Health, Healing, and Illness
Health:
Now, if thou wishest to know the true remedy which will heal man from
all sickness and will give him the health of the divine kingdom, know
that it is the precepts and teachings of God.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Selections ... `Abdu'l-Baha, p. 152)
If the health and well-being of the body be expended in the path of the
Kingdom, this is very acceptable and praiseworthy; and if it is
expended to the benefit of the human world in general - even
though it be to their material benefit and be a means of doing good -
that is also acceptable. But if the health and welfare of man be
spent in sensual desires, in a life on the animal plane, and in
devilish pursuits - then disease is better than such health; nay, death
itself is preferable to such a life. If thou art desirous of
health, wish thou health for serving the Kingdom.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Baha'i World Faith, p. 376)
Material and Spiritual Healing:
All true healing comes from God! There are two causes for
sickness, one is material, the other spiritual. If the sickness
is of the body, a material remedy is needed, if of the soul, a
spiritual remedy.
If the heavenly benediction be upon us while
we are being healed then only can we be made whole, for medicine is but
the outward and visible means through which we obtain the heavenly
healing. Unless the spirit be healed, the cure of the body is
worth nothing. All is in the hands of God, and without Him there can be
no health in us!
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Paris Talks, p. 19)
There are two ways of healing sickness, material means and spiritual
means. The first is by the treatment of physicians; the second
consisteth in prayers offered by the spiritual ones to God and in
turning to Him. Both means should be used and practised.
Illnesses which occur by reason of physical
causes should be treated by doctors with medical remedies; those which
are due to spiritual causes disappear through spiritual means.
Thus an illness caused by affliction, fear, nervous impressions, will
be healed more effectively by spiritual rather than by physical
treatment. Hence, both kinds of treatment should be followed;
they are not contradictory. Therefore thou shouldst also accept
physical remedies inasmuch as these too have come from the mercy and
favour of God, Who hath revealed and made manifest medical science so
that His servants may profit from this kind of treatment also.
Thou shouldst give equal attention to spiritual treatments, for they
produce marvellous effects.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Selections ... `Abdu'l-Baha, pp. 151-152)
Matters related to man's spirit have a great effect on his bodily
condition. For instance, thou shouldst impart gladness to thy
patient, give him comfort and joy, and bring him to ecstasy and
exultation. How often hath it occurred that this hath caused
early recovery. Therefore, treat thou the sick with both
powers. Spiritual feelings have a surprising effect on healing
nervous ailments.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Selections ... `Abdu'l-Baha, pp. 150-151)
Know that there are four kinds of curing and healing without
medicine. Two are due to material causes, and two to spiritual
causes.
Of the two kinds of material healing, one is
due to the fact that in man both health and sickness are contagious.
The contagion of disease is violent and rapid, while that of health is
extremely weak and slow. If two bodies are brought into contact
with each other, it is certain that microbic particles will pass from
one to the other. In the same way that disease is transferred
from one body to another with rapid and strong contagion, it may be
that the strong health of a healthy man will alleviate a very slight
malady in a sick person. That is to say, the contagion of disease
is violent and has a rapid effect, while that of health is very slow
and has a small effect, and it is only in very slight diseases that it
has even this small effect. The strong power of a healthy body
can overcome a slight weakness of a sick body, and health
results. This is one kind of healing.
The other kind of healing without medicine is
through the magnetic force which acts from one body on another and
becomes the cause of cure. This force also has only a slight
effect. Sometimes one can benefit a sick person by placing one's
hand upon his head or upon his heart. Why? Because of the effect
of the magnetism, and of the mental impression made upon the sick
person, which causes the disease to vanish. But this effect is
also very slight and weak.
Of the two other kinds of healing which are
spiritual - that is to say, where the means of cure is a
spiritual power - one results from the entire concentration of the mind
of a strong person upon a sick person, when the latter expects with all
his concentrated faith that a cure will be effected from the spiritual
power of the strong person, to such an extent that there will be a
cordial connection between the strong person and the invalid. The
strong person makes every effort to cure the sick patient, and the sick
patient is then sure of receiving a cure. From the effect of
these mental impressions an excitement of the nerves is produced, and
this impression and this excitement of the nerves will become the cause
of the recovery of the sick person. So when a sick person has a
strong desire and intense hope for something and hears suddenly the
tidings of its realization, a nervous excitement is produced which will
make the malady entirely disappear. In the same way, if a cause
of terror suddenly occurs, perhaps an excitement may be produced in the
nerves of a strong person which will immediately cause a malady.
The cause of the sickness will be no material thing, for that person
has not eaten anything, and nothing harmful has touched him; the
excitement of the nerves is then the only cause of the illness. In the
same way the sudden realization of a chief desire will give such joy
that the nerves will be excited by it, and this excitement may produce
health.
To conclude, the complete and perfect
connection between the spiritual doctor and the sick person - that is,
a connection of such a kind that the spiritual doctor entirely
concentrates himself, and all the attention of the sick person is given
to the spiritual doctor from whom he expects to realize health - causes
an excitement of the nerves, and health is produced. But all this
has effect only to a certain extent, and that not always. For if
someone is afflicted with a very violent disease, or is wounded, these
means will not remove the disease nor close and heal the wound - that
is to say, these means have no power in severe maladies, unless the
constitution helps, because a strong constitution often overcomes
disease. This is the third kind of healing.
But the fourth kind of healing is produced
through the power of the Holy Spirit. This does not depend on
contact, nor on sight, nor upon presence; it is not dependent upon any
condition. Whether the disease be light or severe, whether there
be a contact of bodies or not, whether a personal connection be
established between the sick person and the healer or not, this healing
takes place through the power of the Holy Spirit.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Some Answered Questions, pp. 254-256)
The healing that is by the power of the Holy Spirit needs no special
concentration or contact. It is through the wish or desire and
the prayer of the holy person. The one who is sick may be in the
East and the healer in the West, and they may not have been acquainted
with each other, but as soon as that holy person turns his heart to God
and begins to pray, the sick one is healed. This is a gift
belonging to the Holy Manifestations and those who are in the highest
station.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Health and Healing, p. 475)
The prayers which were revealed to ask for healing apply both to
physical and spiritual healing. Recite them, then, to heal both
the soul and the body. If healing is right for the patient, it
will certainly be granted; but for some ailing persons, healing would
only be the cause of other ills, and therefore wisdom doth not permit
an affirmative answer to the prayer.
O handmaid of God! The power of the Holy Spirit healeth both physical and spiritual ailments.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Selections ... `Abdu'l-Baha, pp. 161-162)
Treatment by Physicians:
Resort ye, in times of sickness, to competent physicians; We have not
set aside the use of material means, rather have We confirmed it
through this Pen, which God hath made to be the Dawning-place of His
shining and glorious Cause.
(Baha'u'llah: The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 60)
Whatever competent physicians or surgeons prescribe for a patient
should be accepted and complied with, provided that they are adorned
with the ornament of justice. If they were to be endued with
divine understanding, that would certainly be preferable and more
desirable.
(Baha'u'llah: Health and Healing, p. 459)
Do not neglect medical treatment when it is necessary, but leave it off
when health has been restored.... Treat disease through diet, by
preference, refraining from the use of drugs; and if you find what is
required in a single herb, do not resort to a compounded
medicament. Abstain from drugs when the health is good, but
administer them when necessary.
(Baha'u'llah: Health and Healing, p. 460)
...Baha'u'llah says to consult the best physicians, in other words, doctors who have studied a scientific system of medicine;...
(Shoghi Effendi: Directives of the Guardian, p. 36)
Healing in the Future:
Now let us speak of material healing. The science of medicine is
still in a condition of infancy; it has not reached maturity. But
when it has reached this point, cures will be performed by things which
are not repulsive to the smell and taste of man - that is to say, by
aliments, fruits and vegetables which are agreeable to the taste and
have an agreeable smell. For the provoking cause of disease -
that is to say, the cause of the entrance of disease into the human
body - is either a physical one or is the effect of excitement of the
nerves.
But the principal causes of disease are
physical, for the human body is composed of numerous elements, but in
the measure of an especial equilibrium. As long as this
equilibrium is maintained, man is preserved from disease; but if this
essential balance, which is the pivot of the constitution, is
disturbed, the constitution is disordered, and disease will supervene.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Some Answered Questions, p. 257)
When highly-skilled physicians shall fully examine this matter,
thoroughly and perseveringly, it will be clearly seen that the
incursion of disease is due to a disturbance in the relative amounts of
the body's component substances, and that treatment consisteth in
adjusting these relative amounts, and that this can be apprehended and
made possible by means of foods.
It is certain that in this wonderful new age
the development of medical science will lead to the doctors' healing
their patients with foods.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Selections ... `Abdu'l-Baha, pp. 154-155)
At whatever time highly-skilled physicians shall have developed the
healing of illnesses by means of foods, and shall make provision for
simple foods, and shall prohibit humankind from living as slaves to
their lustful appetites, it is certain that the incidence of chronic
and diversified illnesses will abate, and the general health of all
mankind will be much improved.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Selections ... `Abdu'l-Baha, p. 156)
Soul, Mind, and Body:
Know thou that the soul of man is exalted above, and is independent of
all infirmities of body or mind. That a sick person showeth signs of
weakness is due to the hindrances that interpose themselves between his
soul and his body, for the soul itself remaineth unaffected by any
bodily ailments. Consider the light of the lamp. Though an
external object may interfere with its radiance, the light itself
continueth to shine with undiminished power. In like manner,
every malady afflicting the body of man is an impediment that
preventeth the soul from manifesting its inherent might and power.
(Baha'u'llah: Gleanings, pp. 153-154)
For the mind to manifest itself, the human body must be whole; and a
sound mind cannot be but in a sound body, whereas the soul dependeth
not upon the body.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Tablet to August Forel, p. 8)
...you should not neglect your health, but consider it the means which
enables you to serve. It - the body - is like a horse which
carries the personality and spirit, and as such should be well cared
for so it can do its work! You should certainly safeguard your
nerves, and force yourself to take time, and not only for prayer and
meditation, but for real rest and relaxation....
(Shoghi Effendi: Health, Healing, ...., p. 482)
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