That there is only one truth
does not mean that
all so-called ‘truths’ are one.– Stonepeace
Recently, I met a holistic healer, who claimed to be very open-minded. His intentions seem good, though the way he carried himself could do better to benefit more. After asking a few questions about the methods he uses for helping a friend, he jumped to the conclusion that I wasn’t open-minded, and repeatedly asked me to be more so, while being somewhat pridefully and agitatedly preachy on a nutritional topic I was already mostly in agreement to. For someone advocating holistic well-being, he didn’t seem ‘well’ in body, speech and mind in the moment. It was ironical that he wasn’t open-minded enough to believe I was open-minded! I jokingly pushed the special nutritional smoothie he had made for me towards him, telling him that I’m unsure of the efficacy of its holistic healing powers, since I see its creator to be extremely worked up in temperament. If he consumes that stuff which is so good, shouldn’t it make his character more welcoming for instance? To that, he calmed down… For the record, I did drink it completely later, and thanked him for it. But that’s just me taking a calculated risk to prove I was open-minded. You should never consume what you’re unsure of!
He didn’t apologise for his harsh speech, which did rattle on for some time, but explained that there are those who are not receptive to what he had to say. I again assured him that I was not one of them. I remarked that different techniques are suitable for communicating to different folks, that there was no need to be so strong or firm with me. I reminded him that it was also possible to be assertive without generating genuine anger. I told him I was worried for his well-being. And I did mean it. It’s worrying that someone who is supposed to be an expert in holistic matters lacked basic self-awareness. His house was full of crystals of various types and sizes standing around like small statues. Crystals are somewhat the ‘new gods’, the new idols of the new age ‘faith’. Some believe they radiate various kinds of energies that are good for human health, though some do complain of terrible headaches when they are too close. I prefer the gems in Pureland, which are truly universally pleasing, while emanating teachings of the Dharma.
While discussing about my friend’s condition, he claims that the root of the problem was the lack of proper nutrition. The smoothie was one of the solutions, among other new age methods. He said that proper nutrition would heal his brain cells, which would help him get better. I again assured him that I was open to the possibility, but that prior to healing his body, healing the mind comes first – because this friend’s mind is very scattered, even when it comes to following healing methods. For instance, he would hop from one healer to another doctor, from one monk to another counsellor… in search of advice that is never fully utilised. It’s no wonder he couldn’t heal properly – even if he did encounter a genuinely effective remedy. Thus was my key advice for him to focus on practising mindfulness of (Amitabha) Buddha via recitation – to gather in his scattered mind for greater focus, while connecting to the Buddha for healing.
When I shared this, the healer remained adamant that the body must be healed first – probably because he believed that the mind sits in the brain, that if it didn’t function well, the mind couldn’t. I tried to ‘bargain’ for it being ‘a chicken or egg first’ situation, that it is thus best to work on healing the body and mind simultaneously. He still disagreed – till I reminded him that this friend wasn’t sticking to his methods precisely because his mind was scattered. Mind over matter! The mind is more powerful that matter, which would include the body too. Even if he made the most beneficial nutritional smoothie in the world for him, he can’t force-feed this friend with it if he chooses to digress to another healing method. This is why the mind has to change or heal first – to transform in attitude at least. For the body to heal, the mind must want it to.
The healer claims to have years of experience in learning various healing methods, including new age ones. But he also said that he doesn’t study Buddhist sutras because they are boring and out-of-date. Hmmm… so much for being open-minded… to time-tested teachings that remain relevant – which is why they endure to our day. I told him that he didn’t have deep enough understanding of the Dharma and shouldn’t discount it. He says that he does use the famous Buddhist mantra ‘Om Mani Padme Hung’ and even chants homage to the name of Amitabha Buddha ‘Namo Amituofo’ though. However, during our chat, I realised he doesn’t know the true significance of either chants. He even said he doesn’t know if his concept of Buddha is same as mine too. Well, you can’t truly be mindful of Amitabha Buddha if you do not know what he stands for. It is mindfulness of stray and deluded thoughts instead, which doesn’t do justice to the practice of Buddha mindfulness.
Seeing his house to be full of new age materials, I asked if he ever finds clashes in ideologies espoused by different schools of thought. He said he doesn’t see any, that he is able to see them as complementary. Now this is something new – new age thought being able to come in harmony, while traditional religions cannot gel well officially. The standard answer to why this so by new-agers is that many of the religious are too narrow-minded, such that they can’t see beyond labels. But hey, this healer doesn’t even fully understand what the label ‘Buddha’ stands for in Buddhism. If so, how can he see beyond labels? He only imagines so. His understanding of such a major spiritual term is already in want, while he imagines having profound interpenetrative understanding of spiritual systems. On the superficial level, many spiritual systems seem to be interconnected seamlessly, but when one studies their schools of thought more deeply, one will realise that there are some irreconcilable differences that cannot be married even by the most open of minds.
There are many kinds of open-mindedness. To be open-minded means to be open to the possibility that one might be totally wrong, partially wrong and right, or totally right. Could the whole truth be so conveniently present fully in all schools of thought? Or is it more credible that they are found in fragments among them? As a matter of odds, it is actually very difficult for all of one’s limited views about various schools of thought to be totally right. It is easy to trick oneself into romantically thinking one is open-minded when one’s mind is only open in a superficial way to many teachings, instead of being open enough to penetrate deeply for both similarities and differences within them. A superficially open mind is really a closed mind. Perhaps worse than being a mundane master of none is to be a Jack of many unmastered spiritual trades.
Also, there is the problem of new age hoaxsters being aplenty in the marketplace. How do we discern their teachings from the genuine stuff? Do new-agers appraise one another’s belief systems… even while mainstream religionists and scientists tend to slam them? If so, how do we know which is real? If a new age system is really genuine, has it gotten any endorsement from mainstream scientists yet? If one is not a scientist, can one truly tell if a scientist’s findings are accurate or not? But then again, can science verify spiritual matters accurately? While it is easier to prove healing methods by personal trial-and-error, it is tougher to check the validity of spiritual truths proposed – such as ‘Is there an eternal hell awaiting most of new-agers?’ Arguably, these ingrained beliefs are ultimately more impactful in shaping our lives then any healing method.
The healer claims to have surrendered to a higher power(s) and to follow hunches on how to heal others. However, not wishing to take on differentiating labels perhaps, he says he does not know what these higher power(s) are. The truth is, one might be submitting to an unenlightened power or worse still, a subtly hallucinated evil one, who feeds one with delusions. It is actually terrifying to not know what one has gone to for spiritual refuge. But in his case, I think he has no true or ultimate spiritual refuge or direction due to his involvement in so many schools of thought. It is understandable how easy it can be for a new-ager to vaguely imagine one has a grand vision and goal when what lies ahead spiritually is really a huge mist with many other obscuring clouds within. Such ‘refuge’ is no refuge at all and is spiritually dangerous. For instance, when such a person is on the deathbed, the reality of what happens can be confounding when it clashes with one’s mixed-up expectations. This can affect the nature of one’s afterlife adversely.
In an attempt to humble him and open his mind wider to the Dharma, I shared a little of the Pureland teachings with him – on how it can cure my friend of his physical and mental ailments. While not discounting the importance of having a healthy diet, I let him know that there are countless testimonies of complete healing via mindfulness of Buddha in history and even today. I added that there are karmic illnesses that cannot be cured by the best of nutrition, that in such instances, the blessings of Amitabha Buddha can aid one – because one’s limited negative karma can never be greater than his boundless merits, which he can share with those who are mindful of him. Through proper mindfulness of Buddha, even terminal illnesses can be cured. That said, human life is still karmically mortal. Thus, the more significant benefit of this practice is that it leads to rebirth in Pureland, where there will be no ailments of any kind, while being bound for Buddhahood. No new age method has this edge!
Maybe it was too good to be true to him, for him to believe that mindfulness of Buddha can have such powerful effects, to be able to heal body and mind in its totality. But hey, it’s a Buddha we are talking about here – one with perfect and immeasurable compassion and wisdom, who is supported by all other Buddhas. If so, is it not logical to expect what is above the average, as compared with any unenlightened healer? Shakyamuni Buddha did warn us all that the Pureland teachings are tough to generate faith in anyway. It was somewhat sad to know that the healer studied and advocated so many other methods of healing, while neglecting the efficacy of mindfulness of Buddha due to lack of understanding. It is a missed opportunity for himself and his clients. Also, when we were talking about mindfulness of Buddha, he thought of it as just another ‘incomplete’ healing method, when it can lead all the way to Buddhahood. A case of missing the Buddha’s original intention. His practice of mindfulness of Buddha was thus not true enough – being incongruent in terms of missing right faith and aspiration.
The friend we were concerned about suffers from some physical ailments, while having schizophrenia, insomnia and possibly depression. Now how can mindfulness of Buddha cure him? As schizophrenia is due to the mind being ‘divided’ (which is a reason why he seeks so many healing methods without proper focus upon any), single-minded mindfulness of Buddha can unify the mind. As insomnia is due to the mind being restless, the same mindfulness can calm it for proper rest. As depression is due to the mind being attached to negative thoughts, the same method can suffuse the mind with positive thoughts and virtues associated with the Buddha. How it works sounds simple, and that it is exactly what how is meant to be. Mindfulness of Buddha is not just a solo practice, because when done well, it invokes the blessings of the Buddha. And it is this super bonus that makes a whole world of difference, as compared to other healing methods. We should still see a doctor when sick, but if we have truly taken refuge in the Dharma, why do we at times look too far for other ‘special’ healing methods, when such an excellent method is already available? Now, if only I can get this friend to practise mindfulness of Buddha well without digressing… too far… Amituofo.
If one cannot even be truly mindful
of the short name of a Buddha,
how can one come close to or become a Buddha?– Stonepeace
Related Article:
The New ‘Gods’ of the New Millennium
https://moonpointer.com/new/2010/01/the-new-gods-of-the-new-millennium