Log in

View Full Version : Healing



NikolaiI
04-08-2015, 07:15 PM
'Heal thyself first, O physician.'


The idea of being healed first before one tries to heal others is a very old one, and very true. .

All spiritual traditions have something healing in them - they're not all pure or perfect, yet there's a healing source within every human being, and a lot of wisdom traditions have various ways of reaching that source, or achieving it...

Tai Qi Qong healers have been reported to be able to heal tumors - regardless of this, though, self-healing is pretty huge in many of them; and there is something I would say in the idea of preventative maintenance. . . I've always followed this, and had perfect health almost every day of my life.

In other words - being healed is a process, particularly of avoiding causes that create illness. Many of these traditions teach that almost all healing is due to the mind, the spirit, the mind/body connection. . . particulary, as is laid out in the 'religion of healthy-mindedness,' as described by William James. The idea essentially is, if one believes one is healed completely - with one's self - then one is. This does seem to be very efffective.

There is the Medicine Buddha Mantra, which is said to heal all causes of affliction; there are countless others, from every tradition, that are said to bring all healing..

I've practiced pretty much all of them, or all my heart felt called towards, and they all seem to be effective medicine.

Christ was a healer above all, and called us to heal as well.

Zen teachers of old taught it very highly.

Hanh, leader of the Rinzai school, whom I have no personal connection with but has always been very important to me, has been very useful..

One of his quotes makes a lot of sense - that we have to work for peace in peace, it cannot come about through non-peaceful means.

'It never helps to draw a line and dismiss some people as enemies, even those who act violently. We have to approach them with love in our hearts and do our best to help them move in a direction of nonviolence. If we work for peace out of anger, we will never succeed. Peace is not an end. It can never come about through non-peaceful means.'


What energy we maintain is what energy we share with others, in other words. .

Another, a Hindu teacher made it clear we have to reach peace first. .


'The prayers of those that are pure in mind and body will be answered by Shiva, and those that are impure and yet try to teach religion to others will fail in the end.'
-Swami Vivekananda


One classic Zen ideal is that when we see others are non-different from ourselves, then our wish for their healing occurs automatically. If we cut a scrape on our arm, for instance - we don't think about it, whether we wish it to heal or not, we simply automatically do - in the same way, if we see others as the same as ourselves (non-dual, empathy) then when we see their suffering, there will be no equivocation - it will simply be a spontaneous and immediate desire to wish them to heal.


Toaism has some especially nice healers -- but all religions do. . .

One of the most simple and natural ways of healing is to simply be out in nature - climb trees, hug trees, feel the boundless, free-flowing health and beauty all around - this is the most healing experience I would say, through my whole life; it's definitely been the best.


So, please discuss healing in spiritual or religious traditions, what it means to you, what are the most effective ways, &c, &c. . Thank you very much.

YesNo
04-08-2015, 11:17 PM
I wonder to what extent prayer or positive thoughts directed at someone who is ill can help them heal. The same thing would go for negative thoughts. They could cause others damage.

NikolaiI
04-09-2015, 11:55 AM
Actions create the world, words create actions, and thought creates word, and the soul or consciousness creates thought. This is why Hindus believe the world is made up of consciousness;

Christ obviously understood this too, the power of thought. Yep, I do believe thoughts and prayers can have healing effect - but more important seems to be to live in pure health, peace, and lead by example. . when we are completely healed, when we are completely at peace, then we can do great healing and peace work in the world.

I guess what I mean is live naturally, at peace and in harmony with the world; teach and share love and peace as much as possible - but know that God is responsible for all his children. . . we have the right to work, to send love into the world, but the results are always in God's hands. Just my thoughts.

The whole proces of seeking peace, then sharing it, does seem to be borne out in every culture, every wisdom tradition - naturally, of course. In Christian - see Saint Anthony, father of saints, at 18 he went to the wilderness for 20 years, then, imbued with healing love, he was able to do great healing and peace work for the rest of his life. . . in every other culture the same is seen as well. Otherwise, if we work for peace without peace in our hearts - it won't work.

'We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.' - Swami Vivekananda

YesNo
04-09-2015, 11:04 PM
I agree with you about thoughts. I would describe myself as a monistic idealist like George Berkeley: there is no unconscious material substance.