by Lawrence Wilson, MD

SPIRITUAL DISEASES

WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL DISEASE?

By this term I mean ailments that have as their primary cause an error in one’s thinking that is related to our relation to our creator or to the creation of which we are a part. In plain English, this means ailments that are due largely to misperceptions in the way one views oneself in relation to the larger universe or world. Citing examples may be helpful to understand what this means.

COMMON SPIRITUAL DISEASES

1. Arrogance. This is the most important of the spiritual diseases. It is discussed in Oriental textbooks on medicine, but ignored in Western medicine, perhaps because most doctors suffer from this problem. I studied macrobiotics some years ago, and I vividly recall that the hardest disease to cure, I was taught, was arrogance. At the time, this did not concern me or mean very much, though I thought it interesting.

Arrogance is the belief that one actually knows anything in an absolutely certain way. In other words, it is a belief that one is so correct in one’s beliefs that one need not listen to others, learn anything new, or even heed the opinions of others in any way.

Arrogance is related to pride, which is a similar spiritual disease. Pride is the belief that one is somehow superior and great, and need not act or behave as one expects others to behave. It is a kind of inflated view of oneself that cannot see the obvious – which is that one is just like others, with the same flaws as everyone else.

Positive aspects of arrogance. Arrogance can cause a person to move ahead with a project or idea in spite of criticism and all evidence pointing toward its failure. This has led some people to make great discoveries, for example, or to exercise great courage, and now and then to save entire nations from ruin when everyone else gave up. Leaders are often somewhat arrogant, but that is what allows them to ignore their critics and just push on with their ideas.

Strong beliefs versus arrogance. People who have strong opinions are usually accused of being arrogant when this is not necessarily true. Usually, this is a tactic designed to dissuade those who don’t agree with you. For example, I have been called arrogant because I write clearly and forcefully about many subjects on this website. However, I maintain that this is not the same as arrogance, which is an unwillingness to learn or to listen to others. In forming my opinions expressed on this website and elsewhere, I spent years listening to others, and continue to do so. I am grateful for my doubting parents who, in fact, challenged my beliefs at every turn, forcing me to dig deeper and enquire more deeply to find the truth about many things.

On the other hand, I will, at times, refer to some physicians as arrogant. By this I mean that they are presented with facts about healing disease using simple nutritional methods, for example, yet they take no interest in the subject whatsoever and continue to condemn those who promote natural and holistic healing methods. This does appear arrogant to me.

Arrogance is the hardest disease to cure because the person is completely unaware that a problem exists, so little or no action is forthcoming to overcome it. In other words, arrogance is a strong type of denial of truth. If one is in denial, then seeking for answers is difficult, if not impossible. This is one reason health care does not change in America and around the world. Doctors are taught to be quite arrogant in medical school, as was I. Once so brainwashed about their own greatness or wisdom, they rarely will go outside their hallowed halls to learn from natural healers and others whom they are taught do not know much.

Arrogance is also one of the most damaging ailments to the physical body. It tenses the muscles, shortens the lifespan, disrupts digestion, and engenders fear, which is discussed below.

2. Fear. This is the most common of the spiritual diseases. According to books such as A Course In Miracles and the Old and New Testaments of the bible, fear is a state of mind in which one feels cut off from God or the larger whole or universe. This is almost a universal problem on planet earth.

A Course In Miracles states that the opposite of fear is love. This is not unlike the biblical view that love is of God, while the devil or dark forces use fear to control people.

Fear paralyzes the body, contracts the muscles, upsets digestion, and is generally very yin in its effects on the body. It can alter one’s perception and judgment, causes one to project one’s feelings upon others and use them as scapegoats, and has many other extremely damaging effect on the body and the mind. This is one reason why Christian preachers and others encourage one to find Jesus or God to enable them to let go of their intense fear. When one does this, healing often follows quickly because stress is greatly reduced on the body.

Positive aspects of fear. Fear can cause a person to hold back or shrink back, thus saving their life or preventing some other catastrophe or mistake. So fear can make one cautious, make one study harder, try harder, examine options more closely, take more precautions, and so on. These are some benefits of fear.

3. Doubt. Doubt is also a very common condition on earth. One might say it is the opposite of arrogance. If arrogance is being too sure of oneself, doubt is not being sure enough about anything, so that one is always drifting back and forth, and unsure about many things.

Doubters never achieve much in life, are always unhappy, and often get in the way of progress by impeding the joy and happiness of most other people. Doubt is the cause of many accidents, misfortunes and other disasters because doubters often do not exercise good judgment in times of crisis.

Doubt is also extremely yin in its effects on the body. This means it tends to slow the oxidation rate, expand the body in an unhealthy way, and damages the body in many subtle ways. Most people know how uncomfortable they feel when they are stuck in doubting everything and everyone. It is a terrible feeling that can cause severe depression and even suicidal thoughts. It is a very common emotion today since people have left behind the biblical framework that formerly was taught in school such as the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule and the like. In fact, this is a doubting generation.

Positive aspects of doubting. Doubt can cause one to question everything. This can lead people to new heights, new discoveries and newer ways of thinking. So as with all the spiritual diseases, doubt can be harnessed to enable one to seek the truth more deeply.

Doubt also has another benefit. It can stop one from rushing in when one ought to be cautious. This is an important benefit of doubting everyone and everything.

4. Ignorance. This is the most devastating of the spiritual diseases. I say this because everything one does is based on assumptions, knowledge and principles. If one is ignorant, one’s behavior will be based upon false ideas and false principles. As a result, the outcome of the behavior will most often be faulty, and could result in death or disease.

For example, eating in ignorance leads millions of people to develop diabetes and cancer. Marrying in ignorance leads millions to become unhappy, infertile, depressed and even suicidal at times. Working in ignorance leads to injuries and job dissatisfaction. Voting in ignorance can lead to the downfall of a nation. And so on.

Positive aspects of ignorance. Feeling or knowing that one is ignorant can lead a person to search for the truth. By so doing, one becomes wiser and a more balanced individual. This is the great benefit of realizing one is ignorant.

USING THE SPIRITUAL DISEASES FOR ONE’S BENEFIT AND ENLIGHTENMENT

The essence of using all of the spiritual diseases discussed above for one’s benefit is to use them as springboards to move forward in various ways. Doing this is a great secret that few learn in school, but some learn by trial and error.

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