Estrategias de seguridad y derechos humanos

Centuries ago, healing was an activity of the church. In areas of the world insulated from western ideas, healing is still in the domain of gurus, medicine men, kahunas and tribal chiefs.

There is evidence in the United States that healing may be welcomed back into some churches. The work of the Worrells of Baltimore, Oral Roberts, and other faith heal­

ers is becoming more accepted by the churchgoing public, and healing prayer groups are being formed everywhere.

The concept behind spiritual healing is difficult to accept for many people. That is partly because it often requires one to acknowledge that he is the cause of his own physi­

cal problem—that the virus, germ or “bug” is there be­

cause he attracted it or at least offered no resistance to it.

Nobody likes to be blamed for anything.

The air is teeming with all varieties of these tiny crea­

tures, whether we are healthy or sick. When we lower our resistance to them it is little wonder that they accept the invitation.

What is this resistance? Actually, it can be regarded as a naturally healthy state. Lessen this healthy state in any area of the body and it becomes a potential breeding ground for these bacteriological “vultures.”

The trick is to maintain a naturally healthy state. The key here is that it is natural to be healthy, unnatural to be sick. Nature would have us healthy. Nature is constantly renewing, regenerating and rejuvenating. “Let nature take its course” is behind much of the medical advice we get, and true physicians are the first to give credit to nature’s healing powers.

But we interfere with nature. We subject our bodies to the gastric acids induced by worry that ulcerate the stom­

ach lining. We burden our vital organs with the tenseness

and stiffness of fear, anxiety and insecurity. We undermine our body chemistry and cell growth with unnatural atti­

tudes and negative thoughts.

Medicine is skilled at treating symptoms of dis-ease.

Relief and cure are almost always obtainable. But if the cause persists, the symptoms usually return. That is why

“take a trip” or “get away for a while,” is good medical advice. It leads to a renewal in the attitudes and thoughts of the person. That is often where the causes lie.

Fear of illness is one of the major causes of illness. Not only does the fear cause the tenseness and dis-ease we are talking about, but, by our using our visual imagina­

tions—our strongest creative energies—we tend to attract what we fear, if we think negatively. Lurid descriptions of diseases by well-meaning health and welfare organizations can impress suggestible people and cause them to misuse their imaginations in a way that can contribute to those very diseases.

Think health. Think vitality. Visualize yourself “the pic­

ture of” good health, brimming with vitality, and you contribute to that picture.

This evening we will try to take important steps to counteract the effects of the circumstances of daily living that underlie negative thoughts and feelings, that obstruct nature’s healing powers. We’ll attempt to permit the latter to flow more freely through us.

This will entail an admission to ourselves that we are usually the cause of our own poor health. It will entail a willingness to give up that cause. We must be willing to relinquish indignation, resentment and frustration, jeal­

ousy, envy and hatred. We must be willing to insulate our­

selves from concern over what others will think of us. We must be willing to substitute patience and confidence for anxiety.

The reward for these “sacrifices” may well be a longer and healthier life.

Procedure

Step 1 The introduction to Part IV is read with the above. Participants discuss typical psychosomatic diseases and their probable causes, getting some clues from such popular remarks as, “He gives me a pain in the neck” . . .

“Oh, my aching back” . . . “That galls me” . . . “I haven’t got the heart to” . . . “I can’t stomach him.” . . .

Step 2 Participants discuss, freely and without self­

recrimination, any personal health problems they may have, offering their own ideas about possible causes. It is important at this time not to offer any comments on another’s problems.

Step 3 A game of “Doctor” is played. Half of the par­

ticipants are “patients,” half “doctors.” A patient and a doctor pair up. The patient goes off to a corner or private spot with the doctor and tells the doctor his troubles.

These are not only health troubles, but other types of social, family or business troubles. This is a serious con­

fidential chat. The doctor lends a sympathetic ear, making polite and friendly comments but offering no specific rem­

edies. This is called nondirective counseling and is thera­

peutic in that it permits a person to “get it off his chest.”

The doctors and patients reverse roles and the process is repeated; however, different people are coupled together this time.

Step 4 An advanced relaxation exercise is enjoyed by the group with a leader reading the monologue that fol­

lows. A lighted candle is needed on the floor or table in the center of the room. At the end of the monologue each person holds a single image for a full thirty seconds.

It is the image of himself completely healthy. If he has any health problem, there is no sign of it in this image.

He sees himself going about his usual activities in tip-top health. He knows that holding this image in his mind can make it come to pass. Even if he enjoys good health now, it reinforces that good health. He ends the relaxation with joy and confidence. . . . Here is the advanced monologue for deep relaxation leading to a state of auto-suggesti­

bility:

I fix my eyes on the candle. I concentrate on the moving flame. As I watch it, my eyelids become heavier.

I begin to feel that my eyes must close. I visualize them closing. Now it is almost impossible to keep them open.

I let them close gently. Now I am able to relax fully.

I feel the muscles relaxing in my toes, my ankles, my legs, my thighs, my buttocks, my back, my abdomen, my shoulders, my arms, my neck and my face. I note that I am breathing slowly and rhythmically. Every time I exhale I go deeper and deeper. I am letting go. I am now in a very deep state of blissful relaxation, yet with every breath I take I go deeper and deeper. Deeper and deeper. Deeper and deeper. I now visualize myself. I see myself entirely free of health problems. There is absolutely no sign of any health problem I may now

have. I see myself looking in radiant health. I now end my relaxation knowing this image to be activated. I will now feel full of energy and wide awake. One, two, three!

Step 5 Refreshments are served. The group discusses the topic “Health and Growth are Nature’s Will and Pur­

pose.”

Step 6 A minute of instant relaxation and silent medi­

tation is held, with a bell or noise sounded to begin and to end it. The meditation is one focusing on love for nature and for the group. . . . The participants are each asked to bring two flowerpots with soil and seeds for planting. The seeds may be for wheat or any other fast- sprouting plant that can grow at this time of the year, indoors if not out. Also needed is yogurt culture, usually obtainable at health-food stores. Participants leave in si­

lence.

Evening No. 2

“Controlling Cell