posted April 05, 2007 12:19 AM         

To the physician who carries only aspirin,
every problem begins to resemble a headache.

A wise physician carries a full apothecary,
and knows what advice to prescribe for every occassion.

Coming to wisdom involves a process of letting go of our attachment to a particular teaching, and making room for possibilities which we have hitherto neglected or refused to consider.

The world is full of teachers who imagine themselves experts simply because they have come to specialize in a single field.

The nutritionalist thinks every problem may be solved by diet.

The psychiatrist thinks medication is the answer.

The priest says only God can make you well.

Who is right?

All, and none.

Healing is a chain reaction.
When the mind is healed, the body and soul follow.
When the body is healed, the mind and soul follow.
When the soul is healed, the body and mind follow.

But, first, one must find a way in.

If a healer is committed to one approach,
he will turn his back on every patient
who is not open to that particular treatment;
he will wash his hands with the whole thing,
and abandon the sick man to his fate.

"You won't take aspirin!?,"
says the healer, indignant,
"Clearly, you do not want to be healed!
Come back when you are serious about getting well!"

And the patient's health continues to deteriorate.

But a wise physician does not speak in this way.
She knows that one must treat the patient,
as well as the dis-ease.

She is not rigid in her practices,
for she has many resources in her bag of tricks.

She listens to the patient, and bends accordingly.

Will he not exercise?
No matter.
She will begin with his diet.
Will he not alter his diet?
No matter.
She will speak to his heart?

And so on.

She will find the healing modality to which he is open,
knowing that,
where healing begins is of no importance,
provided that it begins, and never ends.

posted April 05, 2007 11:31 AM         

quote:

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IF THE ONLY TOOL YOU HAVE IS A HAMMER.....
EVERYTHING LOOKS LIKE A NAIL.

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posted April 05, 2007 04:00 PM         

"If the only tool you have is a hammer,
you tend to see every problem as a nail."

- Abraham Maslow