If you think about it, the fact that there is any placebo effect at all is a miracle. Or, I should say, seems like a miracle, although it is just a function of the natural world, left un-messed-with by tinkering nihilists. Notice the phrase “could be used to create various new treatments” for some diseases. New treatments? Why not thoroughly investigate the two most highly developed medical systems in the world: Chinese herbal medicine, and Indian Ayurveda, both of which include meditation and breath work. Both these traditions, I feel, should be included underneath the category of Yoga, since it is Yoga that seeks to ever refine our appreciation of the divine in every cell of our bodies.
The scientists say that the brain releases endogenous opioids when dealing with pain, and that it releases them in equally large quantities in the case of the actual painkiller and the placebo treatment. These opioids work like opiates, and temper the activity inflicted in the spine cord by the application of a painful stimulus. Eippert says that the knowledge could be used to create various new treatments for chronic pain and other conditions that would take advantage of the power of belief.
via Placebo Effect Proven in the Spine – Pain disappeared in study volunteers – Softpedia.
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via Symposium sheds light on benefits of Tai Chi (08/28/09).
The symposium, sponsored by the International Yang family Tai Chi Chuan Association, offered a chance to study with five of China’s top masters and the opportunity to learn more about the latest research on the health benefits of Tai Chi Chuan.
More than 400 Tai Chi masters, scholars and practitioners from across the world came to Vanderbilt this summer for a special symposium sponsored by the Vanderbilt Center for Integrative Health.
It is a good thing to see, these symposiums, put on by actual programs at Universities. It has taken so long… traditional methods coming to the attention of the west many years ago. It is the only hope for real reform of out medical industry from one of slice and dice drug pushing doctors and other industry specialists, to a field oriented toward real healing, and the integration of all aspects of what it means to be a human being.
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Since the yogic metaphysic of Advaita Vedanta is in perfect accordance with the Islamic doctrine of tauhid (God’s oneness), there is perfect compatibility between Islam and yoga on the highest level. The ‘Book of Sufi Healing’ by Hakim G M Chishti clearly states that life, from its beginning till the end, is one continuous set of breathing practices. However, in Tariqat-e-Naqshabandiyah, the Sufi tradition of Islam, breathing practice has been there exactly as in yoga. The Quran, in addition to all else it may be, is a set of breathing practices.
GW says:
It is good to see this development. Yoga is not a religion in the sense that it requires a certain creed. It requires faith, dedication, love, compassion and forgiveness for the yogi to succeed in achieving release from attachment or identification with the illusory world. All of these qualities also can serve to deepen one’s faith in the religion they have grown up with.
To those who say God cannot be found in yoga and meditation I say, “Where can you look and not see God?”
via Mind set: Yoga beyond religion – Mind over Matter – Spirituality – LIFE & STYLE – The Times of India.
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The Morning Star Zendo vision
Kennedy
Kennedy’s vision is for the Morning Star Zendo to foster continuously an environment for interfaith dialogue—to be a place where people of all religious varieties meet and respect one another’s traditions and points of view.
The spirit at the zendo reflects and builds upon Kennedy’s deep respect for and knowledge of Buddhism. It carries out the principles laid out in the Jesuit statement on mission and interreligious dialogue, which demands that Jesuits be not only familiar with the thought of men and women of other religious traditions, but be immersed with them in theological exchange and in a dialogue of life, action, and religious experience.
GW says:
This is a beautiful thing. At the deepest levels, Christianity and Buddhism are very closely related. You can see the relationship by substituting the word “ignorance” for “sin” or vice versa. Doing this, both traditions can understand one another. Also there is the Bodhisattva, who takes on the suffering of others, much the same as Christ, who takes upon himself the sin of others.
via Morning Star Zendo.
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