 position or to be on
a confrontationa l receiving end of their viewpoint. A peaceful sense of who
I am radiates and intermingles with respect for otherness. I have found that some of my personal relationships have grown deeper
and more profound, particularly with my wife and immediate family, while
others have become less important. I still enjoy myself immensely in the
company of others at a social gathering, but I no longer defin e myself as
needing to be a part of these activities, whereas they played a much larger
role in earlier years. I prefer spending time alone or in the rich close
personal relationships I enjoy with my family and a few associates. Virtually all dependency relationships, except for those with my small
children, are nonexistent in my life. I am uninterested in having others
dependent on me for their emotional or any other kind of sustenance. Paradoxically, I have become more generous in giving myself to others. I
enjoy more than anything else in my life helping others. It is both strange
and wonderful to function exclusively on what I know to be my truth and at
the same  time to welcome without judgment those who are operating at a
different frequency. Similarly, I find it easier to radiate at my own
frequency, and to ignore the pleadings of others to live my life their way. What has happe ned is that the boundary between my Self and others has
dissolved. I see others on their own paths and I can now love them for being
precisely where they are. When others attempt to impose their self-serving values and attitudes on
me, as I once did on others, I know that this can alter my balance and
harmony. But now I simply shift into being a peaceful observer of what
they are expressing about thems elves and their truth. The authentic me, the
thoughts and inner feelings that I live, are no longer engaged in defense,
and I can watch  without a need to prove them wrong. My path remains
crystal-clear. This is a new kind of vision that allows me to live in
formlessness and form at the same time without being threatened or
controlled by anyone. It is a gloriously peaceful place. I have lost my ability to blame others for the circumstances of my life. I
no longer view the world in terms of unfortunate accidents or misfortunes. I
know in my being that I influence it all, and now find myself considering
why I created a situation, rather than saying, “Why me. ” This heightened
awareness direc ts me to look inside of myself for answ ers. I take
responsibility for all of it, and the interesting puzzle becomes a fascinating
challenge when I decide to influence areas of my life in which I previously
believed I was not in control. I now feel that I control it all. I know that I create what I have and what I need, and that I am capable of
performing miracles when I am balanced inwardly and using my thinking
dimension to create the world that I want for myself. I know now that my
circumstances do not make me what I am, but that they reveal who I have
chosen to be. The quieter I can make my mind, the more I can perceive the
link betw een my thoughts and how I feel. The quieter my mind, the less
judgmental and negative I tend to be. Having a quiet mind gives me a
peaceful life, and helps other s around me to choose peace ful, serene,
effective lives for themselves. Consequently, how I think can directly affect
those around me. It was said of Jesus and Buddha and other highly spiritual
beings that their presence in a village could raise the consc iousness of
everyone in the village. I can now value and appreciate that idea. I have
found that when I am totally at peace within, and radiate that serenity
outward, the consciousness of those in the same room with me can become
peaceful. Recently I gave a speech to a large audience in Chicago, and in the room
were some five hundred children, many of them toddlers and infants. Thenoise level was quite high, but after a while I became accustomed to it and
it was not bothe rsome. At one particularly poignant moment in the speech,
as I was about to recite a gentle poem that is very meaningfu l to me, the
entire room, including the infants and toddlers, became silent. A kind of
magic communication was transmitted to everyone, through the dimension
of thought. The changes in myself and my life patterns have all happened without
goals or any life plan. Yet these inner changes are as much a part of me as
are my lungs and my heart. Similarly, there have been many  changes in my physical way of being in
the world. I run a minimum of eight miles daily, and have not missed a day
since I began at age thirty-six. Not once. I tell people that running is not
something that I do, it is something I am. It is a part of my being. It fits as
regularly into my health regimen as does being scrupulous about dental
care. Simply what I am as a healthy human being. My “old me” was well aware of the benefits to my form. Thos e benefits
remain and continue while I now experience a new level  of benefit
involving my inner Self, a loss of myself, an unawareness of my physicality
as I run. I now have higher levels of energy than I ever experie nced, and I
attribute it and my involvemen t in being healthy and fit to my higher -
consciousness approach to life. I find it interesting that I eat no red meat, which I once thrived on; that I
eat my food without adding salt, where I used to use the salt shaker before I
even tasted my food; that sugar, caffeine, and other nutritionally empty
foods are seldom part of my diet. I find all that interesting, but what is
astonishing  to me is that this tendency towa rd wholesome eating habits has
flowed from a more loving approach to myself and to all of life, not from a
desire to enhance my physical attractiveness or strength or to achieve
physical longevity. I seem to be trusting some sort of inner perfect consultant rather than
relying on cultural norms, old habits, or what I was taught as I grew up. The
part of me that wants to be in balance is choosing my food intake. I feel
balanced inside, and somehow this almost magically translates to a
salubrious approach to nutrition and exercise. I seldom wear a watch, yet a few years ago I would not be caugh t without
one. Time has lost its importa nce in the linear sense, and I do not feel
compelled to keep track of when  and where and how fast I live my life. Thishappened witho ut any goals or objectives. I simply stopped wearing a
watch and referring to time and scheduling my life, and I have found that I
am more ef ficient as a result. I am intrigued with the paradox of letting go of a need or desire for time
limits and feeling I have discovered unlimited time for things I want to do. More than that even. Without physical time constraints, my life not only
flows more ef ficiently but has increased richness and texture. I experie nce the paradox of letting go of time limits quite often in places
like checkout lines in stores. I am sure you too know the feelings that the
“old me” had when someone ahead of me in line was taking too long to
complete a transaction—I was impatient, agitated, critical; I even crowded
closer to try to prod the slow person on. The “new me” does not feel
trapped in time and therefore does not need to worry about getting out of
the store in a prescribed number of minutes. Instead I often experience a
new level of being with time. I discover my Self in thought a part of the
person checking out. My thoughts are of kindness and gentleness toward my
slowness or awkwardness, a loving message of relaxation and nonpressure
to the me that has been there, is there. The permission of unconditional love
which I would choose for myself in that situation seems to trans mit itself to
the other person and help him or her find the right coin or whatever else is
needed. And often this thought process creates a smile, an understanding
energy between that person and my Self, a richness and texture. One of the most beautiful and at the same time hardest-to -describe
interactions is the experience of physical and emotional intimacy with
another person. The physical orgasmic sensations are truly wonderful
aspects of our sexuality. But the soaring inner emotional loving feelings are
a beautiful part of this experien ce. Sex to me is now perfect love, rather
than the obligato ry function of a married man. Making love is an expression
of the inner love which we can reach, when we are both balanced and
fulfilled, and it is our mutual expression of that love. I have lost the desire to organize myself in strictly linear ways, and in the
process my life has become richer, more fluid and flowing and perfectly
balanced. My new perspective allows me to tackle any project with a sense
of inner excitement and the awareness that I do not have to prove myself or
be judged by the results. I simply am who I am, doing what I choose to do,
with a sense of acceptance about the outcome or lack of outcome. Interestingly, I accomplish more and acquire more (which I give away inlarge measure). I achieve more than I ever dreamed possible  in


 essential to
the maintenance of celibacy and the sublimation of sexual
energy for spiritual purposes, as well as control over sensory
activity. The entire nervous system is also calmed. (3) Siddha yoni asana (Female accomplished pose)
Sit with the legs extended forward. Fold the right leg, plac
ing the sole flat against the inside of the left thigh and the
heel under the labia majora. Bend the left leg and pull the
right toes up into the space between the left calf and thigh. Hold the spine fully erect as if it were rooted in the earth. 74
Notes: Siddha yoni asana is a form of siddhasana for
women that has been handed down only by word of mouth. Practice with either leg on top and with either jnana or chin
mudra. It is most effective when underwear is not worn. Beginners will find this pose easier to maintain for long
periods if a low cushion is used under the buttocks. Limitations: Women with sciatica or sacral infections
should not practice this asana. Benefits: Siddha yoni asana is an excellent meditation pose
in which the female aspirant can maintain the physical
steadiness necessary for deep concentration. It may be used
effectively by the yogini to aid spiritual meditation, and by
the householder wishing to control sexual desire. It directly
affects the nervous plexuses controlling the genital organs,
and also serves to tone and balance the entire nervous
system. (4) Baddha yoni asana
Sit in any meditation asana and inhale slowly and deeply. Retain the breath and raise both hands to the face. Close the
ears with the thumbs, the eyes with the index fingers, the
nostrils with the middle fingers, and the mouth by placing
the ring and small fingers above and below the lips. Concen-75
trate on the bindu visargha at the back of the head (See
Chapter VIII, p. 234), maintaining the breath retention, and try
to perceive any ordinarily inaudible manifestation of sound. After holding the breath for as long as is comfortable,
remove the middle fingers from the nostrils and exhale while
keeping the other fingers in their respective positions. Inhale
again and close the nostrils with the middle fingers. Repeat
the process several times. Concentration: On the bindu visargha. Benefits: This is an excellent asana for withdrawing the
mind from the external world. Many different philosophies
as well as the science of yoga teach that the source of the
universe is a primordial, unceasing sound or vibration. This
asana makes possible awareness of the different manifesta
tions of this sound through awareness of the psychic sounds
which emanate from the bindu visargha in the back of the
head. This is actually a technique of nada (inner mystical
sound) yoga, through which the yogi is trained to hear the
full spectrum of sounds from the grossest to the most subtle. The physical benefits of padmasana and siddhasana are
duplicated; in addition, this pose is useful in treating
diseases of the eyes, ears and brain. 76
The asanas, then are yogic methods for improving the cir
culation of prana and blood, for correcting the spine, and for
activating the nadis and the nervous system: in short, for bring
ing the physical body into harmony. When a radio doesn't
work properly, defective parts are repaired or adjusted until
finally the entire mechanism is in working order. It is the
same with the human body. However, no radio will function
if it is not supplied with electric power. The yogic process
for drawing energy into the body is called pranayama, which
will be discussed in the following chapter. III
Pranayama
and
Bandhas
Prana means vital force. Yogic philosophy maintains that this
vital force pervades the whole cosmos and permeates all
things, both animate and inanimate. Furthermore, this funda
mental force is said to be closely related to respiration, for it is
primarily through breathing that prana enters the human
body. Air and the oxygen in it may be regarded as manifesta
tions of prana, but they are not prana itself. Prana is both
more subtle and more fundamental than any gas. Ayama
means expansion, and has overtones of restraint and control. Thus pranayama means "techniques for controlling prana. "*
Many people consider pranayama to be mere breathing ex
ercises for absorbing extra oxygen into the blood stream, but
this is only one of its benefits. The aims of pranayama - to be
detailed in later chapters - include: 1) the absorption of
prana into the subtle energy (astral) body through the
visualization of the process; 2) the increase of prana flow
through the subtle nadis; 3) the conversion of this subtle
energy into vital energy of the physical dimension through
* The aim is not the control of universal prana - only that which enters and
flows through the body. 77 78
the functioning of the chakras, which connect the subtle
nadis with the physical body; 4) and the increased circula
tion of this energy through the blood vessels, nerves, and
meridians. Therefore, pranayama is properly regarded as a
group of methods to absorb and circulate prana into the
physical and astral bodies, invigorating both. First we will present a description of "yogic breathing,"
which should be practiced daily as preparation for
pranayama. Yogic Breathing
Yogic breathing is a combination of abdominal breathing
and chest breathing. Abdominal Breathing: Expand the abdomen by contract
ing and lowering the diaphragm as you inhale a large
amount of air into the lungs. Then contract the abdomen by
relaxing the diaphragm and letting it rise so that the max
imum amount of air is expelled from the lungs. During this
process, do not move the chest or shoulders. Chest Breathing: Inhale by expanding the chest and ex
hale by contracting it. It is important not to move the ab
domen. Yogic Breathing: Inhale deeply, expanding first the ab
domen and then the chest to take the maximum amount of
air into the lungs, smoothly and without a break. Exhale,
relaxing the chest and abdomen, until the maximum amount
of air has been expelled from the lungs. This sequence must
be done in a wave-like motion, without any jerks. Yogic breathing should be practiced before pranayama
everyday so that it becomes a habit. At first the practice will
require conscious effort, but later (within a matter of weeks)
it will become natural and unconscious throughout the day. When this habituation has been achieved, the maximum in
halation and exhalation are no longer required. 79
Through the practice of yogic breathing, the student
becomes less susceptible to colds, bronchitis, asthma, and
related disorders. He or she is filled with energy, and less
easily tired; and the mind becomes calmer and free from anx
iety. As already stated, this yogic breathing is not prana
yama itself but a preliminary practice, and should be per
formed naturally throughout the day. Before we discuss the details of pranayama practice,
please note the following precautions:
• The bladder, stomach, and intestines should be empty,
so practice pranayama not less than four hours after
eating. • Practice after asanas but before meditation. • During pranayama, relax the body as much as possible,
avoiding strain or discomfort. Keep the spine, neck,
and head erect and centered. • Retain the breath as long as is comfortable. Excessive
retention may cause lung damage or dysfunction. • Practice in well-ventilated (not drafty), clean, and pleas
ant surroundings, not in a dusty, smoky, or foul-
smelling place. • When beginning pranayama, some constipation and
decreased urinary output may be experienced. In the
case of dry movements, intake of salt or spices should
be avoided and, if a loose movement should result,
pranayama practice should be suspended while a diet
of cereals (rice), and yogurt is adopted for a few days. • Siddhasana and siddha yoni asana are the best poses
for pranayama, because they allow maximum expan
sion of the shoulders. • In the advanced stages, pranayama should be practiced
under the guidance of a teacher. • Persons practicing intensive pranayama should not
smoke tobacco, cannabis, etc. 80
Methods of Pranayama Practice
(1) Nadi Shodhan Pranayama
Sit in padmasana or siddhasana and place the hands on the
knees, straightening the spine and holding the head upright. Relax the whole body and close the eyes. Be aware only of
the body and the breath for a few minutes. Stage 1: Basic technique
Keeping the left hand on the knees, raise the right hand
and place the index and middle fingers between the
eyebrows. They should remain in this position throughout
the


 narrated his experience of a prisoner who was
sentenced to whipping heavily. After the beating a co-prisoner
treated him with urine and the victim was readily cured. CHAPTER XXI
REGULATING POWER OF URINE & CHILD-HEALTH
Dr. Salaria (referred to before) has made deep study of Sushrut. He holds a licence for surgery and practises the same for the past
many years. So far he must have performed hundreds of minor and
major operations by Ayurvedic method but the truth remains that
not a single operation proved to be dangerous for any patient. Dr.
Salaria has proved that auto-urine is useful in operation to a very
great extent for controlling heart-beats. In the past months a number of experiments have proved it
beyound doubt that urine has the power of maintaining the
regularity of heart-beats. Dr. Salaria operated a woman of 45 for appendicitis in May
1 958. An hour before the operation, she was given her own urine to
drink instead of usual injections for controlling heart-beats and then
the operation was performeo. Her heart-beats were maintained
during operation. Dr. Sal aria was encouraged with the success of the
experiments and decided to try it on other patients also. He did
accordingly in nearly 15 cases of operation of tonsil, lipoma (a case
in which there was tumour weighing 2 lb. on the shoulder), cancer
on the right side of the chest and dropsy. In one of the cases, the
patient suffered from a big boil on the region between the right thigh
·and abdomen where the rotten skin had to be excised through
surgery and a new piece of skin was grafted. In all' these cases, the
patients were given their urine to drink before operation which
maintained the regularity of their heart-beats. REGUlATING POWER OF URINE & CHILD-HEALTH : 165
This account clearly proves that the use of urine maintains the
heart-beats of the patient and his blood-pressure also remains
normal. 1 certain that drinking and rubbing of urine togethr regulate
and normalize the high or low blood pressure as the case may be..
Let us see the opposite views also. A famous doctor of
Ahmedabad is my friend. I informed him of Dr. Salaria's
experiement with urine to control heart-beats and also related the
above mentioned cases. My real story did not appeal to him. The
doctor friend declared that unless and until experiments are carried
on scientific lines, he would not be.convinced of my thesis. My doctor friend may be right as far as his personal experience is
concerned. It is proper on the part of a responsible person fike him
not to give any opinion till he has personal knowle.qge or have
experience about it. But it is also true that if a person is ignorant
about something, he should not oppose it vehemently~ The fact that
urine has power to regulate blood-pressure and strengthen the heart
is supported by my personal experience also. Child-health : The custom of making children drink their own
urine is still in vogue to cure them of diseases. Shri Keshavbhai
Makanbhai Master, (Hajira, Surat) has sent me a report of his
personal experience of urine therapy:
"My grand-father was a village Vaidya. He used to prepare
Ayurvedic medicines and distributed it among the people free of
cost Folks from nearby villages came to take his medicines. "Whenever there was an ailing child, my grandfather took him in
his lap and as. the child passed urine, gave him five to six drops to
drink. Then he used to advise mother that if the child feels a thirst for
water, she should give him his own urine to drink. That would
eliminate the necessity of taking a child to a Vaidya and giving him
some laxative. Urine naturally kept the bowels clean and
consequently the child would never be ill. Remembering my father's
advice, 1 made use of auto-urine on my children successfully." 1:
:! I'
I I CHAPTER XXII
AUTO-URINE: NECTAR AND AN ANTI-POISON
There are but two means in the world to preserve and restore
health : (i) milk and (ii) auto-urine. Sage Atreya has given these two
substances a prominent place in Ayurved for the preservation and
restoration of health. here is the substance of Ayurvedic texts on
urine:
11Man1s urine is salty, pungent,.bitter, sweet, light, tonic,
appetizer, digestive, and is an anti-poison and destroyer of worms,
cough, excessive bile, and gas. It -is a laxative. It is a cure of eye
diseases top11• This is what the great Ayurvedic authorities like
Sushrut, Harit, Vagbhatta and others had said about human urine in
their texts. The use of urine -and milk has been prescribed for all human
diseases by Ayurved. As has been said in different texts of Ayurved
milk and urine are homogeneous with human body as they are its
products. So no objection can be raised to their use for human body. In Tantric texts, this fluid (urine) has been very frequently prescribed
and it has been mentioned thatone who uses this fluid gets rid of all
his diseases. Congestion of urine gives much pa:in and even endangers life. So
Ayurved forbids the suppression of urination. Hence its passing out
on urge is but necessary. But there is absolutely no harm in taking
the passed out urine aga:n to get rid of physical disorders. No where
does Ayurved prohibit the use of urine. Vagbhatta says that there is
nothing in this world which cannot be used as medicine. The only
thing required is that it should be utilised with commo[l sense.. An Anti-poison : Lord Sushrut has mentioned auto-urine as an
anti-poisonous substance and.a good tonic. Snake-charmers keep a
bowlful of urine handy while catching a snake so that he may be
able to drink and apply it without loss of time in case of a
166 I
AUTO-URINE: NECTAR AND AN ANT-POSION : 167
snake-bite. In Shivambu-Kalp, it is said that one who drinks urine
regularly for six months becomes immune to snake-poiso~. The
same is the opinion of may Jain monks and other sadhus. It IS very
essential that anything read, heard or _spoken should be thoroughly
investigated and examined scientifically before presenting it to the ·
people for the common welfare. I have always been anxious to have
direct and definite proofs that urine has anti-poisionous qualities. In
the meanwhile Shri Chandrankant came in my contact. He had been
an ardent social worker of Kapadvanj and had come in to close
relation with an ascetic Vivekanand Saraswati whom he often
visited. Shri Parikh suffered from fever and catarrh. He could not get
rid of these complaints in spite of various treatments. At last he
resorted to urine cure. He started rinking and rubbing urine and was
cured within a week. Later he·informed the Swamiji about his urine
experiment and subsequent cure. Swamiji welcomed the news an~
said : 11Urine is a nectar.11 Thereafter Swamiji related a number of h1s
personal experinces with urine. On 30-9-59 Shri Chandrakant Patikh accompanied me to see
Swamiji. At the first sight Swamiji appeared to me to be 55 but later
on it was revealed that he was 78. We had a good deal of talks. He
related: 11ln my native place Bareilly, (U.P. ),there is a custom to ~ive
auto-urine in case of snake-bite. It is said that Chandan Goh 1s a
highly poisonous creature and· that there is no remedy for its bite. One beaten by it definitely loses his life. But auto-urine ~as the
power of nullifying the effect of the poison of this creature too. This
fact has been ascertained by a number of incidents which took place
in my native place. 11There was a person who illegally dealt in opium. This was
disliked by his wife and she daily used to ask her husband to give up
the disreputable profession. But the latter would not listen. At last the
wife became desperate. In the absence of her husband, she came to
lay her hands upon nearly 30 gms. of opium which she dissolved in
water and drank-it. Consequently she fainted within half an hour. As
soon as her. husband returned home he was at once very anxious (
., I 168 :. AUTO-URINE THERAPY
abou_t his wife's condition. It was almost evening. He came to me
ru~nmg and narrated the whole incident. I asked him to collect the
ur~ne ~assed by the boys in the neighbourhood and make his wife
dnnk_ 1t the whole night. Following my advice he collected urine of
about 15 boys in the locality and gave


	fire	in	the	cosmos? For	the	same	reason. Preceding
quantum	physics	by	centuries,	the	Vedic	rishis	said	that	time	and	space	are
projections	on	the	blank	screen	of	consciousness,	the	screen	of	Akasha. In	other	words,	when	you	got	up	this	morning,	drove	to	work,	and	spent
your	day	at	the	office,
nothing	really	happened
	as	you	experienced	it. Time
didn’t	pass,	nor	did	you	move	through	space. This	conclusion	confounds
common	sense	but	is	thoroughly	accepted	in	physics. Let	me	explain. If	you
dream	at	night	of	flying	to	Paris	and	walking	the	streets,	nothing	of	the	sort
actually	happened;	not	only	did	you	go	nowhere	physically,	your	brain	didn’t
even	make	pictures	that	correspond	to	Paris. The	dream	resulted	from	brain
activity	that	can	be	broken	down	into	bits	of	information:	tiny	electrical
switches	were	either	on	or	off,	polarities	of	certain	molecules	were	eitherpositive	or	negative. Your	whole	dream	and	everything	in	it	was	just	a	zero	or
one	game. The	same	is	true	of	the	people	we	watch	on	television. A	character	may
seem	to	live	in	a	house	and	mow	the	lawn. But	the	house	is	actually	a	flat
image	on	the	screen,	and	the	movements	of	people	are	just	phosphors
switching	on	and	off. Again,	a	zero	and	one	game. Nothing	moves	on	a	TV
screen. If	someone	appears	to	run	to	the	left,	it’s	only	a	pattern	of	signals	that
light	up	on	the	left	and	turn	off	on	the	right—the	same	as	provided	by
blinking	Christmas	tree	lights	that	seem	to	move	around	in	a	circle	when	in
fact	all	that	is	happening	is	that	the	string	of	lights	is	going	on	and	off	in	a
pattern	that	makes	it	seem	as	if	motion	is	occurring. You	move	through	time	and	space	in	the	same	way,	as	does	the	Earth	in	its
orbit	and	the	stars	in	the	sky. Quantum	impulses	switch	on	and	off,	and	a
change	of	position	occurs	because	energy	gets	excited	a	bit	to	the	left	or	right
from	the	last	excitation. In	reality	not	a	single	quark	or	photon	changes
position	in	spacetime. But	doesn’t	it	amount	to	the	same	thing? If	an	object
appears	to	move,	why	not	say	it	moves? In	fact,	we	can’t. The	Earth	appears
to	move	around	the	sun,	yet	if	that	were	really	the	case,	it	would	eventually
spiral	into	the	sun	and	be	destroyed. In	fact,	even	though	the	Earth	encounters
friction	in	its	orbit—in	the	form	of	interstellar	dust	and	the	solar	wind—our
planet	never	gets	any	closer	to	the	sun	or	slows	down. This	is	because	every
atom	of	Earth	winks	out	of	sight	and	comes	back	with	the	same	energy	and
mass	that	it	has	always	had. The	zero	point,	it	turns	out,	projects	the	Earth	as
surely	as	a	television	screen	projects	its	pictures. (A	skeptic	would	ask	how
anything	changes	if	the	Zero	Point	Field	constantly	replenishes	the	visible
universe. That	is	a	riddle,	but	its	answer	may	lie	in	two	factors:	the	slow
decay	of	protons,	which	takes	billions	of	years,	and	the	expanding	universe,
which	is	carrying	dispersion	of	energy,	or	entropy,	as	the	original	heat	of	the
Big	Bang	becomes	dissipated. But	folding	these	two	factors	into	quantum
theory	is	far	from	being	achieved.) How	does	all	this	relate	to	the	afterlife? Ask	yourself	a	simple	question. When	you’re	watching	TV,	which	is	more	real,	the	picture	you’re	seeing	or
the	station	that’s	sending	the	signal? Of	course,	the	station	is	more	real,	the
picture	is	only	an	image. Likewise,	Laszlo	says,	the	Zero	Point	Field—
Akasha—is	more	real	than	the	visible	universe. Akasha	organizes	and
coordinates	all	the	projections	we	call	time,	space,	matter,	and	energy. If	this
is	correct,	then	we	have	established	a	foundation	for	several	key	assertions	in
Vedanta:
The	material	world	is	projected	from	a	nonmaterial	source. The	invisible	world	comes	first. It	contains	the	seeds	of	time	and	space. Reality	increases	the	closer	one	gets	to	the	source.To	put	it	in	human	terms,	we	do	not	have	to	fear	that	death	is	a	vanishing
act	because	life	has	always	been	one. What	we	most	value	in	ourselves,	our
capacity	to	think	and	feel,	didn’t	come	about	from	entering	the	physical
world. It	got	projected	into	the	physical	world	from	a	source,	the	Zero	Point
Field,	that	is	the	root	of	consciousness,	extending	back	billions	of	years	and
ahead	into	the	foreseeable	future. Far	from	being	a	religious	vision,	this
model	explains	the	universe	better	than	any	other,	and	gives	us	what	the	rishis
and	modern	physicists	both	demand:	a	bridge	between	mind	and	matter.14
T
HINKING
	O
UTSIDE	THE
	B
RAIN
IF	I	DIE
	and	the	information	contained	in	my	brain	survives,	does	that	mean	I
will	survive? Survival	means	remaining	intact	at	some	level—mind,
personality,	memory,	or	soul—that	is	“me.”	To	a	materialist,	when	the	brain
dies,	so	does	the	person. Fortunately,	over	the	past	two	decades	some
ingenious	experiments	have	raised	hope	that	the	mind	extends	outside	the
brain,	and	that	the	qualities	that	you	and	I	cherish,	such	as	love	and	truth,	may
be	embedded	permanently	in	the	field. The	closer	we	can	get	to	showing	that	the	field	is	intelligent,	the	more
credible	it	will	be	that	our	own	intelligence	can	survive	after	death. One	way
to	approach	this	issue	seems	strange	but	turns	out	to	be	very	fruitful:	animal
telepathy. Many	pet	owners	will	attest	to	the	ability	of	a	dog	or	cat	to	know
what	the	owner	is	thinking. A	few	minutes	before	going	on	a	walk,	a	dog	gets
excited	and	restless;	on	the	day	when	a	cat	is	going	to	be	taken	to	the	vet,	it
disappears	and	is	nowhere	to	be	found. These	casual	observations	led	the
ingenious	British	researcher	Rupert	Sheldrake,	a	trained	biologist	now	turned
speculative	thinker,	to	conduct	controlled	studies	to	find	out	if	dogs	and	cats
can	actually	read	their	owners’	minds. One	study	was	very	simple:	Sheldrake
phoned	sixty-five	veterinarians	in	the	London	area
and
	asked	them	if	it	was
common	for	cat	owners	to	cancel	appointments	because	their	cats	had
disappeared	that	day. Sixty-four	vets	responded	that	it	was	very	common,	and
the	sixty-fifth	had	given	up	making	appointments	for	cats	because	too	many
couldn’t	be	located	when	they	were	supposed	to	come	in. Sheldrake	decided	to	perform	an	experiment	using	dogs. The	fact	that	a
dog	gets	excited	when	the	time	comes	to	go	for	a	walk	means	little	if	the	walk
is	routinely	scheduled	for	the	same	time	every	day,	or	if	the	dog	gets	visual
cues	from	its	owner	that	he	is	preparing	to	go	out. Therefore,	Sheldrake
placed	dogs	in	outbuildings	completely	isolated	from	their	owners;	he	then
asked	the	owner,	at


 him where he is. I’m not
suggesting you love atrocities, but even the most depraved person started
out as an innocent baby. We have to remember that all of us are created by
our parents and society. If we get the wrong messages from them and
receive no love from them, then any of us can end up a Hitler. This is not an
acceptance of evil, but rather a refusal to sink to its level. As Martin Luther
King, Sr., has said, “Hate won’ t bring my family back.” You may not be
able to change your oppressor or save your life by your love, but you can
keep hatred from destroying your heart, mind, and life, as it has destroyed
his. Among my patients I meet many who are dealing with “impossible”
spouses. There are two ways out: You can either divorce your “Hitler” or
stay and try to change him or her with love. I remember a woman named
Ruth, who once told me, “I’ll make this marriage work if it kills me.” She
developed extensive metastatic breast cancer and became so depressed that
she was considering suicide. Then one day Ruth was in the audience at one
of my talks. The subject of suicide came up, and a young woman in the
audience related how her father had killed himself and her life had been
devastated, both because of the loss itself and because she couldn’ t deal
with her father ’s lack of courage. Her story moved Ruth so much that she
found new courage within herself, decided to live, and left her husband. However, when you realize that both you and your “Hitler” are only
human, you can probably learn to live together, helping each other change. Nothing helps someone become better as much as someone else granting
the possibility. As Goethe wrote, “If you treat an individual as he is, he will
stay that way, but if you treat him as if he were what he could be, he will
become what he could be.” I find it useful to remember what Martin Luther
King, Jr., once wrote about Jesus’  command to love your enemies:

Forgiveness does not mean ignoring what has been done or putting a
false label on an evil act. It means, rather, that the evil act no longer remains
as a barrier to the relationship…. We must recognize that the evil deed of
the enemy neighbor, the thing that hurts, never quite expresses all that he is. An element of goodness may be found even in our worst enemy.The meaning of love is not to be confused with some sentimental
outpouring. Love is something much deeper than emotional bosh…. Now
we can see what Jesus meant when he said, “Love your enemies.” We
should be happy that he did not say, “Like your enemies.” It is almost
impossible to like some people. “Like” is a sentimental and af fectionate
word. How can we be af fectionate toward a person whose avowed aim is to
crush our very being and place innumerable stumbling blocks in our path? How can we like a person who is threatening our children or bombing our
homes? That is impossible. But Jesus recognized that love is greater than
like. When Jesus bids us to love our enemies, he is speaking of
understanding and creative, redemptive goodwill for all men. Only by
following this way and responding with this type of love are we able to be
children of our Father who is in heaven. The real test is not whether we could be crucified to save mankind but
whether we can live with someone who snores. You have to remember that you cannot change anyone. You can only
change yourself. But remember you create the other person by what you’re
like. This often gives a wife, for example, great power. Eleanor, one of my
patients, works with her husband in real estate. She’ s capable of making
million-dollar deals, but he criticizes the way she dresses, even sends her
back in the house to change her clothes when they’re ready to go out to
dinner. I said, “Okay, then tell him you can’ t make decisions. Don’ t wash,
clean, cook, keep the books, or do any of the other things he expects of you. If he asks, ‘Where’ s dinner?’  tell him you couldn’ t decide what to buy at the
supermarket. Tell him you couldn’ t decide what deter gent to buy, so the
laundry isn’ t done. Tell him how indecisive you are, and he’ll have to take
over everything. Then he’ll realize how much you do, and what you’re
capable of.”
Taking care of unfinished business may someday come to be recognized
as the most ef fective pain reliever and preparation for sur gery. I recall a
medical student named Karen who visited ECaP  after she’d learned her
boyfriend’ s father was to under go sur gery for lung cancer. She’d spent a
busy week checking to make sure the sur geon was well qualified. Then, on
the way to the hospital, she remembered something I often ask group
members: she asked her boyfriend what he would say to his father if he
knew his father were going to die tomorrow.In the hospital, the young man went up to his father, who had been an
alcoholic, and said, “Dad, there were times you beat me, locked me in the
trunk of the car, and did other things to me, but I want you to know I love
you and for give you.” They embraced and cried. Naturally, the father came through sur gery without dif ficulty. When
Karen came to her next meeting, she told us what happened and said, “It
wasn’ t so important to spend all that ener gy checking the sur geon’ s
credentials. What was important was saying ‘I love you.’”
When speaking at workshops I often ask, “If you knew you were going
to die on the way home, would you need to use the phone?” If the answer is
yes, I say, “Okay, if you promise when you get home to pick up the phone
and make all those calls, I’ll guarantee a safe trip home.”
When you suf fer a misfortune, you are faced with the choice of what to
do with it. You can wring good from it, or more pain. Out of the ordeal of
his son’ s death, Rabbi Kushner was eventually able to write a book, When
Bad Things Happen to Good People, which has helped thousands of people
through similar tragedies. In that way, the life that has been lost is given
meaning through what is created out of the pain. The ability to see something good in adversity is perhaps the central
trait needed by patients. As Viktor Frankl has written: “T o live is to suf fer;
to survive is to find meaning in the suf fering.” Death or the threat of death
has been called the ultimate teacher, for it goads us into appreciating to the
utmost what we have or can do today. My wife and I had to learn this lesson during a week in which we
thought our son Keith, at the age of eight, had a malignant bone tumor. He
told me he had a pain in his leg. At first I said he should take hot baths as
any good doctor would suggest. Then one day, while I was lacing his ice
skates, he told me the pain wasn’ t going away, and he suggested an x-ray. My thought was that we’ll teach him a lesson. He’ll probably have a
superficial break in the bone, and then he’ll be sorry he got the x-ray—he’ll
have to wear a cast for a fracture that would have healed without one. Instead, the x-ray showed a lytic bone lesion. According to all my medical
books this represented a malignancy, and our beautiful child would be dead
within a year. The five days before he was admitted to the hospital for
surgery were a horror and my guilt added to this, a guilt all parents feel. It
was impossible to think, love, concentrate, or talk. Fortunately, the tumor
proved benign and was removed easily with a small portion of the bone.However, the experience was one of our most important lessons. It
showed us what patients and their families must deal with. Moreover, it
taught my wife and me about survival. Our daughter Carolyn said to me one
day at breakfast, “Dad, do you ever think who will die first?” I said, “That
is not the issue. The issue is that the rest of us will go on living and giving
more to the world to make the life of the one who died more meaningful.”
Unfortunately, most of us must suf fer before we can be transformed. My
wife, Bobbie, and I were sitting in the kitchen when the garbage disposal
jammed. I said, “What shall I do?” She said, “Just push the reset button.”
So I went to God and asked, “If you’re such a great creator, why didn’ t you
give us a reset button?” God answered, “I did give you a reset button,
Bernie. It’ s called pain and suf fering.” It is only through pain that we
change. It can be dif ficult to see our loved ones hurting but not changing. Our job is to love them. It is their pain that changes them, not our sermon. Finding the ability to love requires giving up the fear, anguish, and


 pregnancy. 7. Itchy Dogs
My pup has atopic dermatitis, also known as the world’s worst allergies. He gets goopy eyes, scabby ears from scratching them too much, and will literally scratch himself raw and bloody without treatment. In addition to
his daily care regime, he gets coconut oil. From the inside out, coconut oil can help nourish the dry, irritated,
or inflamed skin that is the result of the inappropriate response to various allergens. It did not cure him of his allergies, though there are people who say it has gotten rid of their dog’s allergies completely, but it does
help reduce the itching. If your pup chews their paws and stains them red/pink/brown it can help in that
department as well, as that is also a sign of allergies. Start with ½ teaspoon a day and work your way up to 1 tablespoon for 40+ pound dogs, and 1-2 teaspoons for dogs that weigh less. They usually go crazy for it! 8. Fungal Infections
The medium chain fatty acids found abundantly in coconut oil are incredibly effective natural fungicides. In a (coco)nut shell, they naturally insert themselves into the fungal membrane, which is crucial to maintaining
the life of the fungus. This destruction of the membrane leads to the destruction of the fungus as a whole
and voila! The fungus is eradicated. It is important to be diligent with applications of the coconut oil until your symptoms have cleared. 9. Cold Sores
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, generally type 1, and as such they have no cure. If you harken back to science class, you’ll recall that bacteria can be wiped out, while a virus cannot. So how can
coconut oil possibly help? It doesn’t wipe out the virus, but it can inhibit its assembly and how it spreads. Coconut oil contains a substance known as lauric acid. When combined with glycerol, it creates a substance known as monolaurin. Studies done so far have shown that monolaurin affects the lipid envelope of the virus,
and prevents the virus from reproducing how it normally would. In turn, it is not able to spread as efficiently
and tends not to last as long. Apply a bit of coconut oil directly to the sore several times a day. 10. Coffee Creamer
In replacement of higher calorie coffee creamers (such milk and sugar) stir a little coconut oil into your coffee for a sweet (but not “too sweet”) and healthy touch. Make sure to stir it in well! If you notice it floating to the
top, try stirring partway through your drink, or just add a little less next time. Make sure your joe is piping hot
when you add it in, otherwise you might get some unwanted unmelted coconut oil popping up. Get a FREE 15oz Jar of Organic Coconut Oil - just pay $1.95 S&H!11. Healthy Wood Polish
Most wood polish coats surfaces in a slick layer of synthetic chemicals, which makes the wood look all sleek
and shiny…for a little bit. Coconut oil, on the other hand, sinks into the wood and keeps it looking “healthy”
longer. The appearance is much more natural, and it stays that way. It may not look as dramatic as a store
bought polisher, but I find it a much more pleasant and effective option to keeping wood looking it’s best. 12. Lower Cholesterol and Risk of Heart Disease
Cholesterol is a waxy substance found your cells, which helps continuously build more vital cells. It goes about its way through your blood stream attached to proteins known as lipoproteins. There are low-density
lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL.) HDL is the “good” cholesterol-you want to lower LDL,
but raise HDL. LDL carries cholesterol throughout your body and delivers it to organs and tissues. The problem is, if you have too much cholesterol, the excess keeps circulating. The constantly circulating LDL will eventually
penetrate blood vessel walls where they build up plaques and narrow blood vessels, sometimes to the point
blocking blood flow, causing coronary artery disease. HDL, on the other hand, picks up excess cholesterol and brings it to your liver to be broken down. Coconut oil, probably due to its high levels of lauric acid, will
boost HDL. There’s no solid evidence saying that coconut oil alone will prevent heart disease, but there is
solid evidence that it boosts HDL, therefore lowering cholesterol, and hypothetically reducing the risk of heart disease. Take ½-1 tablespoon daily. 13. Reduce Risk (or effect) of Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is devastating to all who experience it, whether personally or with a friend or family member. It is no wonder that we search so desperately for a cure. The word that coconut oil could possibly “cure” or
prevent Alzheimer’s started circulating with vigor when a pediatrician published a book about feeding coconut
oil to her husband, who suffered from Alzheimer’s, and got positive results. Other studies have confirmed that ketones, which are essentially “brain food” provided to keep the brain functioning when the body runs lower
on glucose, can help improve memory, and potentially “reverse” the effects of Alzheimer’s. It’s a much more
complex subject and process, but that’s it in a really wrapped up nutshell. The dosing that I have uncovered implies 2 teaspoons taken daily with food to help improve cognitive function. 14. Soothe Fly Bites
Oh the sweet relief of coconut oil. When the black flies start biting, it’s the first thing to reach for. I use it the most on my horse come summertime to soothe any nasty bites that she gets, but don’t hesitate to dab a little
on myself (or the dogs.) Just get a little on your fingertips and apply it directly to the bite. 15. Fight Acne
Our bodies are rich with bacteria that are naturally present, and necessary, to maintain our health. There are
instances though where some people find themselves with a specific strain of bacteria (generally thought to be
Propionibacterium acnes) that grows its population past the point of being welcome, as too much of it causes
acne. While P. acnes is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, coconut oil is an all-natural way to reduce the overgrowth. You can also mix in a little drop of tee tree oil for an extra anti-bacterial kick. Be aware that tea
tree has a very…distinct aroma. Not bad per say, just strong. Get a FREE 15oz Jar of Organic Coconut Oil - just pay $1.95 S&H!16. Oil/Butter Replacement
There’s no better way to get the benefits of coconut oil than to replace other less desirable fats with it. When
cooking or baking, substitute it for butter or just about any oil. It lends moisture, freshness, and richness to
baked goods, and a subtle complimentary flavor to savory dishes. How much you substitute will depend on
the recipe you are making. For baking, most people will fall in the 1:1 ratio or 80% coconut oil 20% water when subbing for butter. For basic cakes, cookies, and brownies I find 1:1 to be sufficient. When it comes to more
complex pastries that get their flaky puffiness when steam is escaping, you may find yourself tweaking the
amount a little. For oil substituting, subbing 1:1 is a good route to go. 17. SPF Lip Balm
Lips are quite exposed to the elements, and it’s not like there are “lip scarves” or “mouth mittens” to protect them from the harsh world. One thing that’s especially over-looked is sun exposure. You should really apply
sunscreen to your lips for full protection, but coconut oil also has a mild SPF protection. It can’t rival SPF 80
(indeed it has an SPF of about 4-6) but even that little bit can help. Apply some coconut oil just before heading out into the sun, and reapply every few hours. I like to melt mine down with just ¼ teaspoon or so of beeswax,
as I find it easier to apply, and it has more staying power. 18. Exfoliating Body Scrub
One of my personal favorite uses for coconut oil is serving as a base for body or face scrubs. You can melt some
down, stir in some sugar, let it cool, and then use as is. Or, for a fun little project,  melt down about a half cup
of coconut oil and pour into a muffin tin, soap mold, or anything of the like, and stir in 2-4 tablespoons of white
or brown sugar. You can add more if you would like the texture to be coarser. I usually let it cool some before adding the sugar so you don’t just dissolve the grains. Pop it in the fridge and let it solidify and cool completely
before removing from the mold. Slice off a piece when needed and use it to gently scrub and exfoliate your
face/body (dampen your skin with water first.) Rinse off, apply moisturizer, and resist the urge to use it again until later in the week, otherwise you run the risk of drying your skin out. 19. Make-Up Remover
Make-up is on your face. Your face is something you would like to protect. So when it comes to removing make-up, don’t turn for harsher store bought products. Go instead to coconut oil, which gently and safely
removes all traces of make-up (and leaves


ous membranes to their normal state. Nearly one-third of the natural content of radishes is potassium,
while of the remaining two-thirds, more than one-third is sodium. The iron and magnesium content are both high, and it is from these
that the healing and soothing qualities to the mucous membranes have
been found. It is usually unnecessary in most cases to undergo surgical
operations for the removal of the mucus which causes sinus troubles. While such operations remove some of the mucus, the aftereffects
eventually may be devastating. The horseradish sauce on the other
hand, has repeatedly given lasting benefits. Mucus is the result of
drinking too much milk and eating concentrated starches, bread, and
cereals in excess. RHUBARB JUICE
Rhubarb is probably responsible for more kidney trouble among
children than any other single factor. Few if any other plants have
such a high concentration of oxalic acid as rhubarb. When cooked,
this acid is converted into an inorganic chemical which, when eaten,
deposits vast amounts of oxalic acid crystals in the body. 52 Innumerable cases of rheumatism and rheumatic fever could be
traced to the ingestion of cooked rhubarb. No example could be more
vivid than this to prove the fallacy of eating sor°a food or food product
because of certain individual particular merit without regard to the
disastrous effect of other elements it may contain. Because of its
supposedly laxative properties, rhubarb is used extensively for children
as well as by adults. Because the laxative results are more or less
immediately apparent, no further thought is given to the other end
product—the oxalic acid crystals deposited in the body. As these
deposits do not cause immediate irritation and their effect is insidious
and slow in manifesting, the consequences are rarely if ever attributed
to the proper cause—the eating of rhubarb. The subject of oxalic acid is so very important that we have covered
it fairly extensively in a separate chapter under that heading. Some benefit can be derived from fresh-raw rhubarb juice,
provided that it is used sparingly, and only in combination with other
juices such as carrot, celery, or fruit, and their combinations. In this
manner it can help stimulate the peristaltic action of the intestines. Never sweeten rhubarb with sugar, use honey. Section summary:

* Avoidance of concentrated starchy/sugared substances leads
    * Duodenal ulcers respond remarkably positively

Please summarize briefly. Here’s my attempt:
**Summary**: Eating habits play crucial roles in overall wellness. Consuming **NO CONCENTRAD STARCHES AND SUGAR**, washing gut bacteria-free liquids (**COLON IRRIAGATIONS & ENEMAS**) accelerators duodenalgases’ response. Then, introduce alternative options:**CAROTTEJUICE**

[. ]
Let me modify based on feedback. (Note - You did ask summarization questions earlier)
If interested,
Isolate key points. Identify critical components/ concepts introduced. )
Would love guidance. Your request highlights accuracy, brevity,

Also note mention “anti repetition” mechanism. Thankyou.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>
Q: What is the recommended method for preparing cabbage juice to avoid gas and waste matter?,
A: It is recommended to avoid concentrated starches and sugars, and use colonic irrigations and enemas regularly to cleanse the system.
Q: What is the recommended way to take carrot juice to treat ulcers and constipation?,
A: It is recommended to take carrot juice in its raw state without adding any salt, and to use colonic irrigations and enemas to cleanse the system.
Q: What is the purpose of adding Rock Salt to the diet, and what are the recommended alternatives?,
A: Rock Salt is not recommended as it is not completely water-soluble and can cause harm. Instead, it is recommended to use seaweed or other natural sources of essential elements.
Q: What is the recommended way to take garlic juice, and what are its benefits?,
A: Garlic juice is recommended to be taken in moderation, not alone, but in combination with other juices. It has been used to treat various ailments, including digestive issues, and has also been found to be beneficial in the treatment of certain skin conditions.
Q: What is the recommended way to prepare lettuce juice, and what are its benefits?,
A: Lettuce juice should not be taken alone, as it can cause discomfort. It is recommended to mix it with carrot or other juices, and it has been found to be beneficial in treating conditions such as anemia and skin problems.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>SAUERKRAUT JUICE
Sauerkraut is a preparation of pickled cabbage, finely cut and
fermented in brine composed of a great deal of salt. This pickling and
fermentation is exceedingly injurious to the mucous membranes of
the alimentary canal and affects adversely the texture of the skin,
tending to coarsen it. Its stimulating effect on the digestive organs is
very detrimental because of the presence of so much inorganic salt
solution. SORREL JUICE
The juice of the broad-leafed French Sorrel is excellent in helping
the sluggish and prolapsed intestines to reestablish their normal
functions, when such necessary steps as colonic irrigations and enemas
are taken to eliminate the accumulation of waste matter collected
therein. This vegetable is rich in potassium oxalate which is valuable for
the human system only in its vital organic raw state. It should never
be eaten when cooked. It contains a particularly large percentage of iron and magnesium
which the blood needs constantly, and vast amounts of the cleansing
53 elements phosphorus, sulphur, and silicon which are used by every
part of the system from head to foot. The combination of these rich elements makes this juice most
valuable for nourishing all the glands in the body. SPINACH JUICE
Spinach is the most vital food for the entire digestive tract, both
the alimentary section of the body (the stomach, duodenum, and small
intestines) and for the large intestine or colon, and it has been so
recognized from time immemorial. In raw spinach, Nature has furnished man with the finest organic
material for the cleansing, reconstruction, and regeneration of the
intestinal tract. Raw spinach juice properly prepared, taken at the rate
of about one pint daily, has often corrected the most aggravated case
of constipation within a few days or weeks. Unfortunately, the use of purgatives for the cleansing of the
intestinal tract is practiced without an understanding of exactly what
takes place. Every manufactured chemical, inorganic purgative or
laxative acts as an irritant, stimulating the muscles of the intestines to
expel it. With the expulsion of this irritant, other matter lodged therein
may also be expelled. It is obvious and in practice it is proved to be a
fact, that the habit of taking laxatives necessitates stronger and stronger
irritants. The result is not a cure for constipation, but a chronic
condition of inactivity of the local tissues, muscles, and nerves. Cathartics are merely irritants and while they remove some of the
waste matter, they cannot possibly cause anything other than
progressive degeneration of the intestines. Furthermore, such methods of cleansing the intestinal tract are
solely temporary in their effect and furnish no material for the
regeneration and rebuilding of the weakened or degenerated tissues,
muscles, and nerves. It is imperative that following the lymphatic expulsion of acid,
toxins, or poisons, the system be replaced by an organic alkaline
solution such as natural raw fruit juices to prevent an inevitable water
deficiency in the body. Also, if such a replacement of alkaline is not
taken care of, one runs the risk of repetition. The remaining poisons
in the intestinal track can then be reabsorbed, find their way into the
lymph stream, and again aggravate the condition the individual was
trying to correct. 54 On the other hand, raw spinach juice effectively cleanses and helps
to heal not only the lower bowels but the entire intestinal tract. The spinach works by natural means to repair the most essential
damage first; it is not always apparent to the individual where in his
body the work of regeneration is progressing. Results may not be
noticeable sometimes for as long as six weeks or two months after
daily consumption of this juice. It has been found essential at all times, however, that the bowels
be cleared at least once every twenty-four hours, although the normal,
healthy condition calls for two or three movements a day. The colon
can be washed out with colonic irrigations or enemas, or both if
necessary everyday. This has been found most effective in the long
run. Another valuable feature of raw spinach juice is its effect on the
teeth and gums in helping to prevent pyorrhea. This disease is a mild
form of scurvy and results from a deficiency in the body of the
elements found particularly in the combination of carrot and spinach
juices. Bleeding gums and fibroid degeneration of the pulp of the
teeth has become a common defect due to the habitual use of
devitalized cereals, refined sugar, and other deficiency foods. It is
due to a Vitamin C deficiency. A permanent aid for this affliction has been found in the use of
natural raw foods and, more particularly, by drinking an ample quantity
of carrot and spinach juice. Other derangements of the body such as duoden


 We again asked
him to talk to us. However, he kept looking at us with a blank stare as if we were speaking
ancient Greek.After realizing that we weren’ t going to be able to communicate with the
man, we took out Mr. Pinky (a thick, pink coat hanger–type contraption that
allows us to access locked cars), opened the driver ’s door, and began patient
care. The man’ s blood sugar turned out to be 32 mg/dl, which is far too low
for anyone to function. So we fed him two 15-gram tubes of glucose, and
within five minutes he came out of his zombie-like state and was back on
planet Earth. He apologized profusely, saying he must not have eaten
enough at lunch. We backed him out of the ditch and told him that he
needed to get some solid food into his system as soon as possible. THE TRUTH IS THA T TREA TING TYPE 2 DIABETES  is an easy fix. Eat plant-strong! Neal Barnard, MD, is president of the Physicians Committee for
Responsible Medicine, and author of Dr. Neal Barnard’ s Program for
Reversing Diabetes. The results of his diabetes studies, funded by the
National Institutes of Health, were published in the August 2006 issue of
Diabetes Care. In his report, Dr. Barnard describes a simple dietary regime he found that
could prevent, control, and even reverse diabetes. Of the ninety-nine
patients in his study, fifty were put on the American Diabetes Association
(ADA) diet (currently considered the nutritional gold standard for people
with diabetes). The other forty-nine subjects ate a low-fat, high-fiber, plant-
based diet. In choosing which foods to eat in which quantities, the ADA  diet patients
followed the standard USDA  food pyramid, but also had to count calories
and watch portion sizes. No food group was eliminated, however. The
plant-based diet patients followed the Physicians Committee food pyramid,
which features more servings of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and
legumes than the standard pyramid. These patients could eat as much as
they wanted as long as they ate only from these four food groups and
watched their intake of nuts and high-fat vegetables such as olives and
avocados. The group of diabetics on the low-fat, plant-based diet was able to
reduce the doses of almost all their medications, and in some cases go of f
them, in as few as twelve weeks. This diet also turned out to be three timesmore ef fective than the ADA  diet in reducing A1C, a marker that best
identifies the amount of sugar in the blood over a three-month period. Why was Dr. Barnard’ s study so successful? The answer is so simple, it’ s
criminal: Because eating low-fat, plant-scrumptious foods causes the body
to burn and metabolize excess fat from all the cells of the body. So in as
little as a week, insulin can knock on the cell door, stick its golden key in
the now-clean lock, and turn it. The door is now open and insulin can
deliver its glucose. Once that happens, a person is no longer insulin-
resistant, but insulin-sensitive. Several E2ers have been able to reverse their Type 2 diabetes. For
example, Craig Walker, a twenty-four -year veteran of the fire department,
had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at age forty-one. Six years later he
came to me after hearing about the success I’d had in improving the health
of some of the other firefighters. “I’m finally ready to try this,” he said. “I
am sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
Coming out of the fire academy, fire cadet Craig weighed 185 pounds
and was healthy as a moose (yes, a moose, as my childhood pediatrician
used to tell me at the end of a checkup). More than two decades later,
Captain Craig Walker weighed 215 pounds, had a high A1C of 12, a fasting
blood sugar level of over 200, gave himself an insulin shot daily, took two
oral diabetic medications, and had just quit Lipitor for high cholesterol
because he didn’ t like the way it made him feel. By going on the E2 diet, in just three months Craig lost 27 pounds,
brought his A1C number down from 12 to 6.5, brought his fasting glucose
level below 100, no longer needed his insulin injections, was able to stop
taking one oral medication and cut the other dose in half, reduced his total
cholesterol from 269 to 196, and cut his LDL  cholesterol from 189 to 1 11. Craig is no longer sick and tired. Craig is healthy and happy—as a
moose! Carol Jocelyn, 66
Director of a House of Prayer
I live in rural Iowa, one of the beef- and pork-eating capitals of
America, so some people think I’m nuts. But the nice thing is that
even people who live in remote places like me can make it work if
they want. I travel to health food stores whenever I’m away. And I’mhelping to integrate more healthy foods into our regular grocery store. Today my ener gy is at a wonderful peak, my body feels clean, I feel
alive, and I’ve lost eighteen pounds. I’ve gone from a size twelve to a
size eight. OBESITY
Our country is in terrible shape—physically, that is. We are fat. Dr. Richard Carmona, the former United States sur geon general, refers to the
nation’ s current obesity epidemic as “the terror within.”
If you are obese (like more than 30 percent of all Americans), you’re
essentially stepping onto an escalator taking you directly into a roomful of
killer diseases: heart disease, stroke, cancer, hypertension, and diabetes. Once inside this room, you’ll realize the absolute horror that lies within, but
the door will close and won’ t let you leave until you pick one or more
diseases as a departing prize. On every shift at the station we see the results of the obesity epidemic in
full swing. Sometimes we get a call for what’ s known as lifting assistance;
this type of help is for people so morbidly obese that they have lost their
mobility. Lifting and moving people who weigh between 400 and 600
pounds requires a team ef fort, as well as a great deal of resourcefulness. First, we gather the required man/woman power (usually six to eight
people) and two bed sheets. Next, we help the person roll onto his or her
side, and slide the two sheets up against the body. Then we have the person
roll back onto his or her back and then to the other side so we can pull the
sheet past and under, giving us a makeshift gurney. Now comes the exciting part: Positioned all around the sheet, each
person rolls up his or her section to get a solid grip. On the count of three,
we then slide the patient over to one side of the bed and prepare to lift him
or her onto the stretcher or straight into an ambulance. Considering that we
often have to navigate our way around furniture, through doorways, and
down multiple staircases, this task can be pretty dif ficult. AMERICANS SEEM TO FEEL  it is their birthright to eat rich, fatty, meaty, and
obesity-promoting foods. This mind-set begs for a paradigm shift. Obesity
is not caused by a fat gene passed down the family line; its roots lie in badeating habits and poor nutrition. These habits are the colossal tragedy being
passed from one generation to the next. There is a solution, and it doesn’ t involve portion control, exercise, or
lifting weights. It requires one thing and one thing only: You need to
become plant-strong! Indulge in the luxuriance of eating plants and
discover the wide variety of foods that await you. Here are some basic truths about gaining (far too much) weight. First, you will gain weight only if you consume more calories than you
burn. Stop eating high-calorie second- and third-class foods such as meat,
cheese, milk, eggs, oils, and refined sugars and replace them with first-
class, opulent, plant-based foods, then watch the pounds disappear. Second, people around the world whose diets are plant-based tend to be
thinner than those whose aren’ t. Their cuisine is rich in complex
carbohydrates such as whole grains, potatoes, millet, rice, and corn, and
they supplement these healthful starches with fruits, vegetables, and beans. It works for them, and it will work for you. TO UNDERST AND WHY  THIS IS THE CASE,  here’ s a quick lesson on how calories
work, and the basics of how the body processes the three types of
macronutrients found in all foods: protein, carbohydrates, and fats. A gram of each contains a dif ferent number of calories:
1 gram of carbohydrate equals 4 calories. 1 gram of protein equals 4 calories. 1 gram of fat equals 9 calories. Carbohydrates, the body’ s main source of fuel, are stored in the form of
glucose in the blood and glycogen in the muscles and liver. Just in the
process of converting and storing these carbs, the body burns of f 25 percent
of the calories you consume. The body cannot store protein, however. Excess


ras. Even
though dolphin pose looks easy, it’ s actually quite challenging a s it requires
some upper body strength. Y ou can work your way up to holding dolphin
pose by taking frequent breaks. Dolphin pose is also good practice to build
your strength for a yoga headstand. Begin on your h ands and knees on your mat. Lay your forearms on the
mat with  your elbows directly u nderneath your shoulders. Fold your hands
together in front of you, and lock your shoulders back to create a stable
base. Y o ur hands and elbows will form a triangle. Gently lift yo ur knees of f
the floor  and walk your feet tow ard your elbows until you’re in an upside-down letter V. Y our head will  float above the  floor. Lift your tailbone high
into the sky. T o enhance the ene r gy toward the Ajna chakra, lif t your head
so the third eye is facing direct ly down to ward th e earth. Stay in the pose
for four to six breaths, then low er your knees to the floor and take a child’ s
pose as a counterpose: lower y our hips to the floor, and then extend your
torso fo rward an d rest it betwe en your thighs, with your fore head on the
floor. Healing the Emotional and Energetic Body
Then God said, “Let ther e be light,” and ther e was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated light fr om the darkness. — G ENESIS  1:3–4
A great obstacle in healing the emotional body, especially at the sixth
chakra l evel of consciousness, is the struggle of light versus dark. Earnest
spiritual seekers can be so inte rested in attainment of enlightenment that
they for get some crucial steps along the path. In the beginning of the chapter I discussed the duality dynamic of this
world. The push-pull of the world of opposites doesn’ t only live in your
environment; it also lives in you. There are aspects within you that seem to
work ag ainst eve rything you stand for on your spiritual path. Y et there they
are, either ever present or looming around the corner. The novice on the
spiritual path will try to push them away, hoping that they will n ever return. But these shadows must be con fronted and accepted in order to experience
the light fully. A  perfect example is if you never saw darkness, you could
never ex perience the night sky filled with stars, planets, and other astral
bodies. Often it is throu gh your own dar kness that you discover the light. In the
Bible, God created light out of the darkness since the darkness came first. My expe rience with cancer enabled me to help countless people  through my
writing about healing. When I talk to people in recovery from alcohol and
drug addiction, they all say that they would never have arrived at the
spiritual lives they now live if it weren’ t for the dark days of addiction.W e have all see n instances in the media demonstrating that pushing
away the darkness only makes things worse. Look at the sex scandals of
politicians, stories of embezzlement, and improper use of campaign funds. One of the grea test teachers I ever had, Dr. David Simon, used to say,
“Y ou can do al l the meditation in the world, but if you don’ t work on
emotional healing, you can’ t reach enlightenment.” Emotional healing
doesn’ t mean you have to spend twenty years in therapy. It sim ply means
facing your demons, the shadow  aspects of you that aren’ t fun to look at. Invite th em in and have a conv ersation with them. T ell them they aren’ t
going to rule your life anymore. I use d to have quite an issue w ith anxiety. At dif ferent periods in my
life, it ruined my daily experiences. I became paralyzed by stories in my
head tha t, for the most part, simply weren’ t true. But I let my mind entertain
those stories. I used to say in jest that the great thing about being a writer is
that I have a wi ld imagination, and the worst thing about being a writer is
that I have a wild imagination. Learning and practicing meditation saved
me because I learned that I can control my thoughts and their direction. The best  way to face your shado ws is to transmute them. T ransf orm the
shadow ener gy into something great that can help humanity. Sen d light into
the d arkness. For example, if your shadow is that you succumb to obsessive
cleaning and or ganizing in your home, you co uld start a business where you
help others or ganize closets and  living spaces. If you’re a shopaholic, you
can contact your local women’ s  shelter and ask them what they need in a
care box. Y ou c an then use you r shopping skills to find the best prices to
make ca re boxes for women and children in a safe home. The greatest thing
about being human is that you a re human. There is no reason to be ashamed
of your weaknesses or your shadows as long as you are not harming
anyone, includin g yourself. In f act, it’ s often when we bring our shadows
into the light that their power dissipates. Professional help can assist you in
this process, but sometimes a simple decision to act is all you need. Healing the Spiritual Body
Meditation is the primary practi ce that will help you attain the s ixth chakra
level of awarene ss. T alk about m editation is bubbling under the surface ofAmerican culture these days, and ef forts to include meditation in daily
activities are popping up in hosp itals, corporations, and even schools. More
than the  word meditation, you may hear the word mindfulness, which refers
to a type of med itation. As a me ditation teacher, I find the word mindfulness
to be  a bit of a misnomer when it comes to the ultimate goal of meditation. A wareness is certainly the key to everything we have discussed up until
now. Y ou must be aware of your thoughts, words, and actions, as well as
your bo dy and mind. However, when I think of mindfulness, I think of
concentration or  fullness of the mind. T o meditate, you need focus instead
of concentration, and release of the mind rather than fullness of it. Most people come to meditation saying, “I’m too much in my mind! Get me out of it!” Y ou are liter ally going out of your mind in meditation. (That pun was completely intended.) Everyone has experienced the ef fects
of monk ey mind. Y our mind fl its from thought to thought lik e a monkey
swinging from branch to branch. W ithout awareness that you are  the thinker
of your though ts, you become subject to the mind’ s unwiel dy habit of
flitting a bout wi th no sense of control. It comes as no surprise that millions
of peop le suf fer from anxiety and depression. If you are under the
impression that you have no c ontrol over your thoughts and the strong
impulses of the mind, of course you have reason to feel anxiou s. However,
the g ood news is that you do have control. Y ou simply need to le arn tools to
exercise the control muscle. By realizing that there are separate roles at play inside you, you can
harness the forces of your mind and get it to do what you want. Y ou achieve
this by cajoling your mind rathe r than forcing it to go in the direction you
desire. How do most of us try to control the mind? Let’ s sup pose you’re
trying to break a bad habit, such as eating a chocolate bar every night. Y ou
may try to break this habit by se tting a goal such as not eating chocolate at
all or eating chocolate only once per week. Then you might tr y to abstain
from ch ocolate by not purchasing it, distracting yourself in oth er ways, or
replacing it with something else. All these ways can and do wo rk. But they
all invol ve forci ng the mind int o distraction. If you have ever  tried doing
something like this, you know that it’ s dif ficult and tiring. Y ou really have
to f ight the mi nd frequently. Y our mind will tell you things such as
“Chocolate isn’ t  that bad. Studie s have shown it has antioxidant s that make
you healthy” or “Y ou’ve had a rough day today; don’ t you des erve a littlechocolate?” And  on and on goes the mind with great ar guments to separate
you from your goal. The thing about fighting or using strong resolve to get
to w here you w ant to go is that it’ s fatiguing rather than e mpowering. Eventually you will get tired of the battle and give up. Now let ’ s compare the above method with cajoling the mind by going
out of your mind. When you meditate, you are not in your mind. Y ou are
accessing your spirit or the par t of you that was never born and therefore
can never die. Y our spirit is the part of you that is eternal. My guru Dr. W ayne W. Dyer used to say  th at when you talk to


 animal consciousness and then on to be a real human. There are certain minor chakras from muladhara down to the heels that are
responsible for the development of animal and human instincts as well as
intellect. Muladhara is responsible for survival and maintenance of the
physical body, and besides being a source of physical energy it also regulates
all excretory functions.Located at the pubic area or at the lowest point of the spinal column,
corresponding to our sacral plexus of nerves, is the second major chakra,
known as swadhisthana or the sacral chakra. This chakra is the desire
centre of the body and the seat of emotions, hence it is responsible for
emotional balance, sexuality, procreation and the exchange of sexual energy,
and it also contr ols the unconscious in human beings. The third major chakra is manipura or the solar plexus chakra, in the
naval region. It corresponds to the solar plexus. Located in the V of the
ribcage below the diaphragm, it controls the entire process of digestion,
assimilation and temperature regulation in the body. This chakra is
responsible for mental power and self-will, and is associated with ourambitions towards money, power and authority; it is known to be the seat of
ego. The first three chakras take care of our basic needs, as described by
renowned psychologist Abraham Maslow in his hierarchy of needs. Only
after fulfilment of the basic needs can a person focus on self-actualisa tion. In
spiritual and tantric practices it is said that while we are stuck in the
mundane and struggling with the basic needs, kundalini keeps rising up to
the manipura chakra then returns to the muladhara (base root) chakra. However, once the kundalini crosses the astral bridge, which is an energetic
barrier between manipura and the anahata (heart) chakra, kundalini
movement is upwards only. This movement of kundalini is associated with
the evolution of consciousness. The anahata chakra is located at the centre of the chest, at the level of
the depression of the sternum. It corresponds to the cardiac plexus of nerves
and regulates the functioning of the heart, lungs, thymus gland, diaphragm
and other organs in this region of the body. This is the first chakra on the
path of self-actualisation and a stepping stone to spiritual growth. It is an
important chakra for all healers, denoting unconditional love and empathy
for all. Our vishuddhi or throat chakra is located in the deep of the throat and
corresponds to the cervical plexus of nerves. Responsible for communication
and self-expression, it regulates the entire thyroid complex, certain systems of
articulation and the upper pala te and epiglottis. Yogis and tantrics believe that the ajna, or third eye chakra, is located
between the brows in the forehead. It is the seat of the guru — our guiding
principle — and works as the command centre. It has complete control over
all the functions of a disciple’ s life.The aforesaid six chakras serve as triggers of energy to different parts of
the brain, and are channelled through various nadis (conduits of energy, or
prana). According to kundalini tantra there are two higher illuminated
centres, called bindu and sahasrara. The bindu is located at the top back of
the head and is where Hindu Brahmins keep a tuft of hair; this feeds the
optic nerve and is considered to be the seat of nectar or ama-kala, the true
philosopher’ s stone of immortality. The sahasrara is supreme, the seat of higher awareness; it is is located
slightly above the fontanelle. Considered to be the seventh major chakra,
sahasrara is our connection to higher consciousness, the point of culmination
of kundalini. During the process of evolution, sometimes our outer experiences get in
the way of our inner experiences. Known in Hindi as anubhuti, this inner
experience results from our spiritual practices and is very subjective, as each
seeker may get a different anubhuti in spite of carrying out the same spiritual
practice. When the chakras get activated through our spiritual practices our
values and perception of life also change, resulting in the improvement of the
quality of love, relationships and compassion. For a yogi, the world remains
the same but the perception of the world changes, resulting in sat-chit-anand,
a state of eternal peace and b liss within. Nature and consciousness
Our cosmos is the body of the Absolute (an essential attribute of God;
ultimate reality), the vessel through which the Absolute expresses itself. There
are two fundamental principles of the universe — nature and consciousness
— that are continuously interplaying in the cosmic drama of the universe. They are basically two sides of the same coin; they are yin and yang.Supreme consciousness is the masculine principle or purusha: it is all-
pervading, it is the sustainer and the only sign of divinity. Consciousness is
the ultimate, out of which and by whose power mind and matter proceed. The other aspect, nature, is the feminine principle (prakriti shakti); it is the
material form of the consciousness and is the one responsible for procreation. Consciousness, which exists in all forms of life, does not differentiate between
people or species. It is the v ery basis of cr eation, the po wer of evolution. The consciousn ess of a living being is conditioned by the matter that
makes up this body. As long as we have a physical body we participate in the
play of nature; that is maya, which is the illusionary world of desires: the
desires we chase, the material things we want for illusionary happiness. As
you fulfil one desire you will find you have another one, creating a vicious
cycle or a web. No incarnate body can be completely worldly or completely
spiritual. No matter what level of light or spirituality you attain, as long as
you are embodied you are not able to transcend your dark side. The
expression of shakti in the physical body is prana, the vital life force, which
keeps the bod y, mind and spirit w orking as a complete w hole. The ancient law of microcosm (part) and macrocosm (whole) explains
that there is no real difference between the vast external universe and the
limited internal universe of the human body, except that we as individuals
believe ourselves to be different. A human being is a living microcosm of the
universe, and the universe is a living macrocosm of a human being. Each
cosmos affects the other. Our universe affects us each moment, and each one
of us also influences the entire universe by our actions. Humankind, as
microcosm, contains within itself all the elements: mineral, vegetable and
animal kingdom (flora and fauna). Also, within plants is the potential of
human beings, and within human beings is the underlying energy structure
of plants. Life is rational, interdependent and interconnected, like anecosystem, for mutual nourishment and care. Independence and
individuality are myths of human origin: humankind cannot live without air;
air exists because of the planetary mass of the Earth: the Earth exists because
of the sun; the sun exists as part of the galaxy; the galaxy exists as part of the
macrocosm. In essence, both cosmic and individual consciousness are one. While the
power of cosmic consciousness, chiti shakti, identifies with the unmanifested
absolute, the power of individual consciousness, maya shakti, identifies with
the world and is the manifestation of the absolute. As individual
consciousness is a partial expression of cosmic consciousness, the two aspects
cannot exist without each other; there is a spark of the absolute in even the
densest of matter, which is why a rock is considered alive as it has vibrations. Similarly, in the highest state of consciousness there is a particle of maya or a
sense of individuality, because the physical form identifies with the material
world only. Once you understand the truth of the universe you forget your
own individuality and remember your true nature. The one exists in all and
all defines the one; unity and duality both exist simultaneously. Wherever
chiti shakti is displayed there is intelligence and sensation. Without it there is
ignorance and insensitivity. Our bodies are our soulmates, as they are the carriers of our souls. They
are like vessels, getting filled with the flow of consciousness. The chief centres
of consciousness in human beings are found in the cerebrospinal system, the
upper brain and hypothalam us; this is the first part of the body to be
developed after conception. After that our sahasrara or crown chakra opens. Individual consciousness flows in the body through the sahasrara chakra,
bringing with it a complete blueprint of our life. This blueprint is our destiny
in this lifetime. According to Hindu philosoph y, this destiny is based on the
karma of our past lives. When a person consults an astrologer, palmist ornumerologist they will try to analyse this blueprint to predict the person’s
destiny, although this destin y cannot be c hanged. From the cerebrospinal system, entire body form materialises


 and secret betrayals. People who put on a show of generosity turn out to be secretly the
most selsh. Jealousy lurks under a smile. Children do not know
how to live this way, and Karin still doesn’t have the knack for it. From her perspective, other people are living securely inside a
shared reality,  while she is outside lookin g in—“I live in another
dimension,” she mourns. This persistent feeling of isolation makesthings very fearful for her. She has no security. The rest of us are at
home; she is the eternal stranger. Many sensitive  people feel this way. Wisdom and poetry can arise
from the situation as easily as anguish. But given how lonely such
people generally are, I can see why anguish is the most common
response. It is by relating to other people, after all, that most of us
manage to feel real in the rst place. Three years ago, Karin asserts, she felt completely normal and
connected—she is particularly adamant on that point. She was
thirty-one and had just decid ed to break up with a man whom she
had been seeing steadily for several years. “From the very beginning
of our relationship,” she said, “I knew that Rodney was not ‘the
one,’ but we cared for each other and really enjoyed each other’s
company. ” What made her nally break o with this man was her
decision to seek someone whom she really might want to marry. This reason satised her, and the breakup occurred without rancor. But Karin immediately starte d having doubts about what she had
done. She glossed over that part with me: “When Rodney and I
broke up, I felt a sudden sense of loss. I wondered if I had done the
wrong thing, if I should get back with him, you know, blah, blah,
blah. Then I went on with my life. ” Within a month after the
breakup, she met another man, a customer at her catering business. She fell deeply  in love with him and continues to say that their
relationship, which was brief but intense, was the closest she ever
came to marrying anyone. From the very outset, however, she knew
that his parent s, who were Orthodox Jews, strongly disapproved of
her because she was Catholic. “At rst it was okay, because I was
condent and elated, and I didn’t allow them to become involved in
my life. But after a certain amount of treatment that I considered
worse than torture. …”
Karin stopped speaking at that point. I gathered that there was a
tempestuous breakup and she had a “collapse” or “nervous
breakdown. ” Whether in fact she suered an actual psychosis is not
clear. She did develop a morbid fear of having AIDS. “Whenever I
gave blood I would shake like crazy. Three times they needed my
blood that year, and I was terried that I would be infected. ”Several times she called the local AIDS hotline in a panic, always to
be reassured that she had no real reason to be afraid (a fact
conrmed by all her blood tests). It was in the midst of this dicult period that she rst began to
feel unreal. She says that the sensation was quite new and
unexpected when it rst arrived. Never in her life had she ever had
the feeling of “being out of my body” or “having my awareness up
here” (holding her hand above her head). When I told her that many
people have similar feelings without being disturbed, she curtly
responded, “What does that matter if I still feel miserable. ”
I tend to believ e Karin when she says that she began to feel unreal
all of a sudden. On the other hand, I cannot buy her story that her
life was so perfect before “something happened. ” She has an
unshakable nostalgia for the past; it is the ip side of her refusal to
open herself to the present. She says that her only wish is to return
to the way she was three years ago, before the unfort unate love
aair. That period has become xed in her mind as a rapturous
ideal:
“I felt centered and relaxed then. I was condent, and I had a
purpose. I felt integrated: I had a relationship, I had money, I had
peace of mind. I felt good about what I did and was able to feel
humble about it. I felt I was on a nice road to growth. I felt like a
part of the universe, like I really wanted to be here. People looked
up to me, and I was able to make them feel good. ”
Karin has split time into then and now, the good and the bad,
with no gray in between. It is no wonder that her situati on ties her
in knots, because it cannot be resolved as she has set it up. On one
hand she has this need to make sure that the split in her life
continues (in order to preserve the myth of the perfect past she left
behind), while  on the other she longs to feel real again, which
would mean jumping back into the ow of things. For the time
being, clinging to her black-and-white view of the world feels like
the only safe course. Don’t Tell Me I’m Not CrazyKarin is surely  real; she has just had the misfortune to nd herself
moving from one level of reality to another, like an infant who one
day realizes that crawling, which he has thoroughly mastered, is
starting to give way to the uncertain prospect of learnin g to walk. Babies make this transition instinctively, and their parents guide
them over the rough spots with encouraging attention. But when an
adult psyche begins to test the possibility of a completely new
perspective, the transition period is fraught with diculty. There are no guidelines for “normal” experiences of a higher Self. The image we have of saints  suddenly pierced by a shaft of divine
light is far too simple; even the greatest spiritual attainments take
place within the limits of daily mental life, with its doubts, fears,
hopes, and denials. What people need is the same encouraging
attention that parents give to a wobbly toddler. Sadly, our society is
bereft in this area, and each of us has to row alone to the foreign
shore that is beckoning us across the waters. But what is even more disturbing is that the growing pains of self-
awareness might get mistaken for the goal. Karin was making this
mistake, and her self-doubt echoes a culture that feels profoundly
suspicious of spiritual exper iences. I am not just referr ing to the
accusations of insanity that surround anyone who breaks out of the
normal ways of thinking, seeing, and behaving—that problem exists
in all cultures, unfortunately. The deeper worry is that our society is
so fearful of the Self that we equate it with death and dissolution. When Freud was confronted  with the fact that every psyche has a
hidden longing for unboundedness, he coined the phrase “death
wish” or “Nirvana instinct”—the two were more or less the same in
his eyes. Nirvana is not death, however. It is a Sanskrit word for Being, the
primary state of the Self. By and large, psychiatry still ignores this
clarication, and the fear persists that total self-awareness is a kind
of annihilation. Irvin Yalom describes the moment when he had
brought one of his neurotic patients, after much struggle, to the
stage where he began to open up to self-awareness:It is the time when one stands before the abyss and decides
how to face the pitiless existential facts of life: death,
isolation, groundlessness, and meaninglessness. Of course,
there are no solutions. One has a choice only of certain
stances: to be “resolute,” or “engaged,” or courageously
deant, or stoically accepting, or to relinquish rationa lity
and, in awe and mystery, place one’s trust in the provide nce
of the Divine. To think that this is the long sought-for goal of therapy. It would
be kinder to believe that the patient had not yet begun. In fairness, I
should explain  that Yalom is an “existential” therapist, meaning that
his cornerston e belief is unbelief: life has no intrinsic meaning or
purpose other than the one created (through an arbitrar ily chosen
“stance”) by each person. Many, perhaps most, psychiatrists might agree that life’s
dilemmas have no solution, only they would not preface their
opinion with the words “of course. ” Outside the therapist’s oce,
lay people echo the same pessimistic world view, if not in so many
words, then in their endless search for pleasure and escape from
pain. Karin grew up with no better version of reality, so she resists
her “high awareness,” turns her back on insight, and longs to watch
TV with a beer on Saturday  night—anything but to see what she
actually sees and feel what she actually feels. When I tried to put her experiences in a good light, Karin turned
on me. “This standing outside myself all the time isn’t natural. People tell me that I’m functioning