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rx
traditions
Sufi healing
psychospiritual approaches

definition

In the Sufi "Book of Health,' illness is an inharmony, either physical or mental, caused by a lack of tone and rhythm. Prana, which may be translated as life or energy, is the source of rhythm. In physical terms, the lack of circulation means congestion; and the lack of Prana means weakness. These two conditions attract illness and are the causes of dis-ease. In mental terms, rhythm and tone indicate the condition of the mind, whether it is strong, firm, and steady, or weak and scattered. All different aspects of diseases are to be traced to congestion, caused by lack of movement. The mechanism of the body is maintained by a perpetual rhythmic movement, centered in the breath.

The harmony of the body and the mind depends upon susceptibility and also upon one's external life; the food one eats, the way one lives, the people one meets, the work one does, the climate in which one lives. Most cases of physical and mental illness come from exhaustion of the nerves. There is no medicine which can help the nerves, for nerves are the most natural part of one's being. Nervous energy is a kind of battery for the whole mechanism of the mind and body. There is no better remedy for nerves than nature, rest, repose, quiet, proper breathing, proper nourishment, and someone to treat the patient with love and understanding.

As long as the patient believes he is ill, he is giving sustenance to that aspect of his disturbance. The source from which germs spring is the belief, and not the body; the source of the whole creation is within, not without. The outer treatment of many diseases is just like cutting the plant away from its stem while the root remains in the ground. In order to drive away that illness, one must dig out the root by taking away the belief of illness even before the outer germ is destroyed. The more the person is afraid of something, the more he is pursued by it, for unconsciously he focuses on it. When a person lives with a condition chronically, that condition becomes his friend. There is some part of his being that is unconsciously holding his illness.

It is the attitude of mind, the willingness to be cured, the desire to get above one's illness, and the inclination to fight against disorder which helps one to health. If a person's attitude is proper, if one believes that spirit has all the power to cure, certainly one may be cured. A regular life, pure diet, good sleep, a balance between activity and repose, and right breathing all help the road to health; but faith is the best remedy for healing oneself of illness of body or mind. No treatment can give good results where faith is lacking. Faith is the first remedy, everything else comes afterwards. Difficulty arises when illness becomes belief. Then the power with which one wishes to remove his illness is smaller than the power which is already established in him by illness.

Faith is so sacred that it cannot be imparted; it must be discovered within oneself, as all possess it. All our failures, sorrows, disappointments, and difficulties in life are caused by our lack of faith. A pessimistic attitude, either outwardly or unconsciously, obscures us from faith. Faith is not attainable by perseverance or believing in faith. Things of heaven cannot be attained by perseverance, they are the grace of God. To open to this and trust in it is how belief is crystallized into faith. It is a gift, and all we can do is be receptive.
(Bliss, (Hazrat Inayat Khan), p. 267-273)

see:
attitudinal healing
Ayurvedic healing
compassion and healing
healing belief systems
healing power of humor
healing power of meditation
healing power of prayer
holographic consciousness
human energy fields: overview
Kahuna healing
mind beyond body
Native American healing
psychic healing
quantum healing
search for god
state-dependent learning
Tai Qi as a healing art
the shadow and physical symptoms
transference and countertransference
yogic view of the human body


footnotes