 Networks  rather than simply
organs. Identied by the names of the Yin Organs, each paired
system consists of Liver-Gallbladder, Heart-Smal l Intestine, Spleen-
Stomach, Lung-Large Intestine, and Kidney-Bladder *
Yin corresponds to organs that store Qi. Here Qi means Essence—
the most rened state of material substance. The Yin organs are
more stable and constant, representing the more homeostatic
mechanisms that regulate pressure, temperature, distribution, and
metabolism. Constituting the body’s foundation, they’re both more
consequential and more vulnerable. Disease of these organs is
considered deeper and more critical. Yang corresponds to the organs
that transform matter. They are more active and unstable in
character because of their participation in the process of digestion
and elimination. As an aggregate of organs, tissues, channels, and physiologic
functions, each Network  is critical for the sustenance of life. Each
embodies a distinctive intellectual, emotional, and behav ioral style
as well as physiological correspondences. Each has its own
responsibilities (a job to do), a strategy (how to do the job), and a
character (a way of being, a personality) that reect the power of
each Phase. Five-Phase Organ Network Correspondences
Each Organ Network  refers  to a complete set of functions—
physiological and psychological—rather than to a specic and
discrete physical structure xed in an anatomical locatio n.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>
Q: What is the purpose of diagnosis in Chinese medicine?,
A: Diagnosis is the first step in medical problem-solving, and its task is to organize a complex set of variables and interpret the relationships among them.
Q: What is the significance of the tongue in diagnosis?,
A: The tongue is used as a diagnostic tool to infer the condition of the patient, and its appearance can indicate the presence of certain patterns or imbalances.
Q: What is the role of the practitioner in diagnosis?,
A: The practitioner uses their own senses to gather information, including observing the patient, listening to their complaints, and asking questions, and then synthesizes this information using their own judgment and intuition.
Q: What is the concept of Yin-Yang in the context of Chinese medicine?,
A: Yin-Yang is a fundamental concept in Chinese medicine, describing the cyclical and harmonious interplay between opposing forces, which are necessary for maintaining health and balance.
Q: How do the Five Organ Networks relate to the Five Phases?,
A: The Five Organ Networks correspond to the Five Phases, and understanding the relationships between them is crucial for diagnosis and treatment in Chinese medicine.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>During sleep, the anabolic or regenerative
phase is at its maximum. The time of awakening is the beginning of
the catabolic phase, when energy is liberated for the purpose of
doing work. Symptoms that appear and disappear regularly during
dierent times  of the day correspond directly to this ebb and ow of
Qi. Symptoms of excess  appear during peak hours, those of deciency
during the ebb tides of Qi. Symptoms of Kidney deciency  often
manifest between ve and seven A.M. This accounts  for the dicu lty
some people have in awakening with vigor and enthusiasm. Conversely, excessive Kidney Qi may manifest as increased stiness
and pain in the lower back during the peak hours of Bladder  and
Kidney  function, between three and seven P.M. Heart disease has
particular hours of aggravation: heart attacks occur more frequently
around midday and heart failure at midnight. People subject to
migraines often awaken during the peak function of the Liver,
between one and three A.M., with a severe headache. These same
people may experience fatigu e, mental lethargy, and perhaps even a
weakening of vision betwe en one and three in the afternoon,
following lunch. According to the classical theory, the most opportune time to
intensify the Qi of any channel is just after it peaks, when it has the
greatest momentum. The best time to disperse Qi is prior to the peak
period, before it gathers full strength. This same dynamic applies to
the seasonal rhythms of ebb and ow. The best time to strengthen
the Lung is during the fall, which also subdues and restrains excesses
of the Liver and Gallbladder  (Metal  controls Wood ). Kidney Essence
and Fire are best supplemented in the winter; this is a time when
elder Chinese men and wome n drink their ginseng tonic. The Liver is
nourished in the spring, the Heart  during summer, and the Spleen  in
late summer. The Chinese classics also say it is importan t to treat a
disease in the time and season of its origin. Allergies that arise in
the spring are treated in the same season to achieve the greatestresults. Rheumatism that occurs after exposure to the cold of winter
may become full blown in spring, yet it must be treated during the
season of its origin, winter, and may only be palliated  in spring,
summer, and fall. Patience becomes practical virtue since  it is often
necessary to return full cycle and wait for the most propitious time
to resolve a dysfunctional pattern. INTERACTION OF THE  FIVE PHASES. SHENG AND  KE SEQUENCES
The Five Phases  interac t according to patterns of generation and
restraint. Along the sheng  sequence the Phases  generate, nourish, and
support each other, counterbalanced by the ke sequence, which
represents the dynamic of restraint, inhibition, and control. Equilibrium is maintained by these contrary patterns of proliferation
and limitation. These relationships are like those between parents and children. In the sheng  sequence one Phase  gives birth to the next, and in the ke
sequence each Phase sets limits, insuring that no Phase  oversteps its
bounds. Metaphorically this can be understood as follows: Water
nourishes Wood  by moistening it and restrains Fire by quenching it. Wood  generates Fire by providing fuel for combustion and inhibits
Earth by covering it. Fire generates Earth  by reducing matter to ash
that forms soil; Fire restrains Metal  by burning and melting it. Earth
supports Metal  by forming minerals and bringing them to the surface
but controls Water  by damming and absorbin g it. Metal  vitalizes
Water  by permeating it with rened substances that enhance its life-
giving properties. Metal  restrains and inhibits Wood  by cutting it.The Pattern of Five-Phase Relationships
The Five Phases  interac t according to patterns of generation and
restraint. Equilibrium is maintained by these contrary patterns of
proliferation and limitation. In the sheng  sequence one Phase gives
birth to the next, and in the ke sequence each Phase  sets limits,
insuring that no Phase oversteps its bounds. Just as Water  nourishes Wood, within the body, the Kidney Essence
can be understood to gener ate the Blood  stored by the Liver. As
Wood  feeds Fire, the Blood  of the Liver can be said to nurture the
spirit of the Heart  by providing the mind with its basis. As Fire
generates Earth, the Heart  supports the Spleen  by providing the
warmth and metabolic energy (oxygenated blood) necessary for the
transformation and assimilation of food. As Earth  gives rise to Metal,
the Spleen  suppor ts the Lung by raising Food Essence  upward to be
combined with Air Essence, forming the pure Qi that circulates in the
channels. And just as Metal  vitalizes Water, the Lung nurtures theKidney  by precipitating its moist Qi downward to be collected and
stored as Essence  by the Kidney. Supporting Sequence:  Sheng
Restraining Sequence:  KeSheng  and ke dene the relationships between the Organ Networks. In correspondence with the ke sequen ce, as Water  controls Fire, so
the Yin moisture of the Kidney  counterbalanc es the Yang re of the
Heart. As Fire controls Metal, so the Heart ’s capacity to rule the Blood
complements the Lung’s capacity to govern the Qi. As Metal  restrains
Wood, so the Lung’s power to mobilize Qi counteracts the Liver’s
power to gather the Blood. As Wood  dominates Earth, so the
activating power of the Liver Qi  awakens the transformative function
of the Spleen. And since Earth  dams Water, the Spleen ’s ability to
absorb and distribute Moisture  counterbalances the Kidney ’s ability
to concentrate Essence  and excrete uid. An Organ Network  overly restrained collapses  and, if not kept
within proper limits, becomes exaggerated. Overly restrained, its
force and inuence dissipate and diminish, becoming passive and
impotent. Inadequately restrained, it magnies, becoming bound up,
intensied, and oppressive. When prolonged, either situation willtransform into the other and lead ultimately to the attrition of the
power and potential of the person. Five-Phase Theory  explains the interaction of the Organ Networks  in
a broad  and general way. Descriptions of physiologic processes in
Chinese medic ine can become very complex, just as they do in
Western medicine. For


 and arteries to, age and stiffen them. Fruits made for
him pure blood, and breathing the open air kept it pure. His
surplus energy demanded activity which kept the pure blood
surging through his veins. Long life, superior power and
endurance were the results. It is a hopeful sign, however, for the future health and
longevity of our race that the demand for and consumption of
fruits are rapidly increasing. Each distinct genera of fruit has a specific effect or office
to perform in the human body. Oranges, while possessing
about the same food value as milk, acts directly upon and
stimulates the activity of the liver, while apples are the best
remedy known for that "dark brown" taste so often
experienced next morning after the course dinner. The best thing to do with an  elegant course dinner late in
the evening is to leave it on the table; but insomuch as the
appetite is generally our comple te master and law giver, we
know this will not be done. Therefore, the next best thing to
do after such a debauch is to make an entire breakfast of tart
apples, thoroughly masticated. The juice of the pineapple, which contains much
hydrochloric acid, is among the best remedies known for
diphtheria. When this disease first makes its appearance, if
the juice of well-ripened pineapples be given freely to the
patient it will not only destroy diphtheria germs, but will
stimulate activity of the excretory organs, which is an action
always desired in such cases. The banana will supply the body with all the elements of
nourishment that is obtained from cereals. Many cases of
chronic stomach disorder have been permanently cured under
the direction of the authors by eliminating wholly all cooked
cereals and breads of every description and substituting
therefor the simple diet of very ripe bananas. It is believed by many people who are very fond of fruits
that bananas do not agree with them. Close observation will
show in every instance that this condition is the result of other
things with which the fruit is mixed in the stomach and the trouble can be overcome by making an entire meal
occasionally on fruits and nuts or fruit alone. The juice of
strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and dewberries is very
delicious and healthful. When it is pressed out and the refuse
discarded there is no better food in the fruit family. But the
large amount of seeds these berries contain, which are very
hard and entirely insoluble, produces in many people violent
irritation of the mucous membranes of the intestinal tract
which manifests itself in many harmful ways. Grape fruit contains many very pronounced and valuable
medicinal properties. It is a natural antidote for biliousness
when taken naturally, but the practice of eating it with sugar
counteracts almost entirely its medicinal value, as the
consumption of cane sugar is one of the causes of torpidity of
the liver. Therefore, in taking sugar with grape fruit you are
working one agency against another. Like nuts, the most
desirable feature about fruits is that they are not an article
commonly considered necessary to be cooked. Of course, the
cook has undertaken in many ways to improve them by the
application of his art, but up to date has been unsuccessful, as
is evidenced by the fact that near ly all fruits are used in their
natural or elementary state. In living upon uncooked foods we must necessarily
depend very largely upon fruits and nuts, but we should
exercise judgment, patience and toleration. We must
remember that we often suffered for our wrong eating, and
accommodating nature may have partially adjusted our bodies
to these incorrect habits. Therefore, when correct methods of
eating are employed, the wrong must be undone and
overcome, and the stomach sometimes rebels against the
change. However, the body will adjust itself much quicker to
the right than the wrong, and when the adjustment is once
made and the natural dietetic law obeyed, perfect health,
strength, endurance and vitality are the inevitable results. CEREALS. THE literary fabric of the ancient world has been woven from
a warp of fiction and a woof of fact. When we turn to it we
find the beautiful, the poetic, th e absurd and the true so mixed
together that scholars of every nation regard their separation
as worthy of their most profound thought. It was from this confusion that the word "cereal" came. Ceres was a goddess worshipped by the ancient Romans. She
occupies a most conspicuous place in the beautiful myths that
adorn the classic literature of those ancient peoples. She was
considered the head of the Agricultural Department. Her
special duty was to sit on fleecy clouds and pour from the
hollow of her mythical hand floods of sunshine and showers
of rain over the grainfields of the Caesars. Therefore, all
grains grouped together were called cereals. These articles were first used only when in a green or
soft state—that is, from the time the grains began to form in a
milky condition until they ripened and become so hard as to
hazard the integrity of the teeth. Later they were soaked in
water to soften them, and then in warm water, •which saved
time and facilitated the work of  preparation. This custom
evolved into the use of hot water, then hotter water, until
boiling or the present method of cooking resulted. In order to facilitate and lighten the labor in the
preparation of cereals, they were pounded, crushed and
broken, which custom very naturally evolved into the modern
grinding and bolting mill. When cereals are in a milky state
before they become hardened, before nature throws around
them an envelope of cellulose for their protection, they are
easy of digestion, and are excellent food. But when they have
become thoroughly ripened and hardened, each molecule of
starch, of which they are so la rgely composed, is enclosed in
another envelope which is almost  impervious to the digestive
fluids. It has been shown by modern research that cooking does
not break up this covering. The modern methods of grinding
and cooking cereals render mastication unnecessary as far as
pulverizing them is concerned. Therefore, they pass the taste-
buds under false pretenses; they deprive them of their rights;
they do not have time to perform their duties, hence they do
not pour into the mouth the amount of saliva necessary to
perform the first step in digestion. Soft, mushy foods are also responsible for the woeful
decay of teeth, which is such a conspicuous mark of civilized
man. Nature will not keep aliv e or produce, generation after
generation, any part of the anatomy that is not used. Her
system of economy is perfect. When cereals are taken in their natural state, or not too
completely pulverized, so that the teeth may be employed in
their final and complete grindi ng, they constitute a valuable
food for a normal, healthy person. This would also be better
for the teeth, and make cereal substances much easier to digest and more thoroughly c onvertible into energy. Under
the present dietetic regime, in which cereals are regarded as
the staff of life, it is safe to say that more than fifty per cent. of all stomach disorders are caused by undigested cereal
starch. VEGETABLES. THE word "vegetable," in its br oadest sense, is used to
describe everything of an herbaceous character,—everything
in plant life, not merely food products. When we consider
only that portion which is used to support animal life, its
meaning becomes much narrowed. When we consider that
portion used as food by man, it is more narrowed still. But
when we come to consider that which is or can be used in an
uncooked state, it becomes more limited still. Some very high authorities claim that vegetables are
wholly unnecessary in the sustenance of the human body, but
experience has led us to the conclusion that those containing
much chlorophyll, such as lettu ce, cabbage, celery, spinach,
parsley, onions, watercress, dandelion, etc., are very
necessary and valuable articles of food, and, many vegetables
that can be taken in an uncooked form are found to be very
rich in the organic salts so essential to the maintenance of
health. In the selection of foods, one of the safest rules to be
governed by is that all articles th at can be used in their natural
condition, as they are handed to us by Mother Nature, if they
do not offend the sense of taste and smell, are good food, and,
on the contrary, all articles that have to be ground, mixed,
fixed, cooked, greased, mushed and mussed up, are not only
unnecessary, but are not good foods. Aside from the fact that the adoption of uncooked foods
will produce the highest form of physical, mental and moral
health, its next most important office is to do away with the
enormous labor and complications in the preparation of
foods. BREAD—FERMENTATION. IN considering the adoption of uncooked foods in the
household, bread becomes the most serious problem with
which the housewife has to deal. It has become one of the
most important articles of food, and is deserving of the most
serious consideration here, because of the fact that in the
process of making, fermentation, one of the


	to	process. Q:	If	thoughts	are	fragmentations	and	artifacts	of	duality,	how	can
spiritual	teachings	be	conveyed	in	language	without	being	misleading. A:	Concepts	have	levels	of	power	that	can	be	calibrated. The	higher	the	level
of	truth,	the	greater	its	power. The	energy	of	the	concept	results	from	the
truth	of	the	statement	plus	the	level	of	consciousness	of	the	speaker. Unaided	by	a	higher	energy	(as	from	a	great	teacher),	the	ego/mind	cannot
transcend	itself. Q:	Many	teachings	seem	ambiguous	and	confusing. A:	Ambiguity	itself	is	illusory. All	seeming	ambiguities	dissolve	in	the
presence	of	understanding. Within	truth,	no	arguments	are	possible.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>
Q: Where	does	one	begin	the	search	for	spiritual	truth	self-realization,
A:
Q: Where	is	that	reality	of	eternal	truth	to	be	found? A:	Begin	by	accepting	the	very	important	statement	that,
A:
Q: What	is	the	best	attitude	for	spiritual	work? A:	A	‘Yin’	type	of	position	that	is	persistent	and	unwavering. The	work,
A:
Q: If	identification	with	the	mind	and	body	ceases,	how	can	one	survive? A:	There	are	moments	when	it	is	‘permitted’	and	possible	to	relinquish	the,
A:
Q: What is the value of the great teachers and their teachings?,
A: The gift is not limited to information, facts, or wisdom but the level or power of consciousness from which they emanate.
Q: How can one transcend the opposites of duality?,
A: By understanding that all seeming opposites are only descriptions from different points of view, and that there is no such thing as a "not" or "absence" in Reality.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Most	spiritual	error	contains	a	grain	of	the	truth	that	then	gets	lost
in	misunderstanding	or	manipulated	distortions. “Kill	a	Commie	for
Christ,”	or,	“Kill	an	infidel	for	Allah”	is	very	far	from	spiritual	truth,	but,
generically,	this	type	of	statement	is	accepted	over	and	over	by	millions	of
people	through	endless	generations. Sentimentality	and	emotionalism	are	superimposed	on	fallacious
beliefs,	which	give	them	added	attraction	and	dominance	in	people’s
thinking. Religious	absurdities	gain	momentum	merely	because	they	are
‘religious’. As	an	example,	in	the	year	1212,	a	European	boy	had	a	vision
of	being	called	to	lead	a	children’s	crusade	to	free	the	Holy	Land	from	the
Islamic	infidels. (Why	God	would	be	interested	in	who	governs	what	realestate	on	the	planet	has	never	been	answered.) The	popular	appeal	of	the
admixture	of	an	‘innocent	child’	with	a	‘religious	vision’	plus	the	heroics
of	‘saving	the	Holy	Land’	resulted	in	a	wave	of	enthusiasm. The	children’s
crusade	was	horrific. They	died	by	the	thousands	from	exposure,
exhaustion,	disease,	malnutrition,	and	other	disasters. Of	the	few	thousand
remaining,	none	actually	reached	the	Holy	Land,	and	all	were	finally
captured	and	sold	into	slavery. The	entire	disaster	was	based	on	belief,
faith,	and	religiosity. However,	as	a	disaster,	it	was	miniscule	in	the	history
of	humanity	in	which	whole	continents,	populations,	civilizations,	and
major	portions	of	human	life	were	wiped	out	by	fallacious	religious	fervor. Thus,	faith	and	belief	are	necessary	to	start	a	journey,	but	verifiable
knowledge	is	necessary	to	complete	it. Without	a	compass	or	sextant,	the
average	sailor	on	the	seas	ends	up	at	the	bottom. As	the	Buddha	said,	“Few	are	they	who	endeavor	to	make	the	journey,
and	fewer	and	rarer	still	are	those	who	succeed.”	(Krishna	said	the	same
thing	in	the
Bhagavad-Gita
.) The	concern	expressed	here	is	for	the	success
and	welfare	of	all	mankind	whose	history,	until	very	recently,	has	been
quite	tragic. Q:	You	speak	often	of	mankind	as	though	it	was	your	concern	or	identity. Why	is	that? A:	To	own	oneself	completely	is	to	own	all	humanity. The	Self	is	the	same	Self	in	all,	and	society	represents	the	collective
ego. To	look	at	all	mankind	in	its	totality	throughout	history	takes	us
through	the	Scale	of	Consciousness. When	we	look	at	man,	it	brings	on
grief,	sadness,	hopelessness,	depression,	guilt,	remorse,	or	regret. We	see
man	as	being	miserable,	evil,	hopeless,	tragic,	and	frightening. We	feel
anger	at	what	has	transpired	in	the	past. In	Courage,we	see	that	change	for	the	better	is	feasible. We	stop
blaming,	hating,	and	fearing	and	lift	ourselves	out	of	victimhood,
weakness,	and	apathy	and	strive	to	make	the	world	better. We	give	up	self-
blame	and	self-pity	and	affirm	the	power	within	us. To	reach	Truth,	we
have	to	accept	that	mankind	has	been	much	in	error	and	that	the	reason
was	ignorance. Through	understanding,	we	can	learn	to	become
compassionate	and	seek	to	recontextualize	our	relationship	to	the	whole. We	can	look	back	and	see	that	humanity	was	enslaved	and	brutalized
by	the	ignorance	that	prevailed	at	a	consciousness	level	that	calibrated	at
only	190	for	so	many	centuries. However,	at	its	present	207,	the	future	of
mankind	promises	to	be	very	unlike	the	past. Each	of	us	can	progress	in
our	own	level	of	consciousness	to	that	which	supports	life	and	love. Thatis	really	all	that	was	asked	of	us	by	all	the	great	spiritual	leaders	and	saints
of	the	past. Even	Freud	said	that	man’s	destiny	was	to	be	able	to	work	and	to	love. Carl	Jung	then	added,	“and	to	own	the	spiritual	truth	of	one’s	reality.”
					Because	of	the	limitations	of	perception,	mankind	does	not	see	that	the
Dark	Ages	did	not	even	end	until	1986,	when	the	consciousness	level	of
mankind,	for	the	first	time	in	history,	crossed	over	from	negativity	and
nonintegrity	to	go	above	the	critical	level	denoted	by	the	calibration	level
of	200	into	Integrity,	Honesty,	and	Truth. Q:	Religion	and	spirituality,	then,	did	not	have	a	major	impact	on
society? A:	Man’s	problem	isn’t	that	he	has	not	heard	of	spiritual	truth,	but	that	he
does	not	understand	it. That	is	the	purpose	of	clarification	and	explanation. It	takes	a	whole	volume	of	words	to	explain	that	which	is	wordless. The	value	of	a	numerically	calibrated	map	of	consciousness	with
associated	descriptive	terms	is	that	it	makes	what	might	have	sounded	like
philosophical	or	sociological	generalities	verifiably	concrete. Anybody	can
understand	simple	numbers,	but	few	people,	despite	ostensible	piety,
understand	even	the	simplest	things,	such	as	the	difference	between
positive	and	negative,	‘right’	and	‘wrong’,	or	constructive	versus
destructive. Nonintegrity	is	so	interwoven	in	almost	every	aspect	of	society	that	it
has	become	invisible	to	the	average	person. The	wolf	is	hidden	under	the
sheep’s	clothing	of	patriotism,	righteousness,	and	beliefs	that	“It’s	just
business”;	“The	end	justifies	the	me


 What is the author's suggestion for overcoming the Shadow Effect?,
A: The author recommends radical honesty, forgiveness, and compassion to overcome the Shadow Effect, and to integrate our repressed aspects to become a whole and authentic person.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>As my dear friend Br ent BecV ar
shares, refusing to for give those who have hurt us “is lik e
being a dr owning person whose head is being held under
water by someone else. A t some point you r ealize that you
have to be the one who ﬁghts your way back to the
surface.” The only way to battle heartache and the
oppressive natur e of our shadow is with for giveness and
compassion. F orgiveness doesn’t happen in our heads, but
in our hearts. It unfolds when we e xtract the wisdom and
the gif ts from even our dark est e xperiences and emotions. Forgiveness is the hallway between the past and an
unimaginable futur e.
Stories lik e these demonstrate that we ar e all living in
accor dance with a gr eater plan and that, indeed, everything
happens for a r eason. Nothing occurs by accident, and ther e
are no coincidences. W e are always evolving, whether we
are awar e of it or not. Of tentimes this evolution is painful,
but the pain serves an important purpose. It is a necessary
ingredient in our divine r ecipe. By feeling the ache of
loneliness, our hearts open to r eceive mor e love; by
overcoming the people and situations that have oppr essed
us, we r ealize the depth of our str ength. When we ar e
willing to acknowledge that our pain, traumas, and
heartaches have in fact equipped us with wisdom essential
for our gr owth, we naturally for give and even bless those
who came into our life to teach us those diﬃcult lessons. Our lives ar e divinely designed for each one of us to get
exactly what we need to deliver our own unique e xpression
to the world.Our mind may tell us that bad is bad, good is good, and
that we can never r eally be all that we dr eam of being, but if
our shadow could talk, it would tell us otherwise. It would
tell us that our brightest light can shine only when we’ve
accepted our darkness. It would r eassur e us that ther e is
wisdom in every wound. It would show us that life is a
magical jour ney of making peace with both our humanity
and divinity. Our shadow would tell us that we deserve
better, that we matter, that we ar e mor e than we ever
dreamed possible, and that ther e’s light at the end of the
tunnel. As we embrace our shadow, we ﬁnd out that we ar e living
a divine plan, a plan so important, so vital for our own
evolution as well as for the evolution of humankind. Lik e the
lotus ﬂower that is bor n out of mud, we must honor the
darkest parts of ourselves and the most painful of our life’s
experiences, because they ar e what allow us to birth our
most beautiful self. We need the messy, muddy past, the
muck of our human life—the combination of every hurt,
wound, loss, and unfulﬁlled desir e blended with every joy,
success, and blessing to give us the wisdom, the
perspective, and the drive to step into the most magniﬁcent
expression of ourselves. This is the gif t of the shadow. OceanofPDF.comPART III
OceanofPDF.comOnly Light Can Cast Out Darkness
MARIANNE WILLIAMSON
In a world so ﬁlled with tender magic—fr om sleeping infants
to childr en playing, to lovers smiling, to friendships that last,
to ﬂowers blooming, to the violet hope of sunrise, to the
ﬁery magniﬁcence of sunset, to the brilliance of the body, to
the fragile glories of natur e, to the wonder of animals, to our
capacity to for give, to the mer cy of God, to the kindness of
strangers, and a list that could go on and on until it’s clear
that ther e really is no end to the manifold e xpressions of
love on earth—ther e is, as well, something else. And what is that? Why—in a world wher e we can be moved to tears by a
work of art—does ther e also e xist molestation, rape,
innocents with slit thr oats, unjustly held prisoners, starving
childr en, tortur e, genocide, war, slavery, and all manner of
horriﬁc and unnecessary suﬀering that e xists for no other
reason than that someone is cruel enough to inﬂict it or
someone else doesn’t car e enough to stop it? What for ce
exists, in our minds and in our world, that pr oactively and
seemingly ine xorably moves to cause the suﬀering and
destruction of living things? Why, if God is love, does evil e xist? We live in a world of constant juxtaposition between joy
that’s possible and pain that’s all too common. W e hope for
love and success and abundance, but we never quite for get
that ther e is always lurking the possibility of disaster. We
know ther e is good in the world, but we know that ther e is
something else as well. And we ar e living at a time when acontest between the two is both intense and intensif ying. Whatever it is that leads human beings to hate, to destr oy,
and to kill has tak en on a collective for ce lik e never befor e,
as technology and globalization now give it the capacity to
not just strik e, but to strik e us all, together, as one. Never
has ther e been such an ur gent need to dismantle this for ce,
whatever it is, that is so contemptuous of love and intent on
destr oying us all. This is not just a for ce that seeks to
inconvenience us. It is a for ce that wishes to see us dead. Yet this for ce is in fact an antifor ce. It does not so much do
anything, as it gets us to do its bidding. It is a place wher e
we have for gotten who we ar e, and thus act as we ar e not. It
is a darkness that, lik e all darkness, is not an actual
presence, but is rather the absence of light. It is a black hole
in psychic space that e xists when light is unseen for even a
moment. And the only true light is love. The pr oblem of what to do with this darkness—called by
many names but her e termed the “shadow”—is a question
that has plagued humanity since its earliest beginnings. There has never been, that we know of, a community or
civilization on earth in which love pr evailed at all times. Y et
we continue to dr eam of it. Such a state, accor ding to
certain r eligions of the world, is called paradise. Certain
religious and spiritual te xts suggest we have an ancient
memory of such a state, though this state was not of the
earth at all. It was our spiritual beginnings, a dimension of
pure love whence we come and to which we passionately
long to r eturn. The fact that we live at times, even most of
the time, so separated fr om this state of pur e love is a
psychic ruptur e of such intense pr oportions as to traumatize
us every moment of our lives. Just as the planet moves so
fast that we can’t even feel we’r e moving, we’r e
traumatized at such a deep level that we don’t even know
we’re in trauma. Separated fr om love, we ar e separated fr om God. Separated fr om God, we ar e separated fr om ourselves. Andseparated fr om ourselves, we ar e insane. In the wor ds of Mahatma Gandhi, “The pr oblem with the
world is that humanity is not in its right mind.” That is the
problem with the world, indeed. Ther e is a place we go into,
both individually and collectively, that is the absence of who
and what we ar e and what we ar e her e to do. It is an
inversion of our power, a perversion of our identity, and a
subversion of our mission on earth. The pr oblem is this is not so obvious when we ar e actually
there, for it is a place of gr oss, cosmic confusion. W e are
prone to feel, when we ar e separated fr om love, that our
anger is justiﬁed, our blaming another is only r easonable,
and our attacking someone is in righteous self -defense even
when it is not. Either that, or worse. A t times, a person—
sometimes even whole nations—can become so suck ed into
the black hole of lovelessness as to be at the eﬀect of its
most e xtreme, even heinous intentions, for this thing, which
is actually a no -thing, is not inert. Human consciousness is
like a pilot light that never goes o


kinintheformofpatches. Thesemedicinesincludenitroglycerinforheartpatients,estrogenforpost-menopausalwomen,nicotineforpeopleattemptingtoquitsmoking,andscopolaminetohelppreventmotionsickness. *Skineliminatestoxinsandwasteproducts. Oneimportantexampleoftheskin’sabilitytoridthebodyoftoxinsisitsresponsewhenthebodyhasafever. Withafever,sweatingoccurs,whichhelpsthebodyeliminatethetoxinscausedbytheinfection. Untilmodernmedicinebeganencouragingtheuseofmedicationstosuppressfever,peoplewithhighfevers,includ
ingthosefeverscausedbypneumonia,wereencouragedtodrinklotsoffluidsandbundleupinheavyblanketstosweatout
thetoxinsuntilthefeverbroke. *Skinplaysanimportantroleintouch. Touchisavitalingredi
entforphysicalandemotionalhealth. Humanbeingsrequireregular,compassionatetouchingtothriveandsurvive. Studiesdonewithtouchingshowthattheculturesthatadvocatemoretouchinghavelessheartdiseaseandmentalillnessthancultures
inwhichpeopledon’ttouchveryoften. Babieswhoarenotheld
60 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
andtouchedoftendevelopaconditionknownasFailuretoThrivesyndrome,whichcanhavefatalconsequences. Touching
isessentialtostrengthenandfortifyyourhealingsystem. YourHair,YourNails,andYourHealingSystem
Hairhelpsyourhealingsysteminseveralways,andalthoughhairisusuallythoughtofasseparatefromskin,yourhairisapartofyourskin. Eachtypeofhairshape,color,anddistributiononthebodyfoundthroughouttheworldhasbeendesignedtoaidourhealingsys
temsandkeepourbodieshealthyinamultitudeofways. Forexam
ple,inAfrica,wheretemperaturescanbecomeextremelyhot,tightlycurledhair,oftenreferredtoas“kinky”hair,servestokeepthehead
andbodycool. Kinkyhairactslikeanintricatelycoiledrefrigeratorsystemtohelptrapandcoolwatervapors(moisturethathasevaporatedintheformofsteam)offthetopofthehead. Mediterranean
bodyhair,whichismorecommoninwarm,aridclimates,protectsthe
bodyfromdryingout,andfromwindandsand. Thistypeofhair
helpstoconservefluidsandregulatebodytemperature. Hairalsoactsasasenseorganfortouch. Ifyourheadbeginstobrushupagainstanoverhangingobjectthatyoumightnothave
seen,yourhairwillmeettheobjectfirst. Themovementofhairwillinformyoutoduckyourheadquicklytoavoidseriousinjury~Toenailsandfingernailsarealsospecializedpartsofyourskin,
andtheyhelpyourhealingsystembyprotectingthedelicatetipsof
yourtoesandfingers. WoundHealingoftheSk~in
Yourskinpossessesanuncannyabilitytohealitselfafteralaceration,abra
sion,burn,orotherinjury. Becauseinjuriestotheskinmayinvolvetheloss
ofbloodalongwithconcomitantinjuriestodeeperstructureswithinthe
body,woundhealingrequiresthesophisticatedandtimelycollaborationof
manybodysystems,includingthecirculatory,theendocrine,theimmune,and
thenervoussystems. Yourhealingsystemsupervisesanddirectsthisremarkablecollaboration. TheTeamMembersofYourHeaiingSystem 61
YourSkeletalSystem
Theskeletalsystemestablishestherigidframeworkofyourbodyandismadeupprimarilyofbones,whicharethedenseststructures
inyourbody. Intactbonesthatarethousandsofyearsoldcanbefoundonarcheologicalsites. Yourskeletalsystemworkswithyourhealingsysteminmanyimportantways:
*Bonesabsorbsignificantstressloadsandprotectthebody’sdeeperinternalorgansandtissues. Theribs,forexample,inadditiontobeinginvolvedinthefunctionofrespiration,alsoservetoprotect
theheartandlungsandothervitalstructuresinthechestcavity~Theskullprotectsandhousesthebrain,themasterorganinthebody. Thebonesinthespine,knownsingularlyasvertebra,andcollectivelyasvertebrae,arestackedoneontopofeachothertoformthespinalcolumn. Thevertebraesupporttheweightofyourhead;theyalsoactlikeflexibleconduits,encasingandprotecting
thedelicatespinalcord,whichisthemainelectrical,intercommunicatinghighwaybetweenyourbrainandbody. *Inconjunctionwithyourhealingsystem,boneshaveanuncannyabilitytomendandknitthemselvesbacktogetherin
thecaseoffracture. Thiscapabilityensuresthatyourboneswillcontinuetoprotectthedeeperorgansandtissuesofthebody. *Inadditiontotheirprotectiverole,bones,alongwithmuscles,
areresponsibleformovement,whichkeepsyourbodyhealthy
andfreefromdisease(seethenextsection,“YourMuscularSystem”). Forexample,thebonesofthelegsareresponsibleforwalking,running,climbing,andjumping,whilethebonesinthe
arms,hands,andfingersareresponsibleformovementofthe
upperextremities. Thebonesinyourfaceparticipateinfacialexpression,chewing,andbreathing;theyalsoprotectthedelicate
senseorgansintheregion,suchasyoureyes,ears,andnose. *Bonesserveasthebody’slargestpoolofcalcium. Calciumisrequiredforhealthymusclecontractions,heartactivity,nervetransmission,andothervitallyimportantfunctionsthataid
yourhealingsysteminkeepingyourbodyhealthy. 62 YourExtraordinaryHealingSystem
YourMuscularSystem
Thesystemthatisprimarilyresponsibleformovementinyourbody
isthemuscularsystem. Musclesmakeupapproximately40percent
ofyourtotalbodyweight,andtheyalonearetheheaviestandmostdominantsysteminyourbody. Themusclesinyourbodyserveas
keyalliestoyourhealingsysteminthefollowingways:
o‘Whenmusclesmoveandcontract,theygenerateheat,which
keepsyourbodywarm. Thisprocesssupportsyourhealingsystem
bykeepingyourbodyfunctioningatoptimumtemperatures. oRegularmovementandexerciseofthemusclesimprovescirculationbystrengtheningtheheart. Astrongheartaidsthehealingsystembyimprovingthedeliveryofoxygenandvitalnutrientsthroughoutyourbody. oMuscleshaveatremendouscapacitytogrow,change,andheal. Theyaredynamic,versatile,andhighlyplastic. Bodybuilders
whocontinuallyliftweightsoveralongperiodoftimecanadd
upto100poundsormoreofsolidmuscletissuetotheirframes,becomingpowerfulandstrongintheprocess. Alternatively,yogis
inIndia,throughmanyyearsofstretchingthemusclesintheirbodies,canmoldtheirbodiesintopretzels—theyhaveearnedthe
labelof“rubbermen”fortheincredibleflexibilityintheirjoints. Musclesthatarestrong,flexible,andrelaxedcreatehealthyjoints
andensurestrengthandmaximummovement,whichisessential
forthehealingsystemtofunctionmostefficiently. oMusclesalsoparticipateinimportantinternalprocessesthataid
yourhealingsysteminkeepingyourbodyhealthy. Forexample,musclesofrespirationparticipateinbreathing,causingmove
mentofthediaphragmandtheribcage,whichallowsairand
oxygentoflowinandoutofyourlungs. oSmoothmuscles,locatedinsidevariousvitalorgans,suchastheintestines,thearteries,andthebronchiolesinthelungs,arecriti
caltothefunctioningoftheseorgansandthehealingsystem. They
cancontractandexpandthediametersoftheseimportanttubularstructures,andintheprocess,helptodirectthemovementofvital
TheTeamMembersofYourHealingSystem 63
bodyfluidsandimportantgasessuchasoxygentospecificdestina
tionswithinyourbody. *Thefollowingexamplesemphasizehowindispensablethesmoothmusclesaretothehealthandperformanceofyourhealingsystem. Whenthemusclesinthearteriescontract,thearteriesbecome
narrower;thishelpstocirculatebloodmorequicklythroughyourbody. Inthedigestivesystem,themovementoffooddownthedigestivetract,knownasperistalsis,iscausedbythealternatingcontractionandexpansionoftheintestinalmuscles;peristalsisallowsthefoodtopassalongthelengthoftheintestines. The
sameistrueinthelungs,wherethemusclesthatlinethebreath
ingtubes,knownasthebronchiandbronchioles,helptore


eight
inyourmindasyousqueezethemusclestight. Donotforceorstrain,butholdyourbreathasyouaresqueezing. DAfteragood,long,strongsqueeze,letgoofyoursqueezingas
youslowlyletyourbreathout. Allowthesemusclestoletgoof
AdditionalMethodsandTechniques 345
theirtensionandrelaxasyousiowanddeepenyourbreathing,gently,withoutforcingorstraining. Continuetorelaxyourmuscles,andgentlyslowyourbreathing. Witheachexhalation
ofyourbreath,allowwhatevertensionexistsinthesemusclestoleaveyourbody. Next,bringyourawarenesstoyourankles,lowerlegs,knees,
andthighs. Takealong,deepbreathasyoutightenandtenseall
themusclesinyourankles,lowerlegs,knees,andthighs. Squeezeashardasyoucan,andholdthesemusclesinatight,contractedstatewhileyouslowlycounttoeightinyourmind. Holdyourbreathasyouaresqueezing. Afteragood,long,strongsqueeze,letgoofyoursqueezingandatthesametimeslowlyletyourbreathout,allowingthesemusclestorelaxontheirown. Allowthesemusclestorelaxasyouslowanddeepen
yourbreathing,gently,withoutforcingorstraining. Continue
toletgoofallmusculareffortsofsqueezingthesemuscles. Continuetorelaxyourmuscleswhileyougentlyslowyourbreathing. Witheachexhalationofyourbreath,allowwhatevertensionexistsinthesemusclestoleaveyourbody. aNow,bringyourawarenesstoyourhips,pelvicarea,buttocks,
andlowerspine. Takealong,deepbreathasyoutightenand
tenseallthemusclesinyourhips,pelvicarea,buttocks,andlowerspine. Squeezeashardasyoucan,andholdthesemuscles
inatight,contractedstatewhileyouslowlycounttoeightin
yourmind.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>
Q: What is the primary cause of arthritis in the hands?,
A: Overuse and abuse of the hands.
Q: What is the most common cause of work disability in the United States?,
A: Back pain.
Q: What is the key to overcoming anaphylaxis?,
A: Learning to relax and manage stress.
Q: What is the most important thing to do to prevent cancer?,
A: Cultivate relaxation and mindfulness through breathing and visualization.
Q: What is the primary cause of heart disease?,
A: High-fat diets, stress, and repressed emotions.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>•Duringthispause,takeabriefinventoryofhowyoufeelinyourbodyandmind.Makesureyouarenotforcingorstraining,and
thatyouarecomfortablewithyourbreathing. •Makesureyouarecomfortableatalltimeswhileyouareperformingthispowerfulbreathingexercise.Ifyoutrytoprolong
thepauselongerthanyoucanhandle,youwillexperiencebreathdeprivation,discomfort,andasensationofforcingorstraining.Additionally,therhythmofyourbreathingwillnotbesmoothandflowing,butratherjerkyandinterrupted.Asyoubreatheout,andthenagainasyoubreathein,andevenduring
thepause,yourbreathshouldbesmoothandflowing,andyoushouldfeelcomfortableandpleasurablesensations. Inthebeginning,dothisbreathingexercisefornomorethan3to
5minutesatatime,andnotmorethanfourtimesaday,nomatter
howpleasurableandrelaxingyoumayfindit.Eventhoughitisgentleandsoothing,thistechniqueisalsoextremelypowerfulandsubtle,andyoucanoverdoit,especiallyinthebeginning.Intime,
youcanbuildupto20to30minutesatatime. •Also,overtime,youcangentlyprolongthepausebetweeneachinspirationandexpirationforuptooneminute,orevenlonger.Remembertofocusyourawarenesswithin,andtakeabriefinventoryofyourbodyandmindduringthispause.Duringthe
pause,whichisatimeofcompletecessationofrespiration,anaccompanyingslowingdownofphysiologicalprocessesandmentalactivitiesoccurs.Thisslowingdowncanbecalmingandpeaceful,anditisextremelybeneficialtoyourhealingsystem,which,asyou’llrecall,doesitsbestworkwhenyourbody’sinter
nalenvironmentisquietandcalm. Breathingexercisescalmthemindandbody,andtheyareextremelybeneficialtoyourhealingsystem.Incorporatetheseexer
cisesintoyourdailyroutine,andbeforelongyou’llbegintoseetheirremarkableeffects. 358ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
GuidedImagerytoStrengthen
andFortifyYourHealingSystem
Yourbraintranslatesmentalimagesintoelectricalandchemicalsignalsthataretransmittedtoyourbody.Becauseofthisdeepconnectionbetweenyourbrainandyourbody,thetechniquesofvisualizationorguidedimagerycanbeapowerfulwaytoactivate,strengthen,andfortifyyourhealingsystem.Manystudieshaveshownthehealth-enhancingbenefitsofguidedimageryandvisualizationtechniquesinhelpingmotivatedpatientsovercomeseriousillnesses,includingcancerandheartdisease. (Formoreinformation
onguidedimageryandvisualization,seeChapter6.) “MeetingYourHealingSystem”Guided-VisualizationTechnique
Beginthistechniqueasyouwouldtherelaxationtechniquesdescribedearlierinthebook,suchasDeepRelaxation,ProgressiveRelaxation,orBlueSkyFloatingonYourBackRelaxation.Readthroughthedirectionscompletelyonceortwicebeforeyouattempt
topracticeit.Youmayalsowanttogetataperecorderandrecord
yourownvoiceasyoureadthroughthisexercise.Thenyouwillbe
abletocloseyoureyesandlistentoyourownvoiceguideyouthroughtheimagery.Followthesesimplestepstodothistechnique:
oMakesureyouareinacomfortableposition,lyingonyourback
withyoureyesclosed. oFocusonyourbreathingasyouallowyourmindandbodyto
relaxcompletely. oAsyoubegintofeelyourselfbecomingrelaxed,takeadeep,sigh
ingbreath.Asyoubreatheout,letallthetensionleaveyourbody. oTakeasecond,deep,sighingbreath,and,asyoubreatheout,allowyourmindandbodytobecompletelyrelaxed.Makesure
youfeelcompletelyrelaxedbeforeyouproceedfurtherwiththisexercise.Itisimportantnottohurryorrushthroughthisstep. oAfteryouaresomewhatrelaxed,keepyoureyesclosed,andallow
animagetoforminyourmindofanyquiet,serene,uplifting
AdditionalMethodsandTechniques 359
place.Yourimagecouldbeabeautifuloutdoorsettingorinsidein
afavorite,cozyroomofahouse.Itcouldbeaplaceyouhaveactu
allybeentoinreallife,aplaceyousawinapicture,oratotallyfreshimagethatyouhaveneverseenbefore.‘Whateverimagebeginstoappear,donotforceorstrainwiththeimagery~anddo
notjudgeitinanyway. *Asyoucontinuetobreatheandrelax,bepatientwiththeimagery.Allowittokeepforminginyourminduntilyouhave
afairlyclearpictureoftheplace. •Onceyourspecialplacebeginstocomeintofocus,andyouhave
afairlyclearideaofwhereyouare,continuetobreathedeeply
andrelax. •Allowtheimagetobecomeclearerandmorewelldefined. •Noticeallthesenses,andanswerthesequestionsinyourmind:•
•Whatarethesights?‘Whatarethesounds?‘Whatarethesmells? •‘Whatkindofdayisit?Whatdoestheskylooklike?‘Where
isthesun? •Whatdoesthecountrysideorsurroundingenvironment
looklike? •Whatsensationsareyoufeelingonyourskin? •‘Whatistheairquality?Isitcoolorwarm?Istherehumid
ity,orisitdry?Arethereanybreezes? •Whatareyouwearing? •Breathedeeplyandrelaxasyouallowyourmindtoabsorbtheimages. *Findaplacetositdown(or,ifyoufeelmorecomfortable,toliedown,orevenstand)inyourquiet,specialplace.Inyourimage,makesureyouareinacomfortableposition. •Onceyouarecomfortableinyourspecialplace,allowyourawarenessandimaginationtogoinsideyourbody. •Seeyourselfexaminingtheinnerworkingsofyourbodyasyougentlysurveythelandscape. 360ActivatingYourHealingSystemWhenYou’reSick
oAsyoumovearoundwithinthevariousstructuresandtissuesof
yourbody,imagineyourselfgoingonajourneyofdiscovery. oFindaquietplace,deepwithintherecessesofyourbody’sinter
nalenvironment,whereyoufeelsafeandprotected. oStopandrelaxonceyou’ve


 Figure	12a
:	Kidney	stones	embedded	in	kidney

Through	all	this,	the	kidneys	become	overburdened	and	can	no	longer	maintain	normalfluid	and	electrolyte	balances	in	the	body. In	addition,	urinary	components	may	precipitate
and	form	into	crystals	and	stones	of	various	types	and	sizes	(see
Figure	12a
). Uric	acid
stones,
	for	example,	are	formed	when	uric	acid	concentration	in	the	urine	exceeds	2	to	4
mg	percent. This	amount	was	considered	within	the	range	of	tolerance	until	the	mid-
1960s,	when	it	was	adjusted	upward. Uric	acid	is	a	by-product	of	the	breakdown	of	protein
in	the	liver. Since	meat	consumption	rose	sharply	in	that	decade,	the	“within	the	norm”
level	was	adjusted	to	7. 5	mg	percent	This	adjustment,	however,	does	not	make	uric	acid
any	less	harmful	to	the	body. Stones	formed	from	excessive	uric	acid	concentrations	of	4
mg	percent	and	higher	(also	see	“Bladder	stones”	in
Figure	12b
)	can	lead	to
urinary
obstruction,	kidney	infection,
	and,	eventually,
kidney	failure. Figure	12b
:	Bladder	stones

As	kidney	cells	become	increasingly	deprived	of	vital	nutrients,	including	oxygen,
malignant	tumors	may	develop. In	addition,	uric	acid	crystals	that	are	not	eliminated	by
the	kidneys	can	settle	in	the	joints	and	cause	rheumatism,	gout,	and	water	retention. Symptoms	of	impending	kidney	trouble	are	often	deceptively	mild	in	comparison	to	the
potential	severity	of	kidney	disease. The	most	observable	and	common	symptoms	of
kidney	problems	are	abnormal	changes	in	the	volume,	frequency,	and	coloration	of	the
urine. These	are	usually	accompanied	by	swelling	of	the	eyes,	face,	and	ankles,	as	well	as
pain	in	the	upper	and	lower	back. If	the	disease	has	progressed	further,	there	may	be
blurred	vision,	tiredness,	declined	performance,	and	nausea. The	following	symptoms	may
also	indicate	malfunctioning	of	the	kidneys:
high	blood	pressure,	low	blood	pressure,	pain
moving	from	the	upper	to	lower	abdomen,	dark	brown	urine,	pain	in	the	back	just	above
the	waist,	excessive	thirst,	increase	in	urination	(especially	during	the	night),	less	than
500	ml	of	urine	per	day,	a	feeling	of	fullness	in	the	bladder,	pain	while	passing	urine,	drier
and	browner	skin	pigment,	ankles	being	puffy	at	night,	eyes	being	puffy	in	morning,
bruising,	and	hemorrhaging. All	major	diseases	of	the	urinary	system	are	caused	by	toxic	blood;	in	other	words,	by
blood	filled	with	tiny	molecules	of	waste	material	and	excessive	proteins. Gallstones	in
the	liver	impair	digestion,	cause	blood	and	lymph	congestion,	and	disrupt	the	entire
circulatory	system,	including	that	of	the	urinary	system. When	the	gallstones	are	removed,	the	urinary	system	has	a	chance	to	recuperate,	rid
itself	of	accumulated	toxins	and	stones,	and	maintain	fluid	balance	and	normal	blood
pressure. This	is	necessary	for	all	the	processes	in	the	body	to	run	smoothly	and
efficiently. There	may	also	be	a	strong	need	to	cleanse	the	kidneys,	in	addition	to	the	liver
and	gallbladder	(see
The	Kidney	Cleanse,
	section	3	of	Chapter	5). Disorders	of	the	Nervous	System

Our	entire	lives	are	dictated	by	the	way	we	feel. Our	persona,	the	way	we	carry	ourselves,
our	interactions	with	other	people,	our	moods,	cravings,	patience	and	tolerance	levels,	and
our	reactions	to	life’s	occurrences—all	are	strongly	influenced	by	the	condition	of	our
nervous	system. In	today’s	fast-paced	world,	we	are	exposed	to	a	variety	of	conditions	that
wreak	havoc	on	our	bodies. The	brain	is	the	control	center	of	the	body,	and	unless	it
receives	proper	nourishment,	your	entire	physical	and	emotional	being	can	easily	become
chaotic. Brain	cells	are	normally	easily	capable	of	manufacturing	the	huge	number	of	chemicals
they	need	for	the	complex	tasks	they	must	perform,	day	after	day,	year	after	year. However,	their	life	support	depends	on	the	continuous	supply	of	nutrients	necessary	to
produce	those	chemicals. Modern	intensive	agriculture	has	nearly	depleted	farm	soil	of	all
its	basic	nutrients	(see	“
Take	Ionic	Essential	Minerals,
”	section	5	in	Chapter	5). Although
this	has	certainly	added	to	the	nutritional	deficiencies	so	prevalent	among	the	populations
in	industrialized	nations,	most	nutrient	deficiencies	actually	occur	as	a	result	of	poor
performance	of	the	digestive	system	and,	particularly,	of	the	liver. Lack	of	such	nutrients
can	hinder	the	ability	of	our	brains	to	manufacture	the	chemicals	they	need	to	function
efficiently. The	brain	can	operate	for	quite	some	time	with	substandard	amounts	of	nutrients,	but
the	price	one	pays	includes	poor	health,	fatigue,	lack	of	energy,	mood	swings,	depression,
sickness,	aches	and	pains,	and	general	discomfort. Some	deficiencies	manifest	in	mental
disease,	such	as	schizophrenia	and	Alzheimer’s. The	health	of	the	nervous	system,	which	includes	the	brain,	the	spinal	cord,	pairs	of
spinal	and	cranial	nerves,	and	autonomic	functions,	largely	depends	on	the	quality	of	the
blood. Blood	is	composed	of	plasma	(a	straw-colored	transparent	fluid)	and	cells. The
constituents	of	plasma	are	water,	plasma	proteins,	mineral	salts,	hormones,	vitamins,
nutrient	materials,	organic	waste	products,	antibodies,	and	gases. There	are	three	varieties
of	blood	cells:	white	cells	(
leukocytes
),	red	cells	(
erythrocytes
),	and	platelets
(
thrombocytes
). Any	abnormal	changes	in	the	blood	affect	the	nervous	system	as	well	as
the	rest	of	the	body. All	three	types	of	blood	cells	are	formed	in	the	red	bone	marrow,	which	is	nourished
and	maintained	by	the	nutrients	supplied	by	the	digestive	system. Gallstones	in	the	liver
interfere	with	the	digestion	and	assimilation	of	food,	which	fills	the	plasma	of	the	blood
with	excessive	waste	material	and	reduces	nutrient	supplies	to	the	red	bone	marrow. This,
in	turn,	upsets	the	balance	of	blood	cell	constituents,	disrupts	hormonal	pathways,	andcauses	abnormal	responses	in	the	nervous	system. Most	diseases	afflicting	the	nervous
system	are	rooted	in	improperly	formed	blood,	brought	about	by	a	dysfunctional	liver	and
subsequent	waste	accumulation	in	the	intestinal	tract. Each	of	the	numerous	functions	of	the	liver	has	a	direct	influence	on	the	nervous
system,	particularly	the	brain. The	liver	cells	convert	glycogen	(complex	sugar)	into
glucose,	which,	besides	oxygen	and	water,	serves	as	the	most	important	nutrient	for	the
nervous	system. Glucose	covers	most	of	that	system’s	energy	require


 see. A vailable
people ar e frightening. They thr eaten the ego’s citadel. The
reason we’r e not attracted to them is because we’r e not
available ourselves. 12. HEALING OUR WOUNDS
“Healing is the way in which separation is
overcome. ”
Our bar riers to love ar e rarely consciously chosen. They ar e
our eﬀorts to pr otect the places wher e the heart is bruised. Somewher e, sometime, we felt as though an open heart
caused us pain or humiliation. W e loved with the openness
of a child, and someone didn’t car e, or laughed, or evenpunished us for the eﬀort. In a quick moment, per haps a
fraction of a second, we made a decision to pr otect
ourselves fr om ever feeling that pain again. W e would never
again allow ourselves to be so vulnerable. W e built
emotional defenses. W e tried to build a fortr ess acr oss our
heart, to pr otect us fr om any cold assault. The only pr oblem
is, accor ding to the Course, that we cr eate what we defend
against. There was a time in my life when I felt I should stop
opening up so much to people who didn’t honor my heart as
I wished it to be honor ed. I was angry at people who I felt
had hurt me, but I denied the anger instead of getting in
touch with it and r eleasing it to God. This is a common trap
for Course students. If anger isn’t br ought up into conscious
awar eness, it has no place to go. It either tur ns into an
attack on self or an inappr opriate unconscious attack on
others. So not r ecognizing the full e xtent of my anger, and
thinking that the lesson to be lear ned was mer ely that I
shouldn’t r eveal so much of my honest feelings, I then went
into r elationships with two strik es against me: I was closed—
read that as cold—and ar med with hidden emotional knives
coming fr om my unconscious anger. Contrary to whatever
front I might have been able to lead with, that’s not e xactly
a delightful pack age. Between the coldness and the anger, I
could tur n oﬀ the saintliest men. This, of course, only
increased my anger and distrust. I was once talking to a very wise therapist. I made some
comment lik e, “W ell, a lot of women my age ar e ﬁnding it
very har d to ﬁnd r eally loving, committable, available men. ”
Her answer rang thr ough my head lik e chur ch bells. “When
a woman says that to me,” she said, “ what we usually ﬁnd
when we look closely enough is a contempt for men. ”Contempt for men. Contempt for men. The wor ds
resounded thr ough my sk ull. I don’t know if that was the
issue for every woman she spok e to, but I knew she had hit
the nail on the head in my case. I had of ten thought about
the idea in the Course that we think we ar e angry at what
our br other did to us, but that r eally we ar e angry because
of what we’ve done to him. I had vaguely known that that
was true, but it took a lot of uncovering to see what it was I
was doing  to these guys who I just knew  were doing all
these hor rible things to me. The Course speaks of “shadow
ﬁgures” we bring with us fr om our past. It tells us that we
tend to see no one as they ar e now. We keep blaming
someone in the pr esent for something someone else did in
the past. Some poor man would tell me, “ Darling, I’m not
able to come back Sunday night lik e I’d planned. I’ve got to
keep working on this pr oject. I might not be back until
Tuesday. ” Well, he might as well have just told me that my
cat was dead and the dog was dying. The pr oblem wasn’t
that the man wasn’t coming home for a few days mor e. The
problem was how it made me feel inside to hear him say
that. Such a dark despair would run acr oss my heart, I can’t
begin to tell you. I wasn’t r elating to that man, or this
circumstance. I was r emembering all the times I had ever
felt as though I didn’t matter, I wasn’t attractive, Daddy
didn’t want to hold me, or someone else didn’t want to have
sex anymor e. From a Course perspective, this situation was coming up
now in or der for me to feel that feeling, and know that it had
nothing to do with the pr esent. I ask ed for a miracle: ‘I am
willing to see this diﬀer ently. I am willing to r emember who I
am. ’ God’s answer to my pain was not going to be—contrary
to what my ego k ept insisting was the only way out of this
grief—a man who was going to tell me sixty times a day,
“You’re fabulous, you’r e wonderful, I love you, I want you,”
and then show me just how desirable I r eally was, maybetwice, pr eferably thr ee times a day. The healing, in fact, was
bound to come ultimately fr om men who would not—
because no one can, r eally—tolerate my neediness, or the
guilt I would try to pr oject onto them in or der to get my
needs met. Or what I thought my needs wer e. My r eal need,
of course, was to r ealize that I didn’t need a man to ﬁll what
only felt lik e these insatiable emotional needs. The needs
themselves wer e not r eal, but mer ely a r eﬂection of the fact
that I thought of myself as less than perfect. Salvation
would only come thr ough my r elinquishing the thought that
I wasn’t good enough. By defending myself against being
abandoned, I continued to r ecreate the conditions in which
it was bound to occur. Why can’t men commit. I can only answer for some of
them that I’ve known, but in those cases, and in the cases
of many women I’ve observed, men haven’t committed
because the women have been ar mored against it. Our
armor is our darkness—the dark of the heart, the dark of the
pain, the dark of the moment when we mak e that wick ed
comment or that unfair r equest. Our defenses r eﬂect our wounds. But no person can heal
those wounds. They can give us love, innocently and
sincer ely, but if we’r e already convinced that people can’t
be trusted—if that’s the decision we’ve alr eady made—then
our mind will construe whatever someone’s behavior is, as
evidence that our pr eviously drawn conclusion was cor rect. The Course tells us we decide what we want to see befor e
we see it. If we want to focus on someone’s lack of r espect
for our feelings, we can certainly ﬁnd it, given the fact that I
don’t know of many enlightened masters available for
dating in the major cities of America today. But a lot of
people ar e making gr eater eﬀorts than we give them cr edit
for, and ar e working against some for midable odds when
our egos have convinced us that men or women ar e jerks, ordon’t lik e us, or always leave, or that ther e just ar en’t any
good ones out ther e. 13. CHANGING OUR MIND
“The fundamental change will occur with the
change of mind in the think er. ”
The goal of spiritual practice is full r ecovery, and the only
thing you need to r ecover fr om is a fractur ed sense of self. If
you don’t alr eady believe it yourself, another person cannot
convince you you’r e okay. If they act as though you ar e, you
will either not believe them, or become so dependent on
their r einfor cement that you pr oceed thr ough your
dependency to change their mind. Either way, you stay
convinced that you’r e not ok ay. The only e xercise in the
Workbook of A Course in Miracles  that is r epeated several
times is “I am as God cr eated me. ” As I have mentioned
earlier, the Course says that your only r eal pr oblem is that
you have for gotten who you ar e. You awak en to your own perfection thr ough your desir e
to see the perfection in someone else. Sometimes this is not
easy. When I feel the old familiar darkness starting to
descend ar ound me, when a man, for instance, mak es a
comment that I know intellectually is pr obably innocent
enough, but which mak es me feel that I am abandoned or
unc


 remote island cut of f from the rest of
the worl d. This island contains a unique civilization. The unusual thing
about it is that its inhabitants, unlike those of the rest of the world, are
actually sane. The first thing tha t the man notices are the colorful parrots
perched in the t rees, and they se em to be constantly croaking t he words
“Attention. Here and Now. Attention. Here and Now.” W e later learn that
the islanders taught them th ese words in order to be reminded
continuously to stay present. So w henever you feel negativit y arising within you, whether c aused by
an exter nal facto r, a thought, or  even nothing in particular tha t you are
aware of, look o n it as a voice saying “Attention. Here and No w. W ake
up.” Even the slightest irritation is significant and needs to be
acknowledged and looked at; otherwise, there will be a cu mulative
buildup of unobserved reactions. As I said before, you may b e able to
just drop  it once you realize that you don’ t want to have this ener gy field
inside y ou and that it serves no  purpose. But then make sure that you
drop it completely. If you cannot drop it, just accept that it is there and
take your attention into the feeling, as I pointed out earlier.As an alternative to dropping a negative reaction, you can make it
disappear by imagining yourself becoming transparent to the external
cause of  the reaction. I recommend that you practice it with li ttle, even
trivial, things first. Let’ s say that you are sitting quietly at home. Suddenly, there is the penetrating sound of a car alarm from across the
street. Irritation arises. What is the purpose of the irritation? None
whatsoever. Why did you create it? Y ou didn’ t. The mind did. It was
totally a utomatic, totally unconscious. Why did the mind create it? Because it holds the unconscio us belief that its resistance, w hich you
experience as negativity or unh appiness in some form, will somehow
dissolve the undesirable condit ion. This, of course, is a delusion. The
resistance that it creates, the irritation or anger in this case, is far more
disturbing than the original cause that it is attempting to dissolve. All this  can be transformed into spiritual practice. Feel yourself
becoming transp arent, as it were, without the solidity of a material body. Now allow the noise, or whate ver causes a negative reaction, to pass
right through you. It is no longer hitting a solid “wall” inside y ou. As I
said, pra ctice wi th little things f irst. The car alarm, the dog barking, the
children screami ng, the traf fic ja m. Instead of having a wall of resistance
inside you that gets constantly and painfully hit by things that “should
not be happening,” let everything pass through you. Somebody says something to yo u that is rude or designed to hur t. Instead
of g oing into unconscious reaction and negativity, such as attack,
defense, or withdrawal, you let it pass right through you. Of fer no
resistance. It is as if there is nobody there to get hurt anymore. That  is
for giveness. In this way, you become invulnerable. Y ou can stil l tell that
person th at his or her behavior is unacceptable, if that is what yo u choose
to do. B ut that person no longer has the power to control your inner state. Y ou are then in your power — not in someone else’ s, nor are you run by
your mind. Whether it is a c ar alarm, a rude person, a flood, an
earthquake, or the loss of all you r possessions, the resistance mechanism
is the same. I hav e b een prac ticing meditatio n, I have been to workshops, I h ave r ead
many bo oks on spirituality, I try  to be in a state of nonr esistance — but ifyou ask me whether I have found  true and lasting inner peace, my honest
answer w ould h ave to be “no.” Why haven't I found it? What else can I
do? Y ou are still se eking outside, and you cannot get out of the  seeking
mode. Maybe the next worksho p will have the answer, maybe that new
technique. T o you I would say: Don’ t look for peace. Don’ t loo k for any
other state than the one you are in now; otherwise, you will set  up inner
conflict and unconscious resist ance. For give yourself for not being at
peace. The moment you completely  acc ept your no n-peace, your non-
peace becomes transmuted into p eace. Anything you accept fully will get
you there, will take you into peace. This is the miracle of surrender. Y ou ma y have heard the phrase “turn the other cheek,” which a great
teacher of enlightenment used two thousand years ago. He was
attempting to convey symbolically the secret of nonresistance and
nonreaction. In this statement, as in all his others, he was concerned only
with your inner reality, not with the outer conduct of your life. Do you know th e story of Banzan? Before he became a great Ze n master,
he s pent many y ears in the purs uit of enlightenment, but it elu ded him. Then on e day, as he was walk ing in the marketplace, he ove rheard a
conversation be tween a butcher and his customer. “Give me the best
piece of  meat you have,” said the customer. And the butcher  replied,
“Every p iece of meat I have is the best. There is no piece of meat here
that is not the best.” Upon hearing this, Banzan became enlightened. I can see you are waiting for some explanation. When you accept what
is, every piece of meat — every moment — is the best. That is
enlightenment. THE NA TURE OF COMP ASSION
Having gone beyond the mind-m ade opposites, you become like a deep
lake. Th e outer situation of your life and whatever happens there is thesurface of the lake. Sometime s calm, sometimes windy and rough,
according to the cycles and seasons. Deep down, however, the lake is
always undisturbed. Y ou are the whole lake, not just the surface, and you
are in touch wit h your own de pth, which remains absolutely still. Y ou
don’ t re sist change by mentally clinging to any situation. Y our inner
peace d oes not depend on it. Y ou abide in Being — unchanging,
timeless, deathless — and you a re no longer dependent for fulfi llment or
happiness on the outer world o f constantly fluctuating forms. Y ou can
enjoy th em, play  with them, crea te new forms, appreciate the be auty of it
all. But there will be no need to attach yourself to any of it. When you become this detached, does it not mean that you also become
r emote fr om other human beings? On the contrary. As long as yo u are unaware of Being, the reality of
other hu mans will elude you, b ecause you have not found your own. Y our mi nd will like or dislike their form, which is not just their body but
includes their mind as well. T rue relationship becomes possible only
when th ere is an awareness of  Being. Coming from Being, you will
perceive anothe r person’ s body and mind as just a screen, as  it were,
behind which you can feel their true reality, as you feel yours. So, when
confronted with someone else’ s suf fering or unconscious behavior, you
stay pres ent and in touch with Being and are thus able to look beyond the
form and feel t he other person’ s radiant and pure Being through your
own. At the level of Being, all suf fering is recognized as an illusion. Suf fering is due to identifica tion with form. Miracles of healing
sometimes occur through th is realization, by awakening  Being-
consciousness in others — if they are ready. Is that what compassion is? Y es. Com passion is the awareness of a deep bond between yourself and
all creat ures. Bu t there are two  sides to compassion, two side s to this
bond. On the on e hand, since y ou are still here as a physical body, you
share th e vulnerability and mortality of your physical form with every
other human and with every living being. Next time you say, “I have
nothing in common with this p erson,” remember that you have a great
deal in common : A few years from now — two years or seventy years, it
doesn’ t make much dif ference —  both of you will have become rotting
corpses, then piles of dust, the n nothing at all. This is a sobe ring and
humbling realization that leaves little room for pride. Is this a negative
thought? No, it is a fact. Why close your eyes to it? In that sense, there is
total equality between you and every other creature. One of the most powerful spiritual practices is to meditate deeply on the
mortality of physical forms, in cluding your own. This is


 rev. 3rd ed. by
M. Dollinger, E.H. Rosenbaum, and G. Cable. Kansas City, Mo. :
Andrews McMeel Publishing, 1997, pp. 600-610. 8
Welburn, L. “Alternative medicine.” Nanaimo T imes. April 21, 1992. 9Rosenbaum, E.H.; Dollinger, M. “Pancreas.” In Everyone’ s Guide to
Cancer Therapy : How Cancer Is Diagnosed, Treated, and Managed Day
to Day, rev. 3rd ed. by M. Dollinger, E.H. Rosenbaum, and G. Cabl e.
Kansas City, Mo. : Andrews McMeel Publishing, 1997, pp. 616-622. OceanofPDF.comChapter Twenty-Two
RECIPES
This final chapter contains recipes for dishes prepared only with certified
organically grown fresh fruits, dried fruits, vegetables, grains, and
sweeteners. Especially important here are the following items:
• Hippocrates soup, recommended by Dr. Max Gerson in the first edition
of his book
• Juices as described
• Salads of all types
• Many kinds of salad dressing
• Cooked vegetable dishes of all types
• Potatoes baked or prepared in dif ferent ways
• Vegetarian loaves
• Soups based on the Hippocrates soup
• Many kinds of fruit dishes
• Dairy dishes of several types (when allowed)
• Breads of or ganic rye with little whole wheat, unsalted
• Desserts of many types of fruit, raw or stewed
NOTE 1: The recipes that follow were compiled and edited with the
cooperation of Christeene Lindsay-Hildenbrand to be used in conjunction
with the Gerson Therapy videotape “Charlotte Gerson Demonstrates Basic
Gerson Food Preparation.”
NOTE 2: Recipes marked with a YN were contributed by Yvonne
Nienstadt, director of health services at Cal-a-V ie, Vista, California. Recipes marked with a SD sign were contributed by Susan DeSimone of the
Gerson Institute. Recipes marked with an MZ were contributed by Marisol
Zuniga of the Hospital Meridien in Tijuana, Mexico. Recipes marked with a
GSG were contribute d by the Gerson  Support Group in England. The recipes
marked with RC were contributed by Richard Crowell. Recipes marked
DAIR Y contain restricted dairy ingredients; instructions for their preparationshould be follow ed carefully. The recipes with an asterick (*) can be found
in the Dairy section of the Gerson Therapy Handbook. GERSON  THERAPY  RECIPES
The Gerson Therapy offers a diet containing a large variety of vegetarian
foods ingested in huge quantities. Eating them in the recommended
amounts will enable a consumer to reach an ideal weight level and remain
there. And one’s metabolism will achieve only homeostasis as well. But
these two healthy situations are attained only when ingestion is done under
certain conditions. First, use only certified organically grown fresh fruits, dried fruits,
vegetables, grains, and sweeten ers. We repeat: Use strictly fresh fruits and
vegetables and absolutely no canned fruits or vegetables. Second, the produce should not be peeled or scraped unless indicated. To
clean the foods, use only lukewarm water and a brush. Third, sweeten only with Gerson-approved light honey, maple syrup, or
sugar. Dried organic cane sugar (Sucanat®), which has a molasses flavor,
may be added in recipes calling for brown sugar. Some cooks may prefer
other sweetening options. Special Soup (Hippocrates Soup)
For one person use a 4-quart pot, assemble the following vegeta bles, then
cover with distilled water:
1 mediu m celery  knob (or 3 to 4 stalks of celery), 1 medium parsley root
(if available), garlic as desired, 2 small leeks (if not available, replace with
2 medium onions), 1½ lbs tomatoes or more, 2 medium onions, 1 1b
potatoes, and a little parsley. Do not peel any of these speci al soup vegetables; just wash and scrub
them well and cut them coarsely ; simmer them slowly for 2 hours, then put
them through a food mill in small portions; only fibers should be left. Vary
the amount of water used for cooking according to taste and desired
consistency. Keep well covered in refrigerator no longer than 2 days. Warm
up as much as needed each time. Note: For recipes that call for soup stock,
use the liquid from this special soup.PREP ARA TION OF  JUICES
Juices are alway s freshly prepared. (As a reference, see the classic book
A Cancer Therapy, p. 240.) Please be aware that it’s not acceptable to
prepare the full day’ s juices in the morning. Carr ot-Apple (8 oz juice)
3 carrots (6 oz) and 1 lar ge green apple (6 oz). Green Juice
Obtain as many  as possible of the following kinds of leaves (no others):
romaine lettuce,  Swiss chard, beet tops (young inner leaves), watercress,
some red cabbage, green pepper (¼ of small one), endive, and escarole. Add 1 medium apple for each glass when grinding. Orange Juice
Squeeze only with a reamer -type juicer made of glass, plastic, or
porcelain. Do not use any juice press into which the orange is inserted with
the skin (if the skin is also pressed out, it will emit harmful fatty acids and
aromatic substa nces contained in its surface). Do not use an aluminum
juicer. JUICERS
Use a separate grinder and a separate press for juicing or a juicer that
incorporates both. Do not use liqueifiers, centrifuges, juice mixers or
masters, and so on. Pressing Pr ocessTake 1 or 2 coarsely woven nylon cloths, 12” square, and place a cupful
of pulp into center of moistened cloth, fold in thirds in both directions, and
press. Rinse cloths in cool water after each juice preparation. Do not allow juice to dry on the cloths. Wash thoroughly each night in warm or hot water; rinse thoroughly. Keep the pressing cloths overnight in a freezer. It is essential to clean the machine and cloths very well. If juice retains the taste of cloth, use a new cloth. Allow 2 cloths per juicing. Have 1 set of cloths for each type of juice. Leftovers of all pressings can be used only for compost or as animal
food. If the patient goes to work again  after healing, apple and carrot juice only
may be taken and kept in a thermos for no longer than 4 hours to drink on
the job. SALADS AND  DRESSINGS
Raw fruit or raw vegetables, when finely grated or shredded,  must be
used fresh, as quickly as possible. Raw living tissues may not be stored after any kind of preparation (please
see A Cancer Therapy, p. 189). The following vegetables are very important to consume (finely grated if
necessary, or chopped; mixed or separate): knob celery, tomatoes, escarole,
cauliflower, romaine, chives, green peppers, apples, carrots, lettuce (all
types), chicory, watercress, radishes, scallions, and endives. Buttermilk Dr essingYN *
1 cup churned buttermilk (not cultured),
  cup nonfat yogurt cheese
(Quark), ¼ tsp horseradish powder, 2 tsp honey, 1 tsp cider or wine vinegar,
pinch of dill, and tarragon or savory. Hand beat or buzz in blender until smooth. Leftover dressing may be kept
in a tightly covered jar in the refrigerator for 48 hours.Garlic and Onion Dr essing
½ tsp lemon juice or wine vinegar, 2 tsp water, 1 tsp brown sugar, a little
diced onion, 1 clove garlic, and a small amount of permitted herbs. Mix ingredients together, allow  time for flavors to mingle, and serve on
salad. Herb Dr essing
2
 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp brown sugar,
 cup water. Mix these three  basic ingredients together and add some or all of the
following herbs  (optional) and leave them to infuse: tarragon (pushed in
stalk first), shallots or spring onions chopped finely, 2 cloves garlic peeled
and crushed with the back of a knife, and 1 fresh bay leaf. Orange Dill V inaigr etteRC
½ cup vinegar, 3 cloves peeled garlic, 1 cup orange juice, ½ cup water, 1
green onion, 2 tbsp honey, ½ tsp dried dill, and ¼ red bell pepper. Blend all ingredients in Osterizer. Makes 1 pint of zesty and sweet
dressing. Variation: Substitute juice of 1 lime or lemon for orange juice; increase
water. Substitute sage or thyme for dill. Spinach Dr essingYN *
1 cup nonfat yogurt, 2 cups spinach chopped raw or 1 cup spinach
cooked, 3 green onions chopped, 1-2 tsp vinegar, ½ tsp dill weed, a pinch of
mace. Place in a blender and spin until smooth. Yoguefort Dr essing*
¾ cup dry, fat-fr ee and


 most profound parts of the Bible is the story of
women gathered around the foot of the cross and refusing to abandon him
in the hours of his suf fering. Being in the church is very moving, and I had an interesting experience
the first time I went. A friend and fellow student of A Course in Miracles
named Daniella happened to be in Israel while I was there, and we had
spoken on the phone that morning. She was in Tel Aviv and I was in
Jerusalem, both of us busy with various things and not knowing at what
point we’d be in the same town. We were going to continue to
communicate, making sure we’d have a chance to visit sometime during the
week I was there. Visiting the church several hours later, I was overwhelmed by how
many hundreds of people were milling around. Tourists and disciples from
all over the world visit the church in every hour that it’s open— four million
people annually—and the hustl e and bustle of so many people in every
corner of every room is simply part of the experience. After I’d gone upstairs and come back down again, I headed for the
lower room beneath where Jesus had died. Upstairs is where they say he
was crucified; downstairs is where those who bore witness to his suffering
were gathered. Looking in, I saw to my surprise that the room was entirely
empty. Empty, that is, except for Daniella.I looked at her and she looked at me. No words could have matched the
moment. Both of us felt it. I don’t know who was at his feet two thousand
years ago, but Daniella and I were at his feet together now. OceanofPDF.comDetroit
The modern mind is prone to scoffing at the idea of evil, capable of
acknowledging its existence but considering itself too smart to investigate
its sourc e. The ego loves that attitude, of course. It enables  the ego to
operate in secret. The ego is not a dysfunction, it is a malfunction. It is not neutral, it is
malevolent. And its goal is not to inconvenience you; its goal is to destroy
anything beautiful and precious you have ever known, including you. Jesus died a horrible death, not some quick mortal wound but rather a
torture that went on for hours. With every hour his suffering increased. There could be no more potent image of injustice and unmitig ated cruelty
than the torture of an innocent man who had helped many and harmed no
one. It is not the reality of his death, but the meaning of his death, that is
meant to instruct us. Billions of people suffer no less horribly, and no less
unfairly, on the earth today. In recognizing the suffering of Jesus, we should
remember the suffering of the world. His message wasn’ t “Hey, look at
me.” His message is “Hey, look at you.”
Many years ago I was the minister at a nondenominational church and
spiritual center in Detroit. When I first arrived, I was told it was a tradition
there to celebrate a Good Frida y service. I hesitated; I am not a Christian
minister but a teacher of universal spiritual truths. I could eagerly talk about
Easter and the Resurrection. But a Good Friday service had a uniquely
Christian ring to it, and I didn’ t know if it was something I could do. I realized that the Good Friday service meant a lot to the congregants,
so I looked more deeply into it. I came to see more clearly the spiritual and
psychological connection between acknowledging the death of Jesus on
Friday and celebrating his resurrection on Sunday. I have never been
interested in religious dogma, but I’m interested in the religious  experience,and there’s nothing more profound than a religious service when it’s
authentic and real. The word “religion” comes from the Latin root “religio,”
which means to bind back. Its purpose is to bind us back to the truth in our
hearts. What began as something I resisted became for me the most powerful
day of the year during my tenur e at Renaissance Unity. For one day, at one
service, we acknowledged the depth of human suffering, both our own and
that of others. We felt the horror and the grief and the pain of this world. We
stood before it and did not look away. We took it in, we did not ignore it. Bearing witness  to the suffering  of Jesus, we bore witness to the suffering
of the world. When Sunday arrived, we weren’t just dressed up fancy on Easter
morning. We didn’ t just bliss out on the gospel choir singing hallelujah. No,
something very important had occurred at that Good Friday service, and we
had all experienced it. We were able to take in the joy of Easter in a way we
could not have otherwise; having allowed ourselves to truly see what
becomes of a world in which love is absent, we could celebrate its
reappearance in a whole new way. Having gazed deeply into the darkness of the crucifixion, we then gazed
more deeply into the light of the resurrection. We don’t heal our wounds by
ignoring them. The crucifixion is the wound of the world—the ego’s
violent, destruct ive force in whatever form it appears. If you don’t look at it
at all, you’re not in transcendence but in denial. Look at it, and then
consider that in Jesus the lesson  has been learned. Through the power of the
resurrection, the ef fects of darkness are nullified. He has overcome, and so can we. OceanofPDF.comCrucifixion
The suffering of Jesus on the cross was a historical event, of course, but
like all aspects of his life on earth it speaks to our reality now. His suffering
was an embodiment of the full viciousness of the ego in order for God to
demonstrate, through the resurrection, that there is no evil in the world that
God’ s love does not nullify. While traditiona lists believe that the suffering of Jesus ransomed a
sinful humanity, esoteric teachin gs argue otherwise. The crucifixion was not
a punishment for anything or anyone. A loving God would not have Jesus
die because you were bad. Rather, we can see the crucifixion of Jesus as the last useless journey,
the final detour into the regions of darkness. Among his final words were
“It is finished.” He was speaking not only for himself but for all of us. He
had taken on the darkness of the world, even unto death itself, and he
survived. United with the consciousness of an eternal God, he was
deathless. In the realm of spirit, so are we. But Jesus is not asking us to join in his crucifixion; he is asking us to
join in his resurr ection. The crucifixion was a radical demonstration of how
far the ego will go; the resurrection is a radical demonstration of God’ s
power to overrid e it. It is proof that while hatred appar ently  triumphed over
love, in time love would have the final say. As with everything else in the life of Jesus, the principle revealed in the
crucifixion applies to all of us. Our crucifixions are rarely as extreme as his,
of cours e, yet the pattern by which ego seeks to destroy the spirit is as
operative in our own lives as it was in his. The point, again, is to claim the
power of the resurrection. No matter what we’re going throug h, love will
divinely correct all things. The mind of Jesus cracked the code. In joining
our minds with his, we crack it too.Sometimes the crucifixion is something as small as an unkind act or
hurtful comment from someone. Yet even the smallest annoyance is good
practice, an opportunity to choo se to rise above. The accumulation of many
smaller wounds can be enough to harden us. A little ego is still ego. It’s like
a little bit of cancer. Best it were not there. The crucifixion  is a constant reenactment of the ego’s ever-vigilant
efforts to attack, to destroy, and to kill. The ego tempts us constantly to
think thoughts that would destroy our peace, sabotage our relationships, and
deflect the miracles that are our divine inheritance. It is the insan ity and fear
that prevails upon the planet, the malignant consciousness of a humanity
having forgotten both our source and our purpose. We have become deeply
confused and have forgotten who we are. The ego is literally anti-God. It
seeks to attack us, vilify us, and ultimately destroy us. The crucifixion of Jesus is the ultimate symbol of the ego having gotten
its wish, causing us to suffer and ultimately to die. The ego is the belief that
we are our bodies; therefore to the ego the death of the body is the ultimate
triumph. Our triumph over death lies in the realization that the dead do not die. For what God created cannot be uncreated. As God’ s creatio ns, we are
eternal spirits, and what lives in God cannot die. His creations are
unchangeable and unassailable. The message of the crucifixion was not that Jesus died. The message is
that he did not die. He continues to live, and he lives in us. OceanofPDF.comAll of It Is Happening Now
Crucifixion and resurrection aren’ t just symbols; they


 the reality of
being a doctor. He lived with that idea, sustained it, nourished it,  and
loved it until through his imagination it pene-trated the layers  of his
subconscious mind and became a con-viction, thereby attracting  to
him everything necessary for the fulfillment of his dream. • Why some men do not get a raise in pay
If you are working in a large organization and you are silently
thinking of and resenting the fact you are underpaid, that you are  not
appreciated, and that you deserve more money and greater
recognition, you are subconsciously severing your ties with that
organization. You are setting a law in motion, and the superintende nt
or manager will say to you, “We have to let you go. ” Actually, you
 113  dismissed yourself. The manager was simply the instrument thro ugh
which your own negative mental state was confirmed. It was an
example of the law of action and reaction. The action was your
thought, and the reaction was the response of your subconscious mind. • Obstacles and impediments on the pathway to riches
I am sure you have heard men say, “That fellow has a racket. ” “He
is a racketeer. ” “He is getting money dishonestly. ” “He is  a faker. ” “I
knew him when he had nothing. ” “He is a crook, a thief, and a
swindler. ”
If you analyze the man who talks like that, you discover he is
usually in want or suffering from some financial or physical  illness. Perhaps his former college friends went up the ladder of  success and
excelled him. Now he is bitter and envious of their progress. In many
instances this is the cause of his downfall. Thinking negativel y of
these classmates and condemning their wealth causes the wealt h and
prosperity he is praying for to vanish and flee away. He is
condemning the thing he is praying for. He is praying two ways. On the one hand he is saying, “Wealth is
flowing to me now,” and in the next breath, silently or audibly, he i s
saying, “I resent that fellow’s wealth. ” Always make i t a special point
to rejoice in the wealth of the other person. • Protect your investments
If you are seeking wisdom regarding investments, or if you are
worried about your stocks or bonds, quietly claim, “Infinite
intelligence governs and watches over all my financial tr ansac-tions,
and whatsoever I do shall prosper. ” Do this frequently and you will
find that your investments will be wise; moreover, you will be
protected from loss, as you will be prompted to sell your secu rities or
holdings before any loss accrues to you. • You cannot get something for nothing
In large stores the management employs store detectives to prevent
people from stealing. They catch a number of people every da y trying
 114  to get something for nothing. All such people are living in the mental
atmosphere of lack and limitation and are stealing from themsel ves
peace, harmony, faith, honesty, integrity, good will, and confidence. Furthermore, they are attracting to themselves all manner of loss, such
as, loss of charac-ter, prestige, social status, and peace of mind. These
people lack faith in the source of supply and the understanding of  how
their minds work. If they would mentally call on the powers of th eir
subconscious mind and claim that they are guided to their true
expression, they would find work and constant supply. Then by
honesty, integrity, and perseverance, they would become a credit  to
themselves and to society at large. • Your constant supply of money
Recognizing the powers of your subconscious mind and the creative
power of your thought or mental image is the way to opulence,
freedom, and constant supply. Accept the abundant life in your own
mind. Your mental acceptance and expectancy of wealth has its own
mathematics and mechanics of expression. As you enter into the  mood
of opulence, all things necessary for the abundant life will c ome to
pass. Let this be your daily affirmation; write it in your heart, “I  am one
with the infinite riches of my subconscious mind. It is my right to be
rich, happy, and successful. Money flows to me freely, copious ly, and
endlessly. I am forever conscious of my true worth. I give of my
talents freely, and I am wonderfully blessed financially. It is
wonderful. ”
• Step up this way to riches
1. Be bold enough to claim that it is your right to be rich and your
deeper mind will honor your claim.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>
Q: What is the main cause of lack of wealth in many people's lives?,
A: Envy.
Q: What is the key to overcoming envious thoughts?,
A: To wish for the other person's greater wealth.
Q: What is the key to using the subconscious mind to attract wealth?,
A: To claim that you truly wish for the other person's prosperity and to not criticize them.
Q: Why do some people not get a raise in pay?,
A: They are silently thinking and resenting their current salary, which subconsciously severs their ties with the organization.
Q: What is the key to using the subconscious mind to get guidance?,
A: To trust it and believe in its power, and to not doubt or question its abilities.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>An old friend appeared in the dream and said,
“Read  these headlines—do not go!” The headlines of the newspaper,
which appeared in the dream, related to war and the attack on Pe arl
Harbor. Occasionally, the writer dreams literally. The aforemen-ti oned
dream was undoubtedly a dramatization of the subcon-scious mind
which projected a person whom I trusted and respected. To some a
warning may come in the form of a mother who appears in a dream. 141  She tells the person not to go here or there, and the reason for the
warning. Your subconscious mind is all-wise. It knows all thi ngs. Oftentimes it will speak to you only in a voice that your con scious
mind will immediately accept as true. Sometimes your subcons cious
will warn you in a voice which sounds like that of your mother o r
some loved one which may cause you to stop on the street, and you
find, if you had gone another foot, a falling object from a window
might have struck you on the head. My subconscious mind is one with the universal subcon-scious, and
it knew the Japanese were planning a war, and it also kne w when the
war would start. Dr. Rhine, director of the Department of Psychology at Duke
University, has gathered together a vast amount of evi-dence show ing
that a great number of people all over the world see events be fore they
happen, and in many instances are, therefore, able to avoid the tra gic
event which was foreseen vividly in a dream. The dream which I had showed clearly the headlines in The New
York Times about three years prior to the tragedy of Pearl Harbor. In
consequence of this dream, I immediately cancelled the trip as  I felt a
subconscious compulsion to do so. Three years later the Second
World War proved the truth of the inner voice of intuition. • Your future is in your subconscious mind
Remember that the future, the result of your habitual think -ing, is
already in your mind except when you change it through prayer. The
future of a country, likewise, is in the collective subconsc ious of the
people of that nation. There is nothing strange in the dream I had
wherein I saw the headlines of the New York newspapers long bef ore
the war began. The war had already taken place in mind, and all the
plans of attack were already engraved on that great recordi ng
instrument, the subconscious mind or collective unconscious of the
universal mind. Tomorrow’s events are in your subconscious mind, so
are next week’s and next month’s, and they may be seen by a highly
psychic or clairvoyant person. 142  No disaster or tragedy can happen to you if you decide to pray. Nothing is predetermined or foreordained. Your mental attitude, i.e.,
the way you think, feel, and believe determines your destiny. You can,
through scientific prayer, which is ex-plained in a previous ch apter,
mold, fashion, and create your own future. Whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap. • A cat nap nets him $15,000
One of my students mailed me a newspaper clipping three or four
years ago about a man called Ray Hammerstrom, a roller at t he steel
works in Pittsburgh operated by Jones and Laughlin Steel
Corporation. He received $15,000 for his dream. According to the article, the engineers could not fix a faulty s witch
in a newly installed bar mill which controlled the deliver y of straight
bars to the cooling beds. The engineers worked on the switch abou t
eleven or twelve times to no avail. Hammerstrom thought a lot about the problem and tried to figure
out a new design, which might work. Nothing worked. One afternoon
he lay down for a nap, and prior to sleep he began to think about t he
answer to the switch problem