total parathyroidectomy, or malabsorption. Decreased serum Ca+ levels may arise from calcium
loss in Cushing’s syndrome, kidney (renal) failure, acute pancreatitis, and periotonitis.
Hypercalcemia may bring on deep bone pain, flank pain from renal calculi, and muscle
hypotonicity. Its beginning symptoms are manifested by nausea, vomiting, and dehydration,
leading to stupor and coma, and may end in cardiac arrest.
Hypocalcemia may produce peripheral numbness and tingling, muscle twitching, facial muscle
spasm (Chvostek’s sign), carpopedal spasm (Trousseau’s sign), seizures, and arrhythmias.
The Serum Phosphates Laboratory Test
The laboratory test for serum phosphates is a measurement of the blood levels of phosphates
to tell the state of body energy, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, and acid-base balance.
Phosphate ion (P+) is the dominant cellular anion, which is essential for bone formation. Testing
for its blood level aids in the diagnosis of acid-base imbalance plus renal, endocrine, skeletal, and
calcium disorders.
In a normal adult, serum phosphate levels range from 2.5 to 4.5 mg/dL (0.80 to 1.40 mmol/L)
or from 1.8 to 2.6 mEq/L. Children show a higher range that can rise to 7 mg/dL (2.25 mmol/L)
during spurts of increased bone growth..
Phosphates are absorbed through the intestines from dietary sources in the presence of
vitamin D. Excess quantities of them are excreted through the kidneys, which act as the regulating
mechanism. Because calcium and phosphate interact in a reciprocal relationship, urinary excretion
of phosphates increases or decreases in inverse proportion to serum calcium levels.
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007.  All rights reserved.
This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author.Page 179Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comAbnormally high concentrations of phosphates in the blood (hyperphosphatemia), which can
come from drinking an overabundance of carbonated beverages, sets up a pathological process
of bone loss, tooth demineralization, poor healing of fractures, hypoparathyroidism, acromegaly,
diabetic acidosis, high intestinal obstruction, and renal failure.
Depressed phosphate levels in the blood (hypophosphatemia) may result from malnutrition,
malabsorption syndromes, hyperparathyroidism, renal tubular acidosis, or treatment of diabetic
acidosis. In children, such hypophosphatemia can suppress normal growth.
The Serum Sodium Laboratory Test
The laboratory test for serum sodium is a measurement of the blood levels of sodium
to determine body water distribution, osmotic pressure of extracellular fluid, neuromuscular
function, and acid-base balance. The sodium ion (Na+) is the major extracellular cation, and it
influences both chloride and potassium blood levels.
Sodium is absorbed by the intestines and is excreted primarily by the kidneys; a small amount
is lost through the skin by sweating. This mineral aids the kidneys in regulating body water,
for decreased Na+ promotes water excretion and an increased level promotes water retention
(edema).
Testing for Na+ aids in evaluating fluid electrolytes, acid-base balance, and certain disorders
of the kidneys, adrenals, and neuromuscular system. The sodium blood test also determines the
effects of drug therapy such as diuretics on the body. For an adult, normally serum sodium levels
range from 135 to 145 mEq/L (mmol/L). For Gerson patients, a level of 127 is still acceptable.
Sodium imbalance comes from either a change in water volume intake or variation in how
much sodium gets consumed. Elevated serum sodium levels (hypernatremia) may be caused by
inadequate water intake, diabetes insipidus, impaired renal function, prolonged hyperventilation,
severe vomiting, or severe diarrhea. Sodium retention also comes from consuming excessive
salt. The signs and symptoms of hypematremia are thirst, restlessness, dry mouth, sticky mucous
membranes, flushed skin, oliguria, diminished reflexes, hypertension, dyspnea, and edema.
Ingesting too little sodium mineral for serum Na+ (hyponatremia) is rare and doesn’t even
happen on the low-sodium dietary program encouraged by the Gerson Therapy. There is always
some sodium coming from food. Still, hyponatremia can occur, and its indications appear
as apprehension, lassitude, headache, decreased skin turgor, abdominal cramps, tremors, or
convulsions. It can come on from profuse sweating, gastrointestinal suctioning, diuretic therapy,
diarrhea, vomiting, adrenal insufficiency, bums, and chronic renal insufficiency with acidosis. If
you do have testing for serum sodium performed, make sure to get a urine sodium determination
simultaneously.
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007.  All rights reserved.
This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author.Page 180Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comThe Serum Potassium Laboratory Test
The laboratory test for serum potassium, a quantitative analysis, is the measurement of blood
potassium for regulation of homeostasis, osmotic equilibrium, muscle activity, enzyme activity,
acid-base balance, and kidney function. Potassium (K+) is the body’s major intracellular ion (a
cation); small amounts of it are also found in the extracellular fl uid.
Since the kidneys excrete nearly all the ingested potassium, a dietary intake of at least 40
mEq/day (mmol/d) is essential. A normal diet usually includes 60 to 100 mEq/day of this mineral.
In the blood, normal K+ levels range from 3.8 to 5.5 mEq/liter (mmol/L).
Vital to maintaining electrical conduction within the cardiac and skeletal muscles, K+ is
affected by variations in the secretion otadrenal steroid hormones and by fluctuations in pH,
serum glucose levels, and serum sodium levels. A reciprocal relationship exists between K+ and
Na+; the substantial intake of one causes a corresponding decrease in the other. Although the
body readily conserves sodium, potassium deficiency may develop rapidly and is quite common,
because there is no efficient method for conserving potassium.
The laboratory test for serum potassium is used to evaluate clinical signs of either potassium
excess (hyperkalemia) or potassium depletion (hypokalemia). It also monitors kidney function,
acid-base balance, and glucose metabolism, and evaluates arrhythmias, neuromuscular disorders,
and endocrine disorders. Hyperkalemia is common in patients with excessive cellular K+ entering
the blood as in cases of burns, crushing injuries, di:Ibetic ketoacidosis, and myocardial infarction.
It will also be present where there is reduced sodium excretion from renal failure that causes an
abnormal Na+-K+ exchange and in Addison’s disease caused by the absence of aldosterone, with
consequent K+ buildup and Na+ depletion.
Note: Although elevated serum potassium is uncommon in Gerson Therapy patients, if it
does occur, supplemental potassium should be reduced or temporarily discontinued. Then the
consulting Gerson-trained physician should immediately be consulted.
The signs and symptoms of hyperkalemia are weakness, malaise, nausea, diarrhea,
colicky pain, muscle irritability progressing to flaccid paralysis, oliguria, and bradycardia. An
electrocardiogram (EKG) reveals a prolonged PR interval; wide QRS; tall, tented T wave; and
ST depression. Indications of hypokalemia are decreased reflexes; rapid, weak, irregular pulse;
mental confusion; hypotension; anorexia; muscle weakness; and paresthesia. The EKG shows
a flattened T wave, ST depression, and U wave elevation. In severe cases of hypokalemia,
ventricular fibrillation, respiratory paralysis, and cardiac arrest could occur.
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007.  All rights reserved.
This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author.Page 181Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comThe Serum Chloride Laboratory Test
The laboratory test for serum chloride, another quantitative analysis, is a measurement of
blood levels of the chloride ion (Cl-), the major extracellular fluid anion. Interacting with Na+,
Clhelps maintain the osmotic pressure, blood volume, arterial pressure, and acid-base balance.
Chloride is absorbed from the intestines and is excreted primarily by the kidneys.
By evaluating the body’s fluid status, the serum chloride laboratory test detects two
types of fluid imbalances, acid-base (acidosis and alkalosis) and extracellular cation-anion.
Normally serum chloride levels range from 100 to 108 mEq/liter (mmol/L). Maintaining a
normal amount of chloride in the blood reflects acid-base balance by its inverse relationship to
bicarbonate. Ex


.
2
.
Take 50mg of iodine/iodide (Iodoral®) with a glass of water.
3
.
Collect 24-hour urine. Include the first morning sample at the end of the 24-hour collection.
4
.
Send a sample of the 24-hour urine for evaluation of iodine status.
The principle behind using the iodine-loading test has been well established. If the body was saturated with iodine, one would
expect that most of the 50mg of iodine ingested for the loading test would be excreted. If, on the other hand, there was an iodine
deficiency present, then more of the iodine would be absorbed.
Research has shown that a 90% excretion (or 45mg of iodine) of a 50mg iodine-loading test would indicate an iodine-
sufficient state. Levels below 90% (or <45mg) would indicate an iodine-deficient state. In this case, iodine supplementation can
begin and retesting can be performed in the future. To find out more about iodine testing, I refer the reader to FFP Labs or
Hakala Labs (see Appendix).
Once an iodine-deficient state is determined, iodine supplementation can be implemented. I recommend using a combination
of iodine and iodide. This can be found in liquid or tablet form. The Appendix will provide you more information on how to find
an iodine supplement.
Chapter 1
 established that iodine concentrates in all of the trillions of cells in the body. Not only does it concentrate in the
thyroid and breasts, it also accumulates in the prostate, salivary glands, skin, intestines, and all the red and white blood cells
throughout the body. Proper iodine supplementation needs to address all of these issues. Approximately 12mg of iodine has been
established as the optimal daily dose of iodine/iodide for the breast and thyroid gland. However, this may not be adequate to
address the needs of the rest of the body.
Also, due to the contact with so many goitrogenic substances such as bromide, fluoride, and chlorine, the daily iodine
requirements may be elevated for some. Depending on the iodine status of the body, my experience has shown that the RDA for
iodine–150μg/day–is inadequate not only for the thyroid gland, but for the rest of the body as well.
We live in a toxic society, and are continually exposed to
increasing amounts of goitrogens in our environment. The increased
toxic load and goitrogen exposure will necessitate an increased ingestion of iodine. Although the dose should be individualized,
my experience has shown that the dose can vary from 12-50mg/day for most adults. This is the daily dose that Dr. Guy Abraham,
my mentor on iodine, recommended. Some may need higher doses, particularly those with cancer or disease of the thyroid,
ovaries, uterus, breast, and prostate. This higher iodine dose can easily be followed by periodically checking an iodine-loading
test. A proper history and physical exam can also help guide dosing of iodine.
If using Lugol’s solution, keep in mind that 2 drops provides 12.5mg of a combination of iodine and iodide.
IS IODINE SAFE DURING PREGNANCY?
The World Health Organization claims that iodine deficiency is the world’s greatest single cause of preventable mental
retardation. In the United States, iodine levels have fallen over 50% during the last 40 years.
16
 Recent studies show that nearly
60% of U.S. women of childbearing age are deficient in iodine.
17

Chapter 2
 reviewed the reasons why iodine levels are falling.
The consequences of iodine deficiency during pregnancy are severe. For the fetus, iodine deficiency can result in neurologic
deficiencies and a lowered IQ. The worst case scenario
is death. Iodine deficiency during pregnancy has been associated with
other illnesses in neonates and children including cretinism, dwarfism, depression, and ADHD. Researchers have shown thatneonatal mortality declines over 50% when iodine deficiency is rectified. It is important to ensure that a woman has adequate
iodine intake before she becomes pregnant.
Researchers at the University of Texas have reported their concern about iodine deficiency during pregnancy. “I think it is
quite likely we’ve had subtle neurological deficiencies in babies born in the U.S. (to mothers with iodine deficiencies),” claimed
one scientist.
18
 The same researchers have called on the U.S. government to boost Americans’ iodine intake.
Japanese women are estimated to ingest a minimum of 12mg of iodine per day—nearly 100x the RDA for iodine in the U.S.
This amount of iodine has not resulted in widespread reports of problems to Japanese newborn babies. In fact, the Japanese have
a much lower infant mortality rate as compared to the U.S.
It is vital to ensure that women of childbearing age ingest sufficient amounts of iodine. How much iodine is this? No one truly
knows the answer. Proper testing and monitoring of iodine levels can help answer this question.
However, since Japanese women ingest a minimum of 12mg of iodine/day without reports of adverse effects, this may be a
starting dose for women of childbearing age. My experience
has shown this dose to be extremely safe. If you are pregnant, I do
not suggest adding iodine to your regimen without consulting your doctor. Remember, the best results with any therapy will be
obtained by working with an iodine-knowledgeable healthcare practitioner.
SALIVA/SERUM IODIDE LEVELS
When iodine is taken orally, it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Iodine is transported into the target cells of the body by an
energy-dependent process. One atom of iodine is transported into the cells and two atoms of sodium are transported out of cells
via the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS).
19

20
 Recently a second mechanism for transport of iodine into the cells has been
observed—the chloride/iodide transporter known as pendrin.
21
Iodine may be absorbed through the intestines resulting in an elevated serum level of iodine, but the target cells are unable to
uptake the iodine. This can occur if the NIS and/or the pendrin transporter systems are damaged. Certain goitrogens, such as
bromide, can bind to the NIS causing damage to the transport system. The end result of this damage would be iodine deficiency
in the target cell. Dr. Abraham and I reported a case history of my nurse, Denise, who had a transport defect of iodine.
22
Upon taking iodine orally, the iodine is absorbed in the intestine. As serum levels of iodine increase, iodine is transported
into
the target cells via the NIS or pendrin. One way to determine if the transport mechanism for iodine is working is by measuring the
saliva/serum iodide ratio. If the transport mechanisms for iodine are properly functioning, the saliva levels of iodine will
significantly increase relative to the serum. A saliva/serum iodide level has been used in neonates to diagnose a congenital iodide
symporter defect.
23
We (Drs. Abraham, Brownstein, and Flechas) have been evaluating saliva/serum iodide levels in a series of patients. Initial
results show that the normal saliva/serum iodide level is approximately 42. That means that when iodine is being properly
transported into the cells, the salivary fluid should have 42 times the iodine level that is found in the serum. If the saliva/serum
levels are low, especially less than 20, a thorough search for a reason for the poor transport of iodine must be undertaken.
Goitrogens can bind to and damage the NIS and result in a lowered amount of iodine being transported into the target cell.
24
Examples of these goitrogens include: fluoride, perchlorate, bromine, and thiocyanate (from cigarette smoke). In the near-future,
saliva/serum iodine levels will be used to diagnose an iodine transport defect.
Bob, a 42-year-old accountant, had been taking 12.5mg of iodine/iodide for two years. Bob could not tell a difference
upon taking the iodine. Although he generally felt well, he complained
of being fatigued. His initial salivary/serum level
was low at 9.3. Bob’s testing also showed that his serum bromide levels were elevated—147mg/L (normal <5mg/L). I
increased Bob’s iodine dosage to 50mg/day. Immediately, he felt a boost in his energy. “I thought I was feeling pretty
good until I increased the iodine. Then I really felt good. After work I wasn’t so exhausted,” he said. Bob’s follow-up
testing showed that his salivary/serum iodide levels improved to a healthier 48.6 and his bromine level fell to 28.7mg/L.
Bromine is a toxic halide that has no known therapeutic value in the human body. Bromine, being part of the halide family
(along with iodine and fluoride) can not only compete and bind to the iodine receptors in the body, it can also damage the NIS
and block the target cells’ ability to absorb iodine. Due to our increasing exposure to the toxic halogens (i.e., bromine and
fluor


That	point	isn’t	moving	at	all;	it	is	the	zero	point,	the
beginning	and	end	of	energy.	Zero	isn’t	satisfactory,	however,	since	quantum
calculations	already	show	that	empty	space	is	packed	with	infinite	amounts	of
virtual	energy,	more	per	square	centimeter	than	inside	a	star.
So	think	again	about	the	point	where	the	jump	rope	meets	the	wall.	If	you
put	a	super-sensitive	stethoscope	to	the	wall,	the	rope’s
vibration
	is	shaking
the	whole	wall,	and	in	return	the	wall	is	sending	some	of	that	vibration	back
out	again.	This,	according	to	Laszlo,	is	also	happening	at	the	zero	point.
Every	vibration	is	sending	signals	throughout	the	field,	and	in	return	the	field
is	sending	signals	back.	The	universe,	it	turns	out,	is	constantly	monitoring
itself	by	somehow	coordinating	every	vibration	that	occurs	anywhere	in	the
visible	or	invisible	domain.
Imagine	two	photons	floating	through	the	vastness	of	interstellar	space.
By	chance	they	collide	with	each	other	and	bounce	apart.	Did	anything
happen	that’s	different	from	two	grains	of	sand	hitting	each	other	as	the	surf
crashes	on	the	beach?	Yes,	Laszlo	says:	they	exchange	information	and	they
begin	to	relate	to	each	other.	Systems	theory,	as	summarized	by	Laszlo,	helps
to	explain	this	interaction.	When	two	particles	touch,	they	are	carrying
information,	and	as	they	meet,	they	“speak”	to	each	other:
Here’s	how	fast	I’mgoing,	how	much	I	weigh,	where	I’ve	been,	and	where	I’m	going
.
This	conversation	doesn’t	happen	in	isolation.	The	field	is	listening	in,
and	on	hearing	what’s	happening,	it	stores	the	information	for	reference,	since
it	needs	every	single	bit	to	run	the	cosmos.	“Bit”	is	a	technical	term	in
information	theory,	referring	to	a	single	mathematical	unit—either	zero	or	one
—with	which	any	kind	of	information	can	be	expressed.	When	the	two
particles	separate,	their	future	is	changed	because	of	the	information	they	just
exchanged.
This	exchange	brings	to	mind	the	possibility	that	these	photons
know	what
they	are	doing
.	Most	speculative	thinkers,	including	Laszlo,	can’t	quite	bring
themselves	to	claim	that	the	field	is	conscious;	he	speaks	instead	about	“the
roots	of	consciousness.”	From	a	physicist’s	standpoint,	atoms	don’t	need	to
think,	much	less	be	alive.	They	meet,	they	interact,	they	separate.	If
complicated	things	happen,	they	may	be	mysterious,	invisible,	and	fiendishly
difficult	to	calculate,	needing	far	more	computing	capacity	than	all	the
mainframe	computers	in
the
	world.	Still,	as	long	as	numbers	explain	how
matter	behaves,	there	is	no	need	to	drop	something	alien	like	consciousness
into	the	equation.
Well	and	good,	but	leaving	out	mind	doesn’t	work,	since	you	are	leaving
out	yourself.	Imagine	that	someone	wanted	to	figure	out	the	rules	of	football
and	had	a	silent	videotape	to	work	from.	With	no	knowledge	of	the	game,	it
would	still	be	possible	to	watch	enough	plays	and	come	to	reliable
conclusions	about	what’s	going	on.	All	you’d	need	to	observe	is	the	way	the
ball	flies	and	how	the	players	hit	each	other,	or	don’t.	Every	time	the
quarterback	is	knocked	down	with	the	ball	still	in	his	hands,	for	example,	both
teams	line	up	to	start	a	new	play.	Seeing	this	happen	a	few	times	would	lead	a
scientist	to	conclude	that	the	quarterback	must	either	throw	away	the	ball	or
run	with	it.
Yet	it	would	be	impossible	to	make	sense	of	the	game	if	you	assumed	that
the	players	were	mindless,	inert	objects.	They	are	too	coordinated,	they	form
too	many	complex	patterns,	they	repeat	and	remember	those	patterns,	and	the
scoreboard	makes	sense—somebody	wins,	somebody	loses.	To	go	a	step
further,	it	would	be	a	mistake	to	start	your	research	by	saying	that	football
ipso	facto	cannot	be	based	on	the	existence	of	mind	or	consciousness.	You
would	wind	up	with	wildly	wrong	conclusions	if	you	insisted	that	no	matter
what	the	videotape	shows,	football	cannot	be	a	game;	it	must	remain	a
random	collision	of	objects.
In	trying	to	figure	out	the	apparently	random	activity	in	the	quantum	field,
we’ve	come	to	see	that	there	is	incredible	timing,	coordination,	memory,
information	exchange,	and	self-interaction.	But	what	is	the	point	of	it	all?	The
observer	effect	adds	the	missing	link.	The	observer	effect	is	related	to	one	of
the	cornerstones	of	quantum	physics,	called	“complementarity,”	which	holdsthat	it	isn’t	possible	to	know	everything	about	a	quantum	event.	When	an
observer
looks
	at,	or	measures,	an	electron,	whatever	is	being	observed	is
limited.	Each	and	every	electron	has	a	probability	of	appearing	anywhere	in
the	universe.
Only	under	observation	does	an	electron	jump	from	virtual	reality	into	the
visible	universe,	and	as	soon	as	the	observer	stops	looking,	it	falls	back	into
the	field	again.	Erwin	Schrödinger,	the	great	German	physicist,	devised
Schrödinger’s	equation,	one	of	the	foundations	of	quantum	theory,	which
precisely	calculates	what	these	probabilities	are,	and	yet	the	notion	that	an
electron	is	everywhere	until	an	observer	calls	it	into	existence	defies	logic.
For	those	readers	who	haven’t	read	about	Schrödinger’s	cat,	a	famous
paradox	that	grows	out	of	the	observer	effect,	here	it	is:
A	cat	is	placed	in	a	closed	box	with	a	fatal	device	inside.	The	device	will
release	poison	cyanide	gas	if	it	is	triggered,	and	the	trigger	is	a	bit	of
radioactive	matter.	If	the	radioactive	matter	releases	a	single	electron,	that	will
be	enough	to	trigger	the	device,	release	the	poison,	and	kill	the	cat.
Here	is	the	paradox:	according	to	quantum	physics,	an	electron	has	no
visible	reality	until	it	is	observed.	It	occupies	a	“superposition,”	meaning	that
it	can	be	in	more	than	one	place	at	the	same	time	(a	fact	that	has	been	verified
experimentally	with	subatomic	particles	that	do	in	fact	occupy	multiple
positions	at	once).	Being	in	a	closed	box,	the	cat	is	outside	the	field	of
observation;	it	could	be	dead	or	alive,	so	according	to	quantum	theory,	it	must
be	both.	Only	when	the	box	is	opened	and	the	observer	determines	the
situation	will	we	know	which	state,	dead	or	alive,	has	been	decided	upon.
Until	then,	both	must	coexist.
Many	physicists	have	escaped	the	paradox	of	a	cat	being	dead	and	alive	at
the	same	time	by	pointing	out	that	what	is	true	on	the	micro	level	isn’t	true	on
the	macro	level:	superposition	holds	for	electrons,	not	for	everyday	objects
like	cats.	But	this	begs	the	question,	since
the
	observer	effect	is	alive	and	well
in	the	Schmidt	and	Princeton	experiments,	where	the


, on the flip side, there
are dark experiences that bring confusion, pain, and suffering. Nonetheless,
the light of life is always with you because light is your very nature, your
true self.
Royal Yoga is unique because it seeks to make everyday life ideal.
There is infinite bliss as the starting  point, located in your true self.
Whenever you experience less bliss, no bliss, or actual pain and suffering,
only one thing changes: how close you are to the light. This concept defines
the entire Yoga system, no matter how complex its traditions are in India.
There are literally thousands of Yoga commentaries, and their intricacy can
be mind -bending. But we can cut through the complexity by focusing on
just one thing: living in the light.
It is vital to understand what the ideal life is, according to Royal Yoga.
What makes its approach so natural is that nothing achieved through Royal
Yoga is mystical or otherworldly. The self you experience today owes its
most valued experiences to your true self, which is already whole and
perfect.
The Ideal Life: The Gifts of Royal Yoga1. Existence becomes blissful. You experience a joyful, energetic body; a loving,
compassionate heart; an alert, vibrant mind; and lightness of being.
2. You control your mental activity. You can generate thoughts, feelings, and
impulses that are evolutionary. You are the one who gives them meaning, and
therefore the whole world as you perceive it has meaning.
3. You see everyday life as a lucid dream, incredibly vivid but an illusion. You can
improve the dream without getting trapped in it.
4. Joy becomes the only measure of success because your essential nature is joy. It
is the beginning and endpoint of every journey.
5. You understand what it means to thrive. You savor the diversity of life, which
brings richness to your unfolding story.
6. You recognize that the point of arrival is always now. You can’t move to where
you are already standing—this is the experience of timelessness.
7. You recognize that you have no ﬁxed identity. Your identity is unique but always
evolving. It is your karmic story, but you don’t need to be bound by it.
8. You recognize gratitude as the sanest response to existence. It is insanity to
believe that existence is a problem.
9. You recognize that existence is lavish and abundant.
10. Grace becomes an everyday experience. It reveals itself by the perfect way that
every experience ﬁts together. Instead of brief glimpses of synchronicity, you
live in total synchronicity.
Before we go any further, I’d like you to assess your experience s of the
light. Nothing is more important than knowing how much the light has
affected your life. Take the following self-assessment, and you will begin to
know yourself much better than most people do.
Ten Ways to Be in the Light
Yoga asks you to identify entirely with the
light, which doesn’t happen all at once. The
light is glimpsed, to begin with, in memorable
experiences. Everyone has had them at one
time or another. The list on the following
pages includes the most important kinds of
experiences.
To assess where you are right now, look at
each statement and circle the response thatapplies to you. The time frame isn’t critical—
some experiences might be very recent;
others very far back. The point is to recognize
moments of heightened experience. There are
no right or wrong responses. Just assess your
experience as objectively as you can. When in
doubt, choose the answer that ﬁrst comes to
mind.
1. I have experienced bliss. (Examples: a
peak experience of a joyful, energetic
body; a loving, compassionate heart; an
alert, vibrant mind; lightness of being.)
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Frequently
Don’t know
2. I feel in control of my mental experience—I
can have positive, creative thoughts
whenever I want.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Frequently
Don’t know
3. Life can feel like a dream, with something
hidden from sight that is very real and yet
mysterious.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
FrequentlyDon’t know
4. Much more than material success, I
measure my life by my level of happiness
and joy.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Frequently
Don’t know
5. I welcome a wide diversity of experiences
—they give my life real richness.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Frequently
Don’t know
6. I live in the present moment, without
reliving the past or anticipating the future.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Frequently
Don’t know
7. I experience myself in the ﬂow, adapting
easily to new situations.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Frequently
Don’t know
8. I experience gratitude.Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Frequently
Don’t know
9. I look upon life as abundant, offering
untold possibilities for fulﬁllment.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Frequently
Don’t know
10. I experience meaningful coincidences—
they tell me that everything happens for a
reason.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Frequently
Don’t know
ASSESSING YOUR ANSWERS
This questionnaire is about seeing yourself
according to the quality of your inner life.
Being in the light is what ties together these
ten experiences. If you have a rich inner life,
you will likely mark “Frequently” more than half
the time. On the other hand, if you often
answered “Never” or “Rarely,” your inner life
isn’t fulﬁlling. The light has become blocked or
obscured. Most people will fall somewhere in
between the light and the dark. They areaware of their inner life, but don’t turn to it as a
great source of fulﬁllment.
For most of us, positive experiences come
and go at will; we have little control over them.
Fears, regrets, and painful memories seem to
have a life of their own. Yoga teaches us to
change the situation through the following
steps, which will become second nature as the
book unfolds:
You pay more attention to what is going on
inside you.
You notice any experience of being in the
light.
You value that experience.
You begin to focus more and more on the
light, increasing it in your life.
Living in the light is the most natural way to
live. It is easier to live more consciously than to
continue experiencing things unconsciously,
driven by habit, routine, old conditioning, and
denial. The habit of being more conscious will
emerge effortlessly and without pain and
discomfort if you keep in mind that the best
experiences in your life indicate that you have
been living in the light all along, while
struggling to get there.
THIRTY DAYS OF ROYAL YOGALiving in the light can begin anytime you choose. The principles taught
in Royal Yoga are not difficult to learn, and over the next thirty days we can
cover all the major areas you need to understand. Traditionally, these areas
are called the eight limbs, or ashtangas, of Yoga. We are going to treat them
as eight stages of transformation.
Here is how a map of the journey looks. Our thirty-day journey is
divided into six weeks, and each week gives you five days of participation
—the weekend is your time off, to reflect upon and absorb everything you
have learned.
I give the traditi onal Sanskrit names for the eight limbs, but you don’t
need to memori ze them. What is important is the theme for each week,
beginning with Social Intelligence in Week 1, Emotional Intelligence in
Week 2, and so on. Living in the light involves awakening awareness, layer
by layer, until you reach your source, the true self, which is the light of pure
awareness.
Here’ s the whole program at a glance.
Week 1: Social Intelligence
(Stage of Transformation—Yama)
In the first week, you learn to find the light in your social world of
family, work, and relationships. Royal Yoga considers this the outer shell of
existence. You move through it with your own habits, rituals, likes, and
dislikes. Your personality is your identity, which has been adapted from
input and pressure from society. By bringing light and lightn ess to your
social self, you prepare the way for the later stages of the journey.
Week 2: Emotional Intelligence
(Stage of Transformation—Niyama)
In the second week, you learn to bring light and lightness to your
emotional life. Royal Yoga considers this stage to be more personal than the
outer or social sphere, yet you are still involved with other peop le and yourfeelings toward them. When these feelings are purified, or brought into the
light, you are not dependent on other people to trigger negative emotions in
you. Victimhood and codependency are no longer the pitfalls they once
were.
Week 3: Bringing the Light to Your Body
(Stage of Transformation—Asana)
In the third week, you learn to apply awareness to your body, bringing
light and lightness to how you sense your body. Yoga considers the body to
be a vehicle for consciousness. Just as a boat carries you acros s the ocean,
your body carries you across the ocean of experience. Everyone is already
on that journey. But, at a subtler level, your body is carry ing you to
wholeness and


 with it. But that part isn’t ne cessary.
Nobody can separate milk from water (even a centrifuge only
separates out the solids from  the liquid), so they must be allowed
to separate themselves.
This is a simple, effortless process, but one that requires
patience. By reminding yours elf that any experience is the play of
consciousness, you bring rea lity to mind. You don’t arg ue with
yourself (or anyone else); you  don’t try to be good or wise or better
than ot her people. You neither surrender nor strive. Instead, you
sit f or a  mome nt at the inters ection of awareness and reality, in a
moment of reflection. The experience at hand is life at this
moment, in this  pla ce. By consciously reminding yourself of what
is actually true, you allow the “pull of the self” to bring you home.
Because we couldn’t stand  to be wrenched out of  the
conditioned mind all at once, the play of consciousness doesn’t
insist on anything. Life mov es on like a river between its banks.
When you say, “This is the play of consciousness,” you aren’t
stopping the river or trying to steer it. You are sitting on the bank
appreciating h ow the river flows. I hesitate to mention t hat this
stance is known as witnessing, because once they hear the word,
many people try to witness o r get frustrated because they aren’twitnessing when they want to. I sympathize. It sounds tempting to
witness with calm detachme nt the death of a loved one, rather
than being plunged into grief.
The river follows its own cou rse no matter how we might  wish
it to  move diff erently—it one day moves into grief, sorrow, pain,
and suffering—the whole lot. Then it keeps moving. That’s not
simply sorrow, it’s the inexorable flow that brings us to freedom.
We onl y have to allow it, rather than struggling against it. Even
struggle is just another aspect of the river, a small eddy that has no
significance in  the river reac hing the sea. Allowing  is one of the
key words in descriptions of the direct path, but it is another word
I he sitate to mention. People will wind up trying to allow, getting
frustrated that they aren’t allowing when they want to, and so on.
In pure form, the direct path is just experiencing the sense of
self and letting it do its wor k without interference. Yet there is
another stage, where silence and flow and the experience of “be
here now” is over and done with. They aren’t the goal, only a
platform for launching the next stage. With the next stage, you no
longer witness the flow—you are  the flow. The play of
consciousness and the self merge into one. Krishnamurti called
this merging “the first and last freedom,” a beautiful phrase. To
make it more than beautiful, you have to experience it—let’s start.
We will overturn the cosmos and everything in it.H12

C H O I C E L E S S  A W A R E N E S S
omo sapiens  i s the only species that must try to be
happy. Among all the mysteries that surround being human, this
is one of the most intractable. For centuries our struggle against
the enemies of happiness—violence, anxiety, despair,
hopelessness, a nd depression—has been the price we pay for being
conscious. We suppose, but d o not know with any certain ty, that
other creature s don’t experience these states. When it can no
longer r un with  the pack, an old wolf lies down to die, defeated by
age and  the raw elements of Nature. A human being at any age can
be warm, secure, and physically healthy, yet on the inside has
given up on life.
Trying to be happy looks  harder the more deeply you
investigate human nature. Sigmund Freud, who devoted a lifetime
to in vestigating  what makes people tick, ended his days in  London
in 1 939 as a refugee after Hitler brought Austria under German
rule in 1938. As early as 1933, when Hitler first came to power,
Freud’s writings were banned, and as a Jew he was personally at
risk.
To a disciple i n England he wrote bitterly, “What progress we
are making. In the Middle Ag es they would have burned m e. Now,
they are  content with burning my books.” Insisting on staying inVienna, Freud was finally persuaded to flee in the spring  of 1938
when the Gestapo arrested and interrogated his daughter Anna.
After paying an extortionate “flight” tax by which th e Nazis
ruthlessly stripped Jews of their money and property, the founder
of psychoanalysis left for England in a state of pessimistic gloom,
wondering as fear and terror  blossomed like a poisonous flower if
it w as asking too much simply to prevent humans from
committing murder.
Psychoanalysis has largely faded from the scene, replaced by
drug therapies for mental disorders. No pill for happiness is in the
medicine cabinet, however. In times of relative peace, people
content themselves with a kind of happiness that skims the
surface, findin g love and pleasure when they come along and
doing their best not to get trapped in the bad stuff.
Attempting to reshape human nature by probing what makes
us t ick hasn’t succeeded. The direct path is about something
different, sorti ng out what isn’t essential in our lives. P ain and
suffering are not essential. They are part of the drama we’ve
constructed—a very stubborn part—but the drama can be left
behind. There is a level of consciousness that transcends p ain and
suffering. The great insight of the direct path is that everything
depends on your level of consciousness because everything is  a
level of consciousness. Metareality lies right next to everyday
reality, being only a level of consciousness away. (Christian
theology teaches that Heaven is where the soul finds eternal bliss,
but long ago t heologians abandoned the notion that Hea ven is a
physical place, despite the images carried around in our heads of
angels sitting on clouds playing harps or of lambs gamboling
through green meadows—that’s one of the most c ommon
descriptions given when people come back from a near-death
experience, claiming to have seen Heaven. The Catholic
Encyclopedia  d efines Heaven as a state of being attained through
grace. State of being  and state of consciousness  seem synonymous
to me.)
So far we’ve taken the dir ect path through two realms of
awareness, the  body and the active mind. You might supp ose that
the journey has nowhere else to go. What more is there to life
beyond the physical and the mental? There actually is so methingdeeper, a department of existence that makes things turn out the
way the y do—g ood or bad, su ccessful or a flop, a dream fulfilled or
a dream denied. Here we discover that everything happens for a
reason, but the reason is very different from the stories  we tell
ourselves. Pur e consciousne ss organizes every event, including
every possible event. It sees and knows all. From this vie wpoint,
everything happens for a reason because there is only one thing.
Yet the  parts of life we work  so hard to get right—job, family,
relationships, morality, religion, law, politics—are not expressions
of one thing.  They are compartmentalized constructs. What
happens in one can be alien or even anathema in another. It is
against the law to take a life, but political leaders can win mass
popularity by starting a war and taking an enormous number of
lives. Nature ignores compartments at every level. A cell thrives as
one thing, not a collection of parts. It eats, breathes, manu factures
proteins and enzymes, divides, and expresses the knowledge
compressed into DNA’s double helix. To a cell, these are not
compartments described in a medical textbook—parts don’t
matter. What matters is the life of the cell, which is one thing.
Can we get hum an life back t o one thing, and, if we can, will it
solve the problem of pain and suffering? The direct path affirms
that thi s is possible. The one thing, as it applies to human  beings,
is pure conscio usness, but giving it a label takes us further away
from one thing, not closer. The great mystery of pure
consciousness is that it has nothing that can be formulated, turned
into a good way to exist, and trusted to bring happiness.
For example, in the Indian tradition pure consciousness is
eternal, conscious, and blissful ( Sat Chit Ananda  in Sanskrit). This
formulation led someone to think, “Aha, bliss is the key. What is
happiness but bliss?” On tha t basis, “Follow your bliss” b ecame a
widely popular phrase. Wh en put into practice, it had the
advantage of pointing people  inward, telling them that how they
feel abo ut their lives is more important than external rewa rds. Yet
“Follow your bliss” is useless if you can’t find your


	feeling	lasted	only	five	or	ten	minutes,
but	the	fact	that	it	happened	proved	that	I	was	on	the	right	path.	Soon,	thefeelings	of	strength	came	more	often	and	lasted	longer.	Later	in	my	studies,	I
learned	of	the	close	connection	between	the	mind	and	the	immune	system.	My
badly	damaged	immune	system	was	responding!
These	affirmations	had	a	profound	effect	on	me.	I	began	to	understand	that
health	and	disease	can	be	the	reactions	of	the	subconscious	mind	to	the	thoughts
of	the	conscious	mind;	the	subconscious	takes	orders	from	the	conscious	mind
and	implements	them.	Minds	do	what	they	are	programmed	to	do,	even	though
much	of	that	programming	is	unintended.	I	began	to	realize	my	power	to
influence	my	health	simply	by	choosing	the	daily	thoughts	I	was	putting	into	my
mind.	By	focusing	on	my	illness,	I	had	been	putting	thoughts	of	disease	into	my
mind,	thereby	creating	more	disease.	The	mind	is	always	working,	so	why	not
make	it	work	for	rather	than	against	you?	Keep	your	images	and	suggestions	as
positive,	simple,	clear	and	concise	as	possible.	Then	repeat	them	as	often	as
possible.	Allow	the	subconscious	to	accept	them	as	a	command	and	implement
them.
Over	the	past	sixteen	years,	of	all	of	the	people	I	have	known	with	“incurable”
and	“fatal”	diseases,	the	thrivers	and	survivors	have	been	those	individuals	who
used	the	power	of	their	minds	to	heal	their	bodies	consciously.	Take	the	case	of
Karl,	a	concert	violinist	who	became	paralyzed	by	a	stroke.	His	physicians	told
him	the	paralysis	was	permanent.	Confined	to	a	wheelchair,	Karl	was	unwilling
to	accept	such	a	fate.	He	decided	to	use	the	power	of	his	mind	to	establish	new
connections	in	his	brain.	He	started	by	focusing	intensely	on	just	one	finger.	He
commanded	it	to	move,	and	eventually	it	did!	Now	a	medical	curiosity,	in	2001
Karl	was	invited	to	give	a	concert	at	an	international	medical	conference	where
his	doctor	presented	his	story.	Brain	scans	show	that	Karl’s	miraculous	recovery
resulted	from	using	entirely	new	areas	of	his	brain	and	bypassing	the	damaged
areas.	Music	critics	claim	he	is	playing	better	than	ever!	How’s	that	for	the
power	of	the	mind?
Choosing	to	Stay	Sick
In	contrast	to	Karl,	other	people	in	my	experience	have	failed	to	strengthen
their	psychological	pathway	and	lost	the	health	benefits	of	positive	efforts.	Lisa
was	one.	She	had	suffered	from	extreme	chemical	sensitivity	for	twelve	years
before	coming	to	me	for	help.	I	was	confident	I	could	help	her,	based	on	my	own
experiences.	I	taught	Lisa	how	to	improve	her	health,	mostly	through	dietary	and
vitamin	supplement	suggestions,	and	she	made	some	striking	initial
improvements.	After	a	few	months,	Lisa	was	living	her	life	in	ways	that	she	hadnot	been	able	to	for	many	years;	she	had	started	dating,	going	out	dancing	and
even	going	on	sailing	trips.	Lisa’s	friends	commented	about	how	well	she	looked
and	her	good	progress.	After	twelve	years	of	sickness,	Lisa	seemed	to	be	on	a
path	to	a	more	meaningful	life.	She	learned	what	was	necessary	to	choose	health
and	seemed	to	have	developed	the	psychological	willingness	to	stick	with	it.
One	day,	I	received	a	frantic	call	from	Lisa.	Her	disability	caseworker	had
contacted	her	and	informed	Lisa	that	it	was	time	for	an	annual	review.	Lisa	had
been	receiving	disability	funds	from	social	security	and	state	welfare,	and	she
was	living	in	subsidized	housing.	For	many	years,	Lisa	had	been	too	sick	to
work	and	needed	this	financial	support.	Now,	her	health	having	taken	a	dramatic
turn	for	the	better,	Lisa	feared	that	her	caseworker	would	notice	the
improvement	and	revoke	financial	assistance.	Lisa	panicked.
She	had	been	unable	to	work	for	so	many	years	that	she	had	not	a	clue	about
how	she	could	support	herself	without	those	benefits.	Perhaps	her	desire	to	get
well	simply	could	not	compete	with	her	fear	of	losing	support.	Perhaps	twelve
years	of	“sickness	programming”	deprived	Lisa	of	the	self-confidence	she
needed	to	thrive.	Sadly,	the	last	time	I	heard	about	her,	Lisa	had	stopped
applying	what	she	had	learned	about	deficiency	and	toxicity,	and	her	health	had
regressed.	The	potential	to	get	well	(that	is,	her	new	diet,	supplements	and
workout	program)	was	lost	because	she	could	not	unlearn	her	programming	to	be
dependent	and	disabled.
Will	You	Care	for	Me	If	I	Am	Well?
Unhealthy	psychological	programming	derailed	the	health	efforts	of	another
client	named	Ruth,	who	suffered	from	chronic	fatigue	syndrome.	Although	she
followed	my	recommendations	regarding	diet	and	nutritional	supplements,	she
made	only	modest	improvement,	and	I	realized	that	Ruth	was	going	to	be	a
tough	case.	I	suspected	that	she	needed	a	great	deal	of	assistance	along	her
psychological	pathway.
I	learned	that	when	Ruth	was	a	small	child,	the	only	time	her	father	paid
attention	to	her	was	when	she	was	sick.	Then,	he	would	buy	her	toys,	sit	by	her
bed	and	read	her	stories.	Most	other	times,	he	either	ignored	her	or	related	to	her
superficially.	Subconsciously,	Ruth	learned,	“If	I	want	attention,	I	need	to	be
sick.”	No	doubt	she	did	not	intend	this,	but	her	behavior	was	programmed
nevertheless.	Years	later,	when	her	marriage	was	falling	apart	and	her	husband
was	giving	his	attention	to	someone	else,	Ruth’s	programmed	response	was	to
get	sick—this	time	in	order	to	regain	the	attention	and	affection	of	her	husband.In	the	long	run,	of	course,	this	kind	of	behavioral	pattern	inevitably	fails;	Ruth’s
husband	eventually	divorced	her,	leaving	her	alone	and	sick.
For	Lisa	and	Ruth,	certain	“rewards”	for	being	sick	superseded	their	desires	to
get	well	or	stay	well.	This	way	of	life	is	not	uncommon;	people	often	have
psychological	reasons	to	get	sick	or	stay	sick—usually	not	on	a	conscious	level.
People	often	learn	hopelessness	instead	of	hopefulness.
If	you	are	sick,	be	sure	to	ask	yourself,
What	is	my	reward	for	being	sick?	Am
I	willing	to	give	up	my	reward?	Do	I	truly	want	to	be	well?
These	questions	can
be	followed	with	affirmations	or	mantras,	such	as
I	am	well.	I	am	getting	better,
healthier	and	stronger	every	day.
Reprogramming	your	mind-set	or	approach	is
the	key,	whether	you	are	talking	about	the	thoughts	you	think	or	the


. This has been characterized by a lack of
development forward of the muzzle or face, with a narrowing of the nose and dental arches. He
found that by the addition of extracts made from the pituitary glands, which he had removed
surgically, he entirely prevented the development of these defects, thereby establishing the relation
of the injury to deficiencies of the hormones developed by that organ. Another approach to the
problem on which he has expended much fruitful effort, has been in connection with the study of
the skulls of individuals who are known to have disturbances in the functioning of the pituitary gland
through the interference caused by tumors. Common illustrations are the cases of acromegaly or
giantism. By associating these physical changes in bodily form with each x-ray, data obtained from
skiagraphs, together with the history and the nature of the tumor, considerable information has
been developed. Another important series of studies has included the correlation, by means of the
x-rays, of the skulls of individuals suffering from certain types of physical and mental disturbances,
with certain abnormalities in the skull as shown by the x-rays. By these various means Dr.
Mortimer has been able to divide the various types of skull defects and developmental and growth
defects into distinct classifications. With this yardstick he is able to classify individuals from their
Roentgenograms. It is of interest that in his work, in association with Dr. G. Levine, Dr. A. W.
Rowe and others at the Evans Memorial for Clinical Research and Neuro-Endocrine Research in
Boston, important relationships have been established through the examination of over three
thousand case histories. X-ray records of the skull are included in the studies. They report that
independent and previous physiological investigations gave evidence at the time of the examination
of disturbed pituitary function. Dr. Mortimer's excellent investigations seem to indicate clearly that
facial and dental arch form are directly related to and controlled by the functioning of the pituitary
body in the base of the brain. Dr. Barrie (3)  reports that partial deficiency of vitamin E, as shown in
the case of the female rat, results in the prolongation of gestation which may be continued as long
as ten days beyond the normal period. The offspring under these conditions are abnormal. Further,
animals deficient in vitamin E, occasionally give birth to a litter, but fail to lactate.
    When we realize that one of the best sources of vitamin E is wheat germ, most of which is
removed from white flour, usually along with four-fifths of the mineral, we see one cause of the
tragedy that is overwhelming so many individuals in our modern civilization. In many individuals it
may be wise to reinforce our modern white bread and starchy dietary with wheat germ, which can
be obtained in package form from the manufacturers of flour. As this is put up in cans, all air is
displaced with an inert gas when the cans are sealed. While in this way oxidation of the embryo
which is very fragile, is prevented, as soon as the seal is broken, oxidation sets in and progresses7/29/13 Nutrition and Physical Degeneration
gutenberg.net.au/ebooks02/0200251h.html#toc 219/250rapidly, producing a product that is not comparable to the wheat embryo of freshly cracked whole
wheat. My investigations indicate that Nature has put just the right amount of embryo in each grain
of wheat to accompany that quantity of food. If the whole wheat is prepared and eaten promptly
after grinding and exposing the embryo to oxidation, the effect desired by Nature is adequately
provided.
    It is important to emphasize in connection with the development of the deformities of the face
that other skeletal deficiencies or abnormalities result from the same disturbing factors. One of
these is the narrowing of the entire body, with a tendency to increase in height. This is shown in
many of the family groups of modernized primitives. The effect of this narrowing of the body,
which in girls results in the boyish type of figure due to the narrowing of the hips, introduces an
entirely new and serious problem in the experience of our modern civilization when confronted with
the problems of childbirth.
    Among primitive races living in a primitive state childbirth was a very simple and rapid process,
accompanied by little fear or apprehension; whereas, in the modernized descendants, even in the
first and second generations of those individuals born to parents after they had adopted the foods
of modern white civilizations, serious trouble was often experienced.
    We have been considering the changes which take place in the skeletal growth as a result of the
disturbances in the functioning of the pituitary body of the individual after birth, or of the mother
during the prenatal period. We are also concerned with changes in the soft tissues, particularly the
brain. I have presented data indicating that a very large percentage of mentally backward children
have disturbances in facial development. The available data also indicate that a large percentage of
those who are seriously injured in facial form have some disturbance in their mental or moral
character. Whether there is relationship between the processes which develop these physical
abnormalities in brain growth and mental efficiency, including emotional states and character traits
is now to be considered.
    An important contribution has been made to this phase of the problem by Dr. James Papez,
Professor of Anatomy at Cornell University, (4)  who concludes his report:
    Is emotion a magic product, or is it a physiologic process which depends on an anatomic
mechanism?... The evidence presented is... suggestive of such a mechanism as a unit within
the larger architectural mosaic of the brain.
    Research data have been presented which deal with the anatomical defects of the brain of
individuals suffering from the typical mental and physical patterns of the so-called Mongolian idiot.
In these cases the gyrus cinguli of the brain were found to be absent, which indicates the
impossibility that these individuals function normally either physically or mentally.
    Modern civilization has provided a large group of the defectives known as Mongolian idiots.
They have very definite characteristics both physical and mental. Among the former, one of the
most universal expressions is a vacant stare associated with a face that is markedly
underdeveloped in the middle third, usually accompanied by narrow nostrils and a narrow upper
dental arch.
    One of the outstanding characteristics of the group is their inability to develop mentally beyond
three to eight years of age. Because of the difficulty of building a character and intelligence level
beyond infancy, these unfortunates are housed largely in state institutions for feebleminded. Since
the physical picture is similar to that which occurs in a much less severe form in a large number of
individuals in our modern civilization, it is important that we study this group in the light of the
information that is available with regard to their physical, mental and moral characteristics, and in
the light of such information as is available regarding their origin.
    The surveys that have been made reveal the fact that nearly all of them are born to mothers
more than forty years of age, and apparently at a period of very low efficiency in reproductive
capacity. While most of the discussion and literature stress the importance of the age of the7/29/13 Nutrition and Physical Degeneration
gutenberg.net.au/ebooks02/0200251h.html#toc 220/250mother, some data are now available which throw responsibility also on the paternal side.
    Korosi, as reported by Tredgold in Mental Deficiency, came to the conclusion as a result of the
investigation of 24,000 unselected individuals that the children of fathers below twenty or above
forty years of age are weaker than the children of fathers between these ages. Also, the children of
mothers over forty years of age are weaker than those born to mothers below this age. Tredgold
presents data connecting defective structures in the brain with certain phases of physical behavior
and mental deficiencies. He quotes many authors whose data correspond with his own. Much of
this material relates to accounts of incomplete prenatal development of nerve structures in the
brain.
    We are particularly interested in the origin and the nature of the brain lesions. Penrose, (5) in
analyzing the relative etiologic importance of birth order and maternal age in Mongolism presents
data obtained from an examination of 224 defectives in which the total number of children in all the
families involved was 1,013. Accordingly, in these families approximately 20 per cent were so
affected. The average number of children per family was five and one-half. He states:
    Mongolian imbeciles are very often born last in a long family. This fact, which was pointed
out many years ago by Shuttleworth, has led clinicians to believe that Mongolism is to some
extent a product of the exhaustion of maternal reproductive powers due to frequent child
bearing.... The conclusion is widely accepted with the reservation that the affected child is not
necessarily born at the end of the family. Several cases are first-born, in fact, and it is sometimes
stated that the conditions occur more frequently in first and last children than in other ordinal
positions. There is, however, ample evidence that Mongolian imbeciles have a significantly later
birth rank than normal children.
    G. Ordahl (6)  has reported on a study of ninety-one cases in which he found that fifty-six or 60
per cent were the last born. The families averaged five children. He states that "uterine exhaustion
is the most commonly advanced reason for Mongolism." Madge T. Macklin (7) says, "It is usually
stated that it (Mongolism) occurs more frequently


chronic bronchitis and asthma have sometimes been put on Mexican food
laden with chili pepper. The antitoxic effect of pungent is said to help clear
the skin, even though Pitta is increased—the Vata dryness clean s out the oily
pores that exacerbate acne.
In excess, pungency turns to pain—eating a raw chili causes swollen lips
and eyes, burni ng skin, and hot sweat. Too much spicy food makes you
overly thirsty, dizzy, and unsett led, reflecting the Vata influence (too much
Vata makes for light-headednes s and dryness). The sharpness of pungent, if
pushed too far, will not excite the body but irritate it.
The same is true of the emotio ns. Pungent humor is invigorating, but it
can also be sharp and hurtful. Excitable, extroverted people  are already
inclined to be pungent—if you add more, they turn feverish. If a Vata or Pitta
imbalance is present in the body, pungent food is not desirable.
Astringent, the taste that makes your mouth dry and puckered, is the least
familiar of the six rasas. It is an alkaline taste, equal but opposite to the
puckering of sour lemons. Like bitter, astringent is Vata—the gas produced
by boile d cabbage and the dry, mealy taste of beans are both Vata effects.
Astringency is light like bitter but more appetizing; traditional cultures
around the world have subsisted on beans, and in the Middle Ages, cabbagewas a staple food throughout Europe. Astringency is settling; potatoes,
carrots, and other earthy foods bring out this satisfying ef fect.
Astringent is cooling and constr ictive; it stops the flow of secretions such
as sweat and tears (making beans a good pairing for chili peppe rs, since they
offset each other). In excess, its constricting effect may lead to Vata
complaints of constipation and dry mouth, along with gas or distension in
the lower abdomen.
People who have a dry wit are astringent. It is a quality that dampens
excitement and brings you back to yourself. Taken too far, however,
astringency becomes shriveling. The sudden constriction when you are
seized by fear and the dry mouth that anxiety brings are both negative
astringent qualities. Astringent emotions lack warmth in general; to be old,
cold, and shriveled up is what makes people into old prunes if they age
badly. If there is a Vata imbalance in the body, astringent food is undesirable.
AGNI—THE DIGESTIVE FIRE
Most people have never consulted a physician about their digestion. As a
society used to good health, we take for granted our ability to process food,
and, in the absence of a seriou s problem like peptic ulcers or colitis, we
ignore the occasional upset stomach or uncomfortable night spent after
“eating the whole thing.”
Ayurveda, on the other hand, considers poor digestion a major factor in
the disea se process and extols good digestion as the giver of health. Every
cell has been created from food. If the food has been used well, then the cells
will be built well; if it has been used badly, then the disease  process has
already started. The Ayurvedic sages liked to say that if you could digest it
properly, poison  would be good  for you, while with poor digestion, a person
can die from drinking nectar.
DIGESTION AND THE DOSHASAyurveda says that there are no absolutely good or bad foods, only food
that is good or bad for you. Being able to extract every life-giving value
from what you eat is of the utmost importance. People are not born equal in
this regard— the three major body types have very different powers of
digestion.
Vata digestion tends to be variable and often delicate.
Pitta digestion tends to be str ong and intense.
Kapha digestion tends to be slow and often heavy.
As with everyth ing that the doshas touch, each style of digest ion has its
advantages and drawbacks. Vatas may not be thrilled to discover that they
tend to have delicate or unreliable digestion, but this makes them more
discriminating eaters, and they rarely have to worry about the runaway
appetites of Pittas or the discouraging slide into overweight experienced by
many Kaphas. The important thing is to make maximum use of the digestion
you were born with and improve it as much as possible.
The digestive tract not only extracts nutrition for your body, it is highly
responsive to your emotions. Your “gut feelings” have been put there by
nature so that the mind and body can communicate. Vata imbalance often
shows up as disturbed feelings that create pain in the intestines. Pitta dosha
is responsible for correct metabolism and “pure blood” (absence of toxins) ;
it is also the dosha that controls the proper rate of digestion. This is called
agni, or “the digestive fire.”
Agni is one of the most impor tant principles in Ayurveda, equal to the
doshas. A primary sign of good health is that your agni is burnin g bright, that
is, you are digesting your food efficiently, distributing all the necessary
nutrients to every cell, and burning off waste products without leaving
deposits of toxins. Therefore, by balancing agni, one keeps all these things in
balance at the same time.
Nature has set up everyone’ s body in such a way that agni follo ws a cycle
throughout the day; unless agni’ s daily rhythm is correctly set, digestion willsuffer. One of the most valuable things to know is how to reset a flickering
agni and coax it back into its natural groove.
HOW  TO RESET  AGNI
Agni’ s daily rhythm rises and falls, making you slightly hungry in the
morning, very hungry at noon, and moderately hungry in the early evening.
In between these times, agni shuts down your appetite so that it can proceed
to diges t the food you have already eaten. When your stomach is empty
again, agni renews your appetite once more.
If this basic cycle is thrown off, the body becomes confused—ap petite and
digestion start to overlap. Your agni will tell you if this has happened by a
wide range of symptoms:
Heartburn and acid stomach
Fluttering stomach or nervous digestion
Loss of appetite at mealtimes
Constipation or diarrhea
Lack of interest in food
Overweight or underweight
Serious digestive disorders: irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers,
diverticulitis, et cetera
The first and most important thing to do if any of these symptoms appears
is to reset your agni to its natura l cycle. It is also a good idea to do this just
to tone your digestion, even if you have no digestive problems.
Vata types can reset agni once a month.Pitta types can reset agni twice a month (it is also good to do it when ever
your appetite has become ravenous and you begin to overeat).
Kapha types can reset agni up to once a week, unless there are serious
digestive compl aints. Kapha dosha benefits from this routine more than the
other doshas, since digestion tends to be heavy and slow.
No matter what your body type, do not attempt to reset your agni if you
are feeling sick. Being sick usually indicates that agni is down (or at least
not running correctly); that is not a good time to be tampering with it. If you
have an ulcer, colitis,  or any other serious digestive complaint, do not restart
agni, except under a doctor ’s care.
The method for resetting agni is as follows:
Weekend Pr ogram
It takes roughly two days to reset agni. Since rest is one of the
requirements on the day you do not eat, doing the program over the weekend
is best for most people.
FRIDA Y ROUTINE
Eat normally at breakfast and lunch. Do not have an afternoon snack or
any alcohol after noon. Eat a light dinner of nourishing food, making sure
that it is satisfyi ng but not heavy; exclude spicy food and cheese. Just before
bedtime, take a laxative—three tablets of senna (Sennokot®), followed by a
small glass of hot water. Go to bed early. Some people will wake up during
the night for a bowel movement, others will wait until morning —either way
is normal.
SATURDA Y ROUTINEBefore you can reset your agni, it is necessary first to lower it. This is
done by not eating meals and only drinking liquids during the day. Vata and
Pitta types shou ld drink fruit juice diluted with warm water. Apple or grape
juice are good; orange juice is too acidic. Drink one glass of juice at
breakfast, at lunch, and at dinnertime; three or four more can be taken
between meals, but do not drink more than that unless it’s water. The aim is
to have no appe tite and only a minimum of calories to digest. Kapha types
can follo w this routine or drink only warm  water, if they are comfortable
with that.
Spend the day reading, watchin g TV, or performing


	of	maca	blended	with	banana	and	almond	milk
or	coconut	water.
Stir	into	your	herbal	teas.
Sprinkle	over	oatmeal.
EDIBLE	WEEDS
Believe	it	or	not,	weeds	can	help	you	look	and	feel	more	beautiful.	They	are	the
perfect	demonstration	of	the	abundance	of	nature’s	beauty	foods:	they	literally
are	everywhere	you	turn.	You	can	find	weeds	in	your	backyard	and	at	your	local
farmer’s	market.	If	you	are	unsure	of	exactly	what	weeds	you	are	looking	for,	it’s
always	a	better	bet	to	get	them	from	the	market.	Purslane,	dandelion	greens,
and	lamb’s-quarter	are	all	particularly	beauty-boosting	weeds.	Weeds	are	hearty
plants	that	tend	to	be	especially	high	in	nutrients	and	antioxidants.	Purslane	is
an	exceptionally	high	source	of
omega-3	fatty	acids,	while	dandelion	(also	a
bitter	food)	and	lamb’s-quarter	(which	tastes	like	a	combination	between
spinach	and	Swiss	chard)	contain	large	amounts	of	vitamins	A,	C,	and	K	and
minerals	such	as	calcium,	iron,	manganese,	and	potassium.
Incorporating	edible	weeds	for	beauty:
Add	to	smoothies.
Lightly	steam	or	sauté.
Add	to	soups.MSM-RICH	FOODS
Methy
lsulf
onylm
ethane,	also	known	as	MSM,	has	a	lot	of	health-	and	beauty-
enriching	properties.	It	contains	sulfur,	which	helps	with	the	proper
functioning	of	proteins	in	your
body.	MSM	is	revered	for	joint	health	and
helping	to	promote	beautiful	skin.	It	has	anti-inflammatory	and	antioxidant
effects	and	is	even	said	to	aid	with	circulation.	Some	of	the	richest	natural
sources	of	MSM	include	tomatoes,	raspberries,	apples,	Swiss	chard,	and	alfalfa
sprouts.
Incorporating	MSM-rich	foods	for	beauty:
When	they’re	in	season,	snack	on	lots	of	fresh	raspberries	and	apples.
Slice	up	tomatoes	and	eat	them	plain.
Add	chopped	tomatoes	to	your	soups	or	stews.
Blend	Swiss	chard	into	your	smoothies.
WHITE	TEA
White	tea	may	be	very	helpful	in	maintaining	your	weight,	and	some	have	even
anecdotally	claimed	that	it	protects	against
acne.	A	series	of	experiments	on
human	fat	cells	(adipocytes)	demonstrate	that	white	tea	can	help	inhibit	new	fat
cells	while	stimulating	the	fat	mobilization	from	mature	fat	cells.
9
	This	may
even	be	useful	in	combating	cellulite.	Green	tea	has	received	great	press,	but	it
contains	a	fairly	high	level	of
caffeine.	We	all	know	this	can	feel	temporarily
energizing	but	is	still	irritating	to	your	nervous	system.	While	actual	caffeine
levels	depend	on	the	specific	buds	and	brewing	methods	used,	green	tea
generally	contains	more	caffeine	than	white	tea.	White	tea	undergoes	less
processing	than	green	or	black	tea,	even	though	they	derive	from	the	same	plant
(
Camellia	sinensis
).	Because	it	is	less	processed,	white	tea	also
contains	more
antioxidants,	which	are	great	for	keeping	your	skin	youthful	and	protecting
your	vitality.
Incorporating	white	tea	for	beauty:
Source	some	excellent	organic	white	tea	and	drink	it	during	the	day,	stopping
by	late	afternoon,	as	it	does	contain	some	caffeine.	For	added	benefits,
add	some	sliced	ginger,	turmeric,	or	lemon.
A	Word	About
SupplementsYou	certainly	do	not	have	to	take	a	dozen	supplement	pills	every	day	to	be
healthy.	And	you	will	never	achieve	the	beauty	and	health	results	you	are	after
by	trying	to	rely	on	pills	in	lieu	of	eating	a	superior,	nutrition-packed	diet	made
up	mostly	of	whole	foods.	Unfortunately,	most	supplements	out	there	are
synthetically	created,	which	makes	them	cheaper	to	produce	and	more	stable.
The	problem	is	that	with	vitamins,	more	is	most	definitely
not
	more.
Synthetic	vitamins	are	not	remotely	similar	to	the	forms	of	these	nutrients
found	in	nature,	which	you	would	obtain	from	eating	natural	foods.	Our
bodies	evolved	for	millions	of	years	getting	these	nutrients	in	unison	with
countless	other	nutritional	cofactors	that	are	present	in	real	food.	Vitamin
supplements	may	not	be	bioavailable,	usable,	or	absorbable	by	your	body,	and
even	worse,	they	can	be	recognized	and	treated	as	a	toxin,	which	then	has	to	be
processed	and	expelled	by	your	eliminative	organs.	One	study	even	found
synthetic	vitamin	supplementation	can	actually	increase	mortality	rates!
10
One	supplement	that	is	a	must	is	an	excellent	probiotic	supplement,	which	is
not	an	isolated	micronutrient	but	rather	helps	your	entire	body	function	more
efficiently.	Remember	that	the	best	probiotics	are	not	necessarily	those	with	the
highest	culture	counts	but	ones	that	have	the	most	effective	and	diverse	strains
that	can	actually	be	assimilated	into	your	body	(please	see	authors’	websites	for
resources	and	recommendations:
deepakchopra.
com
,
kimberlysnyder.
com
).
What’s	the	best	way	to	get	the	nutrients	you	need?	Be	sure	to	eat	from	a	wide
variety	of	plant	foods,	preferably	organic,	as	the	first	step.	You	can	also	source
specific	superfoods	rich	in	certain	vitamins	(bee	pollen	is	rich	in	B	vitamins,	for
instance).	If	you	still	are	worried	you	aren’t	eating	as	well	as	you	should,	you
can	also	source	a	high-quality,	whole-food-based	and	nonsynthetic
multivitamin
or	multimineral	supplement	from	a	reputable	company	that	has	done	the
necessary	work	and	research	to	ensure	optimal	nutritional	absorption.	It	should
include	vitamin	D
3
	(which	many	people	do	need	to	supplement,	especially	if
you	aren’t	getting	an	adequate	dosage	of	regular	sunshine)	and	the	spectrum	of
B	vitamins,	including	vitamin	B
12
.	If	you’re	vegan,	you	should	definitely
supplement	vitamin	B
12
.
A	magnesium-oxygen	supplement	(such	as	Detoxy	+)	is	great	for	promoting
ongoing	cleansing	(see
this	page
).	As	recommended	in
Pillar	1
,	be	sure	to
consume	chia,	hemp,	or	flaxseeds	daily	for	daily
omega-3	fats.	An	algae-based
DHA	and	EPA	supplement	can	be	good	insurance,	as	some	people	don’t
convert	omega-3	fats	adequately	into	longer-chain	DHA	fats.	Algae	is	the
primary	source	from	which	fish	obtain	their	DHA,	and	scientists	from
Harvard
and	the
Cleveland	Clinic	also	report	in
The	Journal	of	Nutrition
	that	algae-based
DHA	can	boost	levels	of	good	cholesterol	and	cut	levels	of	triglycerides.
11
	Fishoil	pills	as	a	source	of	omega-3	fats	are	not	recommended,	as	they	can	often
become	rancid	and	contaminated	with	toxins.
How	Does
Salt	Fit	In	with


, what does disease mean, if it is not that then the living organism is engaged in a life or death struggle, whi ch has
for its sole object the dislodgement, the expulsion, the annihilation of these white blo od cells?

    And all that is here said is in perfect consonance with the thesis of the text. For, reverting to infection, to the theory of  the germ -
causation of disease, it is seen that, while the process of purification that is implied by disease is es sentially necessary, it is
dangerous as well. While it is true that the system must be relieved of its burden of obstructing and noxious material, it is  also true
that the introduction of infective bacilli into a body which is carrying a large amount of wa ste will have substantially the same
effect that a spark would have upon a heap of dry shavings in a closet --the destruction of the shavings and very probably of the
house. That is to say, the fire started in the body by infective organisms, benevolent in its purpose though it be, may prove
destructive to tissue and to life itself. And this, not because the organisms are themselves necessarily harmful to vitality,  but
because the accumulation of decomposition to be removed is so great, and the tissues in wh ich it is located are so devitalized
because of interference with their nutrition, that these structures cannot offer sufficient resistance to the destroying mob,  and they
therefore become involved in the disintegrating process. In other words, the body be comes the victim of the agencies actually
intended for its preservation.

    Before science became obsessed with the germ theory, nature conducted her own inoculating clinic, and the fight for life was
then a more or less evenly balanced struggle. Since the introduction of artificial inoculation, vaccines and serums now aid in
adding fuel to the flame, and in further overcoming natural resistance to disease.

    We have referred many times herein to the appearance during a fast of mucus in the discharge s from the body. This
phenomenon is in some cases continuous throughout abstinence, although individual characteristics and conditions modify the
exudation in higher or lower degree. While all of the mucosa is invariably involved in this catarrhal demonstr ation, the walls of the
intestinal canal receive the maximum deposit, not only because of the extent of mucus membrane included in their length, but
because the intestines, the colon in particular, form the main eliminative outlet of the organism.

    Morgulis in his Fasting and Undernutrition comments on page 212 upon the very evident rapid diminution in the number of
white corpuscles of the blood during the successive stages of a fast. On page 214 he says: --"The thing of particular significance
with reg ard to the leueopenia (diminution of white corpuscles) of inanition is that while the blood is losing its white cells, the
mucus membranes of the intestinal canal and the underlying tissues become infested with leucocytes. They occur either singly or
in ma sses. According to Mingazzini, in the absence of food, leukocytes not merely accumulate in the intestinal wall but actually
penetrate the mucous membrane and aggregate in the lumen where they ultimately disintegrate." And he concludes that the
phenomenon o f this "emigration" of leucoeytes is to be viewed in the light of an increased permeability of the cell membrane to
bacteria under the influence of inanition.

    It is to be noted that all of the observations made by Morgulis and by those investigators whom he quotes as authorities upon
inanition subjected to their experiments only animals in the normal state of function --animals and human beings in health. It is
manifest that, while these observations possess interest and value in respect of the physiol ogical and chemical changes that occur
in inanition forced upon an organism that is presumably fully carrying out the transformations characteristic of normal life,  their
worth is doubtful when one attempts to apply the conclusions reached to the results o btained when the fast is employed as a
therapeutic measure, when abstinence from food is undertaken in the presence of disease.

    However, upon one point agreement may be conceded: the elimination of mucus, of pathogen, of so -called white corpuscles of
the blood, is a characteristic result of abstinence from food either in health or in disease. We have stated that in disease the effort of
nature is to relieve the living organism of all non -usable organic matter that finds its way into the blood, and we have here a most
vivid illustration of the method which she pursues --a method in action in health to preserve the resistive qualit ies of the organism;
in action in disease to restore the organism to the resistive condition it possesses in health.
Page 51 of  72     And the result: at the completion of a scientifically conducted fast, mucus ceases to be deposited upon the walls of the inte stines
and other membranous surfaces, while white corpuscles have virtually disappeared from the blood stream.

    Morgulis still further assists our argument by stating on page 193: "A subject still very imperfectly known, but one which me rits
a most careful inv estigation, is the increase in resistance to infection revealed by organisms which are recovering from inanition.
Roger and Josué report such an increased tolerance towards bacilli cold in rabbits which had undergone a preliminary fast of five
to seven day s. The inoculation with the bacterial culture took place three to eleven days after the fast was broken. In each case the
control rabbits succumbed to the infection, while all the rabbits which had previously fasted survived the inoculation. These
experime nts, however, need verification." This verification we shall proceed to give.

    While the author was in practice in New Zealand, the world -wide epidemic of influenza of 1918 occurred. Despite its reputation
for model legislation, New Zealand is not to be lauded as a mass observer of the laws of hygiene, either from the general sanitary
viewpoint or from a dietetic standard. In fact, in these two respects the Dominion is remarkably lax. In consequence the infl uenza
took mortal toll of the inhabitants of the islands, perhaps in greater proportion than occurred in any other part of the then infected
world.

    In corroboration of the truth contained in the substance of the paragraph just quoted from Fasting and Undernutrition, not on e of
the patients who underwent or was undergoing a fast under direction of the author, irrespective of a condition of either partial or
complete recovery from disease of whatever symptomatic form, was attacked by influenza. And none among the members of the
families of her cli entele, past and present at the time, all of whom in their fear of infection were impelled to apply at least the less
drastic elements of treatment as embodied in a light dietary, daily enemata, and cleansing baths, and all of whom were daily in
contact wi th infected subjects, fell victim to the epidemic catarrh.

CHAPTER XVII
DIET

PERVERSION OF TASTE AND SMELL:
THOROUGH MASTICATION:
SHOULD FLESH BE EATEN?

    DIET at any time is largely a matter of special need, but it would seem that, after a cour se of fasting, the successful issue of
which in functional derangement embraces restoration to physiological normal, certain fixed rules might be laid down to apply  to
all cases. But not so. Peculiar limitations are encountered in each individual, for whic h individual dietetic errors coupled with
physiological idiosyncrasies transmitted from generations of ancestors are responsible. Hence empirical methods must be
employed in the selection of foods requisite for the case in hand.

    The sense of smell, r eaching out beyond the body ere food material passes the lips, assists in its selection, and this sense and
taste, when normal in function and not vitiated by cultivation and habit, form a perfect picket line of protection against th e
introduction of unwho lesome substances into the system. Normally constituted bodies prefer those odors that are classed as
pleasant, yet continued contact with emanations that are distinctly disagreeable, first brings tolerance and finally pleasure  in their
presence. Perhaps t his departure from natural law and normal instinct can be illustrated in convincing form by contemplating the
sensual delight of the epicure in cheeses of doubtful age but of indubitable rottenness.

    Taste also plays an important part in the choice of  food material in health, and it is popularly believed that, when an article of
sustenance is not repugnant to this sense, it is healthful and wholesome, and that harm cannot result from its ingestion. One  of the
objects that nature has in placing the nerv es of taste in the mouth is that of a protective measure to prevent noxious substances
from entering the stomach; but because of persistent cultivation this sense has been perverted and most men and women are mor e
or less abnormal in taste perception. To p erversion in this respect is due much of carelessness in mastication. Improperly
accomplished mastication prepares a fertile soil in which the seeds of disease are promptly sown and as promptly flourish. Wi th
normal taste development the medical profession  would be at a loss to administer the average drug were the patient to masticate or
insalivate its substance. Recognizing this, the physician in introducing his alleged remedy into the system obviates the diff iculty by
the use of capsules


 turned into an unexpectedly rich
experience. It was clear to me that I had not done these
things— they had happened to me.  I n fact,  if I had not let
go o f my initial mental resis tance, none of them could
have happene d. I had gone through most of my life
thinking I knew what was g ood for me, but life itself
seemed to know better. I w as now going to test that
presumption of nonrandomness to the max. I was willing
to roll the dice and let the flow of life be in charge.1 4.
L i f e  T a k e s  C h a r g e
S urrendering to  the flow of life may have seemed like a
bold move, but the truth is, I wasn’t all that exposed to
life’s challenges. After all, I was spending most of my
days alone on my land in quietude. There was one
exception, how ever. I was officially still in graduate
school until I completed my qualifying exams and
dissertation. That meant I remained on a fellowship at
the university and was responsible for teaching one
course a semester in either micro- or macroeconomics.
My clas ses gen erally met three days a week for an hour. I
would d o my morning and noon yoga practices, run into
town to  teach, and then run right back out to the land. I
doubt I  was a real joy to be a round in those days—I was
completely unsociable. Unless a student had a question
after class, I would do my best not to get into
conversations. I always wore the same clothes: jeans and
a long-sleeved denim shirt. My hair was pulled back in a
ponytail, and I was either in sandals or barefoot. This
might not seem extreme for the philosophy department,
but these were junior-level courses in a southern
business scho ol. The department tolerated me only
because I was a very popular teacher, and my students
did really well on the departmental exams.
I w ill recount one specific class session that was over
the top. My challenge to m yself was to see whether I
could drive into town, teach the class, and return home
while keeping my mind reaso nably still. To do that I had
to practice maintaining a meditative state at many points
throughout the  day. I would do yoga on the field before I
left and do some controlled breathing exercises in myvan before going to class. I would even pause to quiet my
mind while standing in front of the class before I started
and completed a lecture. On this particular day, I drove
in, did some b reathing, and walked into a large lecture
hall full of students. For some reason they started
whistling catcalls when I walked in. It took me a moment
to come down to earth enough to realize that when I had
gotten off the yoga mat out at my place, I had slipped
into my  jeans but had forgotten to put on a shirt. I was
standing there barefooted and half naked. It didn’t
disturb me—I just asked the class whether they wanted
to cancel today’s session or have me go ahead and teach
it. The respons e was unanimous, so I gave the lecture on
macroeconomics without regard to my attire, or lack
thereof.
Month after month went by while I was adhering to
my stric t medi tation lifestyle.  I was supposed to be using
my time to prepare for my doctoral qualifying exams.
Needless to say, I had not opened a single book, and I
had no intentio n of doing so. I was done with that part of
my life. Or so I thought.
One day, after I finished teaching my economics class,
Dr. Goffman met me in the h allway and said he wanted
to talk to me. T he voice in my head immediately told me
that now I was in trouble. He was still chairman of the
department, and for sure he had heard about the no-shirt
incident. As usual, that voice was wrong.
Dr. Goffman proceeded to tel l me that he had received
a call from the governor ’s office in Tallahassee.
Apparently, th e powers that be had decided to build one
of F lorida’s leading community colleges in Gainesville.
To do so they would need a powerful leader who could
not only handle the educational responsibilities, but also
be in charge o f fund-raising and financial management.
With th at in mind, the comm ittee had selected one of the
state’s leading bankers to be the president of the newly
expanded San ta Fe Community College. During theentire time Dr. Goffman was talking, my mind kept
saying, Why is he telling me this? W hat has it got to do
with me? I should be getting back out to my land.
I soon got my  answers. It seemed that Florida law
required the president of a community college to have a
doctoral degre e. The banker the committee had chosen,
Alan Robertson, did not have his Ph.D. So what did they
decide to do? H elp him earn his doctorate by partnering
him with a to p doctoral student who had a similar
academic back ground. As amazing as it seems, the
doctoral student they chose was me.
The voice in my head wen t nuclear. I watched it
screaming inside, No! I can’t do that. I’ve dropped out of
all this.  I need to devote my time to my practices. There
is no way I’m going to star t pulling down all my old
economics textbooks — I’m done with that.  In the midst of
all that protest, I remembered my recent commitment to
surrender to what life brought before me. That voice I
was watching was not my spiritual adviser; it was my
spiritual burden. This was the perfect opportunity to get
it out of the driver’s seat.
Meanwhile, Dr. Goffman was waiting for a response.
But the  words of acceptance I  was trying to utter refused
to leave  my lips. Finally, I heard myself say out loud,
“Yes, I would be glad to help out. I will tutor him.”
In that one moment, the die had been cast. This great
experiment in surrender had truly begun.
I was no longer in charge of my life.1 5.
T h e  P r i n c e  a n d  t h e  P a u p e r
T utoring Alan Robertson r eally didn’t change my
lifestyle all that much. We arranged our schedules such
that wh enever I went into tow n to teach, I would spend a
few hours with Alan after class. We met in the
president’s office at the old Santa Fe campus downtown
near the university. We were  quite the pair. Alan was a
very successfu l, three-piece- suit banker, and I was a
ponytailed yogi in denim jeans and sandals. I had no idea
what t o expect, but Alan turned out to be an
exceptionally warm and open-minded person. He was
also very grateful for my help.
This is not to say that there weren’t some awkward
moments. The  first culture clash was regarding payment
for my services. I told him that I didn’t want to be paid
for tuto ring him. He insisted, but I refused. He went on
to reason with me that he was a successful banker who
was now president of a colleg e, and I was a student living
off a $250-a-m onth fellowship. That was true enough,
and it was als o true that I had spent everything I had
buying the land and building my house. Nonetheless, I
was tutoring him as an act of surrender to the flow of life,
and I didn’t want to be paid.
In time, Alan accepted our relationship on
nonbusiness terms, and w e became good friends.
Sometimes he would come out to my land to study, and
we would take long walks together. He enjoyed learning
about my unique way of life,  and I enjoyed meeting the
very special man behind the banker’s suit. A few times I
even accepted his wife’s invitation to have dinner at theirhome. I began to see my entire relationship with Alan as
another one of life’s magical gifts, despite my initial
resistance.
Alan had progressed enough  toward his doctorate to
sit f or his qualifying exams. He surprised me when he
proposed that I go ahead and take mine also. I had no
interest in doing so, especially since we had only
prepared for two of my three  major areas of study. But I
surrendered to his wishes. I signed up to take the two
exams we had studied for an d planned to put the third
off to another t ime—if at all. W hen I received notice back
from th e unive rsity, the administration had mistakenly
signed me up for all three  exams. Now what was I
supposed to do, surrender to that?
I starte d observing myself to see why taking the third
exam t hreatened me so much. I had no intention of
actually finishing my degree, so why did it matter? What
I d iscov ered was that it was simply the fear of failing in
the eyes of oth ers. I knew t hat if I sat for my written


bed;at
night;forwine.
Painsmaystartinthelowerlimbs,especiallyinthe
smalljoints,andmoveupwards,forexamplefrom
thefeettothehands.Althoughthepatientsfeelcold,
thewarmthofbedisunendurable.
LYCOPODIUM (Lye.)
Familyname:Lycopodiaceae
Othernames:wolf'sclaw;clubmoss;staghorn;witch
meal;vegetablesulphur;muscusterrestrisrepens
Lycopodium isanevergreentrailingplantfoundon
heaths,moors,pasturesandinwoodsthroughout
GreatBritain,northernEuropeandNorthAmerica.
Theplant'srootsresembleawolf'sfoot-henceits
name.Theusefulpartoftheplantisthespores,or,more
specifically,thepollencollectedfromthespores.This
fine,odourlessandtasteless,paleyellowpowderhas
beenusedinternallysincetheseventeenthcenturyin
treatingdiarrhoea,dysentery,rheumatism,andexter-
nallyforwoundsanddiseasesoftheskinsuchas
eczema.Beforethattimethewholeplantwasused
mainlyasaherbalremedyforkidneycomplaints.The
powder'spowertorepulsewaterissostrongthatifthe
handiscoveredwiththepowderitcanbedippedin
waterwithoutbecomingwet;ithasbeenusedasa
coveringforpillsinordertopreventthemstickingto
oneanotherinthebox.Thepollenishighlyinflam-
mable,anditwasatonetimeusedtoproducefalse
lightningintheatresaswellasinthemanufactureof
fireworks.
Thepowderorsporesaregatheredtowardstheend
ofsummerandarepotentisedbytrituration.
GENERALSYMPTOMS
Dischargesyellow.Facepale;sickly.Expression
confused.Likes:sweets;chocolate.Painsinglands.
Sweat:cold;profuse;clammy;smelly;sour;from
slightestphysicalexertion;betterforuncovering.
Taste:mouthtastessour.Symptoms:right-sided;
startsrightsideandmovestoleft.
Betterforfreshair;forwarmthofbed.
Worsearound4-8p.m.;duringtheafternoon;during
theevening;forpressure;instuffyrooms;fortight
INTERNALMATERIAMEDICA Lycopodium(Lye.)•109
clothes;wind;foronions;forflatulentfood(beans;
cabbage,etc.).
AdultLycopodiumtypesarebrightintellectuallybut
tiredandweakphysically:theclassicprofessorwho
livesasedentary life.Theirhairgreysearlyandthey
maylookolderthantheiryears,withadeeplyfur-
rowedforeheadandapale,sicklycomplexionwith
darkringsaroundtheireyes.Thesetypeshavealotof
troublewithfood;theyeitherfeelfullupanddis-
tendedaftereatingverylittleortheyhavenoappetite
atalluntilthevstarteating,andthentheybecome
ravenous(andinthiscasethefeelingofemptinesswill
notbehelpedbveating).Thesearebigsweetcravers,
ofteneatingseveralbarsofchocolateaday.Theymay
feelsleepyaftereating.Theyarebloatedwithgas,
withacidityandsournessandfeelworseforthepress-
ureofclothesespeciallyaroundthewaist.Theyare
oftencalled'thin,brainyandwindy!
Lycopodiumsymptomsarepredominantly right-
sided,ortheymaystartontherightandmovetothe
left.Thesymptomsarealwaysworsebetween4and
8p.m.Despitebeingchillyandworseforextremesof
heatandcold,thesepeoplefeelgenerallybetterfor
freshair.Babiesmaysleepwellatnightbutcryallday.
EMOTIONAL/MENTALSYMPTOMS
Angryfromcontradiction.Anxious:generally;
indoors;anticipatory.Complaintsfrom:humiliation;
mentalstrain.Concentration poor.Depressedon
waking.Desirescompany.Dislikesbeing
contradicted;beingalone;companyExamnerves.
Fearfulofpublicspeaking.Forgetful.Indecisive.
Irritableonwaking.Moody(changeable).Restless.
Lackofself-confidence. Screaming:duringsleep;on
waking.Sensitive.Sluggish:betterforfreshair.Shy.
Tearful.keentohavecompany,either;theiridealistoknow
thatthereissomeoneelseinthehouse-inanother
room!
Whensicktheybecomedullandsluggishmentally
andunabletoconcentrate.Thesementalsymptoms
arealwaysworseinastuffyroomandbetterforsome
freshair.Afterabigeffortlikeanexamorthefirst
nightofanewplay,orhavingtomakeadecision,
whichisalsohardforLycopodiums,theycanbecome
exhaustedandgodownwithaminoracuteillness.
Lycopodiumchildrenareirritableanddictatorialand
willhaveatantrumifcontradicted.Theykickand
screamafteranaporonwakinginthemorningsand
aregenerallydifficulttolivewith.
PHYSICALCOMPLAINTS
Backache
SymptomsPains:inlowerback.Withstiffness.
Betterformovement;forpassingwind;forurinating.
Worseonbeginningtomove;whilepassingastool;on
gettingupfromsitting.
Causeslifting.
Thelowerbackfeelssore,oftenbecauseofwindthat
cannotescape.
Blisters
SymptomsBlisters:burning;ontipoftongue.
Commoncold
SymptomsNasalcatarrhyellow.Nose:blocked;
dry.Sinuses:blocked.Withheadache(seebelow).
Worseontherightside.
Thenoseandsinusesbecomequiteblockedsothatthe
personhastosleepwithhismouthopen.Nursing
infantscannotbreathe;thisisoneofthemainrem-
ediestoconsiderfornewbabieswiththesnuffles.
EMOTIONAL/MENTAL SYMPTOMS
Lycopodiumcharactersaregenerallyanxiousandwill
worryaboutmostthingsbecauseofanessentiallackof
self-confidence. Theirbiggestworriesareinanticipa-
tionofaneventwheretheyeitherappearinpublic
(actingorpublicspeaking)oraretested(exams,driv-
ingtest)-theydreadtakingonnewthings.Exams,
interviews,newjobsandpublic-speaking engage-
mentsmakethemextremelynervousandtheypre-
pareforthemmeticulously.Whenthetimecomes,in
spiteofcreatingasceneaboutnotbeingabletodoit,
theyactuallyshine,andsucceedintheirexamswell
andeasily.Theyareextremelysensitive,shyindivid-
ualswhoserude,difficultbehaviour isafrontfortheir
lowself-confidence.Theyhatetobealone,butarenotConstipation
SymptomsDesiretopassstoolineffectual.Stools:
hard;knotty.
Corns
SymptomsCornsinflamed.Pains:pressing;sore;
tearing.
Cough
SymptomsCough:constant;dry,irritating;painful;
disturbssleep.Breathing: difficult;fast.Mucus:
yellow;copious;white;green;tastessalty.
Betterforhotdrinks.
Worseongoingtosleep;atnight;intheeveningin
bed.
NBSEEALSOPAGES203-26FORGENERALADVICE,DOSANDDON'TS.
110•Magnesiumcarbonate(Mag-c.) INTERNALMATERIAMEDICA
Thiscoughisaggravatedbyanoverpowering tickling
inthelarynx,asifthelarynxwerebeingtickledbya
feather.Itisworseintheeveningongoingtobedand
canpreventthepatientfromfallingasleep.Thechest
infectionisaccompaniedbyafeelingofconstrictionor
tightnessinthechest.Thesputumisyelloworwhite.
Cramp
SymptomsCrampincalf.
Worseatnight.
Cystitis
SymptomsDesiretourinate:frequent;ineffectual.
Pains:aching;cutting;pressing;stitching.Uri-
nation:frequent;slow(waitsalongtimeforitto
start).
Betterafterurination.
Thepersoncanpassonlyafewdropsoradribbleof
urineatatime.Achildwillscreambeforeurinating
becauseshecannoturinateandbecauseofthepain.
Earache
SymptomsEarsfeelblockedup.Painstearing.With
NOISESINTHEEAR.
Eyeinflammation
SymptomsDischargepurulent.Eyes:sensitiveto
light;watering.Eyelidsgluedtogether.
Fever
SymptomsFever:one-sided;ontheleftside.
Worseintheevening.
One-sidedsweating,orfeelinghotononesideofthe
bodyandcoldontheother,isacommonsymptom.
Flatulence
SymptomsBelly/stomach: bloated;intolerantof
tightclothing;rumbling.
Betterfor