Wellness Archives

Thoughts on Healing ! Part II

My post on the possibility of skilled relaxation or entering the alpha/theta consciousness state being a doorway to a universal source generated some religious discussions. I have little interest in religion, for the most part it is mans attempt to package something they only see through a tiny window.

I find it interesting that historically spiritual seekers have used a form of SR to reach altered states or connect with something more profound. Mythology is full of these quiet place sojourns: Christ in the desert, Buddha in the forest under the Bodhi tree, Muhammad his cave in the mountains, Moses the mountain top, Native Americans - vision quests and aboriginal people the Walkabout.

Prayer beads have been used for thousands of years to quiet the mind, later adopted by Buddhism as Mala and Christianity as the Rosary. Early Christians were mystics that spent hours in meditation: the tradition is continued today through the World Community for Christian Meditation.

Every major religion has admonishment adherents to meditate: Baha'i, Zen, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Christianity, Judaism, Taoism and all the lesser faiths.

From the Bibles challenge to "Be Still and Know" to modern poetry of Robert Frost, " Round and Round the Circle We go, The Answer Sits In the Middle and Knows" men/women of contemplation have found the same rewards in being still.

When something has endured for thousands of years and was pivotal in guiding the prophets into starting religious traditions millions follow it must have significance. I believe skilled relaxation works because we have wrapped a 21 century package around something known to the ancients and have secularized it to the point we have lost the true wonder of it....and perhaps how to make that final step into a powerful flow of source for healing and peace.

Religion is mans attempt to package the great mystery and control the populace. The mystical experience is a step outside the confines of religion and as real as gravity or electricity...and like electricity is can have great power but we have to choose to step into the flow, use the energy or we can chose to remain in the dark.

I believe whether you call it skilled relaxation, prayer or meditation the potential for reaching a place of quiet where we pass into a greater place of wonder and healing exists......we have just lost the maps and will to achieving it.