 in the past decade. If we are going to make cosmic
consciousness matter, we cannot wear rose-colored glasses. Those
storms, and the human misery they generated, were allowed intovirtual reality. Many things have entered virtual reality to make
life nightmarish. The average person isn’t prepared to accept responsibility for
the spell/dream/illusion we are entangled in. The accumulation of
greenhouse gas es can be explained as divine retribution, or as the
outcome of a series of very  unfortunate events, or as human
imperfection screwing up one more thing. Self-destruction is part
of our nature, but self-creation is infinitely more powerful. By
waking up, metahumans can make right what humans ha ve done
wrong. Waking  up happens o nly one person at a time. Reality isn’t
a numb ers game. It’s a one-player universe, and you an d I are
enough to move creation itself.One purpose of this book is to demystify the process of
waking up. The direct path i s meant to be effortless and natural. The only uncertainty is time—people who want to achieve higher
consciousness all begin at a different place, and this makes a
difference. I’ve found in my own experience that desire is a
powerful incentive no matter  where you start from. If you really
want to learn something—a new language, French cooking, rock
climbing—the process becomes enjoyable. The better you get at
learning, the more enjoyable it is. Unlike those things, however, waking up isn’t a skill. There’s no
set of rules or  guidelines. Even finding a teacher is fraug ht with
missteps. How does a teacher prove that he’s awake? But every
culture that believes in higher consciousness has, over time,
developed a setting for this special kind of learning, suc h as an
Indian ashram or a Zen Buddhist monastery. These settings fit into the context of each culture. If you don’t
happen to belong to the culture, however, and you’re viewing
these settings from the outside, ashrams and monasteries look
alien and exotic. Yet there’s no proof that a special setting is
mandatory. Af ter all, the process of waking up is abo ut self-
awareness. No  one can teach you to be self-aware. No one needs
to. Con sciousness already includes self-awareness. I’ve been
arguing in this book that existence is  consciousness. In other
words, you were born with the tools to become more self-aware. It’s just a matter of applying them. In the process of waking up, n o special lifestyle is required. You
live as you’re living now, by being aware of the world “ou t there”
and the  world “in here.” The  only thing new is that you relate to
both wo rlds using new assumptions. You assume that the “real”
reality isn’t the same as virt ual reality. You assume that you are
whole at the le vel of the true self. You assume that the true self
offers a better way to live, a more conscious way but also more
creative, open, relaxed, accepting, and free. Assumptions a ren’t the same as truth or facts. They need to be
tested, which is the purpose of this section. You are asked toexperiment on yourself, spen ding time every day for a month to
find out if the direct path works. It’s a fortunate time to seek
higher consciousness. Stripped of religious trappings and the fog
of m ystery, consciousness h as entered a new phase as  a full-
fledged researc h topic, studied by psychologists, psychoth erapists,
biologists, philosophers, neuroscientists, and even physicists. This explosion  of interest makes for a better setting, in  fact,
than traditional ashrams and monasteries. You can be fully
engaged in everyday life while placing your deeper attention on
waking up. It’s a little odd th at someone must learn to w ake up,
but that’s the result of living  so long with the conditione d mind. Convinced that the spell/d ream/illusion is real, our  minds
conform to it. Waking up happens by dismantling the conditioning
that kee ps us trapped in mental constructs. When those co nstructs
begin to fade away, waking up is the state we arrive at. Arriving there is unpredictable and totally personal. It’s best to
set out with an open mind and no expectations. Just adopt the
attitude that waking up is real; other people have done it f or many
centuries, and the only requirement is self-awareness. A  D a i l y  P l a n
The lessons in this section are set up to be as flexib le as
possible. First there’s an axiom or insight for the day. It is followed
by a brief expl anation, and then an exercise. Read the axiom and
explanation at least once, although several times throughout the
day is better, so that your att ention is drawn back to the theme of
the day. The exercise should be done as often as it takes fo r you to
feel tha t it really sank in—one  to three times separated throughout
your day should do it. Finally, space has been left for you to
journal about your experien ce. Even better would be to keep a
separate journal devoted to waking up. Is a  month en ough time to completely wake up? I sinc erely
doubt it, but some people have been known to open their e yes one
morning, look around, and know with certainty that they haveawakened. Others gradually change inside and slip into higher
consciousness almost without noticing that the change has taken
place—it becam e second nature over the years. In all likelihood
you will get th e most out of repeating these lessons, goi ng back
when you feel the desire to reengage with the learning process. There a re degr ees of being a wake, just as there are skill levels in
learning a new language, French cooking, or rock climbing. Reinforcing your awakened state is part of the process. The lessons get longer as the  month goes on, not because  they
are hard er but because there is more to see. Every lesson is  equally
easy. Be open, fluid, and flexible a bout getting there. The beauty of
the direct path is that each lesson along the way has its own
achievements, its own “aha” moments, and its own pleasures. In
that spirit, let the waking up begin.To download, go to http://prhlink.com/9781524762988a001
DAY 1

The everyday experience of reality starts with perceptions
—sounds, colors, shapes, textures, tastes, and smells. Waking up is supposed to b e effortless. But it’s important to
know w here to  start. There is  no better place to begin than where
you are  right this moment. In  fact, we will wind up in trou ble if we
pretend that there is any other starting point. You are
experiencing your life as it i s, a flow of experiences that begins
with the five senses. For Today
Get in touch w ith the basics. Sit for a moment and be with your
simplest exper ience of light, w armth, the smells wafting your way,
the tast e of food. Relax into  the experience. Just observe. The
more yo u are able to relax, th e more effortless waking up will be. Relaxing into the moment is the key. In a relaxed sta te your
mental activity calms down, and observing your direct experience
happens naturally. YOUR EXPERIENCE:

 DAY 2

The range of human perception is a narrow bandwidth of
raw sensations. The five senses are our window on reality, but the opening is a
slit, no t a picture window. “Seeing is believing” usually only
applies to a small fraction of the raw data bombarding the eye
every second. The same is t rue for the other four senses. They
conspire to deliver a narrow bandwidth of reality. To expand the
bandwidth to increase our perception, is one reason for waking
up. For Today
Get in touch with how narrow your sense of reality actually is.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        But a life based on
specifics is misguided, because the spell/dream/illusion contains
thousands of specific things,  so many that you cannot deal with
them all or esc ape their grip. As a child in India, I heard simple
versions of what it means to wake up to reality. In one tale, a fish
is fr antic with t hirst, rushing around to find a drink of wat er. Even
at four years ol d a child laugh s at the silly fish who doesn’t know itis surr ounded by water. Only when you grow up does the
seriousness of the paradox set in. Once you have the experien ce of sensing yourself, which is
available to each of us in our calmer moments, you can use inner
silence to transform your wor ld, one day at a time. This is done by
looking at your mistaken notions about reality and rejecting them. Like a physicist sorting through all the objects in the subatomic
world t hat aren’t the irreducible


	oil,	using	it	in	your
abhyanga
	practice	or	with
just	a	quick,	modified	hand	or	foot	massage	at	the	end	of	the	day—or	whenever	you	feel	you	need
some	soothing.SHIFT	8:
Address
Specific	Skin	Issues
While	the	ingredients	we	discussed	earlier	will	naturally	boost	your	skin’s	glow
and	vitality,	there	are	some	common	skin	issues	that	respond	well	to	particular
ingredients. In	this	shift,	you’ll	learn	tips	to	overcome	any	issues	that	might	be
plaguing	your	skin. We’ve	also	included	recipes	for	masks	and	tonics	that	were
designed	specifically	for	each	individual	concern. Acne
Acne	is	an	all	too	common	skin	condition	that	can	be	exacerbated	by
impurities	in	your	blood	that	push	out	through	your	skin,	causing	breakouts. Here	are	some	of	the	best	ways	to	cut	down	on	these	impurities	and	create	clear,
radiant	skin:
•
Reduce	consumption	of	oils	in	general	and	high
fat,	heavy	foods. Excessive
oils	in	the	system	can	aggravate	your	moisture	balance	and	clog	the	pores. •
Incorporate	cumin,	turmeric,	and	ginger	when	cooking	to	boost	digestion
and	help	promote	pure,	healthy	blood. •
Eliminate	dairy	from	your	diet,	which	some	research	has	linked	to	acne. 1
•
Take	an	excellent	probiotic	supplement	(see
this	page
)	and	an	oxygen-
magnesium	supplement	(such	as	Detoxy	+),	which	is	a	nonlaxative,	non-
habit-forming,	and	nonirritating	internal	cleanser	that	is	free	of
gluten,
animal	products,	and	corn. Here	are	a	few	good	skin-care	ingredients	to	target	acne:
TEA	TREE	OIL
This	has	antibacterial	and	soothing	properties	and	is	a	great	alternative	to
benzoyl	peroxide,	which	can	be	drying	and	irritating.CLAY
This	is	great,	especially	in	face	masks,	as	it	helps	to	calm	the	skin	and	balance
sebum	production	(see
this	page
	for	more	details). RADICALLY	CLEAR	SKIN	MASK
The	bentonite	clay	in	this	mask	will	help	draw	out	impurities	in	your	skin	and	balance	oils,	while	raw
honey	has	both	antibacterial	and	antiseptic	properties. 1	tablespoon	water
1	teaspoon	raw,	organic	honey
1½	teaspoons	bentonite	clay
Mix	the	water	with	the	honey	first,	then	stir	in	the	clay	and	mix	well	to	form	a	paste. Apply	to	your
entire	face,	being	careful	to	avoid	contact	with	your	eyes. Leave	on	for	about	20	minutes,	then	rinse
well. Try	using	this	mask	once	or	twice	a	week	for	problematic	skin. ALPHA	HYDROXY	ACIDS	(AHAS)
These	help	to	exfoliate	dead	skin	cells,	prevent	clogged	pores,	and	leave	your
skin	smoother	(see
this	page
	for	more	details). ACNE-PREVENTING	TONIC
Used	externally,	cranberries	and	oregano	both	have	some	astringent	properties,	which	helps	cleanse
the	skin	and	balance	its	oils. 2	to	3	tablespoons	filtered	water	plus	a	bit	more	as
needed
1	tablespoon	dried	oregano
½	cup	cranberries	(dried	is	okay)
Boil	the	water	and	stir	in	the	oregano. Turn	off	the	heat,	cover,	and	allow	the	oregano	to	steep	for	15
minutes. Strain	and	set	aside. Next,	puree	the	cranberries	in	a	food	processor	or	blender	(adding	a	few
tablespoons	of	filtered	water	as	needed	for	dried	cranberries). Strain	through	a	cheesecloth. Combine
the	cranberry	puree	with	the	oregano	liquid. Soak	a	washcloth	in	the	liquid,	place	it	on	your	face,	and
relax	for	15	minutes. (Listen	to	some	calming	music	so	you	aren’t	tempted	to	move	around!) Rinse
with	warm	water. Bags	Under	the
Eyes
Poor	drainage	of	fluids	can	contribute	to	puffy,
baggy	under-eye	circles. It’s
important	to	keep	your	circulation	working	optimally	and	prevent	a	buildup	offluids,	which	can	be	done	by	eating	foods	with	balanced	electrolytes	(essential
minerals	that	affect	your	body-fluid	balance,	among	other	critical	processes)
and	avoiding	too	much	sodium. Bags	under	the	eyes	can	also	mean	you	have	a
buildup	of	impurities	from	sluggish	digestion	or	overtaxed	adrenals,	so	be	sure
to	incorporate	lots	of	lemons	and	lemon	water	to	flush	out	your	system	and	to
supply	your	body	with	vitamin	C.	Before	we	talk	about	some	of	the	remedies
for	the	skin	around	your	eyes,	here	are	some	more	tips	to	avoid	or	improve	the
existence	of	bags	under	your	eyes:
•
Increase	your	rest	and	sleep,	especially	if	you’re	a	woman	on	your	moon,	or
menstrual,	cycle;	a	lack	of	sleep	can	exacerbate	the	visibility	of	under-eye
issues. •
Avoid	(or	at	least	cut	down	as	much	as	possible)	on
caffeine	and
alcohol,
which	can	leach	minerals	from	your	system	and	tax	your	adrenals,
contributing	to	under-eye	bags	and	circles. •
Avoid	smoked,	grilled,	or	barbecued	foods,	which	tend	to	be	excessively	high
in	sodium	(as	well	as	nitrosamines,	which	are	considered	carcinogenic). •
Incorporate	coconut	water,	which	helps	balance	electrolytes	such	as
potassium	and	sodium. •
Hydrate	more	in	general,	as	some	research	out	of
Oxford	University	has
shown	the	appearance	of	the	skin	under	the	eyes	is	linked	to	kidney	health,
2
and	your	kidneys	function	best	in	the	presence	of	abundant
hydration. •
Make	sure	to	incorporate	banana	into	your
Glowing	Green	Smoothie	(see
this	page
	for	recipe),	which	is	high	in	B	vitamins	and	potassium;	these	are
great	for	helping	to	keep	your	skin	smooth	and	puffiness	at	bay. •
Cut	out	refined	sugars	and	use	only	stevia	or	raw	coconut	nectar	as	your	go-
to	sweeteners. Unlike	refined	white	or	artificial	sugars,	stevia	and	raw
coconut	nectar	won’t	tax	your	adrenals	and	cause	inflammation,	a	by-
product	of	which	can	be	under-eye	bags	and	puffiness. •
Avoid	consuming	other	foods	with	high	sodium,	such	as	soy	sauce,	close	to
bedtime. This	can	contribute	to	greater
dehydration	throughout	the	night
and	can	cause	you	to	wake	up	sporting	prominently	pronounced	under-eye
bags. Here	are	a	few	good	skin-care	ingredients	to	target	under-eye	bags:
PeptidesLook	for	this	on	ingredient	lists. They	are	great	for	supporting	healthy	collagen
and	elastin	in	the	structure	of	your	skin,	which	will	help	it	stay	taut	and	less
prone	to	bagginess. Topical
Coenzyme	Q10
This	can	support	the	amount	of	adenosine	triphosphate	(ATP),	which
transports	chemical	energy	between	skin	cells	for	improved	overall	function
and	enhanced	skin	repair	and	regeneration. BAG-BANISHING	SKIN	TREATMENT
Almond	milk	is	full	of	vitamin	E	and	is	believed	to	be	anti-inflammatory,
3
	while


 done something wonderful in her first-
grade class, and she concluded by saying, “I am so glad that I worked with
her on this project and taught her how to perform in front of the class
without any anxiety or self-dou bt.” At an earlier time in my life I would
have said, “Wait a minute. I am the one who taught her that behavior, and
you want to take all of the credit. You do that all the time.” My reaction
now is: “Great! I am so happy that she is gaining confidence, and you are a
great help to her in this regard.” Inside, I feel I also contributed to her
success, and I can appreciate  my internal feeling without demanding
external acknowledgment. I know that our daughter ’s confid ence is the
result of numerous inputs from both of us, from her own inner self, and
from many others as well. My happiness is for her; it is not based on
needing some credit, or on taking some credit away from  my wife. Competition and turbulence inside me have been replaced by inner peace
and harmony. It is unconditional love, beginning with Self. When you retreat to your peace ful inner solitude, you enter that fourth
dimension that opens up an entirely new world. But, before you can get
there, you may need to examine your resistance to this powerful new idea
of self-transformation. WHY  YOU MA Y BE RESISTING THIS PRINCIPLE

Why would anyone choose to resist this state of being? Possibl y to remain
in the illusion of safety. As long as you are convinced that you are only yourform, you needn’ t consider your own greatness and the risks that go with
transformation. Think about it for a moment. All of the impediments to your success and
happiness can be neatly explained away as simply the boundaries of your
physical existen ce. In this fram e of mind you can decide that other people
are just plain lucky or they were born with advantages you did not get, or
they got all the breaks. These are the thoughts of someone who remains
stuck in form. To experience transformation requires opening up to the
possibility of an entirely new idea. Most of us reject new ideas for the
safety of those to which we have become so comfortably accustomed. It is also quite comfortable and natural to take the opposite position from
that in the title of this book. That is, “I’ll believe it when I see it! And not a
moment before!” Most people do not like to go beyond their comfort zones. You may know in your heart that life resists purely physical explanations
and that science cannot conclusively answer questions such as “What is
life? Where does it go when it dies? How do I think?” Despite this
awareness you may prefer to stay with that which you can see— that is, with
form and form alone. Perhaps believing in formlessness is just too spooky
and weird for you at this time. Yet you know in your heart that you have to
be much more than just that body you live in. It is risky in the beginning to toss out all of the old comforts and take the
step that will allow you to interact with your inner beingness. That is where
you live, in that inner place. That is where you feel everything. That is
where all of your thoughts reside. And you may not be quite ready to
explore this place where you have complete responsibility for all that you
are experiencing. You might also resist transforma tion because you are afraid of change, or
of examining something that you do not understand. I call this the head-in-
the-sand approac h to your own spirituality. “Let someone in a pulpit preach
about what I am supposed to do in the spiritual realm. Me? I’ll take care of
paying off my mortgage. All of this mystical stuff is for deep  thinkers or
dedicated religio us believers.” We have been conditioned to believe that
matters pertaining to higher consciousness are the concern primarily of
organized religi ous leaders. Yet if you consider the teachings of highly
spiritual masters, they all say the same thing in different ways. “The
kingdom of heaven is within.” “Do not ask God to do it for you, but in factrecognize your own great divinity and magnificence.” “Look within, not
without.”
You may feel that an attempt to achieve personal transformation conflicts
with your specific religious training. But nothing that I am writing about
conflicts with the teachings of the spiritual masters. Nothing! Transformation is about love, peace, personal fulfillment, treating others
with respect, and achieving harmony on this planet as one family of man. Nothing I write about is in any way an attempt to criticize or ridicule
anyone’ s religious beliefs. While I find some of the acts that are perpetrated
against human beings in the name of God or organized religion anathema, I
do not find fault with the essential beliefs of the religion. A transformed
being is incapable of behaving in nonspiritual ways toward others. Finally, you may resist this process of transformation because you feel
that you really do not have the capacity to transcend the life that you have
created for yourself. You may feel that you have in fact reached  the limit of
how far you can go, and you do not want the stress and anxiety that goes
with soaring above the life to which you have accustomed yourself. You
may not want to im agine what you can be, because you are not ready to
make that shift,  you want to stay with the familiar and within your own
zone of comfort. Most of your resistance to accepting the possibility of transformation
comes from being willing to carry on pretty much as you always have. Yet,
I know that you would not be reading these pages this moment if you were
not at least curious about the possibility of soaring beyond that which you
have known as your accustome d life-style up until now. And I can assure
you that there is very little real work to do. Once you realize that you are
much more than a pile of bones, muscle, organs, and blood, you are on your
way. Once you begin to ask who this person is that you have come to call
yourself, you are on your way. Once you begin to realize that you yourself
are divine just by the fact that you have a mind and a universal intelligence
that backs up your form, you are already zooming ahead. The rest will
happen almost automatically. SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR PERSONAL  TRANSFORMA TION

 Practice thinking about yoursel f and others in formless ways. Take a
few moments each day to evaluate yourself not in terms of your
performance in the physical world, but in terms of pure thought and
feeling. Imagine yourself actua lly standing in back of your physical
self. Watch yourself acting and interacting and feel what you are
feeling. Do not criticize or judge, simply note how your form is
behaving and what it is feeling. Be an observer as your form is going
through its chosen motions. Use the observe r exercise with other people. Begin to notice how they
destroy their potential for happi ness and success because they identify
exclusively with their forms. As you watch them going throug h their
frustrating motions, know that this is not really the total human being
at all, that behind each one of the people you meet every single  day is
a divine  invisible thinking being. In your close relationships, meet
your loved ones in a place where there can be no limits, in thought
behind the form, and you will see that most of your differences are
unimportant, that the real human  being behind that form is much more
than your physical eyes reveal. Vow to relate to that part. Make an effort to go beyond your own comfort zones on a regular
basis. Listen to the real you inside who is encouraging you to
transcend yours elf, rather than the old you who said you were
incapable of such a task. Ask yourself, “What patterns in my life do I
continuously repeat because that is where I am most comfortable?”
When you have  an honest answ er, work to begin a new approach to
your thought processes. If you have not spent any time in the
wilderness because the idea violates one of your comfort zones, make
a comm itment to do precisely that. By extending yourself to new
levels, you will put transformation in your life. Make an effort to cease labelin g yourself as a means of identifying
who you are as a human being. Long ago I stopped identifying myself
by any professi onal title. When people ask me what I do, I usually
reply with some silly remark like “Pleasure is my business.” Yet
behind that little wisecrack is a lot of truth. I do everything because I
am everything. Yes, of course I write, but that is only a small portionof what I am, and essentially my writing is a means of expressing my
thoughts. Yes, I do professional speaking, but again that label would
only serve to restrict me. My speaking is also an expression of my
humanity. Eliminating the titles and labels reduces our inclination to
compartmentalize and restrict our lives. Søren Kierkegaard said,
“Once you label me, you nega te me.” Almost all of our labels refer
somehow to form and what we do with our physical bodies. When you
stop identifying yourself exclusively through form, then your
profession, age, race, sex, nationality, financial picture,


 belief that a
child needs to be taught, both at home and at school, what is
good behavior and what is not and to be praised or scolded
accordingly. Children disciplined in this way tend to develop
greater self-control than those who are not. Furthermore, if
they are taught that God helps the good and punishes the
bad, they tend to unconsciously refrain from bad conduct in
adulthood. Only those who can exercise self-control can achieve men
tal stability and maintain a proper balance between the con
scious and unconscious realms of the mind. Without this bal-35
ance, spiritual advancement through concentration and
meditation practice is impossible. Thus, yama and niyama
are indispensible prerequisites for advanced yoga practice. Yama
The Yoga Sutras state that yama has five aspects: non
violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence, and non-
greed. Non-violence: Violent behavior usually arises when emo
tions such as hatred and the greed for power cannot be con
trolled. The self-accusation and guilt that remain in the un
conscious as a result of violent behavior disturb the balance
of the mind and inevitably impede spiritual advancement. Furthermore, non-violence is essential for the maintenance
of peaceful co-existence within our society. Truthfulness: Truthfulness and sincerity help generate a
stable and tranquil mind, and contribute to harmonious so
cial relations. Non-stealing: Stealing naturally results in social censure,
and also has deleterious effects on the mind and body of the
perpetrator. Continence: Next to the desire for food, sexual desire is
the sirongest human appetite. By abstaining from sexual re
lations for specified periods during spiritual practice, one
may develop the ability to control instinctive desires. This
fosters calmness. Non-greed: Acquisitiveness is one of man's strongest in
stincts; its control contributes to both inner tranquility and a
peaceful society. The Yoga Sutras state the observance of yama also gener
ates certain siddhis (spiritual powers). For example, if a man
practices non-violence, his enemies will disappear, evil men
will abandon their weapons, and lions will pass by him with
out attacking. One who is established in truthfulness will
find his wishes fulfilled spontaneously. Similarly, when the 36
wholehearted observance of non-stealing is perfected,
wealth will spontaneously accrue from unexpected sources. Continence generates energy. After five or ten years of medi
tation practice coupled with continence, the adept is able to
transform sexual energy into spiritual energy (ojas). This in
turn produces telepathic and psychokinetic powers, as well
as enhanced mental and physical health. Finally, the com
plete extinction of greed is said to generate the ability to per
ceive one's past and future lives. Past, present, and future are
clearly reflected on the mirror-like surface of a serene, im
mutable mind. Niyama
According to the Yoga Sutras, Niyama also has five as
pects: purification, contentment, mortification, recitation of
sacred sounds, and worship of divine beings. These prac
tices are related to one's personal conduct, in contrast to the
social morality which is the basis of the yama observances. Purification: Both mind and body should be made pure. Yogis bathe three times a day to maintain physical cleanli
ness; for mental purification, various means are employed. One method is to rejoice when others feel joyful and to feel
their sorrow as one's own. This gradually expands the range
of one's emotions and makes the mind pure and free. Regu
lating the breath through pranayama exercises is also impor
tant. The function of the heart consequently becomes quieter
and more relaxed, and the mind is no longer easily excited by
external stimuli. Concentration on the anahata and ajna
chakras is also a very effective method to purify the mind. This practice cultivates the quality of serenity (sattva). In
yoga, three qualities of life (the "three gunas") are
posited: Tamas (inactivity, inertia, indolence), rajas (activity,
passion), and sattva (serenity, calmness, knowledge). When
the sattva guna gains dominance over the other two, a
shining white light is experienced extrasensorily, and peace
ensues. 37
Contentment: This is satisfaction with the basic necessi
ties of life - the absence of desire for superfluous things. Once a person realizes that everything he has - his body, his
mind, life itself - is granted by God, that in effect he owns
nothing, he experiences deep gratitude. This results in un
equalled tranquillity of mind. Mortification: The appetite, one of the strongest human
instincts, may be overcome by fasting. A weak mind may be
strengthened by various forms of asceticism. For example, in
Japan water asceticism - dousing oneself with buckets of icy
water in midwinter, or standing under a waterfall - is widely
practiced. Fasting and water asceticism facilitate the
emergence of the superconscious by slowing the body's
metabolism and quieting the areas of consciousness related
to bodily functions. The Recitation of Sacred Sounds: Chanting scriptures,
mantras, and other sacred sounds which reveal aspects of
the Divine is an extremely powerful practice. At first the
practitioner is conscious of sound as it arises in his throat; as
the awareness deepens, his consciousness becomes increas
ingly clear and unifies to become the sound itself. The mind
is purified and becomes tranquil. Worship of Divine Beings: This refers not to the Ultimate
Being, but rather to divine spirits who have their own in
dividuality. The essence of these deities is Purusha, the
universal consciousness of True Self. In this world of karmic
ties, purusha can only exist in a stained, impure form, but
divine beings dwell in its pure state, enjoying complete
freedom beyond the confines of time and space. They are the
spiritual guides of yogis and their gurus; through their
visualization and worship, the seeker's mind becomes calm
and clear. Superconsciousness and psychic powers are
bestowed, and direct encounters with divine beings become
possible. The observance of niyama has many benefits. Through
purification of mind and body, sattva (tranquility, peace, 38
wisdom) pervades the devotee's being. He acquires the abili
ty to concentrate and control his sensory organs. Moreover,
an intuitive power is bestowed upon him enabling him to
distinguish between higher dimensions of the mind, which
are still subject to the laws of karma, and purusha, which
transcends karma. Through the practice of contentment (the
absence of material desires), one experiences the higher
world that supports our lives, enjoying peace of mind and
superlative happiness. Through the practice of mortification,
psychic abilities - both physical and mental - are bestowed. Through the recitation of sacred sounds one is able to en
counter divinity. Through the worship of omnipotent, pure,
divine beings, one can enter the peaceful, transcendent state
known as non-differentiated samadhi. The purpose of yama and niyama, then, is to prepare the
mind for spiritual enlightenment. Yama stabilizes the mind
in the realm of social behavior, and niyama purifies it by
minimizing worldly, outer-directed activity. Although it may
sound like conventional moralistic preaching to advocate
good behavior and abstention from evil conduct, yama and
niyama are actually practical necessities for one who en
gages in spiritual practice. II
Yoga Asanas
Many people associate asanas with physical exercise and
vigorous movement. This is a misunderstanding, however,
for the actual meaning of asana is "posture" - a stationary
pose in which mind and body are relaxed and composed. Physical exercises generate physiological effects on the
muscles and bones, while the purpose of yoga asanas is to
foster mental and spiritual - as well as physical - health. Certain external differences are obvious. For example,
physical exercises often include quick, sharp movement ac
companied by rapid, even violent breathing. Asanas, on the
other hand, are practiced with gentle movement, deep
respiration, and pointed concentration. They are maintained
for several breaths before a slow return to the starting posi
tion. Undue strain is unnecessary. Through the asanas the
functions of the internal organs and muscular and nervous
systems are toned and stabilized. According to tradition Lord Shiva, who is worshipped by
yogis as the deity who releases human beings from this
world, created yoga and the asanas. He is said to have de
vised 8,400,000 asanas and taught them to the goddess Par-
vati, his first disciple. In the ancient tradition, the practice of
39 40
asanas is said to release one from the bonds of karma. Each
person is thought to reincarnate 8,400,000 times, and the
practice of


ik Jira of Firozpur district (Punjab) is a popular 112 : AUTO-URINE THERAPY
Vaidya. He has developed deep interest and fa1th. n urine therapy
after reading the Hindi. translation of Manav Mutra. He has used this
therapy on a number of patients, suffering from not only cancer and
leprosy but other dangerous diseases also. Here is related a case of
cancer cured by. him by urine therapy alone. Sant Kalasinhji aged
seventy-five suffered from asthma. 'Thereafter he used to get blood
,pJong with cough. Doctors opined tnat it was due to the cancer of
throat and it emitted very bad smell. Urine~soaked cotton was
applied on the wound, and was changed every three hours. He got
some relief. He was given urine to drink under a pretext. After two
months blood stopped. Doctors opined that he was fully cured.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>
Q: Who was the Jain monk who suffered from cancer on his neck and was cured with urine therapy?,
A: There is no mention of a Jain monk suffering from cancer on his neck in the text.
Q: What was the treatment given to Shri Chandulal Shah's son, who had cancer in his stomach and pus in his testicles?,
A: The text does not provide information about Shri Chandulal Shah's son.
Q: What was the advice given by Shri Babubhai to the patient with stomach-ache, hyper-acidity, and constipation?,
A: The text does not mention Shri Babubhai's advice to a patient with stomach-ache, hyper-acidity, and constipation.
Q: Who was the doctor who examined the patient with stomach cancer and advised him to undergo deep X-rays and surgery?,
A: The text does not mention the doctor's name who examined the patient with stomach cancer.
Q: What was the treatment given to Shri Ramanlal Trivedi, who suffered from diabetes and high blood-pressure?,
A: There is no mention of a person named Shri Ramanlal Trivedi in the text.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>She was
taken to Bombay and was subjected to radium-rays on doctor1s
advice. But there was no relief at all. Thereafter she was admitted to
Mission Hospitai,_Anand. The Plaster of Paris was fixed on her back
and for full 3 1/2 months she kept to her bee!. But there was no
improvement at all. The pain became more intense day by day. Finally she was urged to adopt, urine.treatment. The experiment
started with rubbing. After seven days, some improvement was
noticed in her condition. With the rubbing of 15 days, she swelling
on the vertebral collfmn showed tenden.cy to disappear. She was
also made to fast on.urine for a few days as required. Within a
month she was completely cured. 3. Gout : Shri Purushottambhai S. Patel (nephew of the late
Sardar Patel), resides in. the New Brahmakshatriya Society,
Ahmedabad. For the past four years, he was suffering from gout. The finger joints, shoulders and knees, etc. developed stiffness and
there was pain too. Gradually the trouble affected the whole body
and lost its suppleness. Though he used to take medicine, there was
no relief at all. U. T.-12 t'
. I 142 : AUTO-URINE THERAPY
He came to know of my efforts regarding urine therapy and paid
me a visit. I advised him and gave instructions. In the meanwhile he
went on a visit to Hardwar along with his family. He stayed there
for a month on the banks of holy Ganges and started urine regularly
because of his going outdoors frequently for sight-seeing. Thus
during his stay at Hardwar, he rubbed for 20 days in all which
completely eiminated the pain in his knee-joints. Even after his
return from there, he continued drinking urine twice a day with
very good results. Now he is quite comfortable and happy. AFTERMATH OF CASES
1. Shrimati Kalavati belongs to Punjab. She is a religious-minded
lady. She suffered from pain in her shoulders and there was stiffness
for three years. Doctors could not cure her but urine treatment with
regular drinking and massage cured her completely. Moreover she
got rid of her spectacles by applying urine drops in her eyes and by
washing them by urine. She has cured wounds and other ailments
by use o.f urine. She did all this at Shri Hans's suggestions. 2. Sflrimati X lives at Firozepur (Punjab) and is aged fourty-four. She is somewhat fatty. Seven years before she had pain in her
knees, shoutders and other joints and slowly the pain covered the
wha}e body. There was swelling on alomst all joints. There was
diffculty in walking too. She started urine treatment on 12-5-66 at
Shri Hans's instance. She felt relief only in four or five days. Then
she fasred on urine for five days. There was an all-round reltfe to
her body. Her weight was reduced by about 12 lb. ; constrpatk:m
disappeared; cold was no more; and now feels herself quite mormal. 3. Shrimati Y resides at Jadialaguru (Punjab). She is forty-five. Her
forehand used to become numb at night; such was her condition for
the last 12 years. Slowly numbness increased and there was a
sensation of heat too. On pressing the hand there was pain also. She could not get any benefit by doctors' treatment. So she started
urine treatment in· 1965. She fasted on urine for five days and
massaged her hands with urine. She felt complete relief, cured SKIN DISEA5ES : 143
numbness of her hand and is quite normal now. 4 p· ·a N Bulsara (Bombay) wrote a letter to the edi~or,
Kais~r-e~~~nd a~d it is published in the 9th July issu~ of the da~y. When she was fifty she accidE>ntally had some hard Impact on er
right knee and so the cartilages there were injure~.. She could ;:at
walk properly and afterwards she developed arthntls. It wa~ t en
d ct for a few mmutes. very difficult for her even to stan ere B
Bone-specialist gave a verdict that it was a very hard ~e.. y
chance she came to know about urine therapy and start unne
reatment She fasted on urine only for two days and massag~d her
tk cor.about two months and is quite all right now. If there IS any
nees,,. she can now
pain, she applies urine therapy an~ c~res It at. once. de t in urine
climb 300 steps in a very high bUilding. She IS an a p ~...
d ng woman of her tumour -uy treatment and she has cure a you
auto-urine! CHA-PTER XIV
SKIN DISEASES ·
- 1 Bl'st...., due to Heat : Shri Juthabhai A. Shah, on Saba~ati
• 1 e.... h" body. in 1958~ He dectded Haritan Ashram, had heat erupttans o~ IS •... •. doctor
to make an experiment with auto-unne Without g<>l~g t~ a
nd an rubbing it on the whole body and drin1<1n~ It once or
a ic ~da During this period, yellow blistQrs of the Size of a.pea
tw e d y. h. hole body They were so close that even an 1nch appeare on IS w · · · h d
of skin was not free from their effect. There was much pam m an s
and feet. He fasted with urine for thre~ days and felt ~o ~::ena~~
The blisters· rendered massage impossible so h~ mere ~I became
his bod with urine. On the sixth day t e trou e. er!ted and his feet were swollen. H~ noticed that sheer
exagg. h d ffect on the blisters So he requested b ·ng with unne a no e ·. a e~~::r;riend to do the rubbing for him. The fri:nd did accordmgly
and the ripe blisters burst. The skin appeared.~htteh~s th~ f~~:z~~
out. It was as if his body was besmeared Wit w lte om. 144 : AUTO-URINE THERAPY
took a bath with warm water and cleaned his body. This relieved
him a good deal. Within five or six days, pus was eliminated from all the blisters. His new skin appeared bright. His body became perefectly well and
after a couple of days he started his usual work. 2. Blisters : An account of Shri Keshavalal Makanlal (Weaving
Master) who got rid of his chronic constipation with urine treatment
and had cured his skin disease also:
"In 194


 We	do	this	all	the	time,	yet	we	don’t	know	how	we	do	it;	the	next	thought
emerges	from	the	gap,	the	purely	unknown. You	will	witness	as	the	dream	of	a	new	identity	begins	to	clothe	you,	and
you	will	fall	into	your	next	life	in	complete	surrender	to	past	actions	that	you
still	know	almost	nothing	about. But	all	of	us	can	take	a	more	active	role	in
how	we	reincarnate. In	the	gap,	when	every	possibility	confronts	us,	choice
lies	among	those	possibilities. The	elaborate	rituals	in	the	Tibetan	Book	of	the
Dead	aren’t	designed	to	get	a	kind	person	to	a	nice	heaven	and	a	better	next
lifetime. They	are	designed	to	make	freedom	of	choice	real,	to	bring	the
person	fully	aware	into	the	gap	so	that	karma	can	be	shaped,	controlled,	or
even	fully	resolved.Freeing	Yourself
What	will	it	be	like	to	find	yourself	in	the	gap? I’d	like	to	answer	that	from
personal	experience. A	year	ago	I	was	sitting	on	an	airplane	in	a	bewildered
state	of	mind. During	a	short	layover	in	the	Midwest	I	found	myself	without
something	to	read. I’d	looked	over	the	airport	newsstand,	but	nothing	on	the
racks	appealed	to	me. When	I	boarded	my	next	flight,	intending	to	pass	the
time	by	writing,	I	discovered	that	my	notebook	and	handheld	computer	had
been	packed	away	in	a	suitcase. Something—fate,	circumstance,	a	clumsy
oversight—had	placed	me	alone	for	four	hours. Without	notice	or	permission,	a	subtle	mental	voice	started	to	guide	me. It
gave	me	a	glimpse	into	how	my	mind	works	when	it	has	no	distractions
around. What	I	saw	was	very	basic. There	is	a	thought	in	the	mind	and	then
another,	and	then	another	and	another. Thoughts	can	be	gripping	or	pass	by
unnoticed;	they	can	be	strong	or	weak,	momentous	or	casual,	frivolous	or
serious. The	guiding	voice	pointed	all	this	out	in	a	few	seconds. Now,	what	is	the	proper	way	to	relate	to	your	mind? the	voice	asked. Should	you	always	do	what	it	says? Clearly	not,	for	we	have	all	kinds	of
thoughts	that	are	irrelevant	or	fantastic. Should	we	ignore	what	it	says? No
again,	because	the	mind	gives	us	all	the	desires	upon	which	we	build	our
lives. There	is	no	single	way	to	relate	to	the	mind
. You	can’t	take	a	stance	that
will	always	work. When	people	decide	arbitrarily	to	be	optimists,	they	may
miscalculate	when	it	comes	to	serious	crises,	evildoing,	wars,	personal
conflicts,	etc. If	they	decide	arbitrarily	to	be	pessimists,	they	will	miss	many
opportunities	for	joy,	fulfillment,	hope,	and	faith. My	mental	guide	showed	me	this,	and	I	was	intrigued. It	would	appear
that	being	spiritual	is	one	stance	that	works,	yet	there	are	situations	where
even	being	spiritual—tolerant,	loving,	accepting,	and	detached	from
materialism—won’t	work	at	all. A	parent	can’t	simply	accept	and	love	a	child
addicted	to	cocaine,	for	example;	active	intervention	is	called	for. A	thousand
other	examples	come	to	mind. Love	won’t	defeat	torturers;	tolerance	won’t
stop	the	excesses	of	fanatics. A	person	must	find	an	infinitely	flexible	way	to
relate	to	the	mind;	otherwise	something	gets	lost. The	most	precious	gift	of
the	mind—its	total	freedom—is	the	source	of	our	creativity. Now,	my	mental	guide	said,	look	at	the	world. Isn’t	it	the	same	as	the
mind? The	same	unpredictability	prevails,	and	therefore	you	cannot	take	a
fixed	attitude	toward	the	world	that	works. People	who	are	congenitally
optimistic	about	the	future	are	as	shortsighted	as	people
who
	are	congenitally
pessimistic. Go	one	step	further. Karma	is	also	unpredictable,	and	it	too
cannot	be	approached	single-mindedly. To	fight	your	karma	is	just	as
frustrating	as	accepting	your	karma. At	this	point	the	sun	had	set	and	the	plane	cabin	was	empty	and	dark. Icould	see	the	last	band	of	blue-orange	light	circling	the	horizon. My	mental
guide	wasn’t	an	accident	or	a	daydream. I	realized	that	for	a	long	time	I’d
wanted	to	know
how	it	all	works
. The	answer	is	that	mind,	the	world,	and
Karma	are	the	same	thing,	perfect	mirrors	of	one	another. Their	complexity	is
impossible	to	fathom. Their	infinite	connections	can	never	be	mapped	out,
and	even	if	they	could	be,	the	next	tick	of	the	clock	will	bring	a	new,	equally
infinite	set	of	possibilities. That	realization	is	as	close	as	I’ve	ever	come	to	being	in	the	gap	where	a
new	lifetime	is	chosen. The	gap	is	pure	freedom,	and	when	you	see	that	you
are	completely	free,	choices	change. Some	souls	want	to	remain	completely
unattached;	they	choose	Moksha,	or	liberation	from	a	physical	body	and	the
karma	it	acts	out. Other	souls	cherish	Moksha	but	want	to	enjoy	it	while
possessing	a	body. They	choose	to	reincarnate	with	complete	self-awareness
—we	call	them	enlightened. The	rest	of	us	fall	somewhere	else. We	cherish
being	free,	but	we	also	want	new	experiences. So	we	let	Karma	weave	a	new
story	for	us. We	keep	some	self-awareness	and	sacrifice	some. We	agree	to
acquire	amnesia	about	“I	am”	in	exchange	for	the	drama	of	being	a	separate
person	with	likes	and	dislikes,	challenges	and	opportunities. The	new	life	we	clothe	ourselves	in	will	contain	its	unique	measure	of
connection	and	disconnection. This	is	hardly	the	perfect	way	to	relate	to
mind,	Karma,	and	the	world. The	perfect	way	is	freedom. But	in	our
imperfect	way	we	become	part	of	a	mystery. We	accept	a	role	in	this
fascinating	play	of	light	and	darkness,	and	once	again	the	physical	world
becomes	our	reality. We	return	to	a	belief	that	death	is	a	fearful	thing,	that
struggle	is	necessary,	that	pleasure	is	worth	pursuing	and	pain	worth	avoiding. We	forget	the	knowledge	that	our
souls
	have,	or	that	we	had	when	we	were	in
the	gap. We	keep	only	a	bit	of	the	truth	close	by	so	that	we	have	something	to
aspire	to. I	have	a	feeling	that	we	also	keep	a	measure	of	sorrow	for	the
decision	we	made	to	leave	truth	behind. Our	half-truth	has	one	virtue,
however. As	long	as	we	believe	in	it,	the	soul	will	never	give	up	on	teaching
us	the	rest. For	that	purpose,	the	dream	continues.Part	Two
T
HE
	B
URDEN	OF
	P
ROOF

UNTIL	THIS	CENTURY
	the	burden	of	proof	in	spiritual	matters	lay	with
disbelievers. Religion	had	such	a	powerful	hold	upon	the	human	imagination
that	for	whole	cultures—the	ancient	Egyptians	and	medieval	Christians	come
to	mind—the	material	world	was	much	less


 an inner strength. They
find that unconditional love does not subtract from some limited emotional
storehouse. Instead it multiplies itself. It feels good to give, it makes the
recipient feel good, and sooner or later it returns. As Walt Whitman wrote:
Sometimes with one I love I fill myself with rage for fear I ef fuse
unreturned love,
But now I think there is no unreturned love. The pay is certain, one way or another. (I loved a certain person ardently, and my love was not returned,
Yet out of that I have written these songs.) One of the immediate rewards is a “live” message to the body. I am
convinced that unconditional love is the most powerful known stimulant of
the immune system. If I told patients to raise their blood levels of immune
globulins or killer T cells, no one would know how. But if I can teach them
to love themselves and others fully, the same changes happen automatically. The truth is: love heals. I realized this intuitively many years ago, during my resi dency. A
gentleman with severe staphylococcal pneumonia and empyema (an
accumulation of pus in the chest) had gone into cardiac arrest. I gave him
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. When I came out of the room, the nurses
were all shaking their heads and saying, “Y ou’re going to get sick. How
could you do that?” I had a feeling then that my body would resist the
infection because I had acted out of love for the man, and indeed I didn’ t
get sick. Years later I heard an account of a nearly identical experience by Dr. Jerry Jampolsky, of the Center for Attitudinal Healing in Tiburon,
California. As part of his training, Jerry was sent to a tuberculosis
sanatorium. He was frightened that he would contract the disease, and
decided that he could take a deep breath when he got there, and hold it for
three months. One night he was called to see a woman with active
tuberculosis, who’d had a massive pulmonary hemorrhage and cardiac
arrest. He gave her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and the nurses told him,“How could you do that? Now you’re going to get tuberculosis.” He never
did, and he realized that he was not vulnerable while he was doing
something for someone out of love. His realization strengthened mine, and
now I’ve come to understand that this is why Mother Teresa and dedicated
nurses can work among hundreds of sick, infected people every day without
becoming ill. As the medieval German mystic Meister Eckhart wrote:

The bodily food we take is changed into us, but the spiritual food we
receive changes us into itself; therefore divine love is not taken into us, for
that would make two things. But divine love takes us into itself, and we are
one with it. SCIENCE AND THE HEALING SPIRIT
Even though love is hard to study scientifically, medical research is
beginning to confirm its ef fects. At the Menninger Foundation in Topeka,
Kansas, people who are in love, in the romantic sense, have been found to
have reduced levels of lactic acid in their blood, making them less tired, and
higher levels of endorphins, making them euphoric and less subject to pain. Their white blood cells also responded better when faced with infections,
and thus they got fewer colds. Dr. Fred Corn-hill and Murina Levesque of
the Ohio State University College of Medicine reported in 1979 that “tender
loving care” reduced atherosclerosis and the risk of heart attack by about 50
percent in rabbits fed lar ge amounts of cholesterol. We also know that
infants who do not receive love will waste away and die, even under the
best conditions of sanitation and nutrition. The reason has been found by
Dr. Christopher Coe of Stanford, who proved that the separation of infant
monkeys from their mothers suppresses the babies’  immune systems. In 1982, Harvard psychologists David McClelland and Carol Kirshnit
found that even movies about love increase levels of immunoglobulin-A  in
the saliva, the first line of defense against colds and other viral diseases. A
Nazi propaganda film and a short on gardening had no ef fect, but a
documentary on Mother Teresa’ s work produced a sharp rise in
immunoglobulin—especially in persons motivated by altruism. However,
the ef fect was unrelated to the subjects’  conscious like or dislike of Mother
Teresa, suggesting that the images of love had their ef fect at the
unconscious level. Although the improvement lasted less than an hour, itcould be prolonged by having the subjects think about times in their lives
when they had been nurtured by someone. Some of the most telling work has been done in Israel by Jack Medalie
and Uri Goldbourt. The two researchers studied ten thousand men with the
risk factors for angina pectoris—abnormal heart rhythms and high anxiety
levels. Medalie and Goldbourt used psychological tests and questionnaires
to find out what other factors determined which men would actually
develop the chest pains. The most accurate predictor turned out to be a
“No” answer to the question “Does your wife show you her love?”
Furthermore, as Leo Buscaglia has pointed out, insurance companies have
found that if a wife kisses her husband good-bye in the morning he has
fewer auto accidents and lives five years longer. Unfortunately, there isn’ t always a direct relationship between spiritual
change or white-cell count and the cure of an illness. The idea is to love
because it feels good, not because it will help us live forever. Love is the
end itself, not the means. Love makes life worth living, no matter how long
life lasts. It also increases the likelihood of physical healing, but that is the
bonus, the icing on the cake. Yet, though quality of life is the most important thing, people naturally
want to extend its quantity, too. Most of the people who have changed in
response to illness, those mentioned in these pages and thousands more like
them, have outlived their doctors’  expectations. By their own lives they
have proven that love and authentic spirituality do increase one’ s time as
well as one’ s joy. In the final analysis, this kind of evidence on the person-
by-person level is the important kind. However, a small but growing
handful of investigators are placing this most dif ficult of research subjects
on a scientific basis. Their results, though preliminary, support what
exceptional patients have learned. The average survival time of the Simontons’  patients is about two and a
half times that of similar patients who receive only the standard medical
treatments. About 10 percent of their patients remain disease-free past the
standard five-year definition of a cancer cure—an extraordinarily high
number compared with the rate of self-induced healing among seriously ill
or “terminal” cancer patients in general. Yet this number should be even
higher. These patients are self-selected, having traveled long distances for
the program and put great ener gy into it. I believe that with more emphasison spiritual growth and availability of therapy programs, there would be an
even higher survival rate among these highly motivated patients. Dr. Kenneth Pelletier has made a psychological study of many patients
who recovered despite great odds. He found five characteristics common to
all of them:
1. Profound intrapsychic change through meditation, prayer, or other
spiritual practice. 2. Profound interpersonal changes, as a result: Their relations with other
people had been placed on a more solid footing. 3. Alterations in diet: These people no longer took their food for granted. They chose their food carefully for optimum nutrition. 4. A deep sense of the spiritual as well as material aspects of life. 5. A feeling that their recovery was not a gift nor spontaneous remission,
but rather a long, hard struggle that they had won for themselves. In 1977 a research group led by Dr. Edward Gilbert of Denver ’s
Presbyterian Medical Center completed one of the first controlled tests of
psychological treatment of cancer patients. Gilbert and his co-workers
asked independent physicians to examine a group of forty-eight patients and
predict how long they could expect to live using standard medical
treatments. The patients entered an eight-week program of individual and
group therapy, biofeedback, and training in meditation and visualization. Then the patients were tested by independent psychiatrists to see which
ones had made the most positive changes in their lives. Five patients were
graded as having changed most significantly, and four of these far exceeded
medical expectations. Of the other twenty-five then remaining in the group,
only one outlived the initial prognosis by a similar mar gin. One statistical study has been attempted with breast cancer patients in
ECaP  by medical student Geor ge Gellert and Yale epidemiologist Hal
Morgenstern. It showed an average survival time strikingly greater during
the follow up period, than that of members of a comparison group.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        As your concentration improves, you can do imaging
meditation anywhere, even on a subway. Often the environmental noises
can be woven into the imagery or hypnotic suggestion and help deepen the
trance. The only requirement for ef fective visualization is development of
your imagination. Seek specific help from a trained therapist if you have


atory and anti-viral spice. How long to take? It can be taken upto two weeks, based on your doctor’s advice. Is it safe during pregnancy and lactation? Nope. Avoid it. Side Eﬀects
Overdose may cause burning sensation in stomach and mild diarrhoea.183. Home Remedy for
Gout, Rheumatoid Arthritis,
Non Healing Wounds and
Piles
Y
Indian Tinospora (Giloya) and ginger are very powerful herbs with anti
inammatory eﬀects and anti microbial properties. Here is a traditional herbal
ghee preparation, which is a home remedy for gout, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Ingredients
Coarse powder of Indian Tinospora (Tinospora cordifolia) – 100 g rams
Fine powder of Ginger – 25 grams
Claried butter (ghee) – 100 ml
Water – 1.6 litres
Step One –
Take 100 g of Tinospora to 1.6 litre of water, boil, reduce to 400 ml. [1:16 =
4]
After 400 ml of Kashayam is ready, it is ltered. Step Two –
Take ghee in a wide mouthed vessel. Add the Kashayam to it.Make a paste of ginger with little water and add it to the ghee. Heat this mixture till nally all the water content (400 ml of kashayam)
evaporates and only 100 ml of herbal ghee remains. ings to Observe
While preparing ghee, initially the whole mass will be one muddy liquid. Slowly, nearing the end, the ghee becomes clear and gets separated from the
ginger bolus. At the end, when you take a piece of ginger paste from the ghee and put into
re, there will not be any re. is is an important sign indicating there is no
more moisture in the vessel and it is the time to stop the procedure. At the end, when you take a piece of ginger paste between your ngers and
roll, the paste can be easily rolled into a wick form. During initial stages, when moisture is there, the paste will be too soft to roll
into a wick. If you have over burnt the ghee, the wick will become and will
break into pieces, if tried to make a wick out of it. How to take? If you have the habit of taking ghee, replace the ghee with this herbal ghee. Remember to drink half a glass of warm water after taking the ghee. How it works? Both ginger and Tinospora are powerful anti inammatory herbs. Hence both
are very useful in Gout and Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In RA, we had learnt that there is impairment of digestion power as well as
joint health. Ginger corrects the enzyme levels at stomach and intestines. In Gout and RA, there will be some level of depletion in immunity. Both
Ginger and Tinospora are known immunity boosters.Tinospora is powerful anti microbial herb, hence this remedy is traditionally
mentioned as inducing quick wound healing. Due to its wound healing property and its soothing eﬀect over mucosa, it is
also very good home remedy for Piles.184. Home Remedy for Gum
Swelling and Bleeding
Gums
Y
Here is a simple home remedy with only two ingredients for gum swelling,
bleeding gums and to strengthen teeth. is can be prepared within 5 minutes
and once prepared; you can store it for 1–2 m onths. What You Require
Long pepper fruit powder – 50 grams
Saindhava Lavana (Black salt) – 50 grams
How to make? Prepare ne powder of long pepper and black salt. Mix them together in equal quantities. Keep it in air tight container. How to use? It can be used as tooth powder in cases of gum swelling, inammation and
bleeding gums. Use this powder to massage gently over the gums. What to expect? You may expect a very slight burning sensation.Side Eﬀects
No known side eﬀects. Care should be taken not to swallow this powder, while using in people with
high BP. How long to use? It can be used for 3–4 weeks or till the gum swelling lasts. Can this be used as tooth powder forever? No. It is ideal to use this for a limited time period only.185. Home Remedy for
Hiccups, Asthma and
Chronic Lung Diseases
Y
Ayurveda has explained many common remedies for hiccups, asthma and
chronic lung diseases. is is because; both hiccups and respiratory diseases
have same Dosha dominance of Kapha and Vata Dosha. Here is a simple home
remedy for such conditions. Home Remedy for Hiccups and Asthma – What you need? Sugar candy – 10 grams
Long pepper fruit – 10 grams
Raisins – 10 grams
Dates – 10 grams
Ghee – 10 grams
Honey – 5 grams
How to make? Take sugar candy in mortar and pestle and make ne powder. Remove seeds from dates. Add raisins and dates to the sugar candy powder and mix thoroughly.Add long pepper powder, honey and ghee to it and mix well to make a
homogeneous paste. Indications –
It is traditionally indicated in the treatment of hiccups, asthma and wheezing
due to seasonal change and allergic causes. It is also useful in chronic respiratory disorders such as tuberculosis and
chronic bronchitis. Traditional Indications
is remedy is described in the context of Rajayakshma – a chronic respiratory
disorder with body tissue depletion. It is also indicated in
Kasa – cold, cough
Shwasa – asthma, respiratory disorders involving diﬃculty in breathing
Jwara – fever
Vaisvarya – hoarseness of voice. Dose – 3–5 grams, twice or thrice a day, after food with water. How long to take? It can be taken for a period of 6–8 weeks, based on your doctor’s advice. Shelf Life (expiration date)
Once after preparing, this remedy can be stored in air tight containers for upto
4–6 months. How does it work?Long pepper is one among Trikatu and is very useful in relieving cold, cough. It also stimulates immunity. Honey is well known for its eﬀectiveness in sore throat, cold, cough etc. Ghee, Raisins and dates helps to soothe the respiratory tract. In chronic respiratory disorders, often the patient suﬀers from weight loss (as
seen in tuberculosis). ese three help the patient by providing nutrition. Safe for kids? In a dose of 1–2 grams once or twice a day, this remedy can be used in kids
above 3 years of age. Safe for pregnant mother? It is quite safe in pregnant mother. But before taking it, please consult your
doctor, if you are pregnant. It is safe in lactating mother. Side Eﬀects:
ere are no known side eﬀects in the suggested dose.186. Home Remedy for High
Pitta Balance and Anorexia
Y
Here is a simple home remedy for High Pitta in oral cavity, ear, eyes, nose and
throat and anorexia using very simple ingredients. is liquid remedy is used for Gandusha or gargling. What you need? Sweet tamarind – 10 grams
Sugar candy/unprocessed sugar – 10 grams
Water – 50 ml
Cardamom powder – 1 gram or 1 pinch
Clove powder – 1 gram or 1 pinch
Edible camphor – 1 gram or 1 pinch
Black pepper – 1 gram or 1 pinch
How to make? Take water in a bowl. Add sweet tamarind to it. Squeeze well for 1–2 minutes. Filter. Add sugar and stir well. To this, add one pinch of each of cardamom, clove, edible camphor and
black pepper powder. Mix well.How to use? is liquid is used for gargling, 3–4 times a day. Each gargling time period can be – 3–5 m inutes. What are its benets? It is useful in relieving anorexia. It improves taste. It is also used to balance high Pitta at the level of head and neck, leading to
burning sensation in oral cavity and throat, oral ulcers, burning sensation in
eyes, headache of Pitta origin associated with nausea and dizziness, etc. Mode of Action
As per Ayurveda, clove, sugar candy and sweet tamarind helps to relieve Pitta. Hence, it is  used in all imbalanced Pitta conditions. Pepper, clove, edible camphor and cardamom stimulate taste buds and help
improve taste and relieve anorexia. How long to use? In a day, it can be used for gargling for a maximum of 6 times. It can be used
for 1–2 weeks time. Once prepared, how long can it be stored? It can be stored for a maximum of 1–2 days only. Safe for kids? Pregnancy and lactation? It is better to avoid in kids, during pregnancy and lactation period. Side Eﬀ


 found essential, however, that it be
properly prepared and every vestige of concentrated sugar, starch and
flour of every kind be completely eliminated from the diet. One of the most insidious causes of ulcers and cancer has been
discovered in the victims nursing resentments for a long time, all too
often ever since childhood. Unless resentments are completely
dissolved, they can frustrate otherwise most effective attempts to help
the patient. It sometimes happens after drinking large quantities of carrot juice
that a reaction is experienced or perhaps some distress. This is a
perfectly natural sequence as it is an indication that Nature has started
house cleaning in the body and that this juice is the most needed
implement for this purpose. To jump to the conclusion that the juice does not agree with one
shows lack of understanding, as carrot juice is nothing more nor less
than the very finest quality of organic water and the kind of
nourishment that the body needs. If the juice is fresh and has been
properly made there is nothing whatever, even by the wildest stretch
of the imagination, that can do other than furnish the enzymes, vital
2K atoms, and the vital organic water which the starved body cells and
tissues crave and call for. The addition of some raw goat's milk or a little pure raw cream to
the carrot juice gives it a somewhat exotic flavor and often serves to
relieve the monotony when a reaction or distress may have a tendency
to turn us against the plain juice. It is pertinent to remark that cream is a fat, pure and simple, while
milk is definitely a concentrated protein food. Cream goes through
an entirely different digestive process in our system than does milk;
and while it is of course mucus-forming to some degree, it is not in
the same class of pernicious foods as milk. One very good thing to remember when we are overtaken by
fatigue, distress, or reaction in our body is the fact that our colon is
perhaps responsible for more trouble and mischief within our anatomy
than all other causes and conditions put together. In our experience,
we have found that it is utterly impossible for a colon to develop
normally and to function successfully when one lives mostly or entirely
on cooked and processed foods. It is safe to assume therefore, that it
would be almost impossible to find many colons which are perfect. This being the case, our very first step, if we are suffering from
distress or reaction, would be to take a series of colonic irrigations, if
possible, or at least, a number of enemas until the cause of the trouble
has come under control. The fresh-raw vegetable juices would then
have better opportunity to carry on their end of the regeneration
processes. The best food for the colon is the combination of carrot
and spinach juice, the formula is given on a later page in this book. Many people do not have the vaguest idea of what the Colon is,
what it looks like or where it is located in the body. I have reproduced
a picture of it because I consider it of such great importance. This
picture of the COLON THERAPY CHART which I drew up, and
which measures about 17"x 22" and is intended to be framed and
hung on the wall of the office or home. (At the end of this book you
will find details about it). Bear in mind that the quantity of juices needed by the body is
predicated on their quality. Usually it will take a greater amount of
juices which have been extracted by centrifugal action to get the results
obtained by juices made with a Triturator (Pulverizer) and Hydraulic
Press. At all times bear this fact distinctly in mind that juices are the
very finest nourishment we can get, and if we continue to take them
29 COLON THERAPY CHART
as long as we live the chances are that we will live a healthier life
much longer than we would without them. Carrot juice is composed of a combination of elements which
nourish the entire system, helping to normalize its weight as well as
its chemical balance. It nourishes the optic system particularly, as evidenced by the
many young men who applied for admission as pilots to the schools
of the army and navy but were rejected at their first physical
examination because of defective eyesight. A few weeks later, after
drinking an abundance of fresh raw carrot juice daily, they were
examined again. They were accepted with the requisite of perfection
of eyesight. If this were to happen just once, it would no doubt be considered
a phenomenon. If it were to happen only twice, it would go down into
the annals of healing history as a coincidence. When it happens
repeatedly, however, there is certainly sufficient reason to place doubt
in the background and realize that there are more things in heaven
and earth than even the most educated mind can conceive. No less effective is the fresh raw juice of the lowly carrot in helping
the treatment of ulcers and cancers. Tissues emaciated by those
insidious ravages of cell starvation classified as ulcers and cancers,
have been nourished back to a healthier condition by the abundant
30 use of carrot juice as the principle item of nourishment, and
supplemented only by a carefully selected and prepared raw diet. The laymen is generally awed, frightened, and puzzled at the very
thought of these particular afflictions, and yet their cause and
progression is really simple to understand. After the European war, millions of youngsters in the desecrated
regions—orphans without a home, a roof, a destination—roamed the
country in a state of starvation, we had the picture of a national or
international ulcer developing into a worldwide cancer. Allowed to
spread uncontrolled, their activities would result in crimes and
devastation beyond the wildest stretch of the imagination. Properly
nourished and trained, they would in a comparatively short time
become orderly and useful citizens. So it is with the human body. Due to the deficiency of live atoms
in the food people have been eating, particularly during the present
and immediately preceding generations, the starved and half-starved
body cells, unable to function properly and efficiently the way they
are intended to, rebel and become disorganized. Not being entirely
dead these cells become dislodged from their anchorage (figuratively
speaking), and float around until they find some location within the
human anatomy where they can group together. With the entire body
suffering more or less from live atoms starvation, there are plenty of
locations in the body where protective resistance is low. We must not conclude that ulcers and cancer result only from
physical imperfections. As we have already pointed out, these ailments
and many others may very likely stem from lifelong resentments,
from stress due to states of mind such as jealousy, fear, hate, worry,
frustration, and other negative intangible impediments. These are the
first things to be dissolved and banished. Nevertheless we must not
overlook the fact that Malnutrition and failure to maintain the system
in the highest possible state of cleanliness within and without, and
mentally, may definitely also be contributing factors. Based on this premise and on the experience resulting from our
research, it is our contention that the search for the cause of cancer
does not lie in the field of fantastic speculation of uncontrollable
radium experiments, but rather in the deficiency of life in the atoms
of the food we eat. On the other hand, the search for a cure would
more intelligently lead us to the first principles of Godliness, namely,
cleansing the body of waste matter so that the poisons that occur as a
result of the waste there from should not interfere with Nature's healing
31 processes. Simultaneously furnishing the body with an abundance of
the most vital live-food atoms available for the regeneration of the
cells which would enable the tissues first, to build up resistance against
further degeneration, and then, to proceed with constructive
regeneration. The sooner we realize that not a single organ in the human body
works mechanically or automatically without relation to the body as
a whole, the sooner will we be able to control the functions of our
system. We do not know what form of intelligence the various parts
of the human organism possess nor in just what way they operate; but
we do know that some inherent form of intelligence tries to protect
every gland, bone, nerve, and muscle in our anatomy in spite of
everything man does, usually through lack of knowledge, to destroy
himself through the food he eats. The search for the cause of any sickness or disease should lead us
probably first of all to the canned food shelves of the groceries; the
flour mills; the sugar, candy, and synthetic "soft drink" factories. Here
we should investigate the products containing the dead atoms which
modern civilization has attempted to develop as food and nourishment
for the human body. We cannot have life and death at one and the
same time, and no canned food is permitted by the government to be
sold unless every vestige of life in the food in the can has been
completely destroyed, for otherwise it would spoil. No cooked bread
or processed cereal is eaten until it has come through the heat of the
baking oven, which destroys any life element which might have been
present. "Fortifying" such bread merely adds more dead atoms to it. Analyzing the food situation from these angles, it is obvious that
whether or not we are able to live on all raw live food because of


 f the land. As our evidence accumulated, it became ever more impressive. John
McDougall, MD, for years has been treating people, with great success, for
a variety of illnesses with the plant-based diet that Rip recommends in this
book. Recently, he and other physicians have cured most Type 2 diabeticsand, in many cases, have greatly reduced insulin needs even for Type 1
patients. Rip’ s father, Caldwell B. Esslestyn, Jr., MD, reverses and even
cures advanced heart disease with this diet. Roy Swank, MD, followed
multiple sclerosis patients for thirty-four years, using very much this same
type of diet, and concluded that “about 95 percent of MS patients
[diagnosed early], remained only mildly disabled for about thirty years. ”
I have been lecturing extensively around the country and have heard
from many cancer patients that they believe that they are cured or at least
are in remission because of using a plant-based diet. This belief is borne out
by the findings in our extensive experimental animal studies, in which we
could turn on and of f cancer development by relatively modest nutritional
means, using a model of this same diet. Obesity can be controlled, migraine
headaches reduced, arthritic conditions alleviated—the list goes on and on. The idea that Rip Esselstyn elaborates in this book is “spot-on,” as my
associates across the big pond say. I predict that this book will be as ef fective as any on the market in
conveying an exceptionally important health message in a most personal
way. Just read it, and you will see what I mean. T. Colin Campbell, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Co-author (with Thomas M. Campbell II) of The China
Study  (2005)
OceanofPDF. comPART I
The E2 Diet
OceanofPDF. com1
ENGINE 2
The evening of January 5, 2000, was bitterly cold, a night no one in
the Austin, Texas, Fire Department will soon for get. At the time I was
working at Central Station, the city’ s largest. Central was called “The
Animal House” because we firefighters were notorious for our bizarre
antics, from launching water balloons at passersby from the second-story
rooftop to breaking rookies down until they burst into tears. There were no
barriers and no boundaries. The weather was bad when we went to bed in the firehouse dorm that
night, but by early morning it was worse: A freezing rain was falling, and
temperatures were heading toward record lows. Then, at 4:20 a. m., a heavy
box alarm sounded. (The word “box” refers to a home; a regular box alarm
signals that a single-family house is on fire, but when a heavy box alarm
sounds, it means a fire at a lar ger building, such as an apartment complex. ) Just as at the start of an athletic competition, all my senses went into
overdrive—my heart rate jumped, my stomach churned, my mind raced. Normally I’d leap right out of bed, jump into my bunker pants, and pull up
my suspenders, but because I was going to be driving this shift, I had only
enough time to stumble into my station pants and cotton shirt before sliding
down the eighteen-foot brass fire pole. I was also preparing for the worst. The real burners generally occur
between midnight and 6 a.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>
Q: What are the magic numbers you want your total and LDL,
A:
Q: What percentage of heart attacks occur with people who have,
A:
Q: If there are 4 grams of sugar in 1 teaspoon, and 39 grams of sugar,
A:
Q: What is the purpose of the book?,
A: The purpose of the book is to provide a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, emphasizing the importance of a plant-based diet.
Q: What is the author's motivation for writing this book?,
A: The author, Rip Esselstyn, wants to help people make a positive change in their lives and improve their health.
Q: What is the main idea of the Engine 2 Diet?,
A: The diet is based on eating a plant-based diet, avoiding meats, dairy products, and refined foods, and focusing on nutrient-dense, whole foods.
Q: What is the significance of the cholesterol levels in the pilot study?,
A: The study showed that the participants' cholesterol levels dropped significantly, with an average decrease of 39 points.
Q: What is the author's message to the readers?,
A: The author emphasizes the importance of a plant-based diet for optimal health, citing the research and results of his father's studies and the benefits he has seen in his own life and in the lives of others.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Reality:  Some carbs do, but good carbs don’ t.
Most trendy diets claim that all carbohydrates are bad guys, yet of the
three macronutrients that provide calories in our diet (carbs, protein, and
fat), carbohydrates are the body’ s primary fuel source. They’re responsible
for managing your heart rate, digestion, breathing, exercising, walking, and
thinking. Roughly 70 percent of your daily calories should come from good
(complex) carbohydrates. The ones to avoid are called simple carbs. Both types of carbs are sugars. Both are digested and converted into
glucose, which is used by the body for ener gy: in the blood as glucose, or
stored in either the muscles or the liver as glycogen. When consumed in
excess, carbohydrates can be converted to fat. Simple carbohydrates include table sugar, molasses, honey, alcohol,
white bread, white pasta, white rice, fried chips, sugary cereals, fruit juices,
candy, and milk. Most simple carbs are nutritionally empty because they
have been tinkered with by humans, stripped of their fiber, minerals, and
vitamins. They are digested quickly by the body and cause a sharp spike in
your blood sugar levels. In response to this spike, your pancreas pumps out insulin to transport
and deliver the ener gy-bearing glucose to cells throughout your body. This
process causes your blood sugar and insulin levels to swing like a
pendulum, leaving you feeling fatigued, hungry, and craving still more
simple carbohydrates. And because simple carbohydrates are digested so quickly, any excess
sugar is converted to fat. For these reasons, most simple carbohydrates are a
poor food choice. In contrast, complex carbohydrates are nutritious, and include
vegetables, whole grain breads and pastas, beans, peas, brown rice, sweet
potatoes, oats, fruits, and whole grain cereals. They are loaded with fiber,
vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients. Unlike simple carbohydrates,
complex carbohydrates cause a balanced and controlled release of sugar
into your system. This slow release gives the body more time to use the
carbohydrates as fuel; as a result, fewer turn to fat and insulin remains
stable.So if you consume, whole, good, natural carbs, you will enjoy more
consistent ener gy throughout the day without gaining extra pounds. As you can see, the two types of carbs dif fer immensely from a
nutritional standpoint. Simple carbohydrates are calorie laden, providing
little nutrition and causing weight gain. Complex carbohydrates are lower in
calories and, because they are loaded with fiber, provide bulk that fills you
up sooner, alleviates hunger pangs, and keeps you feeling satisfied longer. So go eat your carbs—as long as they’re complex. Myth 4
You can’ t get enough calcium eating a plant-based diet. Reality:  A diverse, plant-based diet is one of the best available sources
of calcium—and lets you avoid the deleterious ef fects associated with dairy
products. Great sources of calcium include green leafy vegetables, nuts, oranges,
kidney beans, lima beans, whole grains, Swiss chard, lentils, raisins,
broccoli, kale, celery, tofu, and romaine lettuce. One reason why Americans have such a high incidence of osteoporosis
(or weakening of the bones) isn’ t a lack of dietary calcium but an excess of
animal protein, which leaches calcium from the bones. In fact, did you know that the countries with the highest rate of dairy
consumption, including the United States, New Zealand, Britain, and
Sweden, also have the highest rates of osteoporosis? Although their citizens
consume massive amounts of dietary calcium, the excessive protein in that
milk, cheese, steak, fish, and eggs always trumps this important mineral,
leaving them with a net deficit. Meanwhile, people in rural China, who consume one-third the amount of
dairy we do, have almost zero cases of osteoporosis. Dr. John McDougall,
author of The McDougall Program for a Healthy Heart, has scoured the
medical literature on the topic and has yet to find one case of dietary
calcium deficiency in humans—so long as they consumed an adequate
number of calories. So no milk mustache for you! Myth 5
You can’ t get enough fat eating a plant-based diet.Reality:  Trace amounts of fat are present in all fruits, vegetables, and
other plant foods. Strawberries are 5 percent fat; bell peppers, 6 percent; broccoli, 8
percent; spinach, 1 1 percent; and soybeans, 41 percent. Several high-fat
plant foods contain in excess of 80 percent fat


mind, and it wil l have the same ef fect. Simple, primordial man tras chanted
out loud have greater vibrations and therefore have greater power. For
example, chanting the sound OM, while allowing your lips to vibrate on the
mmmmm  s ound as you exhale, creates an explosion of vibrations in the
body an d precipitates healing. Chanting out loud the af firmation “I am
strong, I am he althy” has great power too, just in a dif ferent way with
dif ferent intensity. The ultimate healing power in the V ishuddha chakra enables you to
synchronize communication between your inner and outer worl ds and most
importantly to clear the lines of communication to the Divine. Once you
have harnessed this power, wher ein there is no disconnection or disharmony
in c ommunication between you, others, and the Divine, you will have a
clear path toward enlightenment. The first step toward this path is to seek and speak truth. Our Societal Relationship with the Fifth Chakra
T ruthfulness has  become more dif ficult than ever in modern society. W e
have increased means of communication, and we seemingly communicate
all the time. W i th the constant stream of text messages, voicemails, video
calls, so cial media feeds, and e mails, it appears that we’re communicating
at a more constant rate than at any other time in history. And perhaps we
are. Y et much of this communication — such as humble-brag Facebook
posts or  tweets — is one-way and often designed to embellish or conceal
the truth. I’m n ot suggesting that people are inherently dishon est. I don’ t
have such a bleak outlook on people’ s subconscious intention s. However,
that faceless and often voiceless  communication can result in a portrayal of
an alternate reality. W ith in- person communication, you can also alter the other person’ s
perception of who you are by filtering what you let them see. But when
you’re f ace-to-face with another, you have other cues to send yo u signals as
to whether the person is sincere. Y ou can “read” a person’ s ener gy field (we
all do this whether consciously or unconsciously). Y ou can notice a person’ s
body language. Y ou can connect  intonation of voice with facial expressions. It’ s much more dif ficult to dece ive in person than over the internet or the
phone. T oday, much of the political climate in the United States is a result of
modern society’ s one-way communication through declarative statements,
insults, or proclamations of reality without any instant return of
communication by the receiving  parties. The term alternative facts, coined
in 2017 by the T rump administ ration, demonstrates the tendency to ignore
truth in favor of the alternate world of the internet in which tr uth doesn’ t
seem to be valued by all. When I was on the internet dating scene, I was astonished to discover
how much people lied in their profiles. There seems to be a cultural
tolerance of “acceptable untruths” (or blatant lies, as I call them ) in things
such as dating profiles and even résumés. It’ s rather humorous if you think
about it, because we have great er access to truth today. In the past, if you
wanted to fact-check a given topic, you really had to search. Fact-checking
often me ant trip s to the library and in-person research at variou s locations. T oday w e can search facts instantly. Y et it seems that many p eople don’ t
want to see the truth. Society will only shift to a perception of truthfulness as an ass et and a
necessity when enough people decide that it must be so. Another issue with communicat ion today has to do with the exp ectation
of a rapi d respo nse. Because we’re used to instantaneous feedback through
instant m essaging or texts, we’re inclined to become impatient when we
don’ t re ceive a response right away. T wo things tend to happen in these
situations: (1) we jump the gun and respond harshly when we don’ t get an
instant response, and (2) the person on the other end may an swer with a
less-than-honest, ill-conceived, or poorly researched response because he or
she is more con cerned with answering quickly than with thinking things
through first. The same happens with our listening skills. Fifth chakra ener gy is as
much about hearing and listen ing as speaking. Both sides are equally
important for ef fective commun ication. Through all our electronic ways of
communicating, we have become accustomed to jumping to conclusions
and laying out w hat we want to  say without necessarily taking in what the
other person is saying. Then  it becomes two one-sided pieces of
communication that never mer ge into a conversation. One way  to rectify this imbalance is to realize that communication is a
dynamic dance of giving and  receiving that operates according to a
patterned rhythm. If you’re blurting out nonstop whatever comes to mind
over var ious for ms of media, yo u aren’ t honoring the natural rh ythm of this
dance. By taking the time to truly listen to what the other pers on is saying
and aski ng questions when you aren’ t sure or don’ t understand, you can
help turn the tide back toward authentic and real communication. Another pitfall of using electr onic communication is that it can let
barriers down inappropriately. Cyberpsychologists have no ticed a dramatic
increase in behavior traditionall y reserved for those under the influence of
alcohol or drugs, that of dropping all defenses and blurting out the truth. People who have had a few drin ks tend to lose their inhibitions and tell all
or “tell it like it is. ” The same p henomenon can happen when we’re hiding
behind a username or social  media profile. Our typical inhibitions,
including a healthy dose of caution, seem to fade away too e asily. Many
open themselves up to complete strangers, feeling safe when they see
reciprocation of such behavior. This lack of discernment in communication
can be just as  dangerous as its opposite: completely shutting down
communication closes of f the fifth chakra, but throwing it a ll out there
online or in dial ogues with people on the internet whom you haven’ t met in
person can push you into a deceptive reality. In real life and  in healthy
communication, the give-and-take allows the two parties t o open up
gradually. Going back to the online dating example, one of  the dating
websites I was o n years ago had an entire page on online datin g etiquette,
and I found it responsible and h elpful. A couple of pieces of advice stuck
out in particul ar, and I rem ember them to this day. Th e first is,
communication is give-and-take. If you initiate communication, wait for the
other pe rson to respond. It’ s a ba ck-and-forth ef fort. T ry not to d ominate the
conversation. The second piece of advice was a warning of what we’reexploring in this section: if a pe rson is opening themselves up too quickly
and acting as i f they’re falling in love straightaway, that should be a
warning sign to get away quickly. I be lieve the lesson we can take away from our societal rela tionship
with the  fifth chakra is that a m ultifaceted approach to communication is
necessary to foster healthy and honest relationships. Meeting in person is
more important than a phone call or an electronic message. Remember to
listen and actually hear what the other person is saying, as well as get your
message across. Use the tool of asking questions and repeat ing back to
make su re you heard properly what the other person is saying. Finally,
remember that immediacy of res ponse is not always the healthie st or for the
highest good of both parties. A t times, thoughtful reflection can help you
and the other person get in touch with your highest truth. Living Life in the V ishuddha Chakra
The ruling planet of the fifth cha kra is the planet Jupiter. The Sanskrit word
for Jupiter  is guru, which means “dispeller of darkness. ” Therefore, people
who embody fifth chakra ener gy enlighten others with their speech and
words. F ifth cha kra people have transcended their egos in such  a way that
they’re in touch with their souls. They become seekers and speakers of
truth. Th ey hav e spent time in  their heart chakra and have opened their
hearts to higher spiritual knowledge. When they speak or write, they’re
inspired and, in turn, inspire others. Their voices are melodious and
welcomed by those who want to learn these truths. Recognizing Fifth Chakra Imbalances
Signs that the fif th chakra is out  of balance may include the V ata imbalance
of talkin g incessantly without listening. This kind of nervous talking uses
the voice out of fear of silence or fear of being alone. Another manifestation
of imbalance would be using the voice to be harsh to others, such as putting
a person  in his or her place or being overly critical. Those ou t of balance
can also use their voice as a


 silence, 290, 294–95
as spiritual release, 286–90
and transformation, 293, 295
varieties of, 283–86
and wholeness, 289–90
Ego:
boundaries of, 291and control, 199–200
cosmic, 275, 276
and equality, 127
vs. falling in love, 24, 1 16, 165
isolation of, 165
vs. love, 107–1 1, 116, 161
and marriage, 159, 162
needs of, 108, 1 16, 190, 204
and or gasm, 135
and sensitivity, 128–29
and separation, 162
signals from, 259
vs. spirit, 157, 164, 168, 204
and surrender, 156–57, 163–64, 168, 169
Ego sur gery, 279–81
Emotions, 263–69
Energy:
creative, 230
renewal of, 49
sexual, 142, 146, 229, 284
of Shakti, 239
spiritual, 228
Enlightenment, 135
Equality:
and acceptance, 77–78
and courtship, 127, 130
spiritual, 163
Evolution, personal, 167, 168
Expectations:
in ‘I love you,” 1 13
and sex, 142–49
Falling in love:
vs. being in love, 5
blessed state of, 23–24
and desire, 269–71
ego vs., 24, 1 16, 165and escape, 1 15, 1 16
healing via, 215
needs and, 102
as opening, 62–63
and psychology vs. spirit, 91–93
relationship and, 159
and soul, 66, 71
surrender in, 163–64, 165
False love, 1 13–15, 120–22
Fantasy:
and courtship, 109
and false love, 1 13–14
and fear, 68–69
and infatuation, 89, 99
and sex, 135–36
Fatalism, 194
Fear:
black holes of, 212–15
of commitment, 100
control of, 199–200, 201–4
and danger, 111
of death, 221–22
and fantasy, 68–70
about for giveness, 280
healing of, 215–16
of life, 268, 269–70
and memory, 110–1 1
of risk, 22–24
and selfishness, 1 15
survival, 214–15
Fragmentation, 103–4, 191
Freedom, and intimacy, 137–41
Freud, Sigmund, 10, 12, 37
God:
action of, 244, 247in the beloved, 37
devotion to, 87–88
knowledge of, 247
as love’ s source, 9, 62, 84–85, 86, 249
mirror of, 1 1
as present in death, 247
relationship with, 5
separation from, 191, 205
and soul, 275
Spirit as, 13
as within, 243
Grain of sand, 301–3
Growth, and love, 42
Gyana, 35
Gyana Shakti, 238–40, 241–42
Happiness, 227, 282
achievement of, 39–41, 105
and control, 40
as pleasure response, 40–41
Healing:
death as, 9
defined, 43
by falling in love, 216
of fear, 215–16
of love, 16, 27, 41–43
of separation, 205
Heart:
attention on, 53–55
as center, 51
chakra of, 317
expansion of, 292
meditating on, 52–55
purification of, 51–55
Human nature:
as mirror of God, 1 1spiritual vision of, 10–15
I am enough, 212–17, 321
I am love, 1–3, 33
spiritual tradition of, 5, 1 1–12
I am loved, 322–28
I am That, 274
Icha Shakti, 238–40, 241
Illusion:
and need, 108
vs. reality, 14–15
“I love you”:
emotions in, 1 17
hidden meanings in, 1 12, 1 17, 200–1
and passion, 270
Immanence, 92
Immune response, 88
Independence, and aloneness, 58
Infatuation, 64, 87–105
between two worlds, 89–93
and fantasy, 89, 99
and innocence, 90
loving practice, 94–97
in our lives, 98–105
and perception, 91–92
regression in, 91
and transcendence, 92–93, 94
Infinity, 250
In our lives:
but never the bride, 98–105
Cinderella for sale, 123–30
dying unto death, 218–24
house of light, 314–21
somebody out there, 20–28
what about me., 179–88
what’ s a little gray., 79–86who will rescue me., 56–61
wooing the goddess, 261–71
worn-out lover, 151–55
Insight, 299
Inspiration:
cultivating, 299–313
infinite moment in, 300–3
threads in fabric of, 303–13
Intimacy, 64, 131–55
as agreement, 135–36
and desire, 131–34, 135
and freedom, 137–41
loving practice, 142–50
in our lives, 151–55
and resistance, 139–40
with the self, 134–35, 273–76
and shared self-expression, 135
see also  Sex
Intuition, 244–47
Isolation, 27, 57, 165
Joy, pure, 295
Judgment, 45–46
Kali, 228
Kama, 131–34
Karma, 35, 193–97, 223, 242
Knowledge:
of God, 247
and gyana, 35, 241–42
as love of truth, 1 1–12
Kriya Shakti, 238–40, 242
Letting go, 25, 169–78
and awareness, 170
emotionally, 175–78mentally, 174–75
physically, 173–74
times for, 170–71
and voice of spirit, 258–60
ways of, 173
of what, 172
Liberation, 276
Life:
fear of, 268, 270
as love, 1 1–12
passion for, 227, 229, 234, 237
perfection of, 131
spiritual goal of, 3
Loneliness, 26, 58, 165
Lovability, 70–73
Love:
ability to receive, 84
absence of, 47–50
alignment with, 19
and balance, 42
divine revealed in, 250
vs. ego, 107–1 1, 116, 161
falling in, see Falling in love
false, 1 13–14, 120–22
giving and receiving, 44
God as source of, 9, 62, 84–85, 86, 249
and growth, 42
healing of, 16, 27, 41–43
importance of, 9–10
life as, 1 1–12
messages from, 96–97
vs. non-love, 1 1
path to, see Path to love
and power within, 29
as protection, 202reality as, 14, 16, 27
and relationship, 46
and religion, 12, 36–37, 88
of Self, 216
Self as source of, 14, 33, 46, 65
and sex, 136
social pattern of, 4
and soul bar gain, 17–19
and spirit, 2–3, 1 1–12, 23–24, 29, 33, 37, 39, 65
spiritual meaning of, 3–6, 12, 39
unconditional, 327
and unity, 35
universal