Healing is Divine

Sri Gurudev used to say that God laughs on two occasions. The first is when two neighbors erect a fence and declare, “This is mine, and that is yours.” The second time is when a patient recovers, and the doctor proudly proclaims, “I cured him.”

In the Patanjali Yoga Sutras, sutra 4.3 states: “Incidental events do not directly cause natural evolution; they just remove the obstacles, as a farmer removes the obstacles in a water course running to his field.” From the yogic perspective, the physician or therapist doesn’t cure the patient. Instead, he or she helps remove the impediments, all the toxins and tensions that have built up in the system, so the divine healing energy within the individual can flow unobstructed. At the same time, a course of treatment is prescribed to restore the natural strength and immunity. So we embrace practices that promote purity, harmony and balance, and at the same time, we avoid anything that may cause harm. From ancient times, we have the medical dictum: “First, do no harm.” That is totally in keeping with the yogic approach.

In his youth, Sri Gurudev prayed for and received the gift of healing. People would come to him with all sorts of problems, and he would heal them. After some time, he began to feel uncomfortable, that he was doing something wrong. He would heal them, but they would continue with the same bad habits that had caused the problems in the first place and, after some time, the problems would recur. So he changed his approach. He would give them dietary advice, instruct them in yogic techniques, and then silently add his prayers. That way, they corrected their behavior, and the results were lasting. By their own efforts, they purged their karma, and his ego could not take the credit.

Years ago when my mother was ill, I began to visualize surrounding her with golden light. I would direct the light to heal her in various ways. One day, after several months of performing this practice, the visualization seemed to take on a life of its own. The energy began to move and do things independent of my will or direction. I became alarmed. Was I tampering with powers beyond my understanding or control, interfering with my mother’s karma, unknowingly causing harm? I immediately called Sri Gurudev.

“Gurudev,” I explained, “when I pray for my mother, I don’t feel like anything is happening. When I do the visualization, something definitely seems to be happening, but I’m not sure what it is, and if I’m doing the right thing.” There was deep silence on the other end, and then the familiar, “Hmmm.” I still clearly remember the words that followed, “So, now you’re more powerful than God.” My breath stopped. When I could speak, I simply uttered, “I’m so sorry, Gurudev. Thank you.”

Gurudev told me to just pray to God, to leave it in God’s hands and to not let my ego, my will, get involved. This is so important for anyone pursuing the healing arts: to keep his or her ego out of the mix. Healing is divine. We offer our skill, techniques, medicines, prayers and support. We do all that we can, but the result is not in our hands. Sometimes the treatment is perfect; an operation is successful, yet the patient collapses. True healing doesn’t always mean that the body recovers. Sometimes the body dies, but the patient has healed—learned the necessary lessons, resolved past issues and come to peace. Death isn’t a failure; it is inevitable. And from the yogic perspective, it provides us with an opportunity for a fresh start.

The yogic approach to healing is being sought by multitudes today, frustrated by the limitations and undesirable side effects of western medicine. Drawing from ancient wisdom, Yoga therapists have a wealth of practices and principles, strategies and techniques to offer. Beyond all that, they can bring the gift of their own healing vibrations to the therapeutic setting. By living in accordance with the ethical precepts of yama and niyama, along with the regular practice of disciplines to keep the body and mind clean and strong, a tremendous charge is developed in the system. This high vibratory field has a subtle, yet profound, influence on weaker, discordant ones. It helps to quicken the divine force within others, so healing can occur.

Sri Gurudev used to say that teaching Yoga is not like teaching geography. We are not simply conveying information, but a little bit of spiritual energy is transmitted as well. We can’t give what we don’t have, so first we need to develop that energy within ourselves. First we practice; then we share what we’ve learned and gathered. Then, after some time, all we need do is live, and others will get the benefit from simply being in our presence. It’s not that we try to heal others. The sun doesn’t try to dispel the darkness. Its nature is light; by virtue of its presence, the darkness flees.

There’s a Hassidic story about a very good man. One day God spoke to him and offered a boon. The man humbly replied, “Lord, in your compassion, you have deigned to speak with me. What more could I ask?” But the Lord insisted, so the man thought deeply and finally proffered: “Whenever I am departing a town and walking such that my shadow is behind me, let blessings occur wherever my shadow falls.” And so it came to pass: the earth was fruitful, healing occurred and peace was restored—without any knowledge or conscious action on his part. He came to be known as “the Man of the Holy Shadow.” By his mere presence, all were blessed.

I was once asked by a reporter to describe Sri Gurudev’s legacy. Without any hesitation I replied, “His greatest legacy is that he transformed lives; he saved souls.” With a look, a touch, a word—by his presence alone—our bodies were healed, our hearts opened, our minds expanded. When you looked into his eyes, there was nobody home. It was like falling into the center of the universe. And when he looked into yours, you knew he could see everything. It was clear that he knew everything you did and didn’t do, and everything you would do and wouldn’t do. And he loved you anyway. That, in itself, is the greatest source of healing, the most powerful medicine. Love heals. It flows from one heart to another, from the divine to all of creation.

Many years ago, I went through a difficult period with my health. I became exhausted—physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. In my despair, I cried out to God: “Don’t you care about me anymore? Have You forgotten me? I’ve given myself to You totally. If this is the way You treat me, then I don’t want to have anything more to do with You. I’m not going to talk to You anymore; I’m no longer going to pray to You.” My main spiritual practice at the time was prayer and conversing with God; I spoke, and I trusted God was listening. The habit was so strong, that the next moment, I looked up and said, “So, what do You think about that?” Then, I had an idea. It was a weekday afternoon. I was in a room with a television. So I said, “I’m going to turn on the TV. If there is anything further You wish to tell me, You can do so through the television.”

I knew that the only thing on were soap operas, so I figured someone would say something, and I would draw some indirect meaning, and that would be the end of it. Little did I suspect that divine mischief and mystery had been set into motion. I turned on the TV, and there was a soap opera—for about ninety seconds. Then the screen went blank. Next, a banner appeared that read, “A One-Minute Message from God.” Suddenly I felt like a thousand eyes were watching me.

I sat bolt upright as the scene opened. There was a minister seated behind a desk. He began: “I’m going to tell you a story. Once a young mother visited a parish. The priest asked her, ‘Mother, you have many children. Which one do you love the most?’ The woman reflected a moment and then replied, ‘Whoever is away from home, I love them the most until they return. Whoever is ill, I love them the most until they are well.’”

Then, the minister stood up and moved to the front of the desk. The camera angle changed, so that he now seemed to be gazing directly at me. “So,” he said, “if you are having trouble with your health, don’t feel that God has forgotten you. He is closer to you now than ever before. And don’t stop praying. God wants you to pray to Him. Reach out to Him in prayer.” The screen went blank. A banner appeared signaling the end of “A One-Minute Message from God,” and normal broadcasting resumed.

God’s Love was visible, intimate, reassuring. Hope was restored, efforts renewed and healing ensued. That Love is ever-present within us, around us and between us. When we become pure instruments, it flows as divine healing energy to all whom we meet and restores the very planet on which we dwell. That is the best form of Yoga therapy we can offer.

Swami Karunananda's love and compassion combine with her strong presentations and vast knowledge to make her a favorite teacher of Yoga philosophy and meditation. She has taught Yoga in hospitals, businesses, prisons, schools, and colleges, and she has led workshops, retreats, and Yoga Teacher Training programs throughout the United States and worldwide. Her sharp intellect and ability to move from practical to mystical topics in one easy leap show her background in science and philosophy, as well as her many years of deep study with Yoga master, Sri Swami Satchidananda. Her teaching is very accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. She can make the most difficult philosophical concepts clear and easy to understand and uses a variety of teaching techniques, such as demonstrations and interactive exercises to deepen the experience of her students.

Swami Karunananda has had over 35 years experience teaching all aspects of Yoga. Today, she specializes in programs that focus on the science of meditation, the philosophy and psychology of Yoga, yogic breathing techniques for better health and healing, personal transformation, and attuning to Divine guidance. In 1989 she developed a Raja Yoga Teacher Training program and in 1991, a Meditation Teacher Training program and has since conducted many courses training students to skillfully impart these teachings.

Healing is Divine

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