• Registered: 2005-03-07

Topic: As Above, So Below and Confusion

I've noticed that one experience that is particulary discouraging to spiritual seekers is physical health. 

Once people discover the principle of "As above, so below" they are eager (and I was and am) to heal their body.

With the maxim of "As above, so below" in mind, people figure that if their mind/soul/spirit is purified and healthy that their body must be healthy, too.  And many people are discouraged, and take it as a sign of failure as an aspirant, when they find themselves still sick, still overweight, or underweight, or diabetic, with dandruff, or whatever.

...I've been considering that the teaching of You-Create-Your-Own-Reality and As Above, So Below isn't a teaching for the physical body or ego per se.  The teaching, perhaps, is really aimed at the inner you and aimed at disengaging you from the ego--which could involve detaching from perfect-pictures of physicality.

Even saints get sick.  Sickness is not necessarily a symptom of non-evolvedness. 

If we meant to transcend physicality, then there must at some point be a detachment from concern for its health maybe.

You can't change a tiger's stripes,
but you can avoid its teeth.
  • Registered: 2004-03-25

Re: As Above, So Below and Confusion

Excellent points.  One of the more inspiring books I've ever read was by Ken Wilbur called "Grace and Grit" -- it was written a few years after his wifes passing from cancer and was their story of the Grace and Grit of this devastating struggle YET sprititual time for both of them.

Much of the book are journal entries by his wife during this time (which was a 5 year battle) ... and because she had been a long time meditator and "spiritually advanced" person her own guilt, disappointment etc at her "inability" to heal her body --- she often asked the questions about whether her illness was karmic, or lack of working hard enough on herself ... over and over -- the conclusion to the book is truly awesome.

I highly highly recommend it.  Bring kleenex.

Christine

  • Registered: 2005-03-07

Re: As Above, So Below and Confusion

Thanks for recommendation. smile

You can't change a tiger's stripes,
but you can avoid its teeth.

4 Reply by Jen

  • Jen
  • Guest

Re: As Above, So Below and Confusion

I am of two minds on this subject.  On the one hand,  I do believe it is always possible to heal the body, but we are hypnotized by the seeming reality of the "illness." 

You get what you focus on.  In the case of Wilbur's wife, f.e., she only reinforced her disease by continually focusing on it, feeling guilty/disappointed etc. But on another level, she may have wanted the experience for her soul growth, and the experience may have been part of her soui contract for that lifetime.  Plus, death itself can be a healing. 

I guess it comes back to that old New Age axion, "it's all good."

  • From: Tennessee
  • Registered: 2004-12-23

Re: As Above, So Below and Confusion

Hi Jen and all here is a different concept  http://www.immunics.org

Be the Wave