Posts classified under: 1999

Chiu-Nan Lai, Ph.D.

Health comes from the process of abiding nature, respecting nature, and maintaining a balanced body and mind. Failure to do so results in illness. The maintenance of health therefore requires constant adjustments and effort. Illness is a barometer that signals to us what aspect of our life need adjustment.

Since birth, people born in the 20^th century encounters violation and disrespect for nature. Hence, various kinds of illnesses (some of which were formerly unknown) increase rapidly, especially in children (e.g., allergy, hyper-activity, sudden infant deaths, leukaemia, brain cancer, and new breeds of bacteria arising from the use of antibiotics). These illnesses are no longer curable by doctors, and their cure involves the need to respect and abide by nature. The following are the health hazards faced by infants towards the end of the 20^th century:

• Mothers live in a polluted environment and their bodies may lack the friendly bacteria that are beneficial to the body. They may suffer from vagina infection which can lead to premature birth. Such infants generally lack friendly bacteria of the large intestines, and their immune system may greatly suffer.
• Among infants born in the hospital, the proportion delivered by Caesarean section exceeds those delivered by midwives. In particular, in the USA, the proportion of babies delivered by Caesarean section is about 23%, which far exceeds that in Japan (7%) or Europe (10%-13%). As a result, the mortality rate of infants in the USA exceeds those in twenty-four other countries (please refer to the book “Reclaiming Our Health”). Infants that are not delivered naturally from their mothers’ womb lack the friendly bacteria in their large intestines. A research study found that only 9% of infants delivered by Caesarean section have such friendly bacteria, compared to 60% for infants delivered naturally. These friendly bacteria help in digestion, manufacture of vitamin B complex, and control of harmful bacteria growth. These friendly bacteria of the large intestine secrete acetic acid and lactic acid that help in stopping harmful bacteria, and aid in the absorption and use of calcium. Infants delivered by Caesarean section generally have weaker health and immune systems, as manifested in their proclivity towards allergy, skin problems, and ailments. Because their mothers are also under anaesthesia when these infants are born, they do not have the opportunity to establish a mother-child bond immediately upon birth, and opportunities to be breast-fed are also reduced. This leads to an even greater reduction in their store of friendly bacteria. Hence, infants delivered by Caesarean section generally have weaker immune systems than those delivered by natural means and breast-fed.
• In modern society, infants have fewer opportunities to be breast-fed. They are fed on substitutes such as cow’s milk or soymilk. These substitutes do not have the same composition of nutrients as human milk, and also lack two key components necessary for good health:
• Useful antibodies in colostrum, Bifidobacterium infantis and other friendly intestinal bacteria flora present in mother’s milk are essential for infant’s digestion and assimilation. The excreta of infants who drink their mother’s milk are soft, slightly acidic, and are not smelly. In contrast, those who drink cow’s milk or soymilk pass excreta that are close to that of adults in terms of colour, smell, and pH, and also contain a relatively high proportion of harmful bacteria. Before the infant’s stomach becomes fully developed, it is easy for the friendly bacteria in the small and large intestines to propagate. However, when the stomach begins to secrete gastric juices, it becomes more difficult for the friendly bacteria to propagate unless a special effort is made to encourage this process. Otherwise, the infant will lack such friendly bacteria for the rest of his life, and harmful bacteria will breed easily in his body. His immune system will also be impaired, leading to such ailments as: constipation, indigestion, stomach gas, sensitive skin, stomach cancer, osteoporosis, diarrhoea, eczema, psoriasis, tiredness, food poisoning, and high cholesterol.
• Mother’s milk comprises nutrients that have been digested, absorbed, and transformed by the mother. Besides vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fat, it also contains the essence of the mother’s warmth, thoughts, feelings, and will. A mother’s warmth is very important to a child’s physical and mental health. A child who has been breast-fed generally has better health, temperament, and character than one who has been fed on cow’s milk. He is also likely to have a warmer character. Mother’s milk contains the special human elements that can awaken a child’s will power from the sleeping state. These elements are absent in and cannot be replaced by cow’s milk.

The knowledge and help required by mothers or would-be-mothers are greater now than in the past. To increase the likelihood that their children can be delivered naturally and with adequate ‘friends’ in the intestines, mothers should, before they are pregnant, ensure that they are healthy in the body, mind and spirit; help the propagation of friendly bacteria by taking organic vegetables; and avoid meat, high sugar, and processed food. If a mother breast-feeds, she gives her child a gift of health.

If a child was delivered by Caesarean section, or was born prematurely, and cannot be breast-fed, supplements can be given to the child to enable the growth of friendly bacteria in the large intestines (Bifidobacterium infantis). Currently, a company in California (USA) called Natren (Natren, Inc., 3105, Willow Lane, Westlake Village, CA 91361) manufactures a product called Trenev Life Start that contains live friendly bacteria such as Bifidobacterium infantis. Expecting or lactating mothers can take this supplement. Infants not being breast-fed can take, on a daily basis, one-quarter teaspoon of the supplement mixed with distilled water in a milk bottle in order to reduce stomach and gastric problems. Even for grown up children who had been delivered by Caesarean section or had been born prematurely, taking a bottle of this supplement can still be useful. Improvements will be seen in the children’s digestion, excretion, and immune systems.

A few years ago, I met a teenage girl who had serious skin problems that could no longer be controlled by western medicine. She had eczema and rashes since young. She was able to control this problem temporarily by taking and applying medicine, but the itch and rashes grew worse. At her young age, she had cataract, which her eye specialist diagnosed as a side effect from the medicine she was taking. Inquiry revealed that she had been delivered by Caesarean section and did not drink mother’s milk. I immediately suggested that she took a supplement of friendly bacteria, and her conditions improved (I was then unaware of another product, Life Start, that promotes the growth of friendly bacteria among infants). Once, she contacted some essential oil and her skin immediately became red and swollen. Upon application of acidophilus and bulgaricus mixed with water, her swelling immediately subsided within half an hour. Her mother indicated that usually western medicine was not able to reduce her swelling.

Many of our modern-day strange ailments are directly or indirectly linked to the lack of friendly bacteria which are our first line of defence against diseases. One third of the weight of faeces (excluding fluids) comprises live or dead bacteria; our digestive system contains over 400 strains of bacteria, weighing approximately 3.5 pounds. The extent of friendly bacteria in our bodies not only depends on conditions before and after our birth, but also on our dietary habits and the antibiotics, western medicine, food, and herbs (e.g., garlic, goldenseal) that we take. The long-term use of antibiotics has resulted in bacteria strains that are resistant to antibiotics; under these circumstances, only the friendly bacteria can come to our rescue.

Modern day problems require modern day medicine – respecting nature and abiding by nature.

Chiu-Nan Lai, Ph.D.

Why can’t my child behave? Why can’t my child cope? Why can’t my child learn?

The subject of this article is the title of a book written by Dr. Jane Hersey. Twenty years ago, she had a “problem child” and a book by Dr. Benjamin Feingold changed her son’s diet and changed his life.

Dr. Feingold discovered that emotions, behaviour and diet are directly related, this does not apply to children only, it will affect adults’ performance in school, work and at home. Grateful parents setup the Feingold Society and continued to offer solutions to parents who have “problem children”. The key is to avoid artificial colouring, preservatives, artificial flavouring, aspirin and fruits with high Salicylate contents.

A paediatrician shared her experience in the book. A mother with her lovely blond hair daughter visited the paediatrician. The little girl seemed to have been possessed and screamed with fear. The mother cried that she usually behaved this way and was at her wits end. On examining the little girl, the paediatrician suggested that she seek the help of the Feingold Society. Six weeks later, the mother and daughter came back to see the paediatrician and thanked her with kisses. This paediatrician fully understood the relationship between diet and behaviour. For the past ten years, she has also seen many cases of behavioural improvements as a result of changes in diet.

What are the behavioural problems that could be improved by a change in diet?

• Impatience
Low tolerance of stress
Need immediate satisfaction
Short tempered
Cry easily and frequently
Throwing and damaging things

• Lack of concentration
Easily distracted
Inability to complete tasks
Inability to listen to a full story
Inability to listen to instructions

• Poor sleeping habits
Dislike going to bed
Not able to sleep
Tossing in bed
Frequent nightmares

• Restlessness
Non-stop movements
Running and not walking
Inability to eat quietly
Abnormal movements of limbs

• Impulsive aggression
Creating havoc in school and at home
Disobeying rules
Inability to sense danger
Impulsive repetition of actions
Ill-treating small animals
Fighting with other children
Inability to control oneself

• Impulsiveness
Unpredictable behaviour
Producing abnormal sound
Talking too much
Talking too loudly
Interrupting others
Nail biting and scratching
Biting clothes and other items
Over sensitivity towards touch, pain, sound, and light

• Frequent Illness
Headache
Nettle rash
Stomach ache
Earache
Bed wetting
Incontinence

• Nerve obstruction
Reading disability
Speaking difficulty
Problems with eye movements
Muscle cramps
Accident prone
Inflexibility of the limbs
Poor eyes and hands co-ordination
Writing and drawing difficulties

Dr. Feingold noticed that one could be sensitive towards certain objects, the items listed below are related to learning and behavioural problems:

Artificial colouring
Artificial flavouring (including vanilla flavouring)
BHA, BHT, TBHQ preservatives
Aspirin and food with natural salicylate such as almond, coffee, capsicum, cucumber, plum and dried plum, grape and raisin, orange, berries, peach, tea, cherry, tangerine, tomato, clove.

When practicing the initial phase (2 to 3 weeks), avoid all the above-mentioned items. Improvements can be realized within a few days for children who are not on medication and more than a week for those on medication. Gradually include the salicylate fruits and vegetables in the second phase to determine the tolerance level. If previous problems surface, avoid these foods temporarily. Not only can food cause abnormal behaviour, unconducive school and family environments could also influence sensitive children and adults negatively such as paint. Therefore, it is better to paint, change carpets, use of detergent and pesticide, repair roofing during the school holidays.

In 1993, a research on the relationship between food and ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) was conducted. 59 out of 78 children of age 3 to 12 who were on a strict diet showed considerable improvements in their behaviour, 17 showed some improvements and condition became worse off for 2. Americans consume more chemical colourings than other countries, therefore there are more children with ADD than England and France. Japan has not focus on such problems yet. With the East adopting more Americanized diet, such problems will become more common.

Prevention is better than cure. If there is a need to gather such information, you may contact Feingold Society at the following address:

 

P.O BOX 6550

Alexandria VA 22306

Tel : 1-800-321-3870

Chiu-Nan Lai, Ph.D.

Space is just as important for a healthy lifestyle as sunshine, fresh air, clean water and food. There are many kinds of space, but the major types include outer space and inner space; the two are inseparable.

When we live in congested city with busy traffic, fast-paced pedestrians, and the ever-changing television, we will be filled with anxiety and worry. In contrast, when we face the vast limitless ocean, view the horizon atop a mountain, or lift our heads to water the star-filled sky, our mind will naturally be open and quiet down.

Animals living in highly congested habitats will develop anxiety and even kill each other. Rats and chickens exhibit such behaviour, and cows require sedatives. Hence, humans who live in highly congested cities should create some space for themselves in terms of sight, hearing, taste, and mind. Space can be created by taking some time every day to walk in the park, and to enjoy the greenery, sunrise and sunset. Spend two weeks every year to be near nature – climb the mountains to be immersed in the forest, or to be close to the sea. Spend some time every day to cultivate our practice or observe our breath and mind. In particular, those who are ill should give themselves space, both internally and externally.

Chiu-Nan Lai, Ph.D.

Improving your health through diet is one of the earlier concepts formed by the Chinese. In fact, it is a very specialized knowledge. However, traditionally, when we talk about nourishing food, the first thing that comes to our mind would be chicken meat, wild game, or seafood. We only have to look at the royal menu to know what this means.

It is precisely because of this concept of nourishment of the Chinese that many wild animals are extinct or on the verge of extinction. Bears without their paws, snakes without their galls, tigers without their bones, monkeys without their brains. Where have all these body parts gone to? Down the throats into men stomachs, that is where they have gone.

The thing is, after consuming all these “nutrition”, does man get any healthier or live a longer life? If wild game and seafood are really as nutritious as they are claimed to be, then should be the emperors not have lived a life of longevity and good health? However, fact has shown that most emperors were short-lived. On the contrary, farmers and common people who fed on just plain vegetables and rice lived longer. Those who lived in the mountains, practiced chi gong, and sought the path to enlighten enjoyed better health and lived longer than the emperor and his men in palace. Today, we have practical research results to show us just what can be called truly nutritious food, and just what food feed heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

The greatest obstacle to good health is in no doubt “habit”. Mental and emotional habits, as well as those in our daily life, can be the cause of ill health. Ironically, change is also the hardest. Eating is further a support for us, emotionally. What we ate when we were children, we like when we are adults, we think of this as only natural. Unless they are struck with a severe illness, most people will not even consider changing their diet.

I have changed my diet patterns for almost thirty years and have been recommending a healthy diet to others for just as long. Initially, practically no one was willing to accept this concept of eating because it is too far from one’s usual habit. Gradually, as cases of cancer, heart disease, and chronic disease increase on a continuous basis, people start to try out this new diet concept. Perhaps the results were really good, more and more people were willing to change their old habits. The usual case is that one person will start the change first, and the rest of the family will follow suit. Today, practically everyone would have at least had contact with this new form of food nutrition. And everyone will know when the time arrives that they are ready to change.

Now, what precisely is this “new” form of food nutrition? Simply put, it is just our own natural food – grains, vegetables & fruits, seeds, nuts, beans, and sea plants. If our natural food are chicken, pigs, goats, meat, fish, wild game, and seafood, it would mean that when we see live animals, we would start to salivate with hunger like carnivores such as tigers & lions. Which three or five-years old child, when he set his eyes on a chicken or a live fish, would grab and put it straight into his mouth?

On the contrary, every child who has grown up in tropical parts of Asia would remember that he had once set eyes upon ripe yellow mangoes or juicy, red lychees, and salivated. Those who grew up in Southeast Asia would have had similar experience with durians!

Too many reports on medical research had shown that plant products are most suitable for human consumption. Those who are suffering from heart disease, cancer and other illness will enjoy a better state of health if they can just alter their unnatural diet. From the human digestive system we can once again ascertain that we are definitely herbivores.

Chiu-Nan Lai, Ph.D.

“Stop and smell the rose.” This is a Western saying, reminding us to slow down and really enjoy life. At this moment in time, this is the most earnest advice that can be given to a modern man. The industrial revolution has resulted in the invention of countless labor-saving machinery: washing machine, refrigerators, cars, tractors, electric stove and factory machinery. They are supposed to allow man more free time to enjoy life. Unfortunately, the opposite seems to be true. People in the industrial society are in fact the busiest. They are busy maintaining the machinery and the end product. In the past, all that people possessed were bare necessities such as clothes, shoes, sufficient food, and they were fully satisfied. Nowadays, people have clothes filling the entire wardrobes, many pairs of shoes and kitchens full of all kinds of gadgets. Television sets and audio systems take up all space and time available, so much so that people no longer have time to buy fresh food and cook a delicious and nutritional meal. They have no time to rest, no time to get together with family and friends, no time to read a good book, no time to quietly think about the meaning of life and no time to select a lifestyle that does not harm the planet Earth. Until one day, when they get a heart attack and leave without a word, or the doctor announces a terminal illness, with only 3 or 6 months left to live, only then, are they forced to finally slow down their pace. However, by then, perhaps there is really no time left.

Many people usually get to know Lapis Lazuli Light for the first time because they are ill. Some of them will slow down their steps to practice a total healthy lifestyle. They will spend time to look for, or even grow their own natural fruits and vegetables that are free of chemicals or other form of pollution. They will spend some time to get close to nature, practice Chi Gong, exercise, meditate and clear their emotions and mind. However, there are still many who use “no time” as an excuse for not doing what they should and keep on searching for the “miracle pill” that would cure them without taking up their precious time. Once, when I was in New York, I met a lady who talked to me about her illness. She had a lot of pressure from work and suffered from anxiety. I suggested that she find time to just take walks, and asked an experienced friend who was with me, to explain to her the concept of total health. The result? We were given the usual “I have no time”, for an answer. The next day, when we met again, the lady inquired whether shopping was considered walking? At that moment, it suddenly came to me that, many illness are results of the pace of life that is much too fast. To really experience total health, people have to slow down and change their usual way of life. Some people are forced to slow down when they get sick.

The French have always made fun of Americans for not knowing how to enjoy life. They work from morning to night, and rush even when they are on vacation for that precious couple of weeks. Americans do not know how to appreciate the joy of eating, even when they have the money to do so. They gulp down their meals. Therefore, fast-food joints selling hot dogs and hamburgers have spread all over American cities and towns. Unfortunately, they are just as quick in destroying a person’s health and the environment. You only have to see how fast a bulldozer can wipe out a whole stretch of forest to fully understand the meaning of “rapid destruction”.

Often in this hectic lifestyle, one forgets what is most precious in life. The late Albert Szent Gyorgi, who was awarded the Nobel prize for discovering Vitamin C, had spent many years researching in his laboratory. His personal life was not fulfilling. He was married four times, one of the wives died from cancer. When Dr. Szent Gyorgi was in his nineties, people asked him if he was given another chance, what would he have done with his life? He answered that he would have given more time to his relationships. Many, in their deathbed, while drawing their last breath, had regretted not spending more time with their loved ones. Not a single one ever said that he regretted not having worked more!

Fulfilling marriages, deep friendships and loving relationships between parents and children, they all need time to cultivate. To understand and know matters, we need time as well. To appreciate life at a deeper level, we need even more time to contemplate and experience. When I was working in Houston, discussions with my superior were usually limited to only fifteen minutes. As we talked, we would glance at our watches. Besides research work, I also taught Chi Gong and gave classes at CG Jung Educational Center. At night, incoming calls were non-stop, and the callers were usually patients from distant places, inquiring advice on their illnesses. In 1987, I made a trip to India and stayed in the Himalayas. There was no telephone, no car, no meetings and discussions. My room did not have a kitchen, and not even a toilet. It was totally quiet. Outside my front door was the mountain and complete silence. After 6 months, I digested the previous hectic ten years of my life. In addition, I realized at a deeper level many things that I have not understood before. Sometimes when I was walking in the mountains, and saw the Indians who lived in small houses, enjoying the magnificent scenery of the mountains while sitting under a tree with his family. I could not help comparing them to those people back in Houston. Many go to work every day, spent one to two hours traveling on the expressways, and reach home only at night. I really wondered who – the Indian or the American – possesses real happiness. What is wealth?

“Having no time” would mean “not being able to digest”. It can be food, information, emotions, or spiritual feelings. If you are not able to digest it, it becomes garbage, and turns into pollution.

Slow down your pace, to digest what your ears are hearing, what your eyes are seeing, what your nose is smelling, what your tongue is tasting. In other words, all that your body and senses have contact with. Switch off your television set, your radio and audio system, your computer, put down your work, the newspapers and instead focus on the people and scenery around you. Is this what you dream of? Is this what you wish for in your life? Or what you are avoiding? You just have to start slowing down your steps and start to ask, to inquire, and you will find that every question has an answer, and every wish can be fulfilled. Only then you can recreate your dream. It will be fulfilling, and it doesn’t matter whether it is personal or environmental. All that is valuable require time, simplify your lifestyle and you will have more time to spend on meaningful pursuits. “Having no time” is no longer an excuse, and the emptiness in life will be more fulfilling. And when you arrive at the last day of your life, you will find that you have no regret in life.

Chiu-Nan Lai, Ph.D.

Our major task in life is perhaps to find out how mankind can live harmoniously with each other and settle their differences. In history, conflicts in politics, racial, religious, or economics have generally been resolved not by peaceful means but by avoidance, separation, or war. Several state boundaries have been created this way. Nevertheless, none of these differences is as serious as those that exist between men and women either physically, mentally, or emotionally.

These fundamental differences result in communication problems. In the past thousands of years, the two genders have been engaged in avoiding each other or have ‘cold war’ with each other. Because of men’s superiority in physical strength, men have invariably held the upper hand in male-female relationships. For example, in terms of marriage, men have been held as the master of the house; women have been considered second-class citizens of the home even in terms of property. One of the ten commandments in the Old Testament says, “Do not cover your neighbor’s house, nor his wife, or any of his male servants, female servants, cows, asses, or anything that your neighbor possesses.” In China, women and people of low positions are placed at the same rank. Women are commonly perceived to fulfil the role of bearing children for family succession and to satisfy the sexual desires of men. It was common for men to have many wives, and love was the sacrificial item. Slaves can never become intimate friends. For thousands of years, the relation between men and women has been marked by distrust, hatred, sorrow, and coldness; this pain is in our blood.

This century has brought a revolutionary change. Many countries gave women equal opportunities in politics, property rights and education. Changes have also been brought about in the area of marriage. Astrology indicates that we have entered the Aquarian age, where mankind has become more sensitive, and males and females practice equality. Nevertheless, because of the painful memories and habits of the past, many marriages continue to fail. Western experts think that about 80% of all marriages have problems, and more than 50% of marriages are completely broken and lead to divorces. In this age where it is common for the new to replace the old, understanding and learning about the spouse before and after marriage require huge investments in time. We cannot leave it to nature, and it is like trying to grow a sapling on barren ground; it is bound to fail if left to nature.

Professor Harley, an American marriage counsellor, was originally a child psychologist in a school. He found that problem kids came from homes with problem marriages. If he could counsel the parents to improve their marriage, the child’s problems can be naturally resolved. As a result of this observation, he changed his profession to that of a marriage counsellor. He used his lifelong experience (his father was also a marriage counsellor) to write two books – ‘His Needs, Her Needs’ (published by Lapis Lazuli Light) and “Love Busters.” The book “His Needs, Her Needs” allows males and females to realize that their needs are completely different; the ability to satisfy each other’s needs is the most important factor in determining a successful marriage. Another factor to a successful marriage is to avoid hurting each other. “Love Busters” introduces habits that commonly damage a marriage, such as angry outbursts, selfish demands, disrespectful judgements, irritating habits, dishonesty, etc.

Marriage does not need to be the graveyard of love; through counselling, love can make a recovery. We frequently hear people who have been married for many years talk about marriage joylessly and with an air of resignation as if this is the only possible outcome of marriage. In fact, marriage need not be like this, if one knows how to properly cultivate and nurture it.

In recent years, we observe that many unhappy marriages lead to health problems. These have serious adverse repercussions, and it is therefore important to research and introduce this knowledge to other people, Translating Dr. Harley’s book “His Needs, Her Needs” is a first step, and we wish that Chinese readers can benefit by reading the book.

Traditional marriages are motivated by the need to continue the family lineage; whether the man and woman know each other is unimportant and so are their needs. In the past, each party generally meets each other just once before their marriage. It was like a lucky draw – some are lucky while others are unlucky. Men can remarry to correct an imperfection; women have to accept their fate, pin their hopes on their children, and use parental love as a substitute for their husband’s love. This unfair treatment creates much stress for the women, which in turn is a reason for the unpleasant relationship with their mothers-in-laws and the discord in the family. The hatred among members of the family is reflected in Chinese stories.

Nowadays, men and women are free to make acquaintances, and choose their partners. Hence, it is important to learn about friendship and marriage. What are the differences between men and women? What is the difference between love and sex? The founder of the study of human wisdom, Dr. Rudolf Steiner, provides some path-breaking clues on these questions (although his exposition is not as detailed as those in other fields such as education, agriculture, medicine, and arts because social norms precluded him from elaborating during his time). One of his students, Wolfgang Gadeke, was a German marriage counsellor and pastor. Between 1985 to 1988, he was interviewed by Wolfgang Weirauel, the chief editor of the magazine Ilensbuiger Ltefte. During these interviews, Wolfgang Gadeke used a spiritual perspective to look at men and women, and the issue of friendship and marriage. There was great interest, and the resulting book has been reprinted five times, and still remains a best-seller. The English edition was published in 1998 by London’s Temple Lodge Publishing (51 Queen Carloine St, London, W6 9QL).

 

Below is a summary by Wolfgang Gadeke about Dr. Steiner’s views:

Men and women are different both in terms of physical and mental attributes. Men’s reproductive system is active and alive; men can feel the activities of the millions of sperms, and how they influence and cause pressure on their consciousness. Women cannot feel the fertilization of their eggs. Their desires come from their emotions, and they will observe theirmate’s look, expression, and voice (i.e., their soul). In contrast, men’s attend only to the physical attributes of the female’s body.

Besides a physical body, humans also have an etheric body (life body), the astral-body (the emotional body), and the ego body. There are also other differences between men and women. Men generally have greater physical strength and better developed muscles than women. In terms of the etheric body, women are stronger than men, and this is apparent even within the womb: although male fetuses are bigger than female ones by a ratio of 1.3 to 1, this ratio drops to 1.06 at the time of birth, and 1.0 by age 21. The mortality rate of male infants is over 10% higher than that of female infants. About 30% more males than females have adolescent problems. Females outlive males by about 7 years, and old folks home have a predominance of females. The astral bodies of women are also stronger than that of men; in terms of emotional expressions, women find it easier to express their inner feelings and have richer emotions. In terms of feelings towards the opposite gender, females generally experience a sense of emptiness when they are unable to meet their lover. Males have stronger self-egos than females. They are also able to be more objective observers of events than females (who tend to be more opinionated).

Men tend to have stronger ego consciousness than women. A large part of women’s lives revolves around the etheric body and the astral body, while much of men’s lives centre on their physical body and ego body.

In terms of thought processes, men tend to use a ‘either this or that’ thinking mode, similar to computers which are also designed to process things in terms of ‘yes’ or ‘no’. In contrast, women use a “both or and” thinking mode. Thus, men use an ‘exclusive’ mode of thinking, while women use an ‘inclusive’ mode of thinking; men use first principles to make decisions, while women use feelings and intuition to do so. Take the example of purchasing a pair of shoes. Women have a general idea of what kind of shoes they want and then visit several shops to look for the right pair. They may very well return to and buy from the first shop they had visited, and then exchange for a new pair a few days later. On the other hand, when buying a pair of shoes, men generally base their decisions on price and utility, and are not particular about the color or height of the heels, etc. One observation is that the majority of shoppers who return goods after Christmas are women.

In selecting their life-long partners, men and women find someone whom they can communicate at the emotional and spiritual levels. In particular, due consideration should be given to the fact that men and women generally fully develop their self-egos when they are about twenty-eight years old. If they marry before this age, there is a tendency for difficulties in their marriages to emerge by the time they are twenty-eight years old. In general, it is the women who bring up these difficulties. Women who marry too early tend to look upon their husbands as the focus of all activities and may think that they cannot survive without their husbands. However, when their egos mature, they will oppose this restriction on their egos and strongly seek their freedom by looking for jobs or going for higher education, etc.

On the other hand, if a strong friendship is not first developed, it may be difficult to avoid the damage caused by sex. Sex is a paradox: when two people are in love, they think that physical contact will enhance intimacy. In actual fact, it may have a reverse effect in that it may lead to a greater separation spiritually. A characteristic of physical contact is that only physical sensations can be felt but not other feelings or sensations felt by the other party. Hence, those who consider lust to be love can generally maintain a relationship for only two years; little wonder that it has been said that “marriage is the graveyard of love”. Gadeke suggests that when young people make friends, they deliberately keep a physical distance and correspond by mail. Even the telephone is not an ideal tool compared to love letters, which can uniquely facilitate the expression of one’s inner feelings. He is especially opposed to the idea of cohabitation among young couples. According to him, cohabitation and marriage leads to the same outcome in that it may inhibit one’s individual characteristic from developing. Sexual relationship between members is appropriate within the context of a long-lasting marriage. When the relationship is temporary in nature, harm may be done to the spiritual and emotional communication between the two parties. When selecting marriage partners, both parties must have the ability to live independently. The best decision is made only when it is made freely without conditions and demands. Steiner suggests that for present day marriages, it is best to avoid the pull of past karmic relationships, and it is advisable not to select family members and spouses from one’s past lives as our current marriage partners. Higher-order spiritual choices can have a big impact on the earth and the spiritual world.

Perhaps, this is the happy marriage in the golden era.

Chiu-Nan Lai, Ph.D.

If Mencius was born in the later half of this century in China, he is likely to have grown up in front of the television. His mother would also not have immediately realized the long-term adverse effects of the television and may not have kept him away from it. Little Mencius would have therefore lost the opportunity to experience childhood games, sports, stories, language learning and the curiosity of a normal child, and his brain may have been underdeveloped. When he grows up, he may not have depth of observation and contemplation, nor possess high moral fibre and a sense of responsibility. He may then not have made a significant impact on the Chinese culture.

If the television had appeared 500 years earlier in Europe, we would not have the opportunity today to listen to the music of Mozart, Beethoven, or recent music prodigies, nor appreciate the art and inventions of Leonardo Da Vinci. If the television had appeared very early in Chinese civilization, Li Bai and Du Pu might not have written poetry, there might not be many literary works from China, and there might not even be a Chinese culture.

If you think that the above scenarios are exaggerations, let us look at the American culture, education, morality and society forty years after television had become popular in America. In America, preschool kids watch an average of 30 hours of television every week. Adults watch an average of four hours of television; this means that apart from sleep, work and schooling, watching television takes up the bulk of an adult’s time. Before a child goes to school, he/she would have watched between 5000 to 8000 hours of television; by the time he/she goes to high school, the amount of time spent watching television would have exceeded the time spent in school. What is the influence of television on children, adolescents, and adults? According to a report by the US education department, 70 million young adults are functionally illiterate. Many American companies have found that many high school graduates cannot read, count, or think. A large company, Motorola Inc, discovered that among the nation’s job applicants, 80% did not pass grade 7 English and Grade 5 mathematics. In another report, it was documented that among 17-year-olds, only 7% have the necessary background to enter the science faculty at the universities. In an international mathematics and science competition, thirteen-year-old Americans scored the lowest among twelve countries.

Since the 1960s, mathematics teachers in America have found that the learning ability of students have deteriorated year by year, and national test scores have fallen yearly too. Scientists doing most advanced research lament that it is not easy to find successors. Native students form the minority among graduate students studying in America. A professor with over 30 years of research experience used to return to his alma mata yearly between 1963 to 1973 to conduct annual lectures for undergraduate students. He found no major difference in students’ responses every year until 1973, when he discovered a significant decrease in students’ comprehension ability. The students were given different teaching material and no longer solved physics problems; instead, they watched commercial television programmes and made factory visits. When asked for the rationale behind these changes in teaching approach, the professor replied, “Since students can no longer handle the traditional physics curriculum, we have to dilute the curriculum and use television programmes and factory visits as teaching materials.”

Many people blame the failure of the American education system on the school and the family, but these are not the ultimate reasons. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Learning conducted a survey in 1991 among 7 thousand kindergarten teachers to find out more about the following attributes of kindergarten children: their health, ability to cope, emotional maturity, language, knowledge, and moral views. Their results showed that 35% of kids did not possess the prerequisites to attend kindergarten. These kids came from cities and towns of various sizes, and different economic conditions, cultural background, etc. These 5-year-old kids did not know their full names and address and were unable to differentiate colors or use the pencil. They had limited spoken skills, short attention spans, and no confidence in expressing themselves. They were not used to taking instructions, and did not know how to take turns to share a table and draw etc. These children were of normal intelligence but lacked experiences in life.

The average weight of a newborn child’s brain is about 330 grams, about a quarter the weight of an adult’s brain. The child’s brain will have grown three times by the age of two and will be about 90% of the size of an adult’s brain by the time he/she is seven years of age. Every experiment conducted on animals has shown that the brain’s development is dependent on the experiences it receives. Professor Marian Diamond of the University of California, Berkeley used two groups of mice as subjects, and found that the brains of one group of mice which had lived in an enhanced environment (bigger cage, greater variety of toys and playmates) were 11% larger than that of another group of mice that had lived in an impoverished environment. If another group of mice were placed in the enhanced environment but were only allowed to watch and not participate in the activities of mice in the enhanced environment, their brain sizes were not different from that of the mice in the impoverished environment. Mice living in the wild had the richest environment and had the best developed brains.

Children’s brains receive fewer stimulation when they passively watch television programmes rather than actively participate in activities. Watching television itself numbs the nerves and senses. Just like taking drugs, one can get addicted to watching television. When watching television, the brain generates Alpha waves, which are slower than the Beta waves. In particular, only the right brain is involved in processing the images and the emotional contents; the left brain, which performs the function of thinking and analysis, is dormant. Little wonder that advertising agents exploit this weakness to promote their products, since they do not need to use much logic and only need vivid imagery and short phrases to persuade the viewers. Both children and adults may be led to purchase these products, as if hypnotized. Because of advertisements, Americans like to take high sugar, and high cholesterol junk food; as a result, obesity is a common ailment. The images on television flash at the rate of 60 to 80 times per second, far exceeding the speed of our sight which can sense up to 20 times per second. At the same time, because these light radiations are direct rays (not reflected rays which our eyes are accustomed to), our eyeballs will naturally stop responding. Since focusing relies on the movement of the eyeballs, watching television definitely causes damage to the vision. Besides the eyes, other sensory organs functions may also decline. It has been reported that after watching several minutes of television, the responses of the brain are similar to that of people who have been in an environment where their senses have been deprived of stimulation for 96 hours. In Germany, some hospitals have begun to have departments that treat children who have been harmed by watching television. Many parents may also not be aware that the television is related to many of the ailments faced by their children: restless sleep, indigestion, irregular heartbeat, bad temper, exhaustion, lack of interest in work and play, drug abuse, drinking liquor, lack of compassion, wanton sex, learning difficulties, slow limb movement, poor concentration, etc. In Europe, some parents have recognized this problem and have either slowly restricted the television to their children, or immediately banned the television. Observation of the television watching habits of family members is an important first step.

The Waldorf educational system started by Dr. Steiner has always advocated that children not watch television. Dr. Steiner suggests that children may be permitted to watch selected television programmes only after the age of fourteen. Watching television greatly reduces children’s imagination, because children rely on playing imaginative games and listening to stories to develop their imagination. At the same time, children’s physical activities will help promote their determination; should they lack such activities, they may grow up as adolescents without a sense of purpose in life and without having much perseverance in the things they do.

The popularity of television in Taiwan has trailed America by twenty years, and the associated problems will also appear later. However, given awareness of these problems, it is not too late for parents and teachers to take remedial actions.

 

Reference:

Endangered Mind, by Jane M. Healy Ph. L. 1991

How Television Poisons Children Minds by Miles

Everett, Ph. L. 1997

The Plug-In Drug : Television, Children and the Family, by Marie Winn 1997

 

 

Chiu-Nan Lai, Ph.D.

Joy, anger, sadness and happiness, are communication tools used to express our emotions. Children can express a wide range of emotions within few minutes; tears, laughter can be expressed instantaneously. The emotions flow naturally. They do not repress their feelings. Children do not harbour grievances or suffer from depression. They forget their unhappiness after a good cry.

In the process of growing up, children are taught to suppress their emotions. They should not cry or throw tantrums. Negative emotions are to be controlled. In the long run, suppressed emotions slowly lead to emotional numbness – they can no longer cry or laugh. Adults can hold their grievances, anger, and sadness for years. Long term suppression of emotions does not lead to happiness, they even cause physical ailments. At that time, any small incident can trigger off a huge explosion of rage or despair.

In general, when a person loses his zest for life, joy and intuition, his life becomes a life imprisonment. He lives mechanically like a zombie. Emotional numbness results from controlling one’s breathing. The extent of emotional numbness can be determined from a person’s voice and the depth of his breathing.

Hence, to recover life’s zest and joy, it is necessary to first defrost the emotions. Deep breathing is one method. Using the mouths or nose, inhale deeply all the way to the abdomen, then exhale. It is all right to breathe out with sound, regardless of what it may sound like. To release pent-up grief, take a deep breath while softly touching the heart with a finger. If contact is made with the emotion associated with this grief, release it. Repressed emotions tend to be centred in the area below the rib cage and above the navel.

The process of releasing repressed emotions require time and space. Warn the people around you so that they will not be surprised. When the space and time are appropriate, take a deep breath. It is fine to use your vocal chords to release these emotions, whether through crying, shouting, roaring, or saying whatever words that need to be said. After the emotional release, take a saltwater bath (add one or two pounds of salt to the bathtub) or a vinegar bath (add a cup of apple cider vinegar to the bathtub); soak for twenty minutes.

Another way to release pent-up emotions, is to take an empty jar or glass, fill one-third or half of it with salt (coarse or fine), and fill up with water. Place the jar on the area between the heart and the navel, with the left hand holding the bottom of the jar, and the right hand covering it. Visualise all the unhappy emotions being absorbed by the salt water. After ten to twenty minutes, pour the salt water into the toilet. If the repressed emotions are centred below the navel, stand in a basin of salt water. Likewise, visualise the repressed emotions being sucked from the upper abdomen to the legs, and then through the sole of the feet. Finally, utter the word ‘OM’ to regulate one’s mood.

Besides releasing the emotions that have been repressed for many years, it is important to learn to open up one’s feelings; to acknowledge when one is angry, sad or afraid, and not to pretend that everything is okay. In addition, let the other party (if they are the cause) know how you feel. When we interact with each other (and in particular, with our spouses or relatives), it is important to communicate honestly in order to foster closer relationship. Hypocrisy will only increase the distance between each other.

If it is not possible to express one’s feelings at that time, then it is necessary to release these feelings through exercise or breathing, or visualising breathing in sky-blue light to every cell in one’s entire body; as a result, the body will feel relaxed and at ease.

The recovery of our emotional health and sensitivity is an important aspect of our physical and mental health. It is also an important step towards the recovery of our human nature, and the promotion of a harmonious caring society.

 

1999 Oct-Dec

Chiu-Nan Lai, Ph.D.

A discussion on how electricity and televisions, computers, microwave ovens and mobile phones can interfere with life and bio-electromagnetic fields.

In this modern world, we are fully dependent on electricity, whether in our residence, work place, or leisure activities. Our environment is permeated with various kinds of invisible electromagnetic waves, from 50 Hz (frequency of fifty cycles per second) to 60 Hz, to microwaves (frequency of billions of cycles per second) such as that used in broadcast, telecast, mobile phones, and military radars. These are a million times above the natural fields of the earth.

A hundred years ago, the earth’s electromagnetic waves were entirely natural, and were restricted to those from the sun, stars, and moon. However, smart scientists such as Edison, Telsta, and others changed all these. After the Second World War, there was a rapid increase in the use of electricity and electromagnetic communication systems. Electrical signals have reached the outer space, and man-made satellites beam radio waves at every surface of the earth every hour to collect data. The number of radio stations and TV stations continue to increase. These days, we can even have our own broadcast stations (in the form of mobile phones)!

What is the impact of artificial electromagnetic waves on humans? Robert Becker, M.D., summarizing many years of research, concludes that artificial electromagnetic waves can lead to abnormalities in living organisms.

During the Second World War, the military found that personnel in charge of radar, their bodies would heat up. They realized then microwave has the ability to generate heat, and this led to the production of microwave ovens for use in the kitchens. Many people may be unaware of their harm. After the Second World War, scientists found that although exposure to low levels of microwaves would not generate heat in animals, but these animals developed cataracts within a short period of exposure (within a few days or a month). This is because the retina is most sensitive to heat.

In 1953, a doctor working in an airplane plant found 75 to 100 workers, with prior exposure to low levels of microwave, had bleeding tendency, leukemia or brain tumors. Other research shows that electromagnetic waves of frequencies up to 27 MHz can cause the chromosomes in garlic seedlings to undergo abnormal changes. In 1983, the US FDA’s research showed that microwave exposure could harm the sperm production of rats. Male rats with half-an-hour non-thermal microwave exposure for two weeks had their sperm production reduced and their chromosomes altered. When they mated with female rats that had no prior microwave exposure, the incidence of miscarriages greatly increased.

Between 1953 to 1977, the American embassy in Russia had microwave interference of about 5 uW/cm2 that was 0.05% of the level allowed by the US military. Of the three ambassadors staying at the embassy during this period, two died of cancer, and one of leukemia. The staff working at the embassy had abnormal levels of eye and skin infections, and suffered from depressions, irritations, lack of appetite, and attention deficit. Their children had anemia, heart problems, and infections of the respiratory and ears.

The genetic impact of microwaves can be seen from another example. Vernon, a small city in New Jersey, has a population of 25,000 people, but it has so many microwave stations that it ranks fifth in the entire USA, after New York, Chicago, Dallas, and San Francisco. The proportion of mentally retarded children there is 1000 times that of the national average. In a 1985 report (Ruey Lin), it was pointed out that naval radar officers were more likely to contract brain tumors than those that were not exposed to microwave. Two cancer doctors, Margaret Spitz and Christine Cole, found that children, whose parents were exposed to electronics at work, were more likely than others to have brain tumors before the age of two. They also found that exposure to everyday AC electricity caused harm to sperms and chromosomes.

In a 1983 report, Dr Nordstrom from Sweden found that workers in a high-pressure cable car factory were more likely to have deformed children than others, and their white blood cells and chromosomes were also abnormal.

In summarizing fifty years of research materials, Dr Becker concludes that various kinds of electromagnetic waves can have seven effects on humans and living organisms:

 

1. Influence cell growth, e.g., increase the growth of cancer cells;
2. Increase the incidence of certain types of cancer occurrences;
3. Induce change in fetal growth;
4. Change neural and chemical hormonal secretions and production in the body, which may lead to behavioral changes such as suicidal tendencies;
5. Change the biological rhythm of living organisms;
6. Modify the body’s reaction to stress, and lead to deterioration in immune system; and
7. Reduce learning ability.

 

The following are measures to prevent or respond to the threat of electromagnetic waves: 

There are up to 8 kind of electromagnetic waves emitted by television and computers, including microwaves and X-rays. Other than reducing contact with these sources (e.g., television), careful selection of computers can help. For example, choose computers that meet TCO standards set in Sweden. Install a screen on the monitor that filters both low and high frequency emissions. Cover the computer casing using copper sheets. When using the computer, it is best to wear natural fabrics like cotton and wool, or wear fabrics with peat-moss. This has the ability to protect one’s life force, and effectively prevent harm from electromagnetic waves, particularly when it is wrapped in layers with organic fabric, and placed on the three chakra points located on the head, on the third eye, and below the naval.

Several researchers have found that electricity causes the greatest harm to the brain, but they did not know why. I have discovered from my experience and observation that electromagnetic waves interfere with the crown chakra and the third eye chakra. These chakras can be protected by products containing peat-moss. In addition, it is helpful to harmonize one’s “qi” to recover. For details, please refer to the November 2000 issue of “Lapis Lazuli Light Magazine”.

Mobile phones are the source of microwave and electromagnetic waves, with frequencies exceeding that of computers and high-density cables. A mobile phone placed on the ear will expose the body to microwaves of more than 100 mW per square centimeter. At 5 feet, there is exposure of a 1 mW/cm, which is a hundred times the safety limit set by Russia. When I walk on the street and see people using mobile phones, I feel sad for humanity and their descendants. Do you want to pay for convenience with your life? Mobile phones are best used only in emergency, and not for everyday use. In particular, do not use mobile phones next to a child. Again, “qi” harmonization will also help.

Choose a diet that strengthens and heals the body. This kind of food includes green vegetable juices, carrot juice, naturally pickled vegetables, wheat grass, organic food, Vitamin C (with bioflavanoids-orange and lemon skins are rich in these), and seaweed (take a few helpings a week). Exercising out of doors on a regular basis to discharge static electricity in the body. When doing so, it is best to wear straw sandals or cloth shoes. At night, avoid using the computer, watch television, or use the mobile phone. This is because it will be hard to go out to discharge static electricity at night. Another reason is that one’s “qi” is weaker at night, and be harmed more.

In conclusion, we should begin to change our lifestyles, and put priority on our health.

References:

Becker, Robert O. Cross Currents. G.P. Putnam’s Sons. New York, 1990.

Hall, Lan. Water, Electricity and Health. Hawthorn Press, 1997.

Bentham, Peggy. VDU Terminal Sickness. Jon Carpenter Publishing, 1992.

Chiu-Nan Lai, Ph.D.

Our living environment is heavily polluted, including the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breath, our homes, and our transportation.  Even the basic survival needs, such as food produced from clean, fertile soil, clean water and air, and sufficient oxygen are difficult to obtain.  Our health is threatened from the time we are in the womb.

To maintain health we need to learn how to handle these hazards and the pollution of the emotions and mind brought about by these factors.  The hazards include millions of synthetic chemicals, televisions, computers, microwave ovens and cell phones, electrical appliances, radio-active wastes, super-viruses (from genetic-engineering of plants), and super-bacteria (from long-term usage of antibiotics in animal husbandry and medicine).  As individuals we can make an effort to reduce the production of these pollutants.  As manufacturers and producers we need to step outside of our specialities and work together for the health of all of us.

For example, the agriculture industry could produce food free from pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and genetically-engineered crops.  The food industry could produce food without chemical additives, food colorings, artificial flavorings, and preservatives.  All industries could practice “green” manufacturing, working toward zero pollution.  Consumers could use buying as an incentive to encourage “green”  businesses.

Every aspect of our lives and especially our emotions, thought patterns, and the development of our will, directly impact our health.  Health is the totality of our physial, emotional, mental and spiritual well being.

At a time when the physical environment is polluted, it is even more important to clean up the emotions and the mind.

Many of the world’s medical traditions have contributed to the understanding of the total health of the body, mind and spirit.  Examples are the ancient Chinese medical understanding of the seven emotions, acupunture meridians, consciousness, soul, and essence, the ancient sciences of Veda, Yoga and buddhism of India.  Modern science, psychology and medicine including psychobiology, psychoneuroimmunology, bioenergy fields, quantum biology, and anthroposophy are also finding the connection of mind and body.

Individual doctors and scientists have made discoveries similar to those of the ancient medical systems.  Dr. R.G. Hamer of Germany, in observing over ten thousand cases of cancer patients, found that cancer, heart diseases, and many other illnesses are triggered by emotional factors.  Often a combination of shock, or conflict and not being able to talk about it will produce lesions in the brain within a few months.  Dr. Valerie Hunt in nearly thirty years of laboratory research has found that human energy fields are related to thoughts and emotions.  Psychics are able to observe changes in the color of the field or aura.

Since these understandings are from different cultural traditions and different times, the terminologies are different but the essence is the same.  For example chi in Chinese medicine, prana in Indian culture, bioenergy fields in Western science, etheric body in anthroposophy.  These all share the common characteristics of nourishing the physical body.

The “consciousness” in Chinese medicine, the eighth sense, subtle minds in buddhism, the astral body, ego body in anthroposophy, and what psychics describe as “aura” are also similar.  The spiritual components although are not of the physical world, they are described as the creative forces for the physical world.  Therefore spiritual energy can change the physical. In the case of human beings, emotions and thoughts can affect the etheric and physical body.

During the past hundred years, anthroposophy as developed by Dr. Rudolf Steiner has become one of the most complete systems for describing the interconnection between body, mind and spirit,  sharing many of the same ideas as that of ancient medical systems.  Dr. Steiner was an Austrian-born material and spiritual scientist, educator, agriculturist, and doctor.  Through his own investigations, he described the human as being made of four bodies:
physical body – mineral, earth element (hope)
etheric body – water, water element (love)
astral body – air, air element (faith)
ego body – warmth, fire (consciousness)

Our attention is usually placed on the well-being and health of the physical body, but in term of energy-interactions, it is the last link.  The ego body affects the astral body, in turn the etheric body and finally the physical body.  Illnesses can originate from injury of any of the bodies, such as injury to the physical body, emotional hurt, injury of the life force of the etheric body by electromagnetic fields and the injury of the ego body by drugs, mistaken concepts, and any activities or thoughts that harm others.  Sometimes diseases come from problems of connection between the bodies such as between the physical and etheric bodies.  Under the influence of anaesthetia, the physical body separates from the etheric.  After a medical or dental procedure, if the two bodies are not brought together in alignment, one can suffer from local pain, back pain, or the part of the body on which the surgery was performed may feel numb and have below normal functionality.

By generating regrets to past wrong doings and cultivating loving kindness, one can repair damages to the ego body, which in turn increase its energy level.  In the buddhist tradition, purification practices such as Confession to the Thirty-five Buddhas, Vajrasattva practice, and keeping of pure vows are found to increase one’s energy.  The energy increase can be measured by bioenergy field strength, or muscle strength.  Cultivation of loving kindness such as saving lives, circumnambulating holy objects, reciting the Amitabha name and the mantras of Compassion Buddha (OM MANI PADME HUM, for example) increase the energy as well.  There are Christian methods of confessing wrong doings and generating love and compassion.  All these practices increase the energy of the ego body.

The health of the astral body(emotional body) depends on the free expression of the seven emotions, and clearing of repressed negative emotions.  Creative artistic activities such as music, painting, and dancing all have a positive effect on the astral body.  Cultivation of lovingness and positive attitude in general produce a beneficial effect on health.  The astral body is most connected with the eyes.  The use of eye movements in psychology to   release traumas seems to validate this view from anthoposophy.  Trauma is usually stored in the right brain stem.  Therefore it cannot be accessed through talking, which is a left brain activity, but can be released through movement of the eyes, observing body sensations, and specific techniques of deep breathing.

The astral body affects the etheric body.  The etheric body nourishes the physical body.  Chi Gong, acupuncture, herbs, walking in nature, and exercises all restore the balance of the etheric body.  The etheric body has fluidity like water.  Plants also have fluidity.  Foods derived from plants are believed to nourish the etheric body.  In the prevention and treatment of chronic illnesses, a plant-based diet has proved to be very beneficial.

The essence of the etheric body is love.  If a person did not receive love during the time in the womb and early childhood,  the etheric body will be weak.  When one has no love for life itself, the etheric body will shrivel and death will follow.  Dr. Dean Ornish in Love & Survival reported many medical studies showing the importance of love in health.  One study involved following over one hundred Harvard college graduates for 35 years. Those who responded to questionnaires indicating that they were not close to their parents all suffered from serious illnesses by middle age.  Those who indicated closeness to their parents had less than half of the incidence of chronic illnesses in their forties.

Another source of information comes from following unwanted births.  In studies involving three areas (Sweden, northern Finland and Prague), ranging in time from 16 to 25 years, children of mothers who were denied abortions were observed.  These children’s physical, emotional and mental health were less than normal.  Their risks of premature birth, birth defects, and infant death were higher than average.  In school these children more often had learning difficulties, and social and behavioral problems.  As young adults they were more likely to be involved in crime.

The emerging fields of prenatal and perinatal psychology and traumatic stress are finding that those who suffer from childhood traumas, especially neglect and constant criticism have six to twelve times the risks of substance abuse, suicide, smoking, obesity, cancer, chronic lung problems, hepatitis, liver problems, bone fractures and diabetes.  The etheric body stores the memory of life experiences, including early childhood.

To strengthen the etheric body, besides cultivating loving attitude, and being in a loving environment, a rhythmic lifestyle helps.  The etheric body is part of nature, and is strengthened by being in harmony with the natural rhythm.  Ancient Chinese medical science advises living in accordance to the season in waking and sleeping patterns.

The nourishment of the physical body depends on the etheric body.  The food that we eat must be transformed before it can be used.  The roots of the plants nourish the head, the leafy greens the chest, and the fruits and flowers the lower body and limbs.  Carrots, for example, improve brain function; greens are good for the lungs and heart;  Lycium berries and Chinese chrysanthemum flowers are good for the liver.

The astral and ego bodies belong to the spiritual world.  At the time of death, they will separate from the etheric and physical bodies.  They store the accumulated energies of many lives. Our innate abilities come from the astral and ego bodies.  The memories of past lives are also stored in these two bodies.  Some illnesses come from memories of past traumas.  For example, a person with lung cancer remembers through regression an experience of being killed by an arrow.  The location of the pain from the arrow wound is the exact spot of the current cancer.

Dr. Ian Stevenson has documented thousands of cases of children from around the world who remember their previous lives.  He observed that death experiences often influence the health of the newborn.  They may suffer from the same illness from which they died or have a scar from a gunshot wound that killed them.

Dr. Brian Weiss helped many people overcome unusual symptoms that could be traced to traumatic death experiences.  Once they relived the trauma and released the emotions, they were free of the symptoms.

Waking up in the morning is like being born; the astral and ego bodies incarnate into the physical and etheric bodies.  Going to sleep is like dying;  the astral and ego bodies separate from the physical and etheric bodies.  During sleep, the etheric body is left alone to repair the physical body without interference from emotions and thinking.  Unfortunately in modern times, there are many interference to good sleep.  Many people are chronically sleep-deprived.  This is an important factor. often overlooked, which contributes to disease.

In summary, the totality of our experiences shape our body, mind and spirit.  Some of the factors that interfere with health are listed below in the form of questions.  The more “yes” responses to the questions, the more likely it is that one will become ill.  These are offered as suggestions for prevention and healing of disease.

LIFE HISTORY AND HEALTH

ANSWER YES  or  NO

1. Mother and/or father smoked and drank alcohol before and during pregnancy?
2. Pregnancy was unwanted by either or both parents?
3. Mother was ill, stressed, depressed or felt emotionally alone during the pregnancy?
4. Born by Caesarian birth?
5. Given cow’s milk or formula as an infant?
6. Was neglected or constantly criticized during the early years?
7. Bad reaction to any of the vaccinations?
8. Solid foods introduced before 7 months of age?
9. Flesh foods given before three years of age?
10. Watch more than 30 minutes of T.V. daily before 14?
11. Work with computers for more than 30 minutes daily before 14?
12. Given antibiotics on a regular basis for any period?
13. Smoked or drank alcohol?
14. Exposure to regular indoor or outdoor spraying of chemicals: terminate treatment, pesticides, air-freshens, cleaning agents, herbicides, D.D.T., etc.?
15. Eat mostly meat of any kind, seafood, refined foods and chemically-grown fruits and vegetables?
16. Live erratically, i.e. wake-up and sleep at different times and eat meals at different times?
17. Received anesthetics for surgery or dental work?
18  Experience frequent or long periods of stress:
a.disharmony between parents or family members?
b.loss of loved ones?
c.moving frequently
d.change jobs or schools frequently
e.not feeling loved or have someone to love?
f.forced to do what one dislikes?

SUGGESTIONS FOR LIVING IN TOTAL HEALTH

Avoid polluted environments.  In all aspects of living, conserve and recycle.  Eat a natural vegetarian diet of foods from organic and natural farming.  Exercise daily in a natural setting.  Drink clean water.  Take in foods that are rich in friendly bacteria such as sauerkraut, miso and rejuvelac.  Keep a rhythmic schedule of work and rest.  Surround oneself with loving relations and do meaningful work.

Use salt water baths, color visualizations, breathing techniques, artistic painting, moving of the eyes to clear traumatic memories and negative emotions.  Also through gentle tapping of the entire body, one can help to clear traumatic experiences stored in the right brain stem.

Avoid harming living beings through thought, speech or action.  Be loving toward the world.  Apply different methods of confession to clear past negativities.  When faced with new information, refrain from making arbitrary judgment.  Maintain an open-mind and continuously increase one’s wisdom, love and creativity towards attaining perfection.

RESOURCES:

1. Hunt, Valerie, Infinite Mind. Malibu Publishing Co., 1989.
2. Hunt, Valerie, Mind Mastery Meditations. Malibu Publishing Co., 1997.
3. Karr-Morse, Robin & Wiley, Meredith S., Tracing the Roots of Violence. The Atlantic Monthly Press, 1997.
4. Lai, Chiu-Nan, Restoring the Bliss of Body. Lapis Lazuli Light Publishing, 2000.(Chinese)
5. Lai, Chiu-Nan, Restoring the Bliss of the Mind. Lapis Lazuli Light Publishing, 2000.(Chinese)
6. Laskow, Leonard, Healing with Love. HarperSanFrancisco, 1992.
7. Levine, Peter,Waking the Tiger, Healing Trauma. North Atlantic Books, 1997.
8. Ornish, Dean, Love & Survival. HarperCollins Publishing, 1998.
9. Robbins, John, Diet for A New America. Stillpoint Publishing, 1987.
10. Robbins, John, Reclaiming Our Health. HJ Kramer, 1996.
11. Shapiro, Francine, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. The Guilford Press, 1995.
12. Steiner, Rudolf, Spiritual Science & Medicine. Rudolf Steiner Press, 1948.
13. Steiner, Rudolf, At the Gates of Spiritual Science. Rudolf Steiner Press, 1986.
14. Steiner, Rudolf, Knowledge of the Higher Worlds, How is it achieved?   Rudolf Steiner Press, 1993.
15. Stevenson, Ian, Children Who Remember Previous Lives.  University Press of Virginia, 1987.
16. van der Kolk, Bessel A. et. al., Traumatic Stress.  The Guilford Press, 1996.
17. Verny, Thomas, The Secret Life of the Unborn Child.  Dell Publishing, 1981.
18. Weiss, Brian, Through Time Into Healing.  Simon & Schuster, 1992.