It must be understood that the methods described below are not separate techniques which are applied alone or in some random fashion. They are applied in combinations appropriate to each individual so as to re-establish harmony on all levels of being, physical, vital, emotional, mental and spiritual.
1. Proper diet is an essential requirement for any who wants to have a healthy body and clarity of mind. The human body was built to operate in nature on the substances which come from nature, as much as possible in their natural form. This human body does not have the capacity to break down complicated chemical substances nor to function effectively on foods which have been robbed of their essential vital forces through various forms of processing. Thus the best diet is a natural one, with vegetables, whole grains, fruits, nuts and dairy products.
In some cases a pure diet may not be enough to recreate one’ s lost harmony. One may need to do some fasting (under guidance) and perhaps various cleansing techniques such as enemas, cleansing of the sinuses etc.
One must also take care to avoid the various forms of empty starch and sugar in the form of white flour, white sugar and white rice. These deplete the body of basic B complex vitamins and various metals which in turn leave the nervous system weak and susceptible to stress, anxieties and fears.
Some may need to take various vitamin and mineral supplements for a period of time in order to strengthen their nervous systems, and in general, the vitality of the body.
2. Physical exercises are especially important to those who are living physically sedentary but mentally stressful lives. All exercises are beneficial to most bodies, but the system of yoga exercises and postures are specifically designed to bring strength and harmony to the nervous and endocrine systems.
They also balance the harmonious flow of bioenergy throughout the body. In this way they establish health and harmony at all levels of being from the digestive and muscular systems to the nervous system and the mind itself. Blood flow is enhanced, toxins are removed, tensions dissolved, organs stimulated and nerves relaxed and harmonized. After 20 years of practicing these exercises, I still remain astonished with how quickly and efficiently they can improve my state of body, energy and mind. I am grateful to them for changing my life.
3. Breathing techniques are a great asset to the modern man who develops so much stress in the form of activity, anxiety and sensual overloading through the various forms of media. Breathing techniques allow one to learn to increase the volume, slow down the rate, and develop a harmonious rhythm of breathing. This process of breathing slowly, deeply and rhythmically creates greater vital energy, peace of mind, emotional harmony and clarity of mind.
The breath is the key to the nervous system since it is both consciously and autonomically controlled. We can gain access to the autonomic nervous system and learn to relax it through developing control over our breath. Even personality problems such as lack of self confidence or depression can be effectively overcome through deep rhythmic breathing.
Eventually one may learn to breathe alternatively through each of the two nostrils so as to bring about a balancing between the active and passive energies in the body and mind, thus creating a state of inner and outer harmony and creativity.
4. Deep relaxation is a technique in which we learn to consciously and purposefully relax all the parts of the body and eventually the mind. This is a great asset to health, and effective functioning in any professional or social situation. A person who can, in a short period of time, relax his body and mind has a wonderful tool with which to face the various obstacles and tests of life. A relaxed body and mind function much more effectively and successfully in all situations.
Relaxation can also be used to send healing energy to various parts of the body or even to aspects of the mind which need healing or added energy. In the state of relaxation when the conscious and subconscious mind are both aware we can reprogram the subconscious mind with positive thoughts of health, success and happiness. We can imagine ourselves functioning more positively in life with greater assertiveness, inner peace and comfort. We can imagine ourselves healthy and happy. This has a tremendous healing effect on the body.
5. Positive thought projection as described above is a powerful healing tool for both physical and mental problems. Such positive thoughts and images can be created either in the state of relaxation or can be entertained in the mind throughout the day. They can also be written as positive affirmations twenty or more times a day. One may also make a cassette which can be turned on an hour after sleep or an hour before sleep by an automatic timer. These messages which are put on the cassette will go directly into the subconscious mind and reprogram it. The effectiveness of this has been shown by those who learn languages in this way.
6. Prayer is an ancient technique used by all religions and all cultures for calling divine healing energy into the body and mind. The words may be different but the process is the same. The individual opens himself to the flow of Divine Universal Life energy asking that it enter his own or another’s body and correct the malfunctioning that exists. The effectiveness of prayer cannot be doubted; too many people have been cured in this way. One may doubt whether it is the intervention of a divine being of the mind of the individual which is bringing about the change. But as a healing tool it makes no difference – it works for those who work it.
7. Meditation is something new to some people. All have been exposed to prayer, but fewer to meditation. They are similar but different. Meditation may also include dialogue with a divine being as does prayer. Meditation may start with prayer, but eventually the dialogue will cease and the individual will feel a dissolving of the body and the mind and a unity with the Divine. Meditation is a type of concentration on some symbol which unites us with the Divine Universal Life Energy. Eventually the symbol begins to expand, becoming more subtle so that one gradually becomes aware of an indescribable energy of consciousness flowing through and becoming one with all parts of his being.
Thus rather than praying for the universal energy to come upon him, as in prayer, one seeks to disidentify with his body and mind and merge with the universal energy. This, of course, establishes harmony on all levels of the being resulting in health, inner peace, inner guidance and harmony with one’s higher self and the world around him.
Meditation has been used effectively as a cure for high blood pressure, cancer, allergies, asthma and a wide variety of psychosomatic problems including fears and other emotional problems.
8. Creative self expression is being recognized today as an essential human need which contributes to health and whose absence can lead to a stagnation of physical and mental energies leading to illness and unhappiness. Various forms of creative self expression can be used to liberate suppressed energies which may disturb the functioning of various body organs and mental functions. Some possibilities are dance, singing, music, drawing, writing, poetry, gardening, cooking, decorating, or any other form of creative expression from developing a new business firm or scientific research to offering selfless service to the community around us.
9. Selfless service not only offers an opportunity for creative expression but also for meaningful and often loving contact with others which creates a sense of purpose in people’s lives. This is extremely healing. One gradually becomes an instrument of the flow of that universal consciousness in the form of thoughts, words and actions which better the condition of society. This is healing to both the individual and society.