Considerations on Health

A Course in Tranquility – Lesson 3 of 14 – Considerations on Health

Vitality, strength, proper hormonal balance, an effective immune system,
psychological and mental poise, good digestion, and proportional body mass all
contribute to good health. They are also the indicators of good health. While a person can
be spiritually awake and peaceful inside while lacking on or more of these characteristics,
the happier we become, the easier it will be for us to manifest radiant health in all ways.
Conversely, the more we direct our intention to manifesting these characteristics, our
joyousness in life grows too.

To move towards tranquility, requires that we do what is necessary to provide the
proper field for the seeds of tranquility to sprout. The area of health is not something to
be lightly overlooked in this regard. When we have health, we are free to direct our
attention to other areas of life, such as doing the divine work that we are here to manifest.
(which is where our real joy comes from anyway, believe it or not)

An unhealthy mind and body, is distraction from the ultimate task at hand, and
many people make the study of health, or their own fixation on health issues a vocation
that perpetually gets in the way of serving and living in the highest way. This is why I say,
we must give our attention to doing what we must to maintain our health, but we do need
to avoid our fixation on health.

There are certain things we can do to ensure health. They are:
1) Exercise
2) Get plenty of sleep
3) Eat a nutrition rich diet
4) Get some sunshine every day
5) Meditate daily to cleanse the mental field
6) Keep a positive and forward looking attitude
7) Be a possibility thinker, rather than some one who expects the worse
8) Surround your self with happy and successful people

Speaking of the people you surround your self with…
If you are not happy or successful, you will have to learn that skill by experience
to fit in with those folks who are happy and successful. You have spent a considerable
amount of time learning to be the way you are. Be patient and use your common sense to
begin acting and reshaping your choices to reflect your ideal.

Many sages advise the company of “holy” people as a supreme source of positive
growth. This is because you will become like those people you surround your self with.
What do you want to be like? Find those individuals and jump on the wagon! It
won’t take long and you will soon be a totally different person.

Personal Exercise Example:
I have found that when I exercise, I always seem to find my self working out with
the Ex-Air Force officer who likes to mountain bike like a professional, peddling straight
up a mountain for 5 miles. I am huffing and puffing all the way up, but I want to do it,
because strength is useful and gives me more options in life, and less chance of injuring
my self during normal living.

I also have noticed I frequently befriend the intense aerobics instructor who likes
to push her self to the limits during our workouts together. Meanwhile I feel like I’m on
my third heart attack before the session is even half over. What effect does that have on
me?

I either learn to be like these people or I doubt they would keep me around that
long. I then become a more fit and healthy person. And eventually I will be able to peddle
straight up that mountain, or exercise my heart for an hour straight without getting
winded!

Now I am not encouraging you to be extreme. For me, its fun, because I used to
be weak and sickly. That wasn’t any fun.

Just pay special attention to the people you surround your self with and their
attitudes towards fitness. If you pay attention you will find your own attitudes reflected.

In regards to psychological health, when it comes to friendships and
acquaintances, I make sure that those people I spend my time with are drama free and
creative in some way. They are also often very giving and in some form of service to the
world. What influence does this have on me? I become that way too. I become a better
person. I would rather be alone than to waste my time with problem centered, small
minded, petty people. Wouldn’t you? It’s a lonelier path for certain, but a much happier
one.

I gave the previous examples because earlier in my life I thought exercise was a
waste of time. I also found my self cavorting with less than desirable individuals. The
result was that I was unhealthy, unhappy and had a bad attitude about life. Now I realize
that I feel a heck of a lot better about my self and the world when I maintain my current
choices to be fit and in an uplifting crowd of people.

Rule #1
“Be aware of those people, places, attitudes, and actions that get in the way of healthy
happy living. Then do your best to avoid them.”

Considerations on a Proper Attitude for Healing
Remember always that you are not taking action to strengthen your health only to
prevent, or fight off potential disease. You are exercising, meditating, eating fresh whole
foods, and surrounding your self with positive people, because you are here to enjoy a
life affirming existence! You are here to love being alive and feeling your own vitality,
the spirit of the divine moving through you. You are here to give your gifts to the world
joyfully! That is why you take action for perfect health.

Why do I bring this up? I’ve worked with A LOT of people in the past ten years
in my healing practice. I’ve also spent a fair amount of time focusing on healing and
strengthening my own body. I’ve seen what gets in the way of healing, and believe it or
not, aside from the poor diet, lack of exercise, etc. It is really the attitude behind the
process that makes all the difference.

Imagine a person exercising on a treadmill every day. The thoughts that go
through the mind as this person slugs through another hour of heart pumping footwork,
usually goes something like this:
“My dad died of a heart attack.”
“My doctor says I have high cholesterol.”
“I don’t want to die!”
“I’m tired of looking fat in my jeans.”
“I hate my body…”
All the while, with each step, they are really affirming the fear they want to avoid.
Now imagine someone who is getting the most benefit out of their exercise
routine and actually extending the life. They wake up in the morning and say:
“I can’t wait to get to the gym!”
“It feels so great to get my blood pumping!”
“I love feeling alive.”
“I love being able to walk up steep mountain trails and the stairs at my work with out a
sweat”
“This body is great and allows me to live and do so much!”
“Isn’t it nice that if someone asks for help I can volunteer without complaining about my
back, or my shoulders? Sure I can lift that couch for you!”
“My body let’s me be of service to this world.”

That is quite a different attitude. You see, one person is affirming life and the fact
that a healthy body allows them to live all the more fully. The other is acting out of fear
and strengthening the negative energy she is so trying to avoid.

Rule #2
“If you are going to exercise, love it because it makes you stronger, and better able to live
your life freely. Really bring up a sense of joy with each activity you undertake that
strengthens your body.”

The same goes for food. Think of all the people you know who avoid certain
foods like the plague or claim they are allergic to everything. I do believe there is a
biologic reason for this. However, interestingly enough, I have paid close attention to the
attitudes of people with food and digestion problems, and they are very similar. They do
not feel safe in the world. Also, they are usually (unconsciously of course) either like the
attention they get by needing a special diet, or they are simply putting their problems onto
food, to avoid dealing with the real issues behind their disturbance.

Imagine the following. Every time person A eats, he thinks:
“Is there something bad for me in this food?”
“Is this going to make me sick?”
“Am I too sensitive to this?”
“Is there too much food coloring in this?”
“Did they buy organic when they made this salad?”
“Did they grill my sandwich on the same surface that hamburger was grilled on?!”

Every time person B eats, she thinks:
“I love how healthy this fresh fruit makes me with all its wonderful enzymes.”
“I love the strength these grains and this cheese gives my body.”
“I love giving my body this fresh life force through my food so I can live my best life for
God!”
“Even though I don’t normally eat meat, I appreciate the love this person put into the
food.”
Which one of those folks do you imagine is going to have the healthier body, as
well as, be able to eat just about whatever they want (within reason of course)?

Rule #3

“Eat whole foods. With each bite, feel fresh life and divine energy entering your body.
Think positively about the food you eat, even if its not your ideal dietary choices.”

Believe it or not, your feelings about those things you do to support your health
make a HUGE difference as to whether or not they really support your health. I’ve seen
plenty of health fanatics who take tons of supplements and go to all the right experts, still
have serious health problems. Why? Because they make a big deal about health, and
don’t make a big deal about living. This is about LIFE, remember. You are here to live,
not to try and line up every possibility perfectly. Do your best, and let the divine take care
of the rest, and most of all feel good about what you do for your self and others,
otherwise, what’s the use in doing it?

I’m not saying it’s easy if you are used to thinking negatively, but the only person
that can change that is you. You got your self into that place to begin with. Only you can
get your self out. The sooner you accept that, the better! Should your will falter, always
remember the following quote: “There is nothing wrong with you that changing your self
completely couldn’t fix!” And if that doesn’t work, give me a call and I’ll give you a pep
talk.

Rule #4

“Don’t make health your primary focus in life, otherwise that is what it will become.
Make living and contributing to the world your focus. Do what you know is good for
your health, and then let it go, and live!”

Who to Trust when You Need Healing
Even people who do their best and think positively and genuinely enjoy living
have health issues to deal with from time to time. It’s not a sign of failure, just part of the
process of being alive. If you keep your goals in front of you and you have a vision and a
reason to live, you will, and you will do it in good health most of the time.

That aside, there are so many theories, ideas, teachers, healers, and health systems
that it can be hard to know which one to utilize. Some even contradict each other, which
makes matters worse. So how do you know where to get good information?
You are a unique mind/body/spirit unit. What works for you might not work for
your neighbor. Your personality may respond better to certain treatments. Some people
need allopathic medical treatments to get well, while others may heal beautifully by
taking a concoction of Chinese herbs for six months. Some people have a biologic or
genetic issue causing their lack of health, while others, demonstrating the same symptoms,
may be suffering from a psychic or psychological disturbance. There is no ultimate right
way to heal. There is only your way.

It is good to research various systems to find the one that resonates with you.
However, just like on the spiritual path, it is not advised to mix practices frivolously. If
you find a system that works, stick with it, even if you occasionally have set backs using
it. Some things take time and persistence, and if you have something that works, that
feels right, and is getting results, there is no need to be impatient.

Rule #5

“Healing takes commitment. Find a system that works for you and stick with it. To think
that there is a better one out there, is the “Grass is always” greener syndrome. Health is a
way of life, whether Ayurvedic, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Allopathic, etc. Where
you put your faith, you will find your power.”

A health professional should inspire you to wellness, not shock you with fear, or
generate anxiety, worry or depression of any kind. They will be truthful, but not fatal. A
health professional with a trust in the divine power, and a peaceful countenance are most
beneficial. They can be allopathic doctors, or acupuncturists, or practice any proven
method of healing. Admittedly rare, a health care provider with heightened spiritual
awareness is the best.

Again, second opinions etc are good, but if you find a wellness provider that you
trust, has provided good service to you in the past, and is competent, it is best to maintain
a consistent relationship rather than bouncing around from one person to the next. As the
years go by, the health care provider gets to know your health and disease tendencies and
so can work with you specifically out of past experience. You also benefit by getting to
know how your health care provider works, and so trust develops. If there is no trust or
rapport, it is hard to develop a healing relationship.

Rule #6
“Be discerning about who you interact with on a healing basis. Remember, that the
person who gets the lowest passing score in medical school, still gets the title doctor!”

Health and Other People
Finally, when it comes to health and healing, don’t talk to your family, friends
and acquaintances about health issues. They have their own weird ideas, which usually
have no validity. Also, by talking about your issues with others you strengthen and affirm
the disease process. You may have noticed how people like to talk about their problems?
Well, if that is the case, they will need to have problems to talk about. You can see what
that will lead to? More problems.

Keep your health concerns private between your health care provider and/or
possibly your spiritual mentor. You don’t want to give it more energy than it needs. And
if you just find that you simply HAVE to talk about your problems with everyone,
consider, there may be something else going on, than just a physical symptom.
Now on the flip side, if you have friends, family and acquaintances who are
motivating and inspiring about fitness, enjoy their company and strengthen your bodies
together.

Rule #7
“Keep your health concerns private. Speak about them only to your health care provider
or spiritual mentor. If you need something to talk about with peers, talk about the joyous
possibilities that life holds! (Note: You’ll make better friends that way too!)”

Personal Healing Exercises
When you have a health challenge and you’d like to do something on your own to
work through it, here are three very useful exercises.

Exercise #1
1) At night before you go to sleep, think about your health challenge. Acknowledge it,
and note how it makes you feel that you have it. Do you feel scared, angry, anxious,
depressed, hopeless, etc.? Isolate the predominant feeling and where you feel it in your
body. Is it in your chest, throat, belly, limbs, head, etc.?
2) As you are falling asleep feel the emotion in your body.
3) With each exhale ask your self “What is this all about?”
4) Maintain your awareness on the emotion the problem generates and your body. Relax
on each exhale asking, “What is this all about?”
5) Repeat this process for 3-5 days.

You will find that the more you do this and the better you get at it, the real cause
of the problem will be more easily revealed. It may come through in a dream, or in an
“aha!” moment over the next few days. Or you may even find that you are naturally led
to the right information or the right person to take care of it. Pay attention, and let the
answers be revealed.

This works, not just for physical issues, but also emotional, psychological,
psychic and spiritual problems as well. I have also seen many people actually feel better
and heal on their own, just by having the revelation of the cause of their problems. It’s
quite amazing.

Exercise #2
The following exercise is the first step in consciously opening the channels in your body
in order to let life force flow freely for the purpose of healing. It utilizes simple breathing
and visualization techniques that anyone can do.

Step 1.
Find a nice quiet place where you can sit comfortably for 5-10 minutes. Sit up straight.
Keep your spine erect and take 2-3 slow deep breaths. On each exhale let your body
relax and release any tension. Let your body relax, but keep your spine straight. It may
help to imagine all the tension you may have slipping out of your body like water flowing
into the ground.
Step 2.
Place your hands palms down facing your body. You may rest them on your thighs,
abdomen, or place one on your abdomen and one on your heart. Sit for a moment or two,
becoming aware of what your hands feel like resting against your body.
Step 3.
Take a slow deep breath. As you inhale, feel a current of energy rushing into your
nostrils and flowing down into your lower abdomen. Feel the current filling up your
lower abdomen. When you are halfway full of air, feel and visualize the current flowing
up into your heart, filling your heart with a radiant light. Once your breath is full hold it
for only a second or two. Then begin to exhale.

As you exhale feel the radiant light pouring down your arms from your heart and exiting
through the palms of your hands. When you exhale, just let your breath empty out
naturally. Notice any sensations you feel in the palms of your hands as you do this.
Pause for a second or two and repeat. Practice gently and slowly for five minutes. Avoid
strain and just flow with the breathing and sensations.

Step 4.
After you’ve practiced in this way for five minutes, simply sit and take note of your body
and your mental state. Enjoy the effects for another few minutes.
The more you do this exercise the easier it will be for you to allow a healing force
to flow and the more sensitive you will become to the life force of your surroundings. It
has the added benefits of creating a state of relaxation and clearer thinking, which helps
you do everything more effectively, and it just might improve your energy levels and
overall health.

Exercise #3 – (Ultimately, this is best done, following a hatha yoga routine.)
1) Find a place where you can lie down and have fifteen to twenty minutes without
being disturbed. Put on comfortable clothing, preferably natural fibers, and lay
down on your back with your legs and arms slightly away from the midline of
your body.
2) Take two to three slow and even breaths. On each exhale let your body release
the breath without strain. As the air flows out of your body feel gravity pulling
your weight into the ground. Just let your body melt into the floor.
3) Now bring your attention down to your feet. All you have to do is become aware
of any sensations in the vicinity of your feet. Feel the floor and the clothing
against your skin. Note any temperature sensations within your feet. Pay
attention to the state of your muscles and how they feel. If you can feel your
pulse or the movement of the body with your breath, give that attention. If any
thoughts or judgments come up about anything that is felt, let them slip away.
What you are concerned with is experiencing the feeling and nothing more.
4) Move your attention to your calves, shins and knees, following the same process.
5) Move your attention to your thighs, hips and lower abdomen.
6) Become aware of your belly and chest as they rise and fall with each breath. Feel
your back against the floor and try to note the beating of your heart in your torso.
7) Move your attention down your arms into your hands. Take your attention up
into your head. Feel the air moving in and out of your nose. Is there any taste in
your mouth? What sounds do you hear and what sights do you see behind your
closed eyelids?
8) Once you have brought your attention to all areas of your body, feel your body as
a whole. First bring your attention to the skin that covers all of you. What do you
notice? Then bring your attention to your muscles and bones. How do they feel?
If you can feel your internal organs note them. Bring your attention to your heart.
Feel the beat and pulse. Try to feel the pulse of blood as it moves through your
body. Draw your attention deeper into your spine and brain. Feel these areas and
see if you can sense any nervous impulses or sensations. Finally try to feel all
levels at once.
9) Maintain this awareness for five minutes or so. If you find this practice
enjoyable, try to take it deeper. Bring yourself fully into the experience of your
body. When you are ready slowly take some deep breaths and begin to gently
move your body one section at a time. How does it feel after doing this?

If you have ever been caught doing something you weren’t supposed to and somebody
starts watching you, what happens? In most cases you would probably feel a little
dissonance and stop doing it. Body awareness works in a similar way. If something was
malfunctioning, your awareness is the first step to correct the problem. The vast
intelligence of the body is reawakened when attention is given to it. Directing your
attention to the body is like flipping on a light switch. Whereas before the body was
doing its best to function in the dark, now it can see what it needs to do. Your attention
links the inner life force of the body back up with universal harmonizing source.

Sincerely, Ryan Kurczak 2010

Meditation – The Wisest Choice

I have been a regular meditator for over 10 years now. In that time, I have seen radical shifts in my consciousness. Before I began meditating, my life experience primarily consisted of:

• Erratic thought processes
• Inability to relax
• Predominance of making unwise decisions
• Poor health choices
• Low energy and laziness
• Lack of motivation
• Despondency and depression
• Regular feelings of anger

And in these past ten years, I have seen many of these obstacles either completely or almost completely neutralized.

Many of you know me because we have worked together utilizing my skills in CranioSacral Therapy, massage, Vedic Astrology, Emotional Freedom Technique, or the Yuen Method. And many of you know how helpful and powerful these

Meditation - A practice that transcends dogma and religion

tools are. I became personally involved with these techniques because of how they benefited my own healing process.

However, of all of these healing tools, the one that has made the most difference in my life is regular meditation practice, and I’d like to tell you why.

The practice of meditation requires our own discipline and intention to clear out our consciousness and become a better representations of the divine power in manifestation. Meditation is not something that we go to a practitioner and say, “You know, I’ve not been making very good choices in regards to how I carry my self in life, so I am coming to you to fix me.” To practice meditation requires that you honestly study your behavior, your thought processes, and motivations and make a conscious effort to change. Every day when you wake up and swing your feet out of bed and make a bee line for your meditation nook, you are affirming that intention. With every affirmation of that intention, you become a little clearer, a little more aware of your wholeness with all of life, and the better your life becomes.

I have no qualms with getting “acute care” when you need it. We can all use a good massage, CranioSacral session, visit to the doctor or Vedic Astrological report from time to time to stay in tune with our bodies and the trends of nature. But we have to be careful that we do not make these into crutches that only allow us to maintain our behaviors that cause physical, emotional or psychological problems in the first place.

We are meant to be strong in life. We are meant to live freely and with joy. We are meant to be happy. Sometimes we all hit a pothole in the road, but that should be a rare occurrence, a true accident, rather than a reflection of our inability to control our vehicle.

After my years of meditation I have found that after I am done meditating and even through out the day that I experience:

• I heightened sense of purpose and clarity
• More joy for no reason
• The ability to make wiser decisions (most of the time)
• An inner knowing about what people, activities, foods, etc, are life enhancing
• The ability to be more decisive
• Better health and a stronger body
• More energy and zeal for life
• A relatively thought free mind
• A deep abiding sense of knowing my true nature

And I will be honest, that these are just a few of the benefits.  The list could go on.

Now, as mentioned above, sometimes things go wonky. Not everything always works out the way I’d like it. Occasionally, my mind trips me up and I make a stupid decision, or I allow moods to effect my decisions. The world has not turned into a rose colored flower garden. However, I am now more easily able to deal with what life brings.

 

Riding the waves of infinity can be enjoyable!

 

Life is no longer a masked villain, chasing me around the room, and beating me over the head with an iron bar. It has become like a vast ocean, in which I must learn to ride the waves and hone my skills on the high seas. It has become an adventure.

For me, and many millions of people the world over, meditation has proven to be the wisest choice they could make, both for the personal and community level.

Always consider that you are influenced by other people’s states of consciousness and that you influence others with your state of consciousness. When you meditate, your consciousness becomes stronger and clearer and brighter. Just as a shadow cannot exist in sunlight, the shadows of human frailties cannot exist in the light of a clear consciousness. On the contrary, when shadows overlap, they become darker and darker. By being a clear light, you cease to be influenced by others, and also lighten up the shadows of the world. Imagine an entire group of individuals meditating effectively. As their clarity and light grows, the whole of human consciousness also becomes brighter.

In less esoteric language, consider this simple situation. When you are stressed, tired, and overwhelmed, how likely are you to be kind to your neighbor, a family member or friend? When you are well rested, relaxed and feeling safe, how easy are you to get along with? By consistent meditation practice you move from the former situation to the latter. You directly impact humanity by your simple presence. Now imagine if 20, 100, or 1000 more people in the world were to share such a calm peaceful presence, how it would benefit all those with whom they came into contact.

You are aware that we pass around our stress and discontentment. If you are upset and irritable, you will take it out on your child. Then your child doesn’t know what to do with that tension and so she picks on her younger brother. The younger brother is thoroughly confused about the attack and so releases the tension by pulling the cat’s tail.  We can see this in families, communities, businesses, organizations etc.

Once more, remember the last time someone smiled at you genuinely. It made you happy. Then you gave a compliment to the clerk at the check out line. She smiled, to know she was appreciated in her work. When she got home, she took some time to play with her daughter, etc, etc, etc. We pass around a positive presence just as effectively, and by your practice of meditation, you tap into the source of the positivity and bring it fully into expression.

 

The light of the world is within you, and ready to be shared.into expression.

 

Currently there are about 7 billion people on this planet. Your job is not to change them or to make them better or change their minds about anything. Your job is to take care of your own state of consciousness. You have 1/7 billionth of the population problem to change. That’s it. Take care of that, and like the light of candle shared between wicks, without the diminution of the original flame, you light up the world with your consciousness.