 of maltose. Maltose is a double sugar which can not be absorbed
without being split up into monosugars by the enterocytes. In a person
with abnormal gut flora enterocytes are not able to split double sugars, so
maltose goes undigested, unabsorbed and falls prey to the abnormal
microbes. To allow the enterocytes to recover and to stop feeding abnormal
gut flora, starch has to be out of the diet for GAPS children and adults. It
means no grains and anything made out of them and no starchy vegeta
bles. Clinical practice shows that when the gut has been given a long
enough period without double sugars and starch, it has a good chance to
recover. Once this recovery takes place, the person can start having grains
and starchy vegetables again without any ill effects.
Of course, nothing in Nature is black and white. Most fruit, particularly
unripe, contain some sucrose, which is a double sugar. That is why it is very
important to eat ripe fruit. Most vegetables and some fruit contain a little
bit of starch. However, the amounts of sucrose and starch in fruit and non-
starch vegetables are tiny compared to grains, starchy vegetables and table
sugar. In the majority of people with digestive disorders their gut lining can
cope with these tiny amounts of sugar and starch from fruit and non-
starch vegetables.
Proteins
As a result of digestion in the stomach by an enzyme called Pepsin and in
the duodenum by pancreatic protein digesting enzymes, proteins arrive to
enterocytes in the form of peptides. Peptides are small chains of protein,
made of amino acids and normally should not be absorbed until they are
broken down into single amino acids. This process is accomplished by
enterocytes. On their hairy surface (the brush border) healthy enterocytes
have peptide digesting enzymes, called Peptidases. Each peptidase is
specific for a certain peptide chain and even for a certain chemical bond in
this chain. These enzymes brake the peptides down into single amino
acids, which then get absorbed. In a child or adult with abnormal gut flora
enterocytes are sick. They are unable to produce many different peptidases
and to accomplish this last step in protein break down and absorption of
amino acids. At the same time the pathogenic bacteria, fungi and viruses
damage the gut wall, allowing undigested peptides to leak through. We
already know two proteins which do not get broken down properly and get
absorbed as peptides: gluten from grains and casein from milk. There may
be more proteins, which we have not studied yet and which may not be digested properly and absorbed as peptides. Hopefully, future science will
show.
In the meantime, proteins are essential for us to have, particularly for a
growing child. The best sources of easy to digest and very nourishing pro
teins are eggs, meats and fish. For GAPS children and adults it is important
to have easily digestible proteins to make the work as easy as possible for
their digestive systems. The way we cook meats and fish has an effect on
their digestibility: boiled, stewed and poached meats and fish are much
easier to digest, than fried, roasted or grilled. Eggs are one of the nature's
treasure chests of excellent quality protein, most B vitamins, zinc and
many other useful nutrients. Unless the patient shows a clear allergy to
egg, eggs should be an important part of the diet.
Fats
To be absorbed fats require bile. The enterocytes do not have to do much
work in absorbing fats, as far as we know. That is why the clinical practice
shows that people with digestive disorders tolerate fats quite well.
However, there is a problem in a person with abnormal gut flora. The gut
lining is a mucous membrane. Any mucous membrane, when under attack
from pathogens to protect itself produces a lot of mucous. In people with
digestive disorders mucous production is excessive. These large amounts
of mucous interfere with digestion of food including fats. Mucous coats
food particles and does not allow bile and digestive etizymes to get to
them. As a result a lot of fat goes undigested and often comes out as pale
greasy stools. This impaired absorption of fats also causes deficiencies in
fat soluble vitamins: A, D, E and K. Clinical experience shows that when the
starch and double sugars are out of the diet for long enough period, the
production of mucous normalises and as a result the absorption of fats
improves.
To summarise:
A GAPS patient has to avoid:
• All grains and anything made out of them: wheat, rye, rice, oats, corn,
maize, sorghum, barley, buckwheat, millet, spelt, triticale, bulgur,
tapioca, quinoa, cous-cous (some of them are not stricfiy grains, but
are commonly perceived as such, so we listed them here together with the grains). This will remove a lot of starch and all gluten from the diet.
In fact removal of all grains makes the diet truly gluten free.
• All starchy vegetables and anything made out of them: potato, yams,
sweet potato, parsnip, swede, lerusalem artichoke, cassava, arrowroot
and taro.
• Sugar and anything that contains it.
• Starchy beans and peas: soybeans, mungbeans, garbanzo beans, bean
sprouts, chickpeas, fababeans.
• Lactose and anything that contains it: fluid or dried milk of any type,
commercially produced yoghurt, buttermilk and sour cream, pro
cessed foods with added lactose.
For a full list of foods to avoid look in the next chapter.
No processed foods, please!
"Do you know what breakfast cereal is made of?
It's made of all those little curly wooden shavings
you find in pencil sharpeners!"
Roald Dahl,i964,
[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
We live in an era of convenience foods, which are very processed foods.
When Mother Nature made us, humans, she at the same time provided us
with every food we need to stay healthy, active and full of energy. However,
we have to eat these foods in the form Nature made them. It is when we
start tampering with the natural foods we start getting into trouble. Any
processing that we subject the food to, changes its chemical and biological
structure. Our bodies were not designed to have these changed foods! The
more food is processed, the more nutrient depleted and chemically altered
it becomes. Apart from losing its nutritional value, processed food loses
most of its other properties: taste, flavour and colour. So, to compensate
for that various chemicals are added: flavour enhancers, colours, various E
- numbers, additives and preservatives. Many of these chemicals have
been conclusively shown to contribute to hyperactivity, learning disabili
ties, psychiatric disorders and other health problems. Natural foods do not
keep very well, so the industry has to change them to prolong their shelf-
life. So, natural foods get subjected to extreme heat, pressure, enzymes,
solvents and countless number of various other chemicals, fats get hydrogenated and proteins get denatured. Natural foods get changed into
various chemical concoctions, which are then packaged nicely and pre
sented to us as "food". "Food" made to suit commercial purposes where
health considerations never enter the calculation. The manufacturers are
obliged to list all the ingredients on the label. However, if the manufacturer
uses an ingredient, which has already been processed or made from pro
cessed substances, this manufacturer is not obliged to list what that ingre
dient was made from. So, if you are trying to avoid something in particular,
like sugar or gluten for example, reading an ingredient list may not always
help you.
If we look at the supermarket shelves, we will see that the bulk of pro
cessed foods are carbohydrates. All those breakfast cereals, crisps, biscuits,
crackers, breads, pastries, pastas, chocolates, sweets, jams, condiments,
sugar, preserved fruit and vegetables, frozen pre-cooked meals with
starches and batter are highly processed carbohydrates. We will examine
some of them in detail. But first, let's look at them as a group.
All carbohydrates in foods get digested and absorbed as glucose. Nature
provided us with plenty of carbohydrates in the form of fruit, vegetables
and grains. When we eat them in the natural untampered form, the carbo
hydrate part of them gets absorbed slowly, producing a gradual increase in
blood glucose, which our bodies are designed to handle. Processed carbo
hydrates get absorbed very quickly, producing an unnaturally rapid
increase in blood glucose. Blood glucose is one of those factors which our
bodies go to great lengths to keep within certain limits, because both high
and low values are harmful. A rapid increase in blood glucose, called
hyperglycaemia, puts the body into a state of shock prompting it to pump
out lots of insulin very quickly to deal with the excessive glucose. As a result
of this overproduction of insulin, about an hour later the person has got a
very low level of blood glucose, called hypoglycaemia. Did any of you
notice that after eating


accessible to people of all ages and levels of ability, yoga is ideal exercise for Gerson patients,
who wish to improve their flexibility, stamina and muscle tone. Yoga postures, known as asanas,
help to achieve balance and poise. The breathing exercises are soothing and relaxing and increase
the supply of oxygen to the organism, a great advantage, since cancer cells can only thrive in
an anaerobic, i.e., oxygen-free setting. Please note:  patients suffering from lung cancer or
emphysema should only undertake breathing exercises under the supervision of a trained yoga
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 147Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comteacher, whose help would also be valuable to all beginners.
Massage for Gerson patient must be limited to the mildest, gentlest kind, involving barely
more than a soft stroking. Deep manipulation is strictly counter-indicated, because cancer patients’
muscles are normally weakened and vigorous handling could easily damage them.
 The only kind of massage Dr. Gerson recommended for cancer patients consisted of a twice-
daily rub of their skin before meals with a mixture of two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol and two
tablespoons of wine vinegar in 1⁄2 glass of water. This method stimulates the circulation, opens the
capillaries and. leaves the patients feeling refreshed and invigorated.
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 148Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comCHAPTER 21
Watch Out—Pitfalls Ahead
 To err is human, and as humans we can make mistakes in any area of life. But when seriously
ill people undertake a potentially life-saving program, such as the Gerson Therapy, even a
minor blunder or oversight could cause a major setback. This way of healing demands a total
transformation—not only of lifestyle but also of how the patients understand the principles of
sickness, health and healing, and how they respond to their bodies’ needs. This understanding is
all the more important, because the therapy forbids a great many things that are normal parts of
the Western lifestyle, and patients need to know  the reason behind the strictures in order to accept
them wholeheartedly.
 There is also the matter of observing the rules of the therapy, even without an authority figure
to check or chide the patient, as there would be in a conventional medical setting. It takes maturity
and inner strength to be one’s own supervisor and stay on the straight and narrow path—but the
rewards are enormous and make it all more than worthwhile.
Save Up Your Energy!
 So let’s take a close look at the possible mistakes, temptations and tripwires that a patient
is likely to encounter, especially in the early stages of the Gerson protocol. Ironically enough,
the first pitfall is the great improvement in the patient’s condition that sets in during the first few
weeks on the full therapy, especially if these are spent at the Gerson hospital in Mexico. When
such patients return home—this holds true especially for women—they look and feel better, are
often free from pain, and so the family assumes that they can once again rely on the patients to
take up all ‘normal’ duties and serve them. This is particularly heavy on the wife/mother, who
probably feels guilty anyway for ‘letting down’ the family by being ill and having very real needs
of her own; guilt may drive her back into her normal routine. Male patients normally have a more
relaxed attitude on coming home, but even they want to start to work, take exercise, or deal with
chores around the house.
 Neither behavior is acceptable. As stated before, patients need a great deal of rest. Their
bodies are working hard to detoxify and heal, and that is more important than any domestic
activity. Actually in most cases, although patients look remarkably better, they do feel tired and
even weak for the first 2-3 months of the therapy, unable to indulge in much activity. And yet,
instead of listening to their bodies’ message, some patients actually force themselves to be up,
make their own food and juices (a 6-8 hour daily job!) and exhaust themselves. That is a serious
mistake, almost guaranteed to undermine the good effects of the program.
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 149Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.com A similar problem arises 3-4 months into the therapy, when the initial tiredness goes and
energy returns to such an extent that patients feel virtually normal again. So they want to be fully
active again and make up for ‘lost’ time; women launch themselves into major house cleaning,
they wash curtains, scrub floors and attack mountains of ironing; men clear out the garage, and
according to the season either shovel snow or cut the lawn, or even repair the roof, just to prove
that they are fully functioning once more. The urge is understandable but must be resisted.
Superficial improvements, e.g. increased energy, do not equal healing. Rest and more rest is still
essential, to avoid a sudden downturn.
 It was one of Dr. Gerson’s important rules that patients should be in bed not later than 10 p.m,
not reading or watching TV or listening to the radio—sleeping if possible, or at least at complete
rest. The time before midnight is particularly valuable for the body’s self-repairing and restoring
work and must not be curtailed.
Bending the Rules
 Admittedly the dietary rules of the Gerson Therapy are pretty strict, and while most patients
quickly get used to them, there are some who long for their now forbidden favorite foods—never
mind that those had probably contributed to their health breakdown. These patients tend to think
that surely having a “little extra” on the side every now and then can’t possibly do much harm,
and would even raise their morale and improve their mood.
 Wrong, on all counts. First of all, how much is “a little,” and how often is “every now and
then?” Furthermore, once the strict adherence to the protocol is broken, it’s easy and tempting to
break it again. And again. Also, consider that since in this treatment the body receives instructions
and messages via precisely calculated nutrients, each of which affects all the others, to disturb the
process with occasional additions of salty, fatty, chemical-laden junk food sounds like a disastrous
idea.
 Often it is not the patient but well-meaning visitors—friends, relatives—who suggest
breaking the diet and having “a nice big steak to build you up!” They are the ones who question
how a grown person can survive, let alone heal, on all that “rabbit food,” and even if the patient
manages to ignore their advice, a certain irritation ensues. Please remember that people who
criticize the Gerson protocol, including otherwise helpful and well-meaning health professionals,
do so out of ignorance and incomprehension, and for that reason can be safely ignored. It’s best
to ask your visitors and friends to please respect your choice of treatment, support and encourage
you—or else leave you alone. Also ask those who suggest changes to the therapy: how many
terminal patients have they saved with their advice?
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 150Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comBeing Firm With Friends…
 Of course it’s nice to have visitors to break up the necessary monotony of juices, meals and
enemas, but only under certain conditions. One rule is never to allow anyone in the house who is
suffering from a cold, however mild, a cough or a flu-y symptom. It takes 9-12 months before the
patient’s immune system grows strong enough to deal with a cold or, worse still, flu; an infection
of that kind could lead to complications that might even endanger the patient’s life. If a friend
or relative thoughtlessly turns up while suffering from a cold or any other infectious condition,
the patient MUST retreat to his or her bedroom and have no contact whatsoever with the visitor.
To be that firm is very difficult when children and especially grandchildren come visiting—the
patient wants to love and hug them, even if they are sneezing and spluttering, but it is not to be.
Moreover, if the patient’s spouse gets a cold, he or she has to sleep in another room.
…And With Friendly Doctors
 A friendly allopathic doctor willing to support a Gerson patient is a great asset, if he agrees
to prescribe the necessary blood tests and urinanalyses. The problem arises when he reads the
test results. If any item is out of the normal range, he suggests that the patient take some drug or
medication ‘to bring it to the normal level.’ That, too, can be a serious mistake. The abnormal
value will clear up on the Gerson Therapy, but allopathic drugs can cause damage. For example,
we know of a doctor who noticed


3; 21:266-70
6
 Bjerre, B. Hyposelaemia: Patients with gastrointestinal disease are at risk. J. Intern. Med. 1989; 225; 85-8
7
 NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. IBID. Accessed 8.19.07
8
 Russo, MW. Plasma Selenium levels and the risk of colorectal adenomas. Nutr. Cancer. 1997; 28125-9
9
 Knekt, P. Is low selenium status a risk factor for lung cancer. Am. J. Epidem. 1998; 148:975-82
10
 Fleet, JC. Dietary selenium repletion may reduce cancer incidence in people at high risk who live in areas with low soil
selenium. Nutr. Rev. 1997:55:277-9
11
 Garland, M. Prospective study of toenail selenium levels and cancer among women. J. Nat’l Cancer Inst. 1995:87: 497-
505
12
 Stone J, Doube A, Dudson D, Wallace J. Inadequate calcium, folic acid, vitamin E, zinc, and selenium intake in rheumatoid
arthritis patients: Results of a dietary survey. Semin Arthritis Rheum 1997; 27:180-5.
13
 Kose K, Dogan P, Kardas Y, Saraymen R. Plasma selenium levels in rheumatoid arthritis. Biol Trace Elem Res 1996;
53:51-6.
14
 Gey KF. Vitamins E plus C and interacting co-nutrients required for optimal health. A critical and constructive review of
epidemiology and supplementation data regarding cardiovascular disease and cancer. Biofactors 1998; 7:113-74
15
 Godlhaber, SB. Trace element risk assessment: Essentiality vs. Toxicity. Reg. Toxic. And Pharm. 2003; 38; 232-42
16
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17
 Hotz, C. Dietary iodine and selenium interact to affect thyroid hormone metabolism of rats. J. of Nutr. Vol. 127, No. 6.
June 1997 p. 1214-1218
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 Huang, K. The uptake of Na-selenite in rat brain. Localization of new glutathione peroxidases in the rat brain. Biol. Trace.
Elem. Res. 46: 91Chapter 8
Iodine, Breast Cancer, and Fibrocystic Breast Disease
CHAPTER 8: IODINE, BREAST CANCER AND FIBROCYSTIC BREAST DISEASE
Joan, a 60-year-old English teacher, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1989. She refused conventional therapy and
looked for other options. She found a holistic doctor who recommended that she take 2mg/day of iodine in addition to a
regimen of vitamins and minerals. She was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism and treated with thyroid hormone. Over
the next ten years, she felt well and continued to teach. The tumor metastasized in early 2005. Joan’s tumor markers also
increased and she felt very fatigued. She lost 25 pounds of weight by July 2005. “I felt like I was dying,” she said. After
she read of Dr. Abraham’s research on iodine, she found a doctor to prescribe
iodine for her. She increased the iodine
dose from 2mg/day to 50-62.5mg/day using a tablet form of Lugol’s (Iodoral
®
). As she increased the iodine, she was able
to stop the thyroid hormone. After six weeks of taking the higher iodine dose, Joan had a PET scan. The PET scan
showed that all of the existing tumors were disintegrating. The central areas of the tumors were disintegrating after just
42 days of taking a higher dose of iodine. “I am so grateful for this information as it is surely saving my life,” Joan
claimed.
Joan’s case is not unique. Iodine can cause tumors to shrink and necrose from the center. I have observed similar results with
nodules and cysts in the thyroid, ovaries, and uterus after instituting orthoiodosupplementation.
This chapter will explore the relationship between iodine deficiency and disorders of the breast, including fibrocystic breast
disease and breast cancer as well as other cancers. For over 60 years, it has been known that iodine concentrates in and is
secreted by the mammary glands. The breasts are one of the body’s main storage and utilization sites for iodine. An adequate
iodine level is necessary for the development and maintenance of normal breast architecture. Milk from lactating breasts contains
four times more of the ingested iodine than the amount taken up by the thyroid gland.
1
Animal studies have shown conclusively that an iodine deficient state can alter the structure and function of the breasts. After
my own research and study, I concur with several investigators that iodine deficiency is a causative factor in breast cancer and
fibrocystic breast disease. I believe it is essential that women have their iodine levels tested, and if it is shown there is an iodine
deficiency, iodine supplementation should be initiated.
The breasts are one of the body’s main storage sites for iodine in the body. In an iodine-deficient state, the thyroid gland and
the breasts will compete for what little iodine is available. Therefore, this will leave the thyroid gland and the breasts iodine
depleted and can set the stage for illnesses such as goiter, hypothyroidism, autoimmune thyroid illness, and breast illnesses
including cancer and cystic breast disease. In addition, other glandular tissues, such as the ovaries which contain the second
highest concentration of iodine in the body, will also be depleted in an iodine-deficient state.
IODINE: THE ANTICANCER AGENT
Iodine has many anticancer properties. Cancer cells, unlike normal cells, do not have a normal life cycle; they just keep
dividing over and over. Normal cells have a life cycle, and when they eventually die, they are replaced with a new cell. This
process of timed cellular death is known as apoptosis. Iodine has been shown to induce apoptosis (death) in breast and thyroid
cancer cells. However, this apoptotic effect will be negated if a goitrogen is given.
2
 More about apoptosis is found in
Chapter 5
.
How does iodine provide this apoptotic effect? One mechanism may be the iodination of lipids. Lipids are fats that make up
our cell membranes throughout our body. Iodine can become incorporated into lipids (fats) inside the cell. These substances are
known as iodo-lipids. When iodine is incorporated into the lipids, it helps to stabilize them and also helps each cell to maintain a
normal life cycle (see
Chapter 5
 for more information on iodo-lipids).
Iodine has been shown to be a potent antioxidant even more effective than vitamin E, phosphatidyl choline, and vitamin C.
3

4
5
 As with vitamin C, iodine can function as both an antioxidant as well as an oxidant in the body. This dual effect makes it a strong
anticancer agent. One of the best signs of health in the body is a balance between antioxidants and oxidants. Items like iodine and
vitamin C can help maintain that balance, and therefore, are some of the most powerful anti-cancer agents known.
Delores, an active 73-year-old woman, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. She refused conventional therapy
and wanted an alternative treatment. “Why would I do chemotherapy and radiation when the doctors told me that these
treatments may not help? They could not give me good statistics that these
treatments would prolong my life. When I
asked them to help me find the cause of this illness, they just had a blank stare in their eyes. When I read about the
relationship between iodine and breast cancer, I asked my doctor about it and he said, “There is enough iodine in salt”.
When I saw Delores, I measured her iodine and bromide levels as part of a study I was conducting on breast cancer
patients. Her results are summarized below.
 Delores: Urinary Excretion of Iodide and Bromide Before and After Taking Iodine

Delores’ initial results show that she was excreting large amounts of the toxic halide bromide at the same time that
her body was very deficient in iodine. After taking 50mg of iodine/iodide (Iodoral
®
), her bromide excretion increased and
still was elevated after 30 days of taking iodine. At the same time that her body was absorbing iodine, it was also
excreting the toxic
halide bromine. Delores was treated with a holistic treatment program that included vitamins,
minerals, and bioidentical hormones in addition to other natural items to support her detoxification pathways. This
holistic regimen included the use of Celtic Sea Salt
®
 and iodine. The salt and iodine were utilized to help the body
detoxify bromide. After three months on this program, Delores felt significantly improved. “My energy level was so much
better. I can now do ten times what I could do before,” she said.
Delores had a repeat


	things.
Dreams	are	illusory,	so	every	other	subtle	phenomenon	is	an	illusion	also.
If	you	see	or	hear	anything	that	isn’t	physical,	you	must	be	hallucinating.
Seeing	a	god	or	angel	is	the	equivalent	of	seeing	a	UFO.	Both	are	outside
normal	experience.
Sacred	visions	are	the	result	of	organic	diseases	like	epilepsy	or	paranoid
schizophrenia.
Yet,	to	create	in	consciousness	is	our	greatest	gift,	and	what	we	create
continues	to	evolve.	If	you	open	yourself	without	judgment	to	your	role	as	a
creator,	you	gain	much	more	freedom.	Genesis	doesn’t	have	to	be	a	far-off
event	that	put	the	universe	into	play.	It	can	be	a	constant	event	that	renews
itself	at	every	moment.
A	great	work	of	art	can	begin	in	a	dream,	a	vision,	or	an	inspirational
moment.	It	gestates	in	the	invisible	reaches	of	the	imagination,	but	then	the
artist	begins	to	shape	it	in	clay	or	on	a	canvas.	The
Mona	Lisa
	needed	an
audience,	and	that	audience	had	to	think	that	painting	was	important.	The
painting	had	to	inspire	viewers	with	its	beauty,	and	as	it	did,	it	gained	fame,
appreciation,	and	understanding.	Eventually,	if	an	artwork	is	supreme,	a
whole	culture	adores	it.	The	word	“angel”	could	be	substituted	for	“Mona
Lisa”	without	much	change.	Being	a	work	of	art,	a	human	product,	the
Mona
Lisa
	doesn’t	stir	our	skeptical	nature,	but	since	we	can’t	observe	ourselves
creating	angels,	we	aren’t	as	accepting	of	the	process.	The	next	step,	then,	is
to	unfold	that	process	in	detail.
Projection
The	mechanism	by	which	angels	are	created	is	called	projection.	In	the	field
of	psychology	this	term	is	often	used	pejoratively,	as	a	synonym	for	hanging	a
subjective	state	on	an	object	outside	ourselves.	Instead	of	being	able	to	accept
their	own	negative	emotions,	for	example,	people	frequently	project	them
onto	others.	Consider	these	familiar	exchanges:
I	don’t	think	you	love	me	anymore
.	You’re	just	projecting.	Of	course	I	do.
There’s	a	noise	outside.	I’m	sure	it’s	a	burglar
.	You	think	every	noise	is
something	dangerous.	You’re	just	projecting.If	I	go	to	the	party	next	week	without	losing	ten	pounds,	everyone	will	think
I’m	disgusting.
Stop	projecting.	You	look	fine
.
Projection	can	get	complicated.	A	society	that	feels	endangered	can
project	wild	fantasies.	Muslim	fundamentalists	project	a	West	that	is	corrupt,
unholy,	and	decadent,	while	Christian	fundamentalists	project	an	Islam	that	is
barbaric,	fanatical,	and	godless	in	return.	Projection	is	“successful”	when	we
no	longer	can	see	reality	but	have	created	a	false	version	based	on	fear,
hostility,	anxiety,	or	insecurity—any	negative	emotion	for	which	we	refuse	to
take	responsibility.	Projection	also	can	be	positive,	as	it	is	when	a	smitten
lover	sees	perfection	in	the	object	of	his	love,	although	to	friends	and	family
the	beloved	remains	an	ordinary	creature	of	flesh	and	blood.
Vedic	rishis	said	that	projection	is	the	mechanism	by	which	consciousness
created	reality.	We	are	all	familiar	with	this	because	the	movie	business
depends	entirely	on	projection.	In	Hollywood,	a	star	is	an	actor	who	has
crossed	the	dividing	line	between	reality	and	projection.	When	Tom	Cruise
stops	to	help	a	stranded	motorist	change	a	tire,	or	when	Jennifer	Aniston	goes
out	on	a	date,	it’s	worldwide	news.
Why?
	Because	stars	are	projected	into	a
superhuman	dimension.	Their	smallest	gesture	is	significant	beyond	reason.	If
you	or	I	help	someone	change	a	tire,	it’s	not	a	feat	of	heroism;	if	a	young
woman	goes	out	on	a	date,	the	Goddess	of	Love	hasn’t	entered	the	world.
Projection	is	a	recipe	for	turning	the	human	into	the	superhuman,	and	the
natural	into	the	supernatural.	Here	are	some	of	its	ingredients:
Symbolism:
	Our	projection	must	stand	in	for	something	deeper	and	more
significant.
Desire:
	Our	projection	must	fulfill	a	wish	or	need	that	cannot	be	fulfilled
directly.
Fantasy:
	Our	projection	must	operate	in	the	realm	where	physical
constraints	don’t	hold	sway.
Myth	and	archetype:
	Our	projection	must	be	universal	in	meaning.
Idealism:
	Our	projection	must	connect	us	to	higher	values.
These	requirements	can	be	met	only	in	the	consciousness	of	a	creator.	A
fireman	who	rescues	a	child	from	a	burning	building	isn’t	a	hero.	He’s	just	a
man	in	a	fireproof	coat	who	runs	into	flames	as	part	of	his	job.	Heroism	is
created	by	projecting	the	necessary	ingredients:
The	fireman
symbolizes
	a	protecting	father.
He	fulfills	our
desire
	to	be	rescued	from	peril.
In
fantasy
	he	is	more	powerful	than	the	fire.	He	defeats	it	in	personal
combat.
He	fits	the
myth
	of	the	great	warrior	and	the	prince	who	rescues	themaiden	in	distress.
We
idealize
	him	as	heroically	masculine.	Firemen	don’t	just	do	a	job—
they	live	up	to	our	manly	ideal.
Without	projection	we	wouldn’t	see	firemen	the	way	we	do,	and	they
wouldn’t	see	themselves	that	way	either.	This	is	a	good	example	of	how	we
first	create	the	projection	and	then	participate	in	it.	Society	is	constantly
caught	up	in	the	rise	and	fall	of	its	projections.	Sports
figures
	who	take	drugs
become	fallen	heroes;	soldiers	in	battle	step	into	hell;	movie	actresses	are
goddesses	until	their	next	extramarital	affair,	which	turns	them	into	home
wreckers.	People	we	deem	larger	than	life	have	learned	how	to	manipulate
symbols,	fantasies,	ideals,	and	myths.	The	most	successful	products	in	the
marketplace	do	this	as	well.
However,	these	superficial	examples	of	projection	hide	a	profound	power
inside	all	of	us.	Our	entire	culture	has	been	built	upon	projection,	and	at	this
moment	you	and	I	are	continuing	the	process.
Projection	creates	meaning
.	By
themselves,	events	are	meaningless	until	we	give	them	value.	Think	of	the
many	deaths	we	see	on	the	television	news.	Some	deaths	feel	meaningless	to
us	because	they	seem	so	remote.	But	if	we	attach	value	to	a	person,
everything	changes.	Certain	phrases—“somebody’s	child,”	“cancer	victim,”
“a	soldier	who	loved	his	country”—cause	us	to	project	a	positive	meaning.
Other	phrases—“insurgent,”	“escaped	convict,”	“gang	member”—flip
meaning	to	the	negative	side.	It	could	be	the	same	death	in	question,	since
everyone	is	someone’s	child,	for	instance.	We	react	to	information	(which
often	comes	prepackaged	with	spin	included)	so	quickly	that	we	lose	sight	of
the	power	we	are	exerting	as	creators.
Everything	that	is	real	at	one	level	of	con


 This does not get
rid of the stored patterns—it actually reinforces your commitment to them.
Over time, they will continue to bother you.
Let’s say you feel lonely becau se you don’t have someone special in
your life. This sounds perfectly normal, but the truth is having someone
special in your life is your attempt to solve your loneliness.  It does not
address the cause of it. It’s just like if you eat poorly and have a
stomachache; you may start looking for the Pepto Bismol. If someone then
asks you why you have a stomachache, please don’t say it’s because you
can’t find the Pepto Bismol. Finding the Pepto Bismol is an attempt to
compensate for your stomachache—it is not related to the cause of it. The
Pepto Bismol may make you feel better temporarily, but unless  you changeyour eating habits, the stomacha che will return. You will find this is true for
many things you do to compensate for your discomforts.
Eventually, we wake up and realize that compensating for what’ s
wrong is not good enough—we must solve the root cause of why we are not
okay. There is a state within you that is always filled with love and a sense
of happiness. Yogananda called  it ever-new joy. It’s not a joy you get tired
of; it’s a constan tly upward-flowing, new experience of beauty. This is the
solution to every problem you’re having inside—make it beautiful in there.
Instead of thinking that the new job will do it, the new relationship will do
it, or more money and popularity will do it, do the necessary inner work to
make it beautifu l inside. Notice that your problems all start with, “I’m not
okay in here.” If you were  okay, you wouldn’ t be worrying and
complaining. You’d be in there enjoying the beauty of the experience you’re
having.
Enjoying your inner state doesn’ t mean nothing will happen outside.
Nobody is saying you don’t interact with the world. You just don’t interact
with the world in an attempt to solve your inner problems. The outside
cannot solve your inner blockages. All the outside world can do is
temporarily allow the energy to go around a blockage or not hit it as much.
This creates some relief, but it’ s not going to get rid of the blockage.
Working on releasing inner blockages, instead of struggling with life to
get what  you want, can seem like something is being taken away from you.
But if what is being taken away from you is causing suffering, this should
not be a proble m. If you’re eating something that makes you sick, and
someone wants to give you food that makes you healthy, you must first stop
eating what makes you sick. This is not an act of renunciation; it’s simple
wisdom. Taking on this inner work does not mean you don’t get married,
have a job, or fully put your heart into whatever you’re doing. You can do
all of that, but not for the purpos e of solving your inner problems. If you are
letting the avoidance of your inner problems define what you’r e doing, all
you’r e doing is expressing your inner problems outside.  Say a psychologist
held up a Rorschach inkblot and you got upset about what you saw in it. Is
the solution to tell them to stop holding up that piece of paper? That would
be ridiculous. You would not solve anything. Yet trying to solve inner
problems by rearranging the outside is exactly what everybody is doing.Chapter 27.
The Paradigm Shift
Everyone wants to improve  their experience of life. People are always
looking for more joy, love, inspiration, and meaning—the question is how to
achieve this. Let’s do an expe riment. Imagine an all-powerful force has
asked you to write down some things that need to happen for you to totally
enjoy your life. If you’re like most people, you will write down things like a
new house, a special relationship, a higher paying job, and perhaps a
yearlong vacation to your favorite spots around the world. When you’re
done, you will be so excited to turn in that list and get your wishes granted.
Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait a moment because we’re going to go
deeper with this experiment.
If you examine your list more closely, you will see that it’s not what
you really want. Let’s say you wrote down that you want to get married to
the person you love, and you want a wedding in Maui with birds-of-paradise
surrounding the ceremony. After the wedding, you want to live in a
beautiful, mortgage-free house overlooking the ocean with two fancy cars in
the driveway. It’s the dream you’ve had since childhood. The problem is
that’s not what you really want. Your mind has played a trick on you. Say
you have the wedding, the house, and the cars, just like you wanted them,
but your new spouse turns out to be a real jerk. You are treated terribly, and
it’s obvious right from the start that this is going to be the worst marriage in
human history. On top of that, you’re Catholic, so you can’t get divorced.
Do you still want that wedding? Unlikely. So, it wasn’ t really the marriage
you wanted. You wanted the beautiful experience that you thought the
marriage was going to give you. So why didn’ t you ask for that?
The same thing holds true for the new job, the million dollars in the
bank, and the respect of other people. Fine, you can have it all. But what if it
creates so much stress and worry that you’re miserable? You’d wish youcould have your old job back. You didn’ t really want the job, the money, or
the acceptance—you wanted what you thought they would give you. You
wanted happiness, joy, and a sense of total well-being. How about a constant
inner state of love, beauty, and inspiration at the highest level you’ve ever
experienced? Why didn’ t you ask for that?
What you did was allow your strongest past experiences to define what
you think will make you feel happy. It doesn’ t work that way. There are
plenty of people who have what you wrote down on your list, and they’re
not always happy. There’ s nothing you ever experienced that left you totally
fulfilled for any length of time. You have always needed more. Your entire
life you’ve been saying, “If I get this thing I want, I’ll be okay, and if I don’t
have to get what I don’t want, I’ll be fine.” For your whole life, there’ s been
a list. When will you realize that doesn’ t work? If you’ve been doing
something every minute of your entire life, and you’re still doing it,
obviously it doesn’ t work. Why not go directly to the root and say, “What I
want is to feel love and joy. What I want is every moment of every day to
feel complete well-being as high as I’ve ever felt before, and to be inspired
by everything I do.” Now there’ s a list. Let’ s turn that one in.
The interesting result of our experiment is that it has led us away from
worldliness and into the essence of spirituality. Not that worldliness is a
negative term— it just means you think the answer is in the world. You think
the answer lies in what’ s unfolding in front of you. It isn’t wrong to go to
the world for what you think you want—it simply doesn’ t work. You’re
trying to find something outside that matches your “samskara of the day.”
Once you get what you want, or avoid what you don’t want, that will no
longer be your major desire or greatest fear. Once that one’s out of the way,
there will always be the next issue coming to the surface.
Eventually, you wake up. You realize that you want to feel love. Not
that you want to love someone or have someone love you—you just want to
feel love all the time. If your love is not dependent on anything or anyone, it
can last forever. We call that unconditional love. The great yoga master,
Meher Baba, taught that love must spring spontaneously from within. It
cannot be coerced, and it cannot be dependent upon anything. That’ s what
pure love is. Otherwise, you have a temporary situation that just happens to
match your stored patterns. Unfortunately, this will not last. You’ve got lots
of samskaras in there. In addition, if you’re in a relationship, the other
person has lots of patterns of their own, quite different from yours. This iswhy relationshi ps are so complicated. Not only are each person’ s past
samskaras different, but both people have different experiences every day to
add to the collection. If somebody yelled at your partner at work, they’re
different when they come home than if somebody was nice to them. You, of
course, had your daily experiences. If your feeling of love is dependent
upon your partner behaving a certain way when they come home, you’re in
trouble and so are they. You have enough difficulty dealing with your own
samskaras; now you have to deal with theirs also.
Don’ t get scared. This doesn’ t mean you don’t have meaningful
relationships.


 unknown
reasons, were not eager to vo lunteer as enlightened or to discuss
their experien ces of “waking up.” Religious backgroun ds were
diverse, spanning Eastern and Western faiths, yet mos t of the
subjects had done some kind of spiritual practice—they wanted tobe in a h igher state of conscio usness. Curiously, around 14 percent
had done nothing of this kin d. They had spontaneously popped
into higher consciousness or, more typically, drifted into it.
Martin’s resear ch base has ex panded to more than a thou sand
subjects, which means we must ask ourselves if “normal”
awareness isn’t a fixed state at all but a spectrum, with
consciousness evolving much further than anyone has pr eviously
predicted. At the very least, higher consciousness has become
much le ss exot ic. It’s no longe r the province of sadhus and  yogis in
the Himalayas.
When we communicated by email and later met in person, I
accepted why Martin, for academic reasons, had to remain value-
neutral. But waking up has  for centuries been associated with
bliss, for example, or communication with higher beings like
angels, or feeling a divine pr esence. Was all of that abse nt when
modern people woke up? Martin assured me that “outside”
phenomena we re present, but he felt constrained not to mention
them in his doctoral thesis. He found that the spiritual dimension
of some of his subjects had also opened up. Some of the p eople he
tested reported the kind of open, clear, silent awareness associated
with Buddhism. Still others, however, had no idea what to make of
their state of awareness.
In late r reports Martin notes that a small number of his
subjects had experiences that defy normal explanations. A small
number “experience a deep bliss sensation all through their body,
including during moments that would otherwise be ph ysically
painful. For some this seems to bring pain tolerances that appear
infinite. A few of [them] have reported experiences that should
have involved horrific amoun ts of pain, but only resulted in bliss.
Others who experience ongoing bliss find that they can reach its
limits. They report a threshold, unique to each individual, above
which pain is experienced.”
It turns  out, as his researches deepened, that Martin disco vered
more and more uniqueness among these people. Beyond Location
4 a few  progr essed as far a s Location 9, for example. In that
location, Marti n notes, people would “say something like ‘it feels
like it is just the universe looking out these eyes.’ ” But g enerally
speaking, all of his subjects were amazed at the amount of well-being th ey were experiencing, and this grew as they moved further
along the spectrum. Paradox ically, in Location 4, all emotion fell
away, even love, which Martin associates with a larger shift—the
self that was built up through a continuous story (he calls this the
Narrative-Self) falls away, along with socially defined em otions.
After L ocation 4, emotions begin to return in a different form,
based on the foundation of co ntinuous well-being. Yet even before
this re turn, his subjects reported that they didn’t miss the
experience of emotions, beca use in freedom they had found the
highest state of well-being.
T e a c h i n g  P e o p l e  t o  W a k e  U p
Martin had made what he considered “the fundam ental
discovery that these were psychological states that had been
identified and adopted for thousands of years by many cultures
and belief systems.” In the present climate, where consciousness is
an expl oding growth field, the real issue isn’t skepticism. In one
survey, one-third of American adults believe in things widely
considered fringe or New Age, from reincarnation and the
paranormal to medical applications long opposed by mainstream
medicine. (According to vari ous sources, between one-th ird and
38 percent of American adults use alternative medicine. This
includes the 30 million, for ex ample, who visit chiropractors every
year.)
Martin was not unique in saying that higher consciousness
wasn’t “inhere ntly spiritual or religious, or limited to any given
culture or population.” Given his academic and technical bent, he
decided to put his data to wo rk. He sifted out the techniq ues that
his subjects considered the most powerful in getting them to
arrive at higher consciousness, and he organized these into a
fifteen-week Finders course. What’s fascinating is that the
students would  be ordinary people who, for whatever reason, were
attracted to take the course.Three participants gathered at the website Reality Sandwich to
report on their experience: Catherine, a business and leadership
consultant from Paris; Paul, the co-owner and manag er of a
garden center in Wales; and Rebekah, a semiretired photographer
from Texas.
Each had different reasons for taking the course. Paul
described a period of personal difficulties. “I’d become
disconnected, disillusioned, mostly due to physical and material
matters. I had a very spiritu al upbringing, but I seemed to have
lost the  plot altogether.” His general state was “not quite suicidal,
but about as low as I could possibly be.”
Catherine had heard about Martin’s research and was intrigued
by t he possibility of higher st ates of consciousness. It particularly
interested her that these states could be specially described—“It’s
not just nirvana all day long. My objective was to go through the
experience and to reach higher states of well-being and quiet.”
Rebekah had no prior expect ations. “[I] did not know wh at to
expect, just open to whatever.” But she had heard about Martin’s
research projects, and said, “I trusted the science in them.” She
also knew what she wanted out of the course. “My g oal was
spiritual evolu tion. How can I raise my consciousness to a higher
level?”
The m ethods presented to them were highly inten sive,
amounting to two to three hours a day, which they were expected
to k eep up w hen they went back to their everyday liv es. The
instruction consisted of a weekly video about what the participants
would b e doing for the follow ing week. Before the next video, as
Catherine describes it, “[y]ou  do a summary of the week. How do
you feel? What has happened to you? How many times a day did
you do the different activitie s?” There was meditation and also
group discussion. Some exe rcises came straight from standard
therapy, such as writing down and forgiving people from your past
who had wronged you.
At the core of the course, however, was Martin’s eight-year
research into people who con sidered themselves enlightened. He
gave ea ch a questionnaire ab out which practices they found most
useful i n their journey, leadin g to a wealth of data. “We lo oked atall of that, and only a handfu l of things rose to the top. Some of
them were across all tradition s, like, for instance, a mantra-based
meditation practice.” Other techniques were more specific. For
example, says  Martin, he adopted a “direct awarene ss–type
method. This involves placing your attention on awareness itself.
Now that sounds simple, but as I’m sure all of these folks will tell
you, it’s rather tricky.”
From students’ feedback, he quickly learned that some
practices work ed better than others for each person. He also
mixed in techniques: “It’s not all ancient practices. We also
include some of the gold standard exercises from positive
psychology.” In a general way, the course had two aims, to
increase well-being as quickly as possible and to deepen
awareness. The success that  resulted sounds remarkable : “More
than 70 percent of participan ts who completed the course report
having persistent forms of an ‘awakening’ experience, and
100 percent say that they ar e happier than they were w hen the
course began, even those who rated themselves as ‘very unhappy’
at the start of the course.”
Paul, the near-suicidal manager of a garden center, offers
personal testimony to that: “It was the dropping away of sloth;
that wa s the biggest single thing that I noticed. The chatter was
going, the general day-to-day worries and anxieties were dropping
away at a terri fic rate. That was what resonated for me initially.
The lack of fear, of worry, of anxiety. That was the biggest impact
for me initially.”
So do we have a final answer—has metahuman become
accessible through a cocktail of psychotherapy, group sharing,
self-help, meditation, and a program as personalized as a fitness
regimen at the gym? There’s no cut-and-dried answer. Too many
people f ind too many paths to waking up. Martin’s researc h is only
one version of a trend to ma ke the mind a kind of techie project,
and although he claims that 70 percent of participants who
experienced some form of awakening continued to have the
experience, only time will tell. An intensive lifestyle change that
includes hours of practice a day will attract only the dedicated few.
The mystery of awakening in cludes the


	diet	should
consist	of	organic,	fresh,	whole/raw/unprocessed	foods,	pure	water	and
avoidance	of	heavily	processed/cooked	foods.
Clean	Up	an	Unrecognized	Toxic	Site:
Your	Pantry
The	hard	part	is	to	obtain	accurate	information	about	what	is	good	for	you	and
what	is	not.	A	woman	who	had	studied	extensively	in	the	fields	of	health	and
nutrition	reminded	me	of	this	fact	in	a	startling	way.	Even	with	her	background,
she	had	little	understanding	of	how	to	select	a	nontoxic	diet.
I	met	Cynthia	at	one	of	my	all-day	seminars.	By	the	end	of	the	day	she	was
motivated	to	make	major	changes	in	her	life	and	asked	if	she	could	purchase	a
day	of	my	time	so	that	I	could	teach	her	how	to	shop	for	healthful	foods.	Despite
all	of	her	previous	study,	she	felt	overwhelmed	with	information	and	confusedabout	how	to	make	healthy	choices.
My	day	with	Cynthia	and	her	husband,	Tom,	serves	as	a	general	guide	for	you
to	start	on	a	path	toward	a	life-sustaining,	nontoxic	diet.	The	first	thing	I	did	with
the	couple	was	to	clean	out	all	toxic	foods	from	their	refrigerator	and	pantry.	We
ended	up	with	several	boxes	filled	with	foods	to	be	discarded;	a	lot	of	it	was
toxin-loaded	breakfast	cereal	that	her	children	would	have	eaten.
Then	we	headed	to	the	local	health	food	store.	We	went	down	each	aisle	and
examined	foods,	read	labels	and	discussed	how	to	select	foods	that	are	either
nontoxic	or	at	least	less	toxic	than	supermarket	alternatives.	For	example,	a
healthy	substitute	for	the	boxed	cereals	was	found	in	the	grain	section	of	the
health	food	store.	We	purchased	a	variety	of	organic,	whole	grains	that	could	be
cooked	like	rice	and	fed	to	the	children.	(By	the	way,	the	kids	loved	it.)
As	Cynthia,	Tom	and	I	walked	through	the	store,	I	began	to	explain	principles
that	would	help	them	in	the	future.	Almost	any	type	of	food	that	has	been
packaged—in	a	box,	jar,	can	or	bottle—has	been	processed	and	is	likely	to
contain	toxic	chemicals.	These	toxic	chemicals	either	can	be	deliberately	added
to	the	foods	(food	additives),	or	they	can	result	from	food	production	practices
(chemical	residues).	Whatever	the	source	of	these	chemicals,	processed	foods
(such	as	breakfast	cereal,	bread,	canned	foods,	frozen	foods,	oils	and	vegetable
shortenings,	soft	drinks,	ice	cream,	cookies,	cake	and	candy)	are	loaded	with
them.	In	addition	to	their	lack	of	nutrition,	the	high	toxic	content	in	processed
foods	makes	them	a	poor	choice.
A	variety	of	food	additives	are	used	to	enhance	flavor,	color	and	texture;	to
help	foods	process	better;	and	to	extend	their	shelf	life.	In	all,	more	than	three
thousand	FDA-approved	additives	are	in	use	today,	and	the	average	American
ingests	more	than	ten	pounds	of	them	per	year.	Imagining	someone	eating	ten
pounds	of	toxic,	synthetic	chemicals	a	year	is	difficult,	but	we	do	it—a	little	at	a
time,	without	realizing	how	it	adds	up.	Although	food	additives	must	be
approved	for	safety,	frequently	they	are	initially	determined	to	be	safe,	only	to
be	removed	later	from	the	market	due	to	unanticipated	harmful	effects.	Do	not
assume	that	food	additives	are	safe	just	because	the	FDA	has	approved	them.
Furthermore,	researchers	usually	test	one	additive	at	a	time,	even	though	we
eat	them	in	combination.	Almost	no	research	goes	into	studying	the	safety	of
food	additive	combinations.	Our	modern	exposure	to	many	different
combinations	of	food	additives	is	a	gigantic	and	dangerous	chemistry
experiment.	The	combined	toxic	effects	of	food	additives	were	reported	in	a
study	conducted	by	B.	H.	Ershoff	(published	in	a	1976
Journal	of	Food	Science
)
that	examined	three	different	FDA-approved	food	additives:	an	artificial	color,an	artificial	sweetener	and	an	emulsifier	(a	substance	that	keeps	oil	and	water
from	separating).	When	fed	one	at	a	time,	these	food	additives	caused	no	readily
observable	side	effects	in	experimental	animals.	But,	when	two	of	the	additives
were	consumed	at	the	same	time,	the	animals	became	sick.	When	all	three	were
combined,	the	test	animals	died	in	less	than	two	weeks!	Bearing	this	in	mind,
pick	up	an	average	box	of	breakfast	cereal	(or	just	about	any	other	highly
processed	food)	and	count	how	many	additives	are	in	the	product.	Obviously,
you	are	eating	these	additives	in	combination.	After	examining	the	labels	on
boxes	of	breakfast	cereal	in	Cynthia	and	Tom’s	pantry,	we	discarded	all	of	them
because	the	labels	showed	that	they	contained	artificial	colors,	flavors,
preservatives	and	hydrogenated	oils.
Read	the	labels	on	the	foods	that	you
buy.When	a	food	contains	artificial	colors,	flavors,	preservatives	or	other
additives,	do	not	buy	it.
What	would	happen	if	we	eliminated	certain	food	additives	from	our	diet?	A
study	reported	in	a	1986	issue	of	the
International	Journal	of	Biosocial	Research
addressed	this	question.	Between	1979	and	1983,	the	New	York	City	public
school	system	gradually	removed	foods	containing	artificial	colors	and	flavors
from	the	school	lunches	served	to	more	than	one	million	children.	During	this
same	period,	without	any	other	changes	being	introduced,	the	schoolchildren’s
academic	performance	skyrocketed.	New	York	City	schools	experienced	the
largest	four-year	gain	in	academic	performance	ever	measured	in	any	city	school
district	in	U.S.	history.	How	was	such	improvement	possible?	Food	additives	are
toxic;	they	poison	cells.	When	you	stop	poisoning	cells,	health	improves.	As	the
health	of	brain	cells	improves,	so	does	the	ability	to	think,	learn	and	remember.
A	contributing	factor	to	today’s	poor	academic	performance	is	the	burden	of
toxic	exposure	on	the	developing	minds	of	our	young	people.	Unfortunately,
once	the	experiment	was	over,	because	of	political	pressure	from	conventional
food	suppliers,	the	New	York	City	schools	reverted	to	“normal”	foods,	and	these
extraordinary	gains	were	lost.
Another	risk	in	processed	foods	you	do	not	find	on	the	label:	toxic	chemical
residues.	The	manufacturer	does	not	deliberately	add	these	chemicals,	but	they
are	present	in	almost	all	ordinary	commercial	foods.	If	manufacturers	do	not	add
it,	they	do	not	have	to	list	it.	(Recall	David’s	exposure	to	mercury	in	tuna	fish;
obviously,	mercury	is	not	listed	on	the	label	but	it	is	in	there,	because	it	was	in
the	fish.)	Chemical	residues	come	from	many	different	sources,	including
industrial	chemical	and	pesticide	residues,	herbicides,	fungicides,	artificial
ripening	agents,	hormones	and	other	veterinary	drugs	and	packaging	materials.
On	our


 State University has given me the following
detailed information:
   With reference to the cattle from the south-western and central-northern states of the drought
area which were brought into Ohio in the fall of 1935 on a 600 acre farm north of Delaware, will
say that I had the privilege of viewing some of these cattle previous to the time that they were
brought to Ohio in 1935. Because of the extreme drought period and the hot sun, it was rare to
see green grass on the prairies. The sedges were nearly all dried up. The tumbleweed was about
the only thing that was available for the cattle in some instances. The corn was dried up and
very little green was in evidence. In the particular location that I was in we found the cattle
suffering terribly. Many had infected eyes.
   There were a good many deaths on the plains which were literally dried up. Sometimes there
was even a small amount of decomposition after death. In the fall, those that survived on the
plains, were loaded up and driven to the corrals, loaded into cars and sent east. Only the good
ones were loaded and even a large number of these passed out in transit.
   I was informed that the crop of grass the year before was very scant. Consequently, a large
number of calves were born with weak eyes and these were the early ones to pass out on the7/29/13 Nutrition and Physical Degeneration
gutenberg.net.au/ebooks02/0200251h.html#toc 176/250plains. The low vitality of the individuals which I considered was due to the lack of vitamin A or
the green grass factors was the cause of the serious infection, however their being secondary to
the primary cause.
   The first train load of the twenty-eight hundred cattle that were brought to this ranch were fed
on green corn stalks. There was a nine acre patch of corn in this area. The fences were taken
down one afternoon at 3 o'clock and by 9 o'clock there was no evidence of stubbles or roots.
This had all been eaten in a very short space of time. We had quite a time getting hays and
green stuff which we demanded because of its carotin content and its green grass factor. There
was not enough grass available in the beginning so we had to buy about 400 tons of hay a day
to keep the animals fed. They got no grain of any kind because it was a question of bringing the
cattle to a more or less normal condition with no intention of fattening the animals.
   After they had made arrangements for feeding operations and made feed racks in sufficient
numbers, we went over the herd to estimate the numbers that were blind and had sore eyes,
which I assume from past experience, was due to a vitamin A deficiency. As near as we can
estimate, nearly 8 12 animals were affected (29 per cent). There were 157 calves born and
approximately 50 per cent were deformed and not normal. We did not get the complete figures
but they probably ranged a little higher than that. The worst infected cows were calves and
animals that were 18 to 20 months old. I could not get the story of these individuals but they
must have been in the area of dry grass for 2 years. There was a slight improvement in those
that were not seriously infected after they were fed here. They improved decidedly in October
and November and were practically all slaughtered before the middle of December.
The milk of these vitamin deficient cows would not properly nourish either their calves or human
beings.
   Many children have tooth decay even while using whole milk, in part because the milk is too low
in vitamin content, due to the inadequacy of the food given the cows. The means for improving this
condition have been discussed in Chapter 15.
   Some of the current theories of the chemistry of tooth decay place the responsibility on the local
condition in the mouth as affected by the contributing factors provided by sugars and starches
which enhance the growth of acid producing organisms. A phase of this has been closely related to
the slogan that a clean tooth cannot decay. Among the difficulties in applying this interpretation is
the physical impossibility of keeping teeth bacteriologically clean in the environment of the mouth.
Another difficulty is the fact that many primitive races have their teeth smeared with starchy foods
almost constantly and make no effort whatsoever to clean their teeth. In spite of this they have no
tooth decay. In many of the primitive groups that I have studied the process of modernization
includes teaching oral hygiene and prophylaxis. Yet, even with the addition of this important
adjunct to health, they have in most cases lost their immunity to tooth decay and dental caries has
become active. This will be seen in many of the illustrations of the primitive races in the preceding
chapters. Of course everyone should clean his teeth, even the primitives, in the interest of and out
of consideration for others.
   In my clinical work I have sought for extreme cases of active tooth decay in order to test the
primitive wisdom. Many of these cases have been furnished by members of the dental profession in
other cities and states. By the simple procedure of studying the nutrition of the individual, obtaining
a sample of saliva for analysis, seeing x-rays of the individual's teeth and supporting bone, and
getting a history of the systemic overloads, I have been able to outline a nutritional program which,
in well above 90 per cent of the cases has controlled the dental caries. Improvement in the
condition of the teeth has been confirmed by later x-rays and reports by the patients' dentists. In a
few cases where I had contact with the patients only through correspondence the cooperation was
not adequate for accomplishing complete improvement. While it is true that there is a marked
difference in the susceptibility of different individuals to dental caries, even those who would
ordinarily be classed as highly susceptible, have generally received permanent benefit from the
treatment.
   These principles of treatment have now been applied to many hundreds of patients as indicated
by the fact that over 2,800 chemical analyses of the saliva have been made. The dietary programs
that have been recommended have been determined on the basis of a study of the nutrition used by7/29/13 Nutrition and Physical Degeneration
gutenberg.net.au/ebooks02/0200251h.html#toc 177/250the patient, the data provided by the x-rays, from the saliva analysis and case history. The diets
have been found to be deficient in minerals, chiefly phosphorus. Fat-soluble vitamins have been
deficient in practically every case of active tooth decay. The foods selected for reinforcing the
deficient nutritions have always included additional fatsoluble vitamins and a liberal source of
minerals in the form of natural food. Human beings cannot absorb minerals satisfactorily from
inorganic chemicals. Great harm is done, in my judgment, by the sale and use of substitutes for
natural foods.
   One of our greatest difficulties in undertaking to apply the wisdom of the primitives to our
modern problems involves a character factor. The Indians of the high Andes were willing to go
hundreds of miles to the sea to get kelp and fish eggs for the use of their people. Yet many of our
modern people are unwilling to take sufficient trouble to obtain foods that are competent to
accomplish the desired results.
   Jobbers and middlemen as well as supply depot managers want butter sold in accordance with
its label rather than in accordance with its vitamin content. One large distributor whom I asked to
cooperate by maintaining a stock of high-vitamin butter to which I could refer people, told me
frankly that he wished I would stop telling people about the difference in the vitamins in butter. He
did not wish them to think of butter in terms of its vitamin content. Another large concern told me
that when I had worked up a sufficiently large market they would become interested in supplying
the demand. I counsel people to put in storage some of that butter which has the grassy flavor and
which melts easily and is produced when the cows go onto the rapidly growing young grass.
Unfortunately, cows that have been on a stable fodder low in carotene and under the stress of
gestation often are so depleted in their own body vitamins that it takes them three or four weeks to
replenish their own bodies when they get on good pasture. Then the vitamins will appear in liberal
quantity in their milk. This has made it necessary for me to assist many patients in obtaining a
supply by analyzing butter for its vitamin content and then putting this material in storage and
making it available for special cases as needed.
   The program that I have found most efficient has been one which includes the use of small
quantities of very high vitamin butter mixed in equal parts with a very high vitamin cod liver oil. A
simple method of preparing the butter is by melting it and allowing it to cool for twenty-four hours
at a temperature of about 70° F., then centrifugalizing it which provides an oil that remains liquid at
room temperature. When this butter oil is mixed in equal parts with a very high-vitamin cod liver
oil, it produces a product that is more efficient than either alone. It should be used within a couple
of weeks of the time it is mixed. It is desirable that this material be made available in various parts
of the country. Even the high-vitamin butter produced on the early summer growth of grass put in
storage and used during the winter will go far toward solving our great national problem of
shortage of fat-soluble vitamins. The quantity of the mixture of butter oil and cod liver oil required
is quite small, half a teaspoonful three times a day with meals


 one. Even in Western
society, where money, physic al beauty, and success are equated with
happiness, everyone has unexpected moments when life seems absolutely
perfect and full of joy. If you could live in a state of pure joy all the time,
you would have the practical essence of perfect health.
TUNING INT O NA TURE’S GIFTS
Nature provides  a rich source of energy and nourishment that has healing
effects on both body and mind. Open yourself to the gifts of Nature through
your five senses:
Walk barefoot on the earth for a few minutes every day. Have your
attention on your feet and the earth with the intention to absorb
nourishment from the earth.
Walk along natural bodies of water. Allow the cooling, coherent
influence of water to infuse your being.
Allow the light and warmth of the sun to permeate you. Acknowledge
the ener gy-giving force of the sun, the source of all life on earth.
Take a walk where there is abundant vegetation and deeply inhale the
breath of plants. The ideal time to receive the life force of plants is right
before dawn and right after sunset.Gaze into the stars at night. Allow your awareness to fill the heavens
and the cosmos to fill your awareness.
THE NA TURALNESS OF  BLISS
Each dosha expresses a differen t flavor of joy, and in the state of perfect
balance, one would be able to experience them all:
Vata— stimulating, exhilarating, alert, cheerful, optimistic, flexible
Pitta— content, joyous, chivalr ous, pleasant, clear -minded
Kapha— steady, strong, forgiving, courageous, gener ous, affectionate,
serene
As in most cases, Vata is the leader of the other doshas. It transmits joy
through the nervous system, causing changes in cells throughout the body.
But without balance among all three doshas, your physiology cannot support
pure joy for extended periods. A major goal in Ayurveda is to change this by
cleaning the windows of inner perception. Our normal waking-state
perception of ourselves is usually ill-equipped to realize how much joy
exists inside us.
Because conven tional psycholo gy concentrates so much on abnormal
states, on neuroses and psychoses, it has had little to say about the effects of
joy, and internal medicine has said nothing. Moments of ecstasy have
certainly been prized—by poets, religious figures, and ordinary people—but
the connection with higher states of health was not made until the
psychologist Abraham Maslow, working in the 1950s and 1960s, began to
study a group of high achievers whom he called “self-actualized.” Such
individuals, Maslow quickly discovered, led extremely diverse and highly
individual lives. On the surface, there was no obvious resemblance between
a successful entrepreneur, a famous novelist, and a great conductor.
However, beneath their differen t lifestyles Maslow found that many had had
what he termed “peak experiences,” moments of intense well-being and joy.During their peak moments, these people felt a total transformation of
their personal reality. Obstacles  that seemed huge in ordinary  life became
laughable. An overwhelming sense of power flooded through them. They felt
deeply calm and in tune with life.
The most talented athletes and performers of all kinds will testify to
moments when they effortlessly exceed their known skills. As women’ s
basketball champion Patsy Neal describes it, “There are moments of glory
that go beyond human expect ation, beyond the physical and emotional
ability of the individual. Something unexplainable takes over and breathes
life into the known life. The athlete goes beyond herself; she transcends the
natural—she almost floats through the performance, drawi ng on forces she
has not previously been aware of.”
A peak experience, Maslow found, was extremely therapeutic. His
patients attributed major life changes to realizations that had suddenly come
to them in peak moments: newfound confidence and creativity, unexpected
solutions to baffling dilemmas, and a sureness that no fear could touch them.
In some cases, long-standing depression and anxiety neuroses vanished
overnight, never to return.
Maslow was tremendously impressed, and his pioneering study vastly
extended the range of positive experiences that came to be considered
normal for the human psyche. However, he did not find a way to give
anyone a peak experience, nor did he find its source. Without a technique for
transcending, he could only wait for those occasional moments when the
curtains part and the psyche sees beyond its ordinary waking state.
SUPERFLUIDITY
Not long ago, clinical psychologists discovered an effortless state that
creative people often fall into, popularly called “the flow.” During periods of
“flow,” work projects seem to progress of their own accord, and even the
deepest concent ration requires no effort. As long as they are in the flow,
creative people of all types feel a pleasurable sense of being lifted far above
their ordinary capabilities. The drawback to the flow is that it cannot betaught to others  or further deve loped in oneself. Fewer than 10 percent of
ordinary people are said to experience it, and those who do are in the flow
only intermitten tly. Still, this represented an advance over the minuscule
group of self-realized people, which Maslow had estimated as less than one-
tenth of 1 percent of the general population.
It was not until science began seriously to investigate meditation that the
elusiveness of these phenomena was fully explained. It turns out that a peak
experience or a sensation of being in the flow points to a deeper, more
sustained state researchers have labeled “superfluidity.” Superfluidity
resembles the flow in that less effort is required in activity, but the effort is
reduced to an absolute minimum. In the superfluid state, action becomes
completely automatic—the doer merges into his task, the thinker into his
thoughts, the artist into his art.
Here is a firsthand description from a meditator. “A soft but strong feeling
of blissful evenness is present most of the time in both mind and body.
Physically, it is experienced as an extremely delightful liveliness throughout
the body. This evenness is so deep and stable that it is maintained in the face
of great  activity—it cushions one against all disruptions and makes all
activity easy and enjoyable.”
The term superfluidity comes from a class of peculiar materials called
superfluids that were discovered  in physics more than fifty years ago. When
liquid helium, for example, is cooled so low that it approaches within a few
degrees of absolute zero, -273 degrees C, it acquires the ability to flow up
the sides of its container, to pass through holes almost infinitely small, and,
if set in motion, to flow forever. The reason for this mystifyin g change in
behavior is the cooling effect itself. At a low enough temperature, the helium
atoms stop moving around in random fashion and instead become almost
completely orderly, like an army that falls into parade-ground formation
after milling around the field. Supercooled helium atoms are so orderly that
they reach a frictionless state of superflow. A similar property of supercooled
materials is superconductivity, the ability to conduct electricity without
friction. Superconductivity also seems to defy normal laws of nature, but infact it is a special property that arises quite naturally as long as certain
special conditions are met.
In the same way, superfluidity in awareness appears when meditation
“cools down” the thinking process. The mind discovers more orderliness at
quieter levels of the thinking process until it nears the total orderliness of
pure silence without slipping completely into it. At that exact point, the
quantum boundary of the mind, it is still possible to think and act, but
following different rules. One experiences effortless expansion and a kind of
“friction-less” creativity that cannot be discovered in the ordinary waking
state.
AROMA THERAPY—BALANCE THROUGH THE SENSE OF
SMELL
Each of your five senses is form ed by a different vibration in the quantum
mechanical body. Vibrations of light falling on your retina cause a response
that is quite distinct from the vibrations of touch that greet your fingers. This
is how the “ener gy soup” of the universe gets sorted out into distinct sights,
sounds, smells, and so on. The three doshas are also precisely tuned in to
nature. Each one prefers to respond to one or more of the five senses:
Vata— hearing and touch
Pitta— sight
Kapha— taste and smell
These preferences can be seen very easily in people whose body  types are
dominated by one dosha. Pure Vatas are extremely sensitive to loud noise
and have skin that feels the slightest touch. Pitta types, particularly if fair-
haired and light-skinned, cannot bear bright sunlight for any length of time
and are also very responsive to visual beauty. Kaphas, the earthiest of types,
love the atmosph ere of hearth and home; to them, the tastes and smells of the
kitchen are especially gratifying.Since we all possess Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, these preferences are relative.
Any body type can respond to marma therapy, for example, which operates
through the sense of touch; it is not restricted to Vatas alone. The ancient
Ayurvedic texts  provide us with long lists of sensory stimuli  that help to
balance the doshas,


processed	foods,
vegetable	oils,	and	fried	foods	they	eat,	Americans	tend	to	have	anywhere	from
seventeen
10
	to	thirty	or	even	fifty	times	more	omega-6s	than	omega-3s.
11
	The
result	of	this	out-of-whack	ratio	is	a	contribution	to	that	silent	beauty	killer
called
inflammation	that	you	can’t	feel	sneaking	up	on	you	but	that	damages
your	skin	by	causing	wrinkles	and	premature	aging.
But	don’t	worry;	you	can	start	balancing	your	EFA	ratio	today!	To	keep	your
ratio	in	check,	try	to	consume
more

omega-3	fatty	acids	in	whole-food	forms
from	the	following	sources:
•
Chia	seeds•
Flaxseeds
•
Walnuts
•
Chlorella
•
Hemp	seeds
•
Sesame	seeds	and	tahini	(made	from	ground	sesame	seeds)
•
Cauliflower
•
Purslane	(as	well	as	other	weeds	and	greens)
•
Brussels	sprouts
•
Algae-based	omega-3	fatty	acid	supplement
•
Dark,	leafy	greens	such	as	spinach
And	cut	out	or	at	least	consume	less	of	these	top	omega-6	sources:
•
Sunflower,	canola,	soy,	cottonseed,	and	generic	vegetable	oils
•
Margarine
•
Junk	foods	such	as	chips,	crackers,	and	popcorn	that	contain	the	above	oils
(Blends	of	these	oils	are	often	labeled	“vegetable	oils”	in	the	ingredient	list.)
•
Fried	foods,	such	as	fried	chicken,	french	fries,	tempura,	and	so	on.
Radical	Beauty	Ratio	#2:	The
Acid/Alkaline	Ratio
If	you	were	a	chemist	and	looked	at	the	body	as	a	sea	of	chemicals,	one	of	the
first	tests	you’d	perform	would	be	to	see	how	acid	or	alkaline	someone’s	body
is.
This	test	looks	for	the	pH	value,	a	simple	scale	that	goes	from	very	acid	to
very
alkaline:
0	to	7	pH	=	acid
7	pH	=	neutral
7	to	14	pH	=	alkaline
This	is	the	same	measurement	that	can	be	done	with	litmus	paper,	which
turns	pink	when	dipped	into	an	acidic	solution	and	blue	when	dipped	into	an
alkaline	solution;	purple	is	neutral.	Your	body	has	zones	that	need	to	be	acid	or
alkaline—there’s	no	single	pH	for	everywhere.	Blood	must	be	maintained
slightly	alkaline,	while	the	stomach	needs	to	be	highly	acidic	to	digest	food.	Inother	areas,	like	your	mouth,	too	much	acidity	leads	to	being	vulnerable	to
cavities	(candy	and	other	sweets	convert	into	acids	due	to	the	digestive	activity
of	saliva).
Your	body	is	incredibly	precise	about	maintaining	the	right	pH	levels,	and
when	they	are	off,	it	compensates	by	drawing	upon	specific	micronutrients,
particularly	minerals.	Calcium,	magnesium,	and	potassium	are	chief	among	the
minerals	that	are	alkaline,	and	the	good	news	is	that	restoring	these	trace
minerals,	particularly	through	a	diet	rich	in	fresh	fruits	and	vegetables,	can	be	a
very	quick,	effective	treatment	for	restoring	bodily	balance,	as	well	as	a
preventive	for	many	health	and	beauty	conditions.
Every	food	you	eat	has	either	an	acidic	or	alkalizing	effect	on	the	body,	and
even	though	these	two	authors	don’t	adopt	a	so-called	alkaline-ash	diet,	the
ratio	between	acidic	and	alkalizing	foods	is	another	essential	one	for	achieving
true	beauty.	Alkalizing	foods	can	help	neutralize	harmful	acids,
12
	and	your
body’s	pH	has	a	big	impact	on	your	beauty	and	the	rate	at	which	you	age.
A	fascinating	study	from	the
Journal	of	Environmental	and	Public	Health
,
outlined	in	an	article	entitled	“The	Alkaline	Diet:	Is	There	Evidence	That	an
Alkaline	pH	Diet	Benefits	Health?”	found	that	an	alkaline	diet,	made	up	of	an
abundance	of	fruits	and	vegetables,	has	many	health	and	beauty	benefits,
including	helping	to	prevent	muscle	wasting	(keeping	your	body	beautifully
toned),	increasing	growth	hormone	(which	can	help	your	skin	stay	smooth	and
youthful),	improving	lower	back	pain,	and	increasing	available	magnesium	that
is	needed	to	activate	vitamin	D,
13
	which	aids	in	keeping	your	bones	and	teeth
beautifully
strong.	A	chronically
acid-forming	diet	can	lead	to	a	loss	of	calcium
through	the	urine,	weaker	bones,	and	the	loss	of	other	alkaline	minerals,	such
as	potassium	and	magnesium.	The	loss	and	imbalance	of	key	minerals	can	lead
to	dry	skin	that	cracks,	is	itchy,	and	ages	prematurely.
14
Acid	diminishes	the	supply	of	oxygen	available	to	all	your	body’s	tissues	and
cells.	The	lack	of	oxygen	interferes	with	mitochondrial	function,	and	the	cell’s
ability	to	repair	and	replenish	itself	becomes	impaired.	The	result	is	increased
general	aging	of	all	your	cells	and	increased	fatigue,	which	can	lead	you	to	reach
for	external	energy	aids	such	as	coffee	and	energy	drinks,	which	are	often	acidic
and	make	this	imbalance	even	worse.
Increased	acidity	also	can	make	you	age	more	in	other	ways.	An	acidic
environment	can	throw	off	your	bacterial	balance,	imbalancing	the
proliferation	of	“bad”	bacteria	over	the	“good,”	and	leading	to	more	harmful
microorganisms	that	can	contribute	to	inflammation.	Because	acids	are
corrosive,	additional	tissue	damage	and	inflammation	can	ensue.	Free	radicals
can	abound	in	your	body,	unleashing	their	beauty-squashing	potential	on	yourprecious	cells.
How	pH	Affects	Your	Beauty
Much	of	your	beauty	potential	is	determined	at	this	cellular	level.	When	your
body	is	more	alkaline,	there	is	an	increased	flow	of	oxygen	and	nutrients	into
your	cell	walls,	and	cellular	waste	is	disposed	of	more	easily.
15
	If	you	are
chronically	acidic,	however,	less	oxygen	and	fewer	nutrients	are	delivered	to
your	cells.	This	can	lead	to	a	buildup	of	waste	inside	your	cells,	which
contributes	to	a	vast	array	of	health	and	beauty	issues,	such	as	diminished
energy,	sallow	skin,	and	wrinkles.	Your	body	can	fully	absorb	and	utilize	key
beauty	nutrients	only	within	certain	pH	levels,	so	less	nutrient	absorption	is	the
precursor	to	dull	or	dry	skin	and	lifeless	hair.
Our	ancestors	naturally	ate	an	abundance	of	fruits,	vegetables,	nuts,	and
seeds.	Their	diets	were	also	high	in	organic	mineral	compounds,	especially
magnesium,	calcium,	and	potassium.	These	are	all	alkalizing	foods.	But	because
of	the	widespread	availability	of	many	less	healthy	foods	today,	both	the	types
and	portion	sizes	of	what	we	consume	have	become	dangerously	imbalanced.
Just	by	shifting	your	overall	diet	to	consist	of	80	percent	alkalizing	foods,
you
might	be	able	to


 seat of
disturbance. In the treatment of disease that is functional in origin, it is rarely the case that delirium occurs during a fa st, but, it
may, and, if it does, its appearance is due to extreme auto -intoxication from waste deposited in the intestinal tract and not
evacuated with sufficient rapidity. If delirium be present at all, it will occur when the process of elimination is at its he ight, and it
will cease as suddenly as it began, when the cause of the toxemia has been removed from the bowels. If proper preparation for the
fast has been observed, this symptom will never appear in cases of purely functional derangement. But it may appear if a fast  is
broken befo re purification of the system has been attained, or, if the patient is given food in amount beyond the capability of his
organs to digest, when feeding is resumed at the end of a completed fast. In cases when abstinence from food is forced and
involuntary,  as for example in shipwreck and mine accident, delirium, if it occur, results from the mental strain attendant upon the
situation, and it, together with the mortality that may happen, could often be obviated were knowledge of the resources of th e
human bo dy more general. In organic disease, before a fast or while it endures, delirium may last for some time, and, while its first
cause is one with that in functional trouble, its persistence is due to defects in organism that prevent elimination. And, ev en th ough
recovery be possible, these cases are most obstinate in yielding to treatment, since the process of purification is exceeding ly slow
in accomplishment, while recuperation is similarly delayed. This type of patient requires more care and caution in han dling than
does any other, for the sufferer, losing faith in the power of nature to overcome the condition, is apt to lose courage as we ll. Resort
to food and to drugs may be made, and the outcome, doubtful before, is now almost inevitably fatal. When one is confronted by
this situation, the lesson to be learned is that of recognition of organic limitation, for while the very functioning of an o rgan
diseased has a tendency to restore that organ to normal action, it must be remembered and emphasized that spe cial function in the
physical body is capable only of operating within bounds, beyond which lies disaster.

A fast properly conducted can never cause delirium nor affect the mental processes other than favorably. Much of insanity is the
result of congesti on-producing functional disorder, and this sort of mental aberration is ordinarily followed by complete restoration
to normal reasoning power after a fast more or less protracted in length has been scientifically administered.

A general classification of  the symptom of disease that tends towards limiting the appearance of certain signs to certain ailments
can never be made with accuracy. It is true that the science of medicine labels and catalogues all symptoms, and that it is i ts plan to
await developmen t before announcing diagnosis. But the science of medicine, neglecting or ignoring cause, seemingly devotes its
entire attention to the suppression of manifestation, and classification of symptoms upon the basis adopted finds items overl apping
in such mann er as to make distinction difficult if not impossible. An arrangement of disease forms may, however, be made in a
general way along lines that are more or less sharply defined.

1.--Ailments purely functional in origin that readily yield to natural treatm ent. In these cases, because of accumulation of waste in
the digestive tract and in tissue, organs are hampered in function but are in nowise structurally disabled nor in themselves diseased.
Here gradual improvement is noted from the beginning of preparat ion for a fast, and recovery is always to be anticipated.

2.--Organic defect in slight degree, occasioning disturbance because of work inefficiently performed by an organ that is partiall y
disabled. This condition places heavier burdens upon other organs  and functionally unbalances the entire system. During the
progess of a fast disagreeable symptoms are noted in these cases, and it is possible that full functional power may never be
restored. However, if structural defect has not reached the degree that denotes inclusion in the class following, and, if care be
exercised during the time of convalescence, recovery is usually assured.

3.--Organic defect of such degree that the functioning of a vital organ is rendered impossible or nearly so. A gradual decl ine,
beginning before the fast and continuing with a short interval of relief after entering upon abstinence, is the characteristi c
indication. Relief noted may be such as to inspire hope of recovery, but, if the condition be as stated, there is no possibi lity of cure.

In cases of disease purely functional in character, the fasting patient usually discovers after the first general symptoms di sappear,
that his strength has apparently increased, and that he is able to attend to ordinary duty without difficu lty and with marvelously
clear mentality. In other words, with the loss of stimulation due to food poison, disease subsides, and real strength becomes
manifest. The patient is not less weak nor more strong than at any time during his previous diseased stat e when living under toxic
stimulation. but the fast has served to uncover his true condition and to demonstrate that a sick man is not of necessity a w eak man.
It should now be quite clear to the reader that in disease many or the avenues through which ene rgy is normally released are so
obstructed by cumulative waste and its effects as partially to prevent the expression of vital force, and that, in the early stages of
illness, weakness is but inability to assert latent strength.
Page 30 of  72
The subject of food stimu lation has not received the attention that it deserves in any system of therapeutics, for it is always an
important factor to be considered both in health and in disease. When the body has become accustomed to a dietetic regimen, f ixed
in quantity and in h ours of ingestion, it strenuously rebels when denied. The system may be greatly overfed; it may slowly be
poisoning itself through its own indiscretions; yet the omission of a meal puts appetite into action. Given the usual quota,
metabolism of a sort cont inues until excess proves too heavy a burden to be carried, or some micro -organism finds environment
suitable for multiplication and growth; then nature calls a halt and attempts correction through her only remedy, disease.
Recuperation begins when the acc ustomed stimulus, food, is withdrawn, but the subject is plunged into the depths. Stimulation, so
long a habit, now seems necessary to counteract the depression caused by deprivation, and to the latter is added fear, engend ered
by tradition, that nourishme nt is needful to foster strength, and even that death through starvation will shortly occur. Here
mentality must be called to the rescue, and the will must be asserted in order to avert apprehension and with it the desire t o resume
the ingestion of food.

Careful study of the symptoms of disease, as they occur when either feeding or fasting is the rule, reveals the law through w hich
nature works to restore a diseased body to health. It may briefly be given as a process of systemic elimination, upon lines o f least
resistance, of toxin -producing substances retained in the intestinal canal or in tissue. The signs of distress, the symptoms, may
often be locally relieved by the application of heat, water, sunlight, air, manipulation, or other natural means, but disease can never
be eradicated through mere suppression of symptom. It must be dealt with at its source; and, despite its variety of expressio n, it has
but one cause, digestion, with nutrition, inefficiently performed, and but one remedy, systemic elimina tion of the toxins resulting
therefrom.

In the process of treatment outlined in the text frequent examination of the discharges of the body are made. These in connec tion
with other indications give an index of the progress of systemic purification. Both urine and feces are methodically tested,
chemically and microscopically, and the nature of the products of elimination is thus determined. In the prior days of fastin g the
urine is invariably high in color and in specific gravity, and its reaction is usual ly strongly acid, while urea, phosphates and other
mineral salts, and bilious products are present in abundance. When the first flush of elimination subsides, specific gravity is much
lowered (it may register below 1.010), and mineral substances decrease i n quantity. If treatment excluded the daily enemas and
baths, if it were confined solely to abstinence from food, specific gravity of the urine would at first quickly rise and woul d
continue to be high in register, but, because of prompt removal of waste f rom the colon by means of the enema, and because of
dilution of the fluids of the body through absorption of water through the walls of the bowel, density of urine is diminished, hence
its lighter specific gravity. When purification nears completion, react ion of urine may assume a neutral or even an alkaline
character, which again will change to slight acid upon resumption of ingestion.

Even in the early years of life systematic overloading of the system with food is responsible for high arterial pressure. And the
supertension of later existence is in large measure preventable through dietetic care in youth and middle age In


 Shaktipat
23. Gainesville Hosts a Guru
24. The Temple Is Built
25. Opening the Heart Chakra
26. Get Thee to an Ashram
Section IV
T h e  B u s i n e s s  o f  S u r r e n d e r
27. A Company Is Born
28. The Master Builder
29. Community Banking
30. The Ever-Expanding Temple of the Universe
31. Metamorphosis of a Creature
Section V
S o m e t h i n g  P r i c e l e s s  I s  B o r n
32. From the Personal Self to the Personal Computer
33. The Birth of The Medical Manager
34. The Early Programmers
35. Preparing for Launch
Section VI
T h e  F o r c e s  o f  N a t u r a l  G r o w t h
36. The Foundations of a Successful Business
37. The Industry Knocks on Our Door
38. The Temple Keeps Growing
Section VII
W h e n  D a r k  C l o u d s  B e c o m e  R a i n b o w s
39. A Touch of Magic
40. The Scary Messenger of Change
41. The Foundation Is Built for the Future
42. Meanwhile—Back at the Ranch
Section VIII
E m b r a c i n g  E x p l o s i v e  E x p a n s i o n
43. The Medical Manager Sprouts Wings
44. Medical Manager Corporation—MMGR
45. Becoming CEO
46. The Internet and Health Care
47. Merging—But Not with the Universe
48. Building Rome in a Day
49. Hanging Out in Washington
Section IX
T o t a l  S u r r e n d e r
50. The Raid
51. Attorneys, Attorneys, and More Attorneys
52. United States of America v. Michael A. Singer
53. Preparing a Defense
54. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights
55. Divine Intervention
56. Returning to the Beginning
About the Author
More by the AuthorA c k n o w l e d g m e n t s
In t ruth, life is  really the aut hor of this book. She is the
one who manifested the flo w of events that were so
powerful and fascinating they demanded narration. But
life need ed me  to put pen to p aper if her greatness was to
be mem orialized. To that end, she sent exactly the right
people at exactly the right time to bring The Surrender
Experiment  into fruition.
It is  with hum ility and heartfelt thanks that I tell you
of the phenomenal job that my product manager, Karen
Entner, did on this book. Her tireless and selfless service
has inst illed this work with a sense of commitment and
perfection rarely found in this world.
I w ould  also like to take this opportunity to thank my
editor, Gary Jansen, from Crown Publishing, for all the
hard work and great suggestions he contributed. As
would be expected, life prov ided the absolutely perfect
editor to assist me in giving this testimony to her
greatness.
This bo ok had many early readers, all of whom deserve
thanks. I would like to single out James O’Dea, Ursula
Harlos, and Stephanie Davis, who contributed detailed
suggestions on  draft after dra ft during the early stages of
writing.
I n ow get to a cknowledge yo u, the reader, for having
the interest and taking the time to read about this
phenomenal experiment. May we all learn to appreciate
our live s in this amazing universe—a little bit more each
day.S e c t i o n  I
Waking UpT h e  P r e m i s e
Sitting alone in a six-seater private jet at forty
thousand feet is a very peaceful place. I fell into
meditation and my mind became very still.
When I opened my eyes, I absorbed the
tremendous difference in my environment
from w hen I had first moved out to the woods
to b e al one and  meditate. Though I still lived in
those s ame woods, my place of solitude had
grown into a t hriving yoga community, and I
had bec ome CEO of the publi c corporation that
life had somehow magically manifested
around me. It was now perfectly clear to me
that all of these life experiences, including
running a business at this level, were doing as
much to free me spiritually as my years of
solitary medit ation. Just as Hercules used the
flow of rivers to clean out the Augean stables,
so the powerful flow of life was cleaning out
whatever was  left of me. I j ust kept letting go
and practicing  nonresistance, whether I liked
what was happening or not. It was in this
frame o f mind that I was flying off to Texas to
discuss the billion-dollar merger offer for my
company from a powerful CEO whom I had
never even met.
My Reflections, May 1999
L ife rarely unfolds exactly as we want it to. And if we
stop an d think  about it, tha t makes perfect sense. The
scope of life is universal, and the fact that we are not
actually in control of life’s events should be self-evident.
The uni verse h as been around for 13.8 bil lion yea rs, and
the processes that determine the flow of life around usdid not begin w hen we were born, nor will they end when
we die. What manifests in front of us at any given
moment is actually something truly extraordinary—it is
the end result of all the force s that have been interacting
together for billions of years. We are not responsible for
even the tiniest fraction of what is manifesting around
us. Nonetheles s, we walk a round constantly trying to
control and determine what will happen in our lives. No
wonder there’s so much tension, anxiety, and fear. Each
of u s actually b elieves that things should be the way we
want them, instead of being the natural result of all the
forces of creation.
Every day, we give precedence to our mind’s thoughts
over the reality unfolding before us. We regularly say
things l ike, “It  better not ra in today because I’m going
camping” or “I better get that raise because I really need
the money.” Notice that these bold claims about what
should and shouldn’t be happening are not based on
scientific evid ence; they’re based solely on personal
preferences made up in our minds. Without realizing it,
we do this with  everything in our lives—it’s as though we
actually believe  that the world around us is supposed to
manifest in accordance to our  own likes and dislikes. If it
doesn’t, surely something is very wrong. This is an
extremely diffi cult way to live, and it is the reason we feel
that we are always struggling with life.
Nonetheless, it  is also true that we are not powerless in
the face  of the events unfoldin g around us. We have been
gifted with the power of will. From deep inside, we can
determine how we want something to be and apply the
power of our minds, hearts, and bodies in an attempt to
make th e outside world conform. But this puts us in a
constant battle of our way versus the way it would be
without our intervention. This battle between individual
will and  the reality of life unfolding around us ends up
consuming ou r lives. When we win the battle, we are
happy a nd relaxed; when we don’t, we are disturbed andstressed. Since  most of us only feel good when things are
going our way, we are constantly attempting to control
everything in our lives.
The que stion is, does it have to be this way? There is so
much evidence that life does quite well on its own. The
planets stay in orbit, tiny se eds grow into giant trees,
weather patterns have kept forests across the globe
watered for millions of years, and a single fertilized cell
grows into a b eautiful baby. We are not doing any of
these th ings as conscious acts of will; they are all being
done by the incomprehensible perfection of life itself. All
these a mazing events, and countless more, are being
carried out by forces of life that have been around for
billions of years—the very same forces of life that we are
consciously pit ting our will against on a daily basis. If the
natural unfolding of the process of life can create and
take care of the  entire universe, is it really reasonable for
us t o assume that nothing g ood will happen unless we
force it  to? It is to the exp loration of this intriguing
question that this book is devoted.
How can there possibly be a more important question?
If li fe can manifest the DNA molecule on its own, not to
mention create  the human brain, how is it that we feel
that we have t o control everything on our own? There
must b e another, more sane way to approach life. For
example, what would happen  if we respected the flow of
life and  used  our free wil