

ANIMALS EAT WITH FULL ATTENTION
The basic needs and instincts of all living creatures are  air, water and food, clothing and shelter - with food as the
most basic. All life everywhere knows its needs in food to survive and every creature on this earth knows how to eat.
It is an inborn instinct which does not need to be learned and it is present  from the moment of birth onward - in one -
celled life forms (amoeba) up to the largest animal forms in existence.
All of these living creatures, eat in the same manner. They eat with full attention, chew their foods as much as is
necessary for the species  and are fully absorbed in the taste of the food while they are eating it. When the sensual
enjoyment of the taste begins to recede and disappear, they stop eating and walk away from the food fully content.
This enjoyment of the food, closely interlocked w ith the taste of the food, is how the bodily instinct guides the animal
to cease eating when the body's needs are fully provided for. All living creatures have been faithfully guided by this
sense of taste instinct since the beginning of time and there has  never been a problem with it.
Why no problem? - Because they all eat the same way - with full attention, totally immersed in the taste of the food,
even closing their eyes to avoid distraction, and ceasing when the sense of taste begins to lose its enjoym ent. Even
all little insects eat with total attention.

WHY SUCH DIFFICULTY?
Then why do humans have such difficulty in eating, in knowing when to eat and when to stop?
There are several reasons.
•   First, people eat according to the clock, approximately 3 meals a day with in -between meal snacks and rarely
when truly hungry.
•   Secondly, they eat foods which have spices, sugar and salt added which stimulate them to overeat more than the
body requires.
•   And lastly, because they have minds and enjoy mental stimulation, they eat with a divided attention - while
reading a newspaper, or watching TV. Or conversing with someone.
In this booklet, we are going to concern ourselves almost exclusively with the last consideration - that of a divided
attention.
 copyright © Dr. Stanley S. Bass   (718) 648 -1500    www.drbass.com                                               13

DIVIDED ATTENTION
When the attention is divided, say for example, watching TV while eating, emotions and feelings are aroused which
conflict with the ideal digestive atmosphere.
This inhibits gastric and digestive secretions needed to digest the food optimally.
The great sensual enjoyment of eating, which is so basically important to the body and emotions necessary to inn er
happiness, is largely bypassed, because the attention is on something different than the taste of the food.
The result is that - since the taste enjoyment is largely reduced or eliminated, the body is unable to signal the eater
when to stop. So the pers on eats, mechanically stuffs himself and stops only when the discomfort of the distended
stomach signals its protest….
Eating without awareness or attention - invariably leads to overeating and dismissing the important role of the taste of
the food in directing us to stop eating when we have had enough to satisfy the


enes	to
express	in	different	ways.	Our	society	tends	to	think	that	disease	is	the	result	ofaging.	Not	true.	The	Hunzas	and	other	historically	healthy	populations	lived	to
very	old	ages	without	disease.	Disease	is	a	result	of	the	rate	at	which	we	age,	not
the	number	of	years	we	have	inhabited	the	Earth.	The	rate	is	affected	by	“aging
genes,”	which	we	can	choose	to	keep	turned	off.
You	can	create	a	younger	and	healthier	you,	as	was	suggested	by	Arthur
Vander,	M.D.,	in	his	1981	book,
Nutrition,	Stress,	&	Toxic	Chemicals:	An
Approach	to	Environmental-Health	Controversies.
Dr.	Vander	said,	“Different
environments,	by	altering	gene	expression,	can	produce	.	.	.	an	incredible	variety
of	‘yous.’”
By	assuming	that	inherited	genes	cause	disease,	one	assumes	that	disease
occurs	regardless	of	dietary	and	lifestyle	factors—in	other	words,	environment.
Not	so,	which	is	why	we	can	have	such	a	powerful	influence	on	the	balance
between	health	and	disease.	Genes	are	important,	but	they	are	only	one	small
piece	of	a	much	larger	puzzle.	Fundamentally,	there	is	only	one	disease
(malfunctioning	cells),	and	it	has	only	two	causes	(deficiency	and	toxicity).
Regardless	of	the	recipe	you	start	with,	a	dish	is	only	as	good	as	the
ingredients	put	into	it.	The	same	goes	for	a	cell.	When	a	cell	is	provided	with	the
proper	nutrients,	kept	free	from	toxins	and	placed	in	a	supportive	environment,
health-supporting	genes	are	activated,	aging	and	disease-causing	genes	remain
dormant,	and	both	your	cells	and	you	are	healthy.	To	move	yourself	in	the	right
direction	on	the	genetic	pathway,	create	a	healthy	environment	for	your	genes
and	protect	them	from	damage.10
T
HE
M
EDICAL
P
ATHWAY
“[T]he	greatest	danger	to	your	health	is	the	doctor	who
practices	Modern	Medicine.”
Robert	Mendelsohn,	M.D.
Confessions	of	a	Medical	Heretic
O
ne	spring	morning,	more	than	twenty	years	ago,	I	received	a	call	from	my
father’s	physician	telling	me	that	my	father,	hospitalized	for	emphysema,	was
dying	of	kidney	failure.	I	raced	to	the	hospital	almost	two	hundred	miles	away.
My	brother	and	I	found	our	father	in	a	deep	coma.	He	looked	as	if	he	were	dead.
The	doctors	advised	us	to	disconnect	his	life-support	systems	and	allow	him	to
slip	away	peacefully.	We	knew	our	father	would	not	choose	to	live	hooked	to
machines	in	a	vegetative	state.	We	knew	his	own	decision	would	be	to	pull	the
plug.	We	consented.	All	life-support	measures	were	terminated.
Late	that	evening,	our	father	was	still	alive	but	in	a	deep	coma.	In	the
morning,	my	brother	and	I	returned	to	the	hospital	with	anxiety	and	grief.	We
thought	that	he	might	have	died	during	the	night.	Instead,	we	found	our	father
sitting	up	and	telling	jokes	to	the	nurse!
A	miracle?	No.	The	doctors	had	been	giving	our	father	“life-saving”
prescription	drugs	that	put	a	lethal	load	of	toxins	on	his	kidneys.	When	the	drugs
were	stopped,	his	body	was	able	to	rebalance	and	begin	to	repair	itself.	A	night
without	the	drugs	was	sufficient.	Our	decision	to	“let	him	die”	saved	him.
Had	he	died,	his	death	would	have	been	attributed	to	kidney	failure,	not	the
prescription	drugs	that	were	causing	his	kidneys	to	fail.
My	father’s	story	is	extreme,	yet	all	too	common.	The	vast	number	of
medically	caused	deaths	is	underreported	and	underestimated.	Prescription
errors,	surgical	mistakes	and	missed	diagnoses	do	not	even	begin	to	describe	the
scope	of	the	problem.	The	truth	is	lost	in	prescription	pads,	health	charts	and
death	certificates,	which	do	not	reflect	the	true	causes	of	death	and	disease.	We
pride	ourselves	on	the	accomplishments	of	modern	medicine	without
acknowledging	its	failures.	Actually,
medical	intervention	may	be	the	leading
cause	of	death	in	the	United	States.
Conventional	medical	treatments	can	be	both	a	blessing	or	a	curse.	These
treatments	are	good,	even	excellent,	in	crisis	intervention	and	treatment	of
injuries.	But	conventional	medicine	does	not	prevent	nor	cure	disease;	itmanages	symptoms.	We	wait	for	disease	to	happen,	wait	for	the	damage	to	be
done	and	then	try	to	control	the	problems	by	“treating,”	using	assembly-line
techniques	that	are	currently	fashionable,	expensive	and	usually	dangerous.
These	techniques	cause	cellular	malfunction—often	cavalierly	called	“side
effects”—	which	lead	to	unnecessary	suffering,	disease	and	death.	Even	so-
called	preventive	medicine	usually	is	only	early	disease	detection,	rather	than
real	prevention.
The	present	system	suffers	from	a	disease-care	bias.	Very	few	medical
resources	are	devoted	to	disease	prevention	by	helping	people	to	maintain
cellular	health	through	diet,	nutritional	supplements,	detoxification,	exercise,
healthful	environment,	state	of	mind	and	lifestyle.	Instead,	resources	are	devoted
toward	treating	the	effects	of	disease.	Our	modern	medical	system	fails	to	find
cures	for	chronic	diseases	despite	vast	sums	of	money	spent	on	research	every
year.	The	late	Emanuel	Cheraskin,	M.D.,	D.M.D.,	at	the	University	of	Alabama
Medical	Center,	said,	“American	medical	care	is	the	fastest-growing	failing
business	in	Western	Civilization.”
The	Truth	and	the	Consequences
Many	people	maintain	total	and	unquestioning	trust	in	modern	medicine.	They
get	advice	and	treatments	from	only	one	school	of	thought	and	willingly
surrender	their	personal	health	responsibilities	to	the	hands	of	their	doctor.	This
approach	is	not	sensible.
Educate	yourself	before	you	follow	anyone	else’s
advice,	including	your	physician’s.
Health	is	the	responsibility	of	the	individual.
Rarely	do	most	people	realize	that	certain	aspects	of	medicine	might	harm
their	health,	or	that	better	alternatives	might	exist.	Instead,	they	do	what	is
familiar	and	conventional.	Confronted	with	a	health	problem,	they	go	to	the
doctor	either	because	they	do	not	know	how	to	solve	the	problem	or	they	are
intimidated	by	alternatives.	This	was	certainly	my	experience.
The	medical	pathway	teaches	you	how	all	kinds	of	medical	treatments	affect
your	body	at	the	cellular	level,	the	benefits	and	the	dangers.	With	this
understanding,	and	if	you	are	not	blinded	by	unquestioning	trust	in	modern
medicine,	you	can	evaluate	the	evidence	and	make	the	best	choices	about
medical	care	for	yourself	and	for	your	family.	With	the	right	health	choices,	you
should	not	become	sick.	But	if	you	do,	you	must	take	an	active	part	in	your	care
which	means	more	than	blindly	following	someone	else’s	advice.	You	need	to
learn


 OP heals “migraine head-aches, bronchitis, diseases of teeth and gums,
thrombosis, eczema, encephalitis, ulcers, stomach, intestinal disorders, gastro enteritis,
peritonitis, diseases of heart, kidney, liver, and lungs; chronic blood disorders like leukemia;
arthritis and related illnesses; Neuro-physiological paralysis, meningitis, chronic sleeplessness
and women's hormonal disorders. In terminal diseases such as cancer, Aids, and chronic
infections, this treatment method has been shown to success fully replace all others”.
I got a pamphlet on OP at a homeopathy course during December 1992. My wife and I started
practicing OP from Jan 1993 and now for over twelve years. At the age of 63 I have been cured
by OP of allergic sneezing and cold in the morning/night-of over four decades, asthma,
sleeplessness, palpitation, allergies due to food items, smells, and digestion problems for many
years. My wife aged 56 was cured of three decades’ old migraine (headache), four decades old
varicose veins and ulcers, Arthritis, blood pressure, and many other minor ailments. We suffered
from the above diseases without hope, obtaining only temporary relief from different systems of
medical treatment. OP cured our diseases without medicine after practicing for over a year.
Having lived in Bangalore for over 37 years I was fully aware and experienced about how
comfortable is weather for a healthy person and how terrible it is for one with allergy, asthma etc.
This reason prompted us to propagate this therapy to help others suffering like us. To do this I got
an English pamphlet printed on OP.
I was obsessed with the idea that OP should be brought to the notice of who ever was suffering
with any disease. We started with telling personally and also distributed OP pamphlet. Fortunately
one copy reached the editorial staff of Andhra Jyothi a Telugu daily. Few of them tried, found its
effective and curative power and published it in their Sunday supplement on Oct 3, 1993 under
the Heading "Adbhuta Chikitsa - (Wonderful Therapy) - OP" in my name. I volunteered to answer
to all queries from readers.
How OP has spread
Andhra Jyothi continuously published articles in their Sunday special for three years till
September 1996. It was described as a "Health Movement" in Andhra Pradesh, India. Many of the
experiences were also published in the paper.
Articles on OP and interviews with me on OP were published in Kannada, English, Telugu, Tamil,
Urdu dailies and periodicals at various times during the last 12 years.
I have received more than twelve hundred letters giving their experiences from the people after
practicing OP. This is in addition to a few thousand people who practiced OP with beneficial
results who either visited or telephoned me. I also had the good fortune to meet a large number of
people who had personally related their experiences regarding cures of diseases with OP during
over a thousand lecture engagements organized by Rotary, Lions and Ladies clubs,
Associations/Groups of Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers, Employees, Senior Citizens, and Students
in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and major cities in other states- - over a
period of twelve years.
All of them narrated how they suffered from one disease or the other without cure from other
medical treatments, but were cured only by OP.
During the last twelve years, I also responded to a very large number of telephone calls and
letters seeking help and guidance from people practicing OP.
Results of OP Survey by Andhra Jyoti
In 1996, two and half years after continuous publication of a regular column in their Sunday edtion
on OP, Andhra Jyoti a Telugu daily, conducted a survey to find out the types of diseases cured
and the effectiveness of OP.  Out of a total of 1041 respondents, 927 (89%) reported cure of one
or more diseases. People who did not report any cure were 114(11%).    The analysis indicated
cure of the following types of chronic diseases:
Pains in the body and problems pertaining to neck and above  758 cases
Allergy and respiratory problems of lungs  like asthma, bronchitis etc191 cases
Skin problems  like pigmentation, itching, scars, black patches, and eczema etc 171 cases
Digestive system -155 cases
Constipation -110 cases
Arthritis and joint pains -91 cases
Heart disease  and B.P-74 cases
Diabetes- 56 cases
Piles- 27 cases
Diseases pertaining to female  reproductive system reported by women-21 cases
Diseases like Polio, Cancer, Leprosy, polycystic kidney, neural fibroma, paralysis etc 72
Procedure for practice of Oil Pulling:
• Take one tablespoon (two tea spoons=10ml) of refined sunflower oil or sesame oil  in
the mouth on an empty stomach in the morning.
• With the mouth closed and chin up, without speed or effort, sip, suck, and pull the oil
through the teeth in a relaxed way, and also exercise the jaw as if chewing, for a total
period of 15 to 20 minutes.
• Do not gargle in the throat.
• Initially the oil is viscous but slowly it turns thin and white like milk as you continue.
• (If the oil color is yellow and has not turned white pulling is not done sufficiently long or oil
quantity is more).
• Spit out as and when the mouth gets full.
• Wash your mouth and teeth thoroughly.
• Drink two or three glasses of water.
Precautions :
• Do not swallow. However, inadvertently if you swallow, there is nothing to worry. It will go
out through motion if not digested.
• Do not spit where people walk or on vegetation. You can spit in the toilet and flush it.
• If you are allergic to a particular brand, change the brand of oil or to different oil. Make
sure the oil is good and refined.
• Keep chin up so that pulling covers the back of oral cavity and the molar teeth.
• For children of five years and above, only one teaspoon full (five ml) of oil will do.
Important note: Oils other than sun flower and sesame oils do not produce desired results.
Frequently asked questions
QIn the early morning, should we do OP after brushing and washing mouth or without
brushing and washing mouth?
ADo OP after brushing and washing mouth.  The important thing is to thoroughly wash, brush
and rinse mouth, teeth and gargle in the throat after spitting out the oil at the end of OP.
Who can Practice OP?
Anyone above five years of age
People with dentures should remove them during practice
Women can also practice during monthly periods and pregnancy.
Which is the best time for doing OP?   The best time is when you do not feel well for any health
problem on empty stomach.
How much time gap is required if we eat or drink?   If after meals leave at least a gap of four
hours before doing OP. If you drink, tea, coffee or soft drink or water give a gap of at least one-
hour.
What other Oils can be used for OP?    Dr (med.) Karach has suggested refined sunflower Oil.
Sesame Oil was prescribed in Ayurvedic texts for mouth gargles. Both oils worked well in curing
health problems. Majority has used refined sunflower oil. Some found sesame oil better.
Q  Some problems that may arise during OP : - (a) Oil does not become watery or thin even
after 30 minutes. (b) Nose block due to accumulation of mucus (c) Sneezing and coughing
(d) Phlegm in the throat gets loose and comes into the mouth (e) Urge to pass urine or
stools.
A. (a) Oil does not become watery because there is inadequate salivation and mouth is dry. In
most cases, it happens in the morning and in some cases evening also. This is mainly due to lack
of water in the body. In such cases drink water one hour  before OP.
    (b) To avoid nose block during OP wash, clean and blow your nose before starting OP. Slowly
blow out nose to clear while holding the oil in the mouth. Repeat if necessary as OP continues
    (c) Sensation/irritation may cause sneezing or coughing while doing OP.  Do OP slowly in a
relaxed state to avoid such irritation. Stop pulling and relax as irritation or sensation to sneeze is
felt. It will subside. You can sneeze or cough while holding oil in mouth. If you have to sneeze or
cough through mouth do it in the sink or some such place to avoid oil driblets spray all over or
cover mouth with tissue paper.
    (d) If phlegm comes into the mouth, making pulling inconvenient, spit and do pulling with fresh
oil again.
    (e) Urge to urinate or pass stools will arise only if you have not gone through nature’s calls
before OP. In all cases of urge to pass stools or urinate during OP, the best is to relax on the
commode and do OP.
How long will it take to cure a particular disease?
How long it takes to cure a particular disease is difficult to specify because it depends on the age,
state of health and disease, food and other habits etc of each person.
Dr Karach however said “that chronic diseases may take a year whereas acute diseases can be


 to look inside yourself.
9.Practicing gratitude and appreciation.
Versus:  Grabbing as much as you can for yourself.
Never forgetting to look out for number one.
10.Learning how to love and be loved.
Versus:  Leaving romance behind in the past. Not
looking into the deep source of love in yourself.
As you can see, self-care goes far beyond eating our
vegetables and signing up for the gym. It amounts to a new
model for success and happiness, a model that abundant
medical evidence suppor ts. I’ll say more about that as we
proceed. There’s a reason for giving these general
principles ﬁrst. In a world where massive  attention is given
to the next fad diet, the gym-honed body, and the beauty of
youth, the truth is that a shift in consciousness produces
far greater beneﬁts.
Getting peop le to turn inward is an important aspect, but
they have to know why. What Quantum Healing  aimed at
was far more radical: seeing yourself in a new way, as a
child of the universe. On the basis  of that realization, self-
care cannot help but begin at the source, where your
consciousness merges with cosmic consciousness. You can’t
truly value yourself until this happens, and then self-care is
like caring for Nature itself.
OceanofPDF.comCounting the number of cells in the human body is no
easier than counting the number of people in the world, but
the accepted  estimate is 50 trillion, or about 10,000 times
the Earth’s present population. Isolated and placed under a
microscope, the various kinds of cells—heart, liver, brain,
kidney, et cetera—look rather alike to the untrained eye. A
cell is basically a bag, enclosed by an outer membrane, the
cell wall, and ﬁlled with a mixture of water and swirling
chemicals. At the cente r of all but the red blood cells is a
core, the nucleus, which safeguards the tightly  twisted
coils of DNA. If you hold a speck of liver tissue on your
ﬁngertip, it looks like calf’s liver; you would be hard-
pressed to discern that it is speciﬁcally human. Even a
skilled geneticist would detect only a 2 percent diﬀerence
between our DNA and a gorilla’s. Of the liver cell’s many
functions, over ﬁve hundred at latest count, you would not
have a clue simply by looking at it.
As clouded as the mind-body issue has become, one thing
is indisputable: somehow human cells have evolved to a
state of formidable intelligence. At any one time, thenumber of activities being coordinated in our bodies is
quite literally inﬁnite. Like the Earth’s ecosystems, our
physiology appears to operate in separate comp artments
that in fact are invisibly connected: we eat, breathe, talk,
think, digest our food, ﬁght oﬀ infections, purify our blood
of toxins, renew our cells, discard wastes, vote for
Republicans, and much more besides. Each of these
activities weaves its way into the fabric of the whole. (Our
ecology is more plane tlike than most people  realize.
Creatures roam our surface, as unmindful of our hugeness
as we are of their minuteness. Colonies of mites, for
example, spend their entire life cycle in our eyelashes.)
Within the body’s vast array, the functions of any single
cell—such as one of the 15 billion neurons in the brain—ﬁll
a good-sized medical text. The volumes  devoted to any one
system of the body, such as the immune system or the
nervous system, take up several shelves in a medical
library.
The healing mechanism resides somewhere in this overall
complexity, but it is elusive. There is no one organ of
healing. How does the body know what to do when it is
damaged, then? Medicine has no simple answer. Any one of
the processes involved in healing a superﬁcial cut—the
clotting of the blood, for example—is incredibly complex, so
much so that if the mechanism fails, as it does with
hemophiliacs, advanced scientiﬁc medicine is at a loss to
duplicate the impaired function. A doctor can prescribe
drugs that replace the missing clotting factor in the blood,
but these are temporary, artiﬁcial, and have numerous
undesirable side eﬀects. The body’s perfect timin g will be
absent, as well as the superb coordination of a dozen
related processes. By comparison, a man-made drug is a
stranger in a land where everyone else is blood kin. It can
never share the knowledge that everyone else was born
with.The body, we must admit, has a mind of its own. Once we
understand this mysterious aspect of our basic nature, then
the miraculous nature of curing cancer should disappear.
Everyone’s body knows how to heal a cut, yet apparently
only a few people have  bodies that know how to cure
cancer.
—
Every doctor realizes that it is nature who cures disease, a
statement ﬁrst written by Hippocrates two thousand years
ago. What is the diﬀerence, then, between natur e’s
ordinary form of healing and unusual or “miraculous”
healing? Perhaps the diﬀerence is small and exists only in
our heads. If you are peeling potatoes and cut your ﬁnger
with a slip of the knife, the cut heals by itself, and obviously
you are not wonder-struck, because the process of healing
—the clotting of the blood to close the wound, the
formation of a scab, and the regeneration of new skin and
blood vessels—seems altogether normal.
Yet, we should be aware that this feeling of normalcy is
not the same as knowing what healing is or how to control
it. It is sobering to consider  how much of the knowle dge in
medical books pertains not to life but to death. By
performing autopsies on cadavers, examining tissue slides
under a microscope, and analyzing blood, urine, and other
isolated by-products of the body, the majority of medical
knowledge has been obtained. True, patients are examin ed
when they are alive, and tests can be run on many isolated
functions in their bodies. But the knowledge so acquired is
rudimentary compared to the volumes of super-
sophisticated data devoted to death. The poet Wordsworth
wrote this memorably terse line: “We murder to dissect.”
No truer statement has ever been made about the
limitations of medical research.The ﬁrst thing that is killed in the laboratory  is the
delicate web of intelligence that binds the body together.
When a blood cell rushes to a wound site and begins to
form a clot, it has not traveled there at random. It actually
knows where  to go and what to do when it gets there, as
surely as a paramedic—i n fact, more surely, since it acts
completely spontaneously and without guesswork. Even if
we break down its know ledge into ﬁner and ﬁner bits,
looking for the secret in some minute hormone or
messenger enzyme, we will not ﬁnd a protein strand
labeled “intelligence,” and yet there is no doubt that
intelligence is at work.
Part of this intelligence devotes itself to healing, and it
seems to be a very powerful force. Every fatal disease has
its mysterious survivors, not just cancer. Although I know of
no spontane ous cures of AIDS, there are long-term
survivors—those who remain alive after ﬁve years—whose
immune systems have somehow defended themselves
against a disease that under normal conditions is totally
devastating. Researchers tend to approach such
extraordinary physiologie s as biochemical freaks of nature.
By taking samples of their blood and isolating any unusual
components that can be detected in the immune cells,
molecular biologists hope to discover the unknown
ingredient that is protecting these people. If that can be
accomplished—it is an extremely tedious, diﬀicult task,
given the complexity of the immune system—then after
years of testing and millions of dollars, a new drug may
emerge that can beneﬁt the population as a whole.
Yet, what everyone really  needs is the ability to make this
wonder drug himself, just as the person who ﬁrst produced
it did, and that ability cannot be synthesized. Isn’t buying
the drug as good as making it? Not by a long shot. The so-
called active ingredient in a man-made drug contains very
little know-how compared to the original chemicalproduced by the body. It would almost be fairer to call the
drug an inert ingredient.
The reason for this lies at the level of our cells. The outer
membrane of each cell, or the cell wall, is outﬁtted with
numerous sites called receptors. The cell wall itself is
smooth, but these receptors are “sticky”—they are made of
complex molecular chains whose last links are open-ended,
each one waiting for another molecule to come along and
bind with it. In other words, receptors are like keyholes
into which only very speciﬁc keys will ﬁt. For a drug to
work


soul	is	just	as	easy	and	natural—once	you	have	learned	how.
There’s	nothing	new	here.	For	thousands	of	years	people	have	wanted	three
things	very	deeply:	love,	healing,	and	awakening.	In	the	world’s	wisdom
traditions,	a	rich	storehouse	of	knowledge	has	accumulated	about	the	path	that
leads	to	these	things.	The	most	valuable	knowledge	can	be	stated	in	a	few
sentences:
The	path	must	be	inspiring.
It	must	fit	with	your	own	personality	and	tendencies.
It	should	be	without	stress	and	strain.
The	challenge	is	to	turn	these	three	principles	into	a	practical	plan.	Here	is
where	the	traditions	of	wisdom	lay	down	three	main	approaches.	These	are
blueprints	or	strategy	plans,	we	might	say,	that	have	proven	to	work	time	and
time	again.	As	we	describe	them,	stop	and	consider	which	approach	suits	you
personally.
•
The
path	of	love	and	devotion:
	On	this	path	the	incentive	is	joy.	Seeing	the
beauty	of	the	world,	you	seek	more	of	it,	and	the	more	you	find,	the	more
blissful	you	feel.	Moments	of	love	start	to	deepen.	You	are	inspired	to
contemplate	a	creation	permeated	by	love.	This	path	is	very	private,	because
it	takes	place	entirely	in	the	heart.	Further	along	the	path	you	sense	that	love
can	be	unconditional,	and	you	find	yourself	offering	devotion	to	the	source
of	such	pure	love.
Qualities	of	this	path:
	Bliss,	joy,	love	of	beauty,	desire	to	give	and
receive	love,	hunger	for	the	divine,	a	sense	of	heartfelt	warmth
The	goal:
	To	live	in	the	light	of	divine	grace
•
The
path	of	action	and	service:
	On	this	path	the	incentive	is	spiritual
growth.	Having	glimpsed	what	is	best	in	yourself,	you	want	to	act
from	your
best	self	always.	There	is	a	strong	desire	to	fulfill	your	inner	potential.	This	is
achieved	by	expanding	your	awareness,	because	the	more	expanded	you	feel,
the	more	complete	you	are.	This	path	is	dynamic	and	takes	place	in	thehustle	and	bustle	of	the	real	world.	Further	along,	the	most	fulfilling	action
is	no	longer	selfish.	You	feel	more	fulfilled	by	service	to	others.	The	more
you	give	of	yourself,	the	more	you	receive	back.	This	motivates	you	to
surrender	all	attachment,	because	you	realize	that	what	you	desired	all	along
was	pure	freedom.
Qualities	of	this	path:
	Evolution,	growth,	fulfilled	potential,
giving,	serving,	longing	for	freedom,	renewal,	sense	of	expansion,
becoming	unburdened	and	free	while	still	acting	in	the	world
The	goal:
	Liberation
•
The
path	of	knowledge	and	truth:
	On	this	path	the	incentive	is	a	thirst	for
understanding.	You	have	glimpsed	the	reality	that	peeks	through	the	veil	of
illusion.	The	physical	world	isn’t	enough	to	satisfy	your	need	to	know	the
truth.	You	delve	into	scriptures,	poetry,	and	other	writing	that	speaks	to	you
about	a	deeper	reality.	This	path	is	mental.	Every	day	is	about	seeking	a	new
level	of	understanding.	Wisdom	inspires	you.	Further	along	the	path,	the
mind	realizes	that	wisdom	can’t	be	found	in	books	or	by	any	set	system	of
thought.	The	ultimate	understanding	is	based	on	silent	awareness,	which
simply	knows.	By	relying	on	the	silent	mind	rather	than	all	the	fleeting
thoughts	that	fill	the	mind,	you	discover	that	reality	is	unbounded,	pure
consciousness.	With	this	understanding,	all	seeking	ceases.
Qualities	of	this	path:
	Seeking,	being	true	to	yourself,	thirst	for
knowledge,	self-reliance,	the	pull	of	wisdom,	spiritual	teachings,
inspiration	from	what	the	mind	discovers
The	goal:
	Unbounded	awareness
The	three	pathways	are	equal	and	have	been	tested	for	centuries,	wherever
people	have	wanted	to	find	more	from	life	than	what	is	presented	on	the
surface.	Once	you	find	the	path	that	matches	you	personally,	it	becomes	the
easiest	and	most	natural	one	for	you	to	follow.	Each	path	implies	a	new	way	of
life,	but	it
is	important	to	note	that	if	this	way	of	life	imposes	stress	and	strain,
you	will	sooner	or	later	lapse	back	into	your	old	way	of	life.
Setting	the	Stage
Do	you	see	yourself	taking	one	of	the	three	paths?	Each	one	awakens	Radical
Beauty	at	the	deepest	level,	yet	you	must	be	comfortable	finding	the	way	that
suits	you	best.	For	some	people	the	choice	is	very	clear.	For	others,	there’s	adegree	of	uncertainty.	They	can	see	a	bit	of	themselves	in	all	three	paths,	the
way	of	love,	the	way	of	action,	and	the	way	of	knowledge.	To	help	you	choose,
take	a	closer	look	at	how	your	life	is	being	lived	today.	Even	before	we	think
about	getting	on	the	path,	the	stage	has	been	set	for	taking	the	first	step.
A	way	of	life	that’s	naturally	compatible	with
love	and	devotion
	is	drawn	to
community	and	togetherness.	It	involves	taking	care	of	others.	Family	comes
first.	A	loving	household	is	considered	the	ideal.	Warmth	and	heartfelt
emotions	come	naturally.	There	is	usually	an	attraction	to	church	or	temple.
Feelings	of	reverence	come	naturally.	You	seek	communion	with	nature,	the
people	you	love,	and	all	of	humanity.	You	believe	in	the	power	of	prayer,	and
you	have	experienced	moments	of	grace.	Your	personality	is	likely	to	be	shy	and
self-effacing,	but	this	isn’t	always	true.	At	your	best	you	feel	gratitude	and
devotion	for	the	gifts	that	fill	your	life.
A	way	of	life	that’s	naturally	compatible	with
personal	growth
	is	drawn	to	new
possibilities.	This	is	more	than	the	ordinary	life	of	action,	which	is	dominated
by	external	demands	and	duties.	The	spark	instead	comes	from	inside,	through
constant,	often	restless,	seeking.	Discovery	and	curiosity	occupy	your	mind.
You	like	to	challenge	yourself	to	find	out	what	you	are	capable	of.
Spiritually
you	are	attracted	to	groups	that	offer	a	better	way	of	life	and	the	fulfillment	of
hidden	potential.	You	have	a	strong	sense	of	purpose,	grounded	on	a	secure
sense	of	self.	You	measure	your	self-worth	not	by	visible	rewards	like	money	and
possessions	but	by	how	expanded	you	are	becoming	inside.	You	are	impatient
with	the	demands	of	your	ego,	which	thinks	only	of	itself	and	the	next	pleasure
it	can	experience.	Your	seeking	looks	beyond	the	ego	to	higher	states	of
consciousness.	Being	the	best	you	can	be	appeals	to	you,	and	this	turns	into	a
strong	motivation	spiritually.	Although	others	may	see	you	only	in	worldly
terms,	you	can	surprise	them	by	being	selfless,	generous,	and	willing	to	serve
others.
A	way	of	life	that’s	naturally	compatible	with


 Later, you may try walking on your middle three fingers.
Figure 39. Tenth Pose.
85 The Internal Exercises
11. Move to the first pose. Lace your fingers and place them behind
your head and bend down. Close your eyes while doing this. Then
raise your upper body to return to the original position.
l
Figure 40.
Eleventh Pose.
12. Keep holding your hands behind your head and bend the upper
body forward, pushing one leg back. Keep one leg forward and bent.
Then use your bent leg to push the body into a standing position. Then
sink down again, pushing the other leg back. Then return to center
position and adopt the first pose. After you have placed your hands in
the heart position, you will have finished the exercise series.
Figure 41.
Twelfth Pose.
86 The Internal Exercises
THE DEER EXERC ISE FOR MEN
The Five Animal Exercises, Eight Directional Exercises, Twelve Zodiac
Exercises, and Twelve Nerve Exercises are for general healing. In addition
to these, the Tao of Revitalization offers approximately a thousand other
exercises that energize and strengthen individual parts or areas of the body
and deal with specific health problems. In the following paragraphs most of
these exercises will be dwelt with in full.
Thousands of years ago, Taoist sages selected three animals which were
noted for longevity from the many: the deer, the crane, and the turtle. One
of these, the deer, was also noted for its strong sexual and reproductive
abilities. The sages minutely observed the behavior that seemed to contrib
ute to the deer's abilities. They saw that the deer exercised its anus when it
wiggle d its tail. After studying the results of the exercise, the sages
immedi ately adopted the principle and re-designed it for human use. Thus,
the Deer Exercise was born.
The Deer Exercise achieves six important objectives. First of all, it
builds up the tissues of the sexual organs. Secondly, it draws energy up
through six of the seven glands of the body into the pineal gland to elevate
spirituality. (There is a hormone pathway that leads from the prostate,
connects with the adrenal glands, and continues on to the other glands.)
Concurrent ly, blood circulation in the abdominal area is increased. This
rush of blood helps transport the nutrients and ''life force'' (energy) of the
semen to the rest of the body.
When energy is brought up into the pineal gland, a chill or tingling
sensation is felt to ascend through the spine to reach the head. This
sensation should feel somewhat lik e a climax. If you feel a sensation in the
area of the pineal gland, but do not feel the tingling sensation in the middle
of your back, do not worry. Your sensitivity will increase with experience.
If after some time you still cannot sense the progress of energy, certain
problems must be taken care of first.
Self-determination is the third benefit derived from the Deer Exercise. If
one gland in the Seven Glands System is functioning below par, the energy
shooting up the spine will stop there. This indicates a weakness, and special
attention should be given to that area. For example, if the thymus gland is
functioning poorly, the energy will stop there, and the energy will continu e
to stop there until the thymus gland is healed. When the th ymus is again
functioning normally, the energy will then move further up along the spine
87 The Internal Exercises
toward the pineal gland. If the energy moves all the way up to your head
during the Deer Exercise, it indicates that all the seven glands are function
ing well and that there is no energy blockage in the body. On the other
hand, if you do not feel anything during the Deer Exercise, a blockage is
indicated. The movement of energy can be felt by everyone if no dysfunc
tions are encountered.
The fourth benefit of the Deer Exercise is that it builds up sexual ability
and enables the man to prolong sexual intercourse. During ordinary inter
course the prostate swells with semen to maximum siz e before ejaculating.
During ejaculation, the prostate shoots out its contents in a series of
contractions. Then, sexual intercourse ends. With nothing left to ejaculate,
induce contract ions, or maintain an erection (energy is lost during ejacula
tion), the man cannot continue to make love. But, if he uses the Deer
Exercise to pump semen out of the prostate in small doses, pumping it in the
other direction into the other glands and blood vessels, he can prolong
intercourse.
Under ordinary circumstances, when the Deer Exercise is not used
during intercourse, it will be harmful to interrupt orgasm or prolong
intercourse by ordinary means. Under ordinary means, the prostate re
mains expanded for a long time, unrelieved by the pumping action of
ejaculation, until the semen is carried away by the blood stream. But the
prostate is somewhat like a rubber band: it must be allowed to snap back to
its original form, otherwise continu ous extension will bring about a loss of
elasticity. When the prostate loses its elasticity, its function is impaired and
it is damaged. The Deer Exercise prolongs orgasm and intercour se, but it
protects the prostate by relieving it.
The fifth benefit to be derived from the exercise, needless to say, is that it
builds up sexual energy. It does so by generating and balancing the
secretions of the endocrine glands, particularly the sexual glands.
Often as a person experiences this increase in sexual energy, the ten
dency is to increase one's sexual exploits. Taoism allows for this possibil
ity, but views promiscuity as a violation of the natural laws of healing.
Anything, when carried to excess, leads to weakness or depletion of
energy. On the other hand, leading a normal and active sexual life, while
doing nothing to rebuild the lost energy which has been given up during
sexual relations, is like burning a candle at both ends. One secret of
continual youth is to maintain a reserve of energy by having strong sexual
organs. This is one effect of the Deer Exercise. (There is also a special
treatise on the proper handling of the consequent increased sexual energy
88 The Internal Exercises
with respect to sexual relationships and intercourse. As it would be im
possible to go into a lengthy discourse here, The Tao of Sexolo gy is
recommended for further research.)
The sixth effect of the exercise is to strengthen the anal muscles and
rectum. As one grows old and weak, one's anal opening tends to become
very loose and flaccid. This is why many older persons, or those who have
lost the use of the nerves which control the anus, through either paralysis or
stroke, have a difficult time contr olling their bowels. Anal muscles which
have atrophied and become weak hasten the onset of diseases, such as
hemorrhoids and prostate cancer. Thus one secret of maintai ning youth into
one's old age is to exercise these muscles and keep them strong.
In the male, the prostate lies behind the anal muscles. When the sphinc
ter muscles are contracted, the prostate is exercised and strengthened. This
helps prevent or even reverse many diseases associated with the prostate,
such as enlargement through overuse or dysfunction through weakness and
cancer. This is a boon to males over forty years of age who tend to suffer
from problems of the prostate.
The Deer is therefore a physical exercise as well as a mental and spiritual
one. It improves one's sexual abilities as it builds up the energy reserv es
within the body. Fertility is increased and strengthe ned. Over tim e, the
mental processes are heightened as well, and the outcome is often an
increase in psychic powers and the growing feeling of an inner tranquility,
which is a necessary prerequisite for the unfolding of one's spiritual
centers.
INSTRUC TIONS FOR
THE MALE DEER EXERC ISE
This exercise may be done standing, sitting, or lying down. Do this
exercise in the morning upon rising and before retiring at night.
First Stage:
(The purpose of this stage is to encourage semen production.)
I. Rub the palms of your hands together vigorously. This creates
heat in your hands by bringing the energy of your body into your The Internal Exercises
hands and palms.
2. With your right hand, cup your testicles so that the palm of your
hand completely covers them. (This exercise is best done without
clothing.) Do not squeeze. Just a slight pressure should be felt, as well
as the heat from your hand.
3. Place the palm of your left hand on the area of your pubis, one inch
below your navel.
4. With a slight pressure so that a ge ntle wannth begins to build in the
area of your pubis, move your left hand in clockwise or counter
clockwise circles eighty-one times.
5. Rub your hands together vigorously again.
Figure 42. The Male Deer Exen;ise.
90 The Internal Exercises
6. Reverse the position of your hands so that your left hand cups your
testicles and your right hand is on your pubis. Repeat the circular
rubbing in the opposite direction another eighty-one times. Concen
trate on what you are doing, and feel the warmth grow. For all Taoist
exercises