Self-control

There are many people who may be said to be of nervous temperament. They have a tendency to walk quickly, to work hurriedly, to talk fast, so fast that they may drop words and make the hearer confused. Their tempers may rise suddenly and they are inclined to laugh or to cry easily. This condition in a way gives a kind of joy, but it weakens a person and takes away his self-control, in the end, resulting in nervous diseases. It begins as indulgence in activity and ends in weakness. Many mental diseases are caused by this negative state of mind and body. From childhood, there is an inclination to this, especially among children of nervous temperament. If it can be checked at that time, there is a sure result. No disease can be worse than an increasing weakness of the nerves, which is lack of self-control. Life is not worth living when control over the self is lost.

The Effects of Food

It is the secret of nature that life lives upon life, as all carnivorous animals live on the flesh of other animals, and sometimes on their own kind. This shows that life sustains its body by the same element of which it is made. Man’s body is made of the food he eats. It is according to the life in the food he eats that his life develops. Little insects that live on flowers create the beauty of the flower in their body. Insects that are fed on leaves sometimes become green and beautiful like a leaf, but insects living in the earth and in dirt have a similar body. This teaches that man’s body depends upon the food he eats. Any decay in the vegetables he eats and any disease in the animal whose flesh he uses, all have their effect on man’s health.

Brahmins, who have been the most scientific and philosophical people in the world, have always considered this subject. One always finds in the race of Brahmins intelligent and superior minds. In the West, although there is continual scientific discovery and discussion on hygienic life, important things concerning food are overlooked, and this can be explained in a few words as due to the lack of home-life. Many have to take their food in public places where it is impossible for special consideration to be given in this way. There are, moreover, differences in the animal foods one eats. Some animals are clean, others unclean. Their flesh differs accordingly. This has a great influence on the health and the mind of a person.

The question as to what the mind has to do with bodily food may be answered thus, that as an alcoholic drink has an effect on the mind, so every atom of food even has a particular effect. There are foods of three kinds: Sattva, which gives nourishment with calm and peace; Rajas, which gives stimulus to work and move about; and Tamas, which gives sleep, laziness, and confusion.

A healer must become aware of all kinds of foods and their effects so as to prescribe for the patient, and to see whether the food is the cause of the illness, which is so in many cases, and to keep himself in such a condition that he may be able to heal successfully.

(Hazrat Inayat Khan)

The Origin of Diseases

Almost every disease originates in the mind, even when one catches infectious diseases. It does not mean that it must always be wickedness of the mind. If it were so, good people would never be ill. Yet it cannot be overlooked that it is a weakness of the mind, in some way or other, that allows the disease to enter. Besides this, negligence, oversight, irregularity, mental and physical weaknesses also cause diseases. Life and death are two forces, constructive and destructive, and there is continual fighting between these two forces. There are times when one power wins, and the success of that power means either better health or disease and death. The body must be ready and fit to fight this battle; but the mind has a still greater part to perform. When the mind fails to perform its part the body with all its fitness is incapable of retaining health. However, if the mind is capable of keeping health, the body largely obeys it. Still, harmony of both mind and body is needed to fight the battle of life.

(Hazrat Inayat Khan)

Causes of Diseases

The psychological nature of diseases can be explained as being the lack of life, either because of insufficient matter in the body or because of excess of matter that leaves no scope for the spirit. It is also the impression of pain that the mind holds. Pain is not always physical. There are physical causes; but as soon as the mind knows of discomfort, out of fear it holds it. This is called pain.

Disease is often caused by lack of rhythm, be it in thought or feeling, in the breath, in action, or in one’s everyday life. For instance, to stay up in the night when one is accustomed to sleep, to change the dinner-hour, to take a nap when one is not accustomed to, to do anything that one is not accustomed to do, puts one out of rhythm. People who are accustomed to be angry or to quarrel would become ill if they were not allowed to do that. There is a story told in India that a person who could not keep any secret was compelled to keep quiet; in the end, he became ill, and the doctor had to cure him by permitting him to tell the secret. All this signifies rhythm; every habit forms a rhythm.

The fear of catching a disease is also a cause of illness. There are people who wonder if they are ill, and try to find out if there is something wrong with them. Some enjoy self-pity or the sympathy of others. These invite disease. Some entertain disease when they are to a certain extent unwell. They wish to be treated like a patient, or try to take to a lazy life. By so doing, the mind naturally holds the disease longer, since it is allowed to do so.

There are many other causes of illness. Among them, the most unfortunate is the impression: "I have got an illness that can never be cured," for this impression is worse than a disease. In reality, the soul of every individual, whether healthy or ill, is pure from any pain or disease. The soul constantly heals mind and body; if it were not for the mind and body creating its own illness, a person would always be well. It is natural to be healthy. All illness, pain, and discomfort are unnatural.

(Hazrat Inayat Khan)

What Is "Sufi Healing"?

Sufi healing is a method that has its origin in Islamic healing method using Divine spiritual power practiced usually by the Sufis for centuries. The basic principle in Sufi Healing is that the True Healer is God Himself, and the Sufis only act as mediators.