for the love of life - winter 2010-2011

8/6/2019 For the Love of Life - Winter 2010-2011

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THEOSOPHICAL ORDER OF SERVICE, USA WINTER 2011

The greatest suffering is being lonely, feeling unloved, having no one.

I have come more and more to realize that it is being unwanted that

is the worst disease that any human being can ever experience.

MOTHER TERESA


2/28


3/28

For the Love of Life

Editor AnanyaS.Rajan

Designer LindsayFreeman

OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Honorary President JeanGullo

HonoraryVice President JosephGullo

President TimBoyd

Secretary BettyBland

Treasurer JeanneProulx

Directors AnanyaS.Rajan NancySecrest MilesStandish

ContactinformationfortheTheosophicalOrderofServiceintheUnitedStates:

Mailing address TheosophicalOrder ofService P.O.Box660 Warrenville,IL60555

Phone 630-668-1571ext.332

E-mail [email protected]

Website www.theoservice.org

To leave a name for the Healing Network:800-838-2197.

Ifyouareinterestedinbecomingahealingpractitionerandneedacopyofourritual,[email protected].

FormoreinformationabouttheTOSaroundtheworld,gotohttp://international.theoservice.org/

Disclaimer

Articles and material in this publication do not necessarily

reect the opinions of the Theosophical Order of Service or

the editor of this journal. An effort is made at all times to

give a fair consideration of views.

TheEditor

ContentsWinter 2010-2011

For the Love of LifeTHEOSOPHICAL ORDER OF SERVICE, USA

2 From the Presidents Desk BYTIMBOYD

3 The House of Kindness BYJONKNEBEL

7 The People of the Storm BYSUECROSBY

12 Some Thoughts on My

Homeless Odyssey BYEDWARDBOYD

14 To Serve and Be Served

15 A Blueprint for ChangeBYADAMFRIEDMAN

17 Transmuting ImperilInsighton the Healing Art from

Madame Helena Roerich BYMARTHAMATHEWSLIBSTER

23 Book Reviews

The Art of Assisting the Dying BYANANYAS.RAJAN

A Womans Theosophical

Guide to Authenticity BYDIANADUNNINGHAM-CHAPOTIN

25 The Healing Network BYHUTOXYCONTRACTOR

ON THE COVER:PARADEOFDREAMSBYSUECROSBY


4/28Winter 2010-2011

From the Presidents Desk BY TIM BOYD

Foranyonewholivesinornearacitythesedays,

thefactofhomelessnessisapartofdailylife.Ican

remembergrowingupinanuppermiddleclass

neighborhoodinNewYorkCityinthelate50sand60s,

whenhomelessnesswasrarelyencountered.Askidsplaying

inthepark,everyfewmonthswewouldseeastrangegureroamingthroughthepark.Nomatterwhattimeofyearhe

worelayersofsoiledclothing;hehadanunkemptbeard,

carriedacoupleofshoppingbags,andwouldalwaysbeseen

mutteringtohimself.WenamedhimTheSailorbecause

ofsomechildishandromanticizedstorywecreatedaround

thismysteriousman.Fromtimetotimewefoundevidence

ofplaceswhereTheSailorsleptinthepark.Onceweeven

foundashoppingbagfullofrandomnewspaperclippings

andmagazinesthathehadabandoned.Hewasneverinthe

neighborhoodforlong,andnoneofusevertriedtotalktohim.Thefactofthematterwasthatwewereafraidofhim.

Lookingbackwiththemindandexperiencesofan

adult,IrealizethatwhateveritwasthatbroughtTheSailor

tohiscondition,itwasnottheromantic,childish,and

idealizedstoryofamanoftheseacutofffromhisship.

WhatIwasseeing,butdid

nothavethebackground

toknow,wasasuffering

manhomeless,mentallyill,

andfearedbychildrenandadultsaliketowhomhisvery

presencefeltthreatening.His

wasthefaceofasignicant

portionoftheexpanding

homelesspopulationwenow

seedailyincitiesandsuburbs

aroundtheworld.

Itisanuncomfortablefactthatmostofuswhohave

homesandjobswouldrathernotencounterthehomeless.

Thereissomethingdisconcertingaboutit.Somethingabout

itisjustnotright.Itforcesustoaskuncomfortablequestions;

orwenumbanddistanceourselves;orratherthanentertain

thepossibilitythatbutforthegraceofGod,theregoI

wedeveloprationalizationsandjudgments;theremustbe

somethinginthecharacterofthepersonthatbroughtthem

down;itmustbedrugsoralcohol.Maybetheyarejustplain

lazy.IfIgivesomesparecoins,itmaysoothmealittle,but

stilltheproblemanditsquestionsremain.

Certainly,therearenoeasyanswers,butthefactthat

morethat100millionpeopleworldwidearewithouthomes

tellsusthatweneedtopayattention.Thecausesare

manymentalillness,unemploymentorunderemployment,

naturaldisaster,war,healthcrises,substanceabuse,disability

domesticabuse,andtherisingtideofhomeforeclosuresare

anumberofthereasons.Andwhoarethehomeless?There

isnosingletypethatmakesupthehomelesspopulation.

Morethanhalfofthepeopleonthestreetstodayaresingle

motherswithchildrenandindividualswithminimaljobskills.

Inthisissueofthemagazinewewilltrytolookat

homelessnessanddisplacementfromanumberofangles

thewonderfulworkbeingdoneattheHesedHousein

Aurora,Illinois,theongoingdisplacementresultingfrom

HurricaneKatrina,theworkbeingdoneforex-convictsin

NewYork,andsomethoughtsfrommyoldestbrother,Ed,

whohasbeenhomelessinBoulder,Coloradoformorethan

twentyyearsnow.Weinviteyoutoreadandthinkaboutit.

Actionfollowsthought.

TOSPRESIDENTTIMBOYD

It is an uncomfortable fact that most

of us who have homes and jobs would

rather not encounter the homeless. There

is something disconcerting about it.

Something about it is just not right. It

forces us to ask uncomfortable questions;

or we numb and distance ourselves; or

rather than entertain the possibility that

but for the grace of God, there go I we

develop rationalizations and judgments;

there must be something in the character

of the person that brought them down;

it must be drugs or alcohol. Maybe they

are just plain lazy.


5/28


Thereisaplaceinmytown

calledHesedHouse.Hesedis

aHebrewwordthatmeans

kindnessanditisthemissionof

HesedHousetohelpturnthelives

aroundforthepeoplethatknockon

theirdoorseekingshelter.Itisoftenthelastresortfortheverypoorestpeople

inourcommunityofAurora,Illinois,

anoldercityoftheChicagolandarea,

withamostlyblue-collar,ethnically

diversepopulationofabout160,000.

Oneofseveralministriesunder

theumbrellaofHesedHouse,Inc.,

isanot-for-protcorporationcalled

PublicActiontoDeliverShelter,more

well-knownasPADS.Inturn,thereareseveralministriesunderthePADS

corporateumbrella.Theseinclude

case-management,educationand

advocacy,jobcoaching,pro-bonolegal

andmedicalclinics,atransitional

livingcommunityprogram,andthe

PADSemergencyovernightshelter.

ThePADSatHesedHouseservesthe

secondlargestamountofpeopleasa

homelessshelterinIllinoissecond

onlytothesheltersysteminthecityof

Chicago.Theseprogramsareallhoused

undertheroofofHesedHouse,the

formermunicipalincineratorbuilding

inAurora.HesedHouse,andespecially

PADS,servesthepoorestpeopleofthe

FoxValleyarea,whichincludesseveral,

smallernearbytowns.Onatypical

night,wehave160to200guests

ofmen,womenand

children.

ThedoorsofHesed

Houseopenat7:00

p.m.andtheevening

shiftusuallyconsists

oftwostaffersandacaseworker.Organization

iscriticalwhenitcomes

toservingalarge

numberofpeople,so

webegintheevening

withastaffercallingoutthelettersof

thealphabet.Therstninetypeople

whosenamescorrespondareletinand

ndaseatinthediningarea.Families

alwaystakeprecedencebecauseofthechildren.Theresthavetowaitoutside

(unlessitstoocold)untiltherstgroup

movesontoanotherareaoftheshelter,

perhapstosleeporshower.

Oncetherstgroupisseated,and

perhapsavolunteerhassaidaprayer,

thefamiliesarecalledtogetintoline.

Theycheckin,pickaspottosleepona

mattresspadontheoor,andmoveon

totheservinglinewherevolunteersare

readytoserveahoteveningmealon

paperplateswithplasticdinnerware.

Aftereveryonehaseaten,theguests

goaboutcleaningup,doinglaundry,

chatting,playingcardsandwatching

TVoramovie.Outsidesmokebreaks

runonthehourbetween8:00and

10:00p.m.Guestscanalsomeetwith

acase-managertohelpresolveany

problemstheymaybe

havingthatprevents

themfromreturning

totheirhomeinthe

community.

PADScouldnot

operatewithoutagroupofvolunteers

eachnight.Some6,000

volunteersfromover

seventychurchesand

otherorganizationskeep

PADSworking.(Despitethis,therearea

handfulofnightsthroughouttheyear

wherethereisnogroupofvolunteers.)

Somegroupsworkonenightevery

othermonth,someeverymonth,andsomepairuptocoverthethreeshifts

andmeals.Volunteergroupsprovide

amealfortheshelterguests(180-

200)andthevolunteers.Theyalso

provideabreakfast,andsacklunches.

Thesevolunteersplayimportantroles.

Inadditiontotheveorsixonthe

servingline,therearetwoatthesign-

intable.Onevolunteerhasthekeyto

theguestslockers(theydonothave

theirownkey),andunlocksthemwhen

asked.Anothervolunteerworksthe

storewhereguestscanbyrequest

receivecleantowels,soap,shampoo,

toothbrushesandthelike.Theguests

mayalsosignuptouseawasher/dryer

foraone-hourperiod(wehaveve

washer/dryers).

The House of Kindness BY JON KNEBEL

The best miracles are dirty. Theyre sticky and sweaty and uncouth. The best

miracles have rough edges, obtuse angles and misshapen noses The best miracles

come out of action, not thin air. Someone has to work to bring them about.

Ryan Dowd, Executive Director, Hesed House

CONTINUEDONPAGE4

JONKNEBEL


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7/28


blessed,HesedHousehasbeen

successful.Thoughweoccasionally

havetocallthepolice,Ibelieveweare

allsafe.

IamfortunatetohaveHesed

Houseinmytown.HesedHousehas

valuesguidingprinciplesthatarein

linewithmyownTheosophicalideals.

ToquotefromthepreambletothebylawsofthePADSBoardofTrustees:

InbiblicalHebrewheseddescribes

Godsunconditional,everlasting-

lovethatseeksjusticefortheleast

ofGodspeople.IntheFoxValleyof

Illinois,hesedreferstoamovement

ofthoseconcernedforthedignity,

survivalandreclamationofhomeless,

hungryandhopelesspeople.Itisthe

aimofPADStooperateinthespiritofhesedtoprovidehospitality,as

unconditionallyaspossibletoall

whosehandsstretchouttous.The

spiritofhesedcommitsustovirtues

ofhospitality,forgivenessandhopein

thepossibilitiesfornewlife.

Thefollowingcorevalueswere

developedbyPADSstaffdirectorsand

arenotopentochange,ever.

Service without judgmentwe

seektoserveindividualswithout

judginghowtheybecamehomeless.We

consciouslyrejecttheideathatthereare

deservingandundeservingpoor.

Ministry basedweprofesstobe

calledtoservethoselessfortunate.We

joinhandswithbelieversofallfaithsto

accomplishGodswork.

Hospitality focusedweseektoofferindividualassistanceinawaythat

afrmstheirhumanityandinherent

worth,treatingeverypersonlikean

honoredguest.

Advocacy for social justice for the

poor and homelesswestrivetogive

voicetothosewhohavebeendeprived

ofrepresentationateverylevelof

society,fromthefederalgovernmenttothelocalfoodstampofce.

Compassionate approachwe

strivetoliveuptothefollowing

denitionofcompassion:Thedeep

awarenessofthesufferingofanother,

coupledwiththewishtorelieveit.

Ibelievethesevaluesandidealsare

exemplaryofthosethatTheosophistsshouldbelookingforwhenseeking

outexistingorganizationswith

whomtopartner.Thesocialillsand

associatedorganizationshopingto

assuagethemareoutthere,rightin

ourownhometowns.Wejustneedto

examinetheirvaluesandjudgetheir

effectiveness;andchoosethosewhere

wecanbestserveinalignmentwith

ourownvalues.

October 2010 updateInthethreeyearssincethisaversion

ofthisarticlewaswrittenfortheTOS

website,muchhaschangedwhileother

thingshavestayedthesame.The2008

recessionhasincreasedthenumberof

individualsandfamiliesexperiencing

povertyandhomelessnessinAurora,

andtheaveragenumberofguests

atthePADSemergencyovernight

shelterhasincreasedto180-220pernight.Thisincreaseisnotasbadas

wehadexpected,butwerenotout

ofthewoodsyet.Asashort-term

efforttomeetthisdemand,PADS

hasbegunpickingupthetables

andchairsinthediningareaeach

evening,toaccommodatetwenty-

eightmoremattresspads.Thisserves

asanadditionalmenssleepingarea.

Sometimestherearestillafewguestssleepinginchairs.

Theexecutivemanagementand

HesedHouseBoardofTrusteeshave

beenactivelyworkingtopreparefor

suchanincreaseinthehomeless

populationforsometimenow.We

currentlyhaveanaverageofsixteen

newfacesatourdooreachweekand

weknewthatifwedidnotmove

sixteenofourguestsbackintotheir

communityeachweek,thedamwould

burst.Infact,werealizedthatifwe

couldmoveseventeenguestseach

week,wecouldputourselvesoutof

workinveyears.Whatathought!The

missionofHesedHousehaschanged

fromthatofbeingashelterwithafew

servicestobeinganagencyforthe

CONTINUEDONPAGE6THEOLDBUILDINGGETSAFACELIFT.


8/28Winter 2010-20116

endingofhomelessnessintheFox

Valleyarea,onepersonoronefamily

atatime.

In2006,ayearbeforetheabovearticlewaswritten,theexecutive

directorandtheboardoftrustees

begansearchingforanadditional

facilitythatwouldservethisnew

expandedmission.InJuly2010,after

almosttwoyearsofwranglingwith

variousgovernmentagencies,and

thenayearofremodeling,thenew

HesedComprehensiveResource

Centeropeneditsdoors,rightacross

thestreetfromourexistingbuilding!

HesedHouseisnowacampus!

Thisnewbuildingis37,000square

feet(comparedtothe45,000sq.ft.of

theoriginalbuilding)ofwhichonly

therst5000isbuiltout.Thissection

featuresfteenofcesandalarge,

beautifulconference/trainingroom.

Theseofcesareusedbyemployees

ofHesedHouseandofotherpartner

agencieswiththesolepurposeof

helpingpeoplesolvetheproblems

thatkeepthemfromlivingintheir

ownhomes.

HesedHouse/PADSprograms

inthenewbuildingincludeSowingEmpowerment,EmbracingDignity

andSelf-Sufciency(SEEDS)

CaseManagement,Light-House

PermanentSupportiveHousing,

andCarpentersHomelessness

Prevention.Partneragenciesinclude

WaubaunseeCommunityCollegejob

training,AssociationforIndividual

Development(AID)mentalhealth

counseling,BreakingFreesubstance

abusecounseling,IllinoisVeterans

Administration,WestAuroraSchool

Districtstudenthomelessnessliaison,

andAuroraUniversityHarvestingHope

childrensgroup.Thereareacoupleof

othersandstillmoretocome.

Manyofthepeoplewhoknock

onourdoordonotknowwhatthey

shoulddonext,orwhatresources

andopportunitiesareavailableto

them.Havingourcasemanagersand

representativesfromtheagencies

towhomtheyarereferred,allinthe

samebuildingandrightacrossthe

streetfromtheshelterisaGodsend

tothem.Nolongerdothecasemanagershavetosendaclientacross

townforhelp.Theprocessisfarless

troublesomeandmorelikelytohave

successfuloutcomes.

WeareworkingwithAunt

MarthasHealthCenter,anticipating

thattheywillbuildoutupto4000

squarefeetinournewbuildingto

serveasamedical(andpossibly

adental)clinic.Theyaretobeouranchortenant,providingservices

veorsixdaysaweektohomeless

individualsandfamilies.Presentlythey

borrowspaceintheoldbuildingand

provideservicestwonightsaweek.

Thiswillleaveabout28,000square

feetinthisformerrubberproducts

manufacturingfacilityforfuture

growth,perhapsforjobtraining/

transitionalemploymentprograms,orpossiblyforrelocatedandexpanded

daytimeprograms.

Jon Knebel has been a student of

Theosophy for over fteen years, and

is active in the Wheaton TOS Action

Group. Now retired after a 35 year

career in the automotive industry,

Jon has recently been elected to his

third term on the Hesed House Board

of Trustees. He still devotes his Friday

nights to volunteering at Hesed House.

This article was originally

published on the TOS website www.

theoservice.org and has been adapted

and updated for use in the magazine.

The Houseof KindnessCONTINUEDFROMPAGE5

NEWBEGINNINGSWITHANEWLOOK.


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10/28


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MotherNaturewaitsfornoman.Sheisimpersonal

andisjustdoingherjob.Whetherpeoplewerereadyor

not,Katrinawasonherwaytoland.Atacertainpointall

preparationceasesanditistimetotakecover,wait,and

hopeforthebest.Everyonethatstaysduringahurricane

justhastohunkerdownandrideitout.Timetakesona

surrealqualityduringthisperiod.Itisdifculttodiscernday

fromnight.Thewindscreamsthroughthetrees,untilthey

eventuallysnap,soundinglikegunre.Objectsythroughtheairhittingotherobjectsandblindingrainbindswith

thewind.Waterrisesfastasitispushedbythewindand

lowlyingareasareooded.Asthehurricanemovesinland

thestormfuryceasesandadeceivingquietsettlesoverthe

landastheeyeofthestormpassesover.Afterwhatseems

tobeonlyamomentaryreprievethewindsbuildandstart

againcomingfromtheoppositedirection.Allcontactwith

theoutsideworldisseveredasthestormfollowsitspath,

wearingitselfdownasitmovesinland.

Therstfewdayspost-Katrinawasspentorganizingandgettingintotheowofadifferentlifestyle.Istayed

closetomyhomeanddidnotventureoutintotheworld.

Ourdayswerebusywiththechoresthatrequiredmore

timeandadifferentwayofthinkinganddoingthings

withoutelectricity.Althoughsomepeoplehadgenerators,

fuelwasrequiredtorunthemsotheywereusedwisely

andsparinglytomakethefuellast.Livingoutsidethe

cityhasanadvantageinthatmosthomeshavewellsthat

producewatersogeneratorswereusedforwaterpumps,

freezers,andsomerefrigeration.Onthedaysfollowingthestorm,anoppressiveheatsettledinandthegenerators

providedthepowertorunfans.Citydwellerswerenot

sofortunate.Theyhadtodependonbottledwaterand

suppliestheyhadcollectedpriortothehurricane.Agreat

numberofpeoplewerestrandedandisolatedfromthe

restoftheworldintheoodedcityandwaitedforsome

signofhelptoarrive.

Graduallypeoplemadetheirwaythroughallthe

debristondfamilyandfriendsandtoexplorethenew

landscape.Evacueeswerefrantictoknowaboutthepeople

thathadstayedandthoseofusthatstayeddesperately

waitedforanyinformationfromtheoutsideworld.

Thetechnologytowhichweweresoaccustomedwas

completelyuseless.Twodaysafterthestorm,mysister,

aresidentofcoastalMississippi,madeherwaythrough

therubbleandtraveledaveryhardftymilestondme.

Shewashot,disheveled,andgrief-stricken.Duringthe

hurricaneherhomehadbeendemolishedbyaspin-off

tornado.She,herhusband,fouroftheirfriends,andtheir

twolabshadhuddledtogetherinawalk-inclosetasthe

housewasrippedapartaroundthem.Asweembraced,the

worryofnotknowingofeachotherssafetywasreplaced

bygratitudeandjoy.Wesatandtalkedforawhiletelling

ourstories,sharingourconcerns,andmadeplansforthe

daystocome.Beingintheconstructionindustry,myfamily

andIhadaccesstoheavyequipmentthatallowedusto

startclearingourproperty,thestreets,andtohelpothers

intheareacleartheirs.Weworked,weate,andweslept;

andinthemorningwestartedalloveragain,unawareof

themagnitudeofdamagesurroundingus.

FourdaysafterKatrina,stationsweresetupinafew

areasbytheArmyNationalGuardsupplyingthepublic

withrations,water,andice.Peoplewaitedforhoursto

obtaintwobagsoficeandaboxofrations.Itishard

todescribethejoyIfeltasthatrstcubeoficemelted

inmymouthandthecoolwaterrandownmyparched

throat.Eventuallychurchesandotherfacilitiesstarted

CONTINUEDONPAGE10

THECOLLAPSEDTWINSPANBRIDGEONINTERSTATE10THAT

CROSSESLAKEPONTCHARTRAIN.


12/28Winter 2010-20110

gatheringandgivingsuppliesoffoodandclothingto

people.Unbeknownsttothehurricanesurvivorsmany,a

greatmanyfromalloverthecountry,werefrantictoget

hereandprovidethehelpneeded.Caravanswerecoming

intothecoastalareabringingtrucksandtrailersloadedwithsupplies.Workersandvolunteersmadetheirwayinto

thedestructionzonetooffertheirservicesandhelpset

upshelters.Thereweresomethatcametohelpandwere

mistakenlyturnedawayintheconfusion.TheMississippi

andLouisianacoastalinhabitantsneededhelpbutwerenot

waiting.Wehadstartedputtingourworldbacktogether.

MostofthehomelesswerefromLouisiana,where

ofcialsestimateaboutonemillionpeopleevacuated

beforethehurricaneandanother100,000wereevacuated

afterward.Intherstdaysfollowingthestorm,peoplewererescuedfromtherooftopsofhousesandmany

otherswereairliftedoutbyFEMAandtakentoshelters

indifferentareasofthecountry.InMississippiseveral

hundredthousandpeopleweredisplacedandliving

elsewhere.Thedailydeathtollgrewreachinganaltotal

of1,836whichmadeHurricaneKatrinathethirddeadliest

hurricaneinU.S.history.Unknowntothegovernment,

hundredsofthousandsofpeopledisappearedintothe

embraceoftheirfamiliesandfriends.AccordingtoRed

Crossofcials,residentsquietlyspongedupthebulkofthepeoplewhosehomeshadbeendestroyedinandaround

NewOrleans.Forthemostpartpeoplestayedcloseto

theirhomebase,whereverthatwas.Travelinginthearea

wasdifcultanddangerous.

Graduallyaspeoplestartedmovingfartherawayfrom

theirhomebase,therealityofthedevastationbecame

clear.Whiletheoutsideworldwatchedourdilemmaasit

wasbroadcastfromeverynewschannelanddramatized

forthebestratings,andnotnecessarilytopresentthe

truth,peoplethatlivedontheGulfCoastwerefocused

ontheirimmediatesurroundingsanddaytodaystruggle.

Eventhoughmanyhadevacuatedandwerelivingin

numerousareasofthecountry,theyawaitednewsof

familymembersandfriendsthathadstayedbehind.Some

evacueesweremakingtheirwayhometondtheirhome

goneorsodamageditwasunlivable.Everyfaceregistered

shockanddisbelief.Everyposturewasweightedwith

theburdenofgreatlossandtherealityofknowingthe

massiveamountofworkahead.Theimmediateissuewas

obtainingadequateshelter,food,andthebasicsforliving.

FEMAtrailersweredeliveredintothearea,but

thousandssatundeliveredandunusedwhilepeoplelived

intentsandmakeshiftshelters.Grocerystoresopened

theirdoorsforshortperiodseachday.However,atripto

thegrocerythatnormallytookfteenminutespre-Katrina

nowtooktwohoursormore.Lineswerelongandfood

choicelimited.Buyinggastorungeneratorsinvolved

waitinginlinesforhours,sometimestobeturnedawaybecausethestorehadrunoutofgas.Evenwithlonglines

anddisappointments,myexperiencewasoneofpeople

remainingcalmandcourteous.Mostwerewillingand

eagertohelpasmuchaspossible.

Eighteendaysafterthehurricanewindsdieddown,

Imademywayacrosstowntodriveafriendintothe

drained,butoodravishedlandsofthelowerNinthWard.

Whentheleveesfailed,hispropertywasamongthosethat

hadbeenoodedfortendays;thewaterhadgonedown

andthenre-ooded.Amalfunctionattheoilreneryhad

mixedcrudeoilwiththeoodwaters,compoundingthe

tragedy.Astheoodwatersrecededforthesecondtime,

ofcialswerelettingpropertyownersandresidentsinto

theareasotheycouldviewthedamageanddecideifany

oftheirbelongingsorhomescouldbesalvaged.Thiswas

myrsttripawayfrommyimmediatesurroundings.

Surreal,unreal,Icouldregisternoemotion.Houses

wereinthemiddleofthestreetasifagianthandhad

placedthemthere.Boardsanddebrislinedthestreets.

Lumberwaspiledashighasitcouldgoasiflumbertrucks

hadlosttheirload.Completeroofsthathadbeenlifted

fromhousesweremixedwiththedebris.Carswerejutting

outfromhouses,boatswereinthestreetsandthechurch

parkinglotswerelledwithtentsthatwerenowpeoples

homes.Cleanlaundrywasblowinginthebreezefrom

makeshiftclotheslines.Myeyestookinthescenebefore

The People of the StormCONTINUEDFROMPAGE9

Displacement is much more than

not having a home It is the

separation we create while trying to

nd our individuality and our place

in this universe.


13/28


14/28Winter 2010-20112

Recently,mybrother,whoisa

memberoftheTheosophical

Society,mentionedthatthe

upcomingissueoftheTheosophicalOrderofServicesmagazinewouldbe

featuringaconsiderationofthetopic

HomelessnessandDisplacement.

HeaskedifImightbeinterestedin

essayinganarticleforsubmission.

Iamhisolderbrother,theoldestof

four,andIguessIcouldsaythatIam

homelessandhavebeenforabout

twenty-veyearsnow.Ihastento

addthequalicationthatthisisnotallthereistoit.Atleastfrommy

perspective,Isuppose,thatpartofthe

pointhereisthatthisshouldmatter.

IntherstpartofmylifeIgrew

upinwhatwouldhaveseemed

aparticularlyuppermiddleclass

situationinManhattan.Iattended

aprestigiousprivateschool(Ilater

foundoutfromtheheadmasterthat

Iwastherstnegrostudenttobeadmittedthere).FromthereIwenton

toYaleUniversitywhereIreceiveda

degreeinpsychology.

Mysituationissomewhatunusual

intermsoftheconventionalview

ofhomelessorhomelessness.

Homelessnessisandhasbeenaglobal

phenomenon;therebyassuming

allsortsofaspects,conditions,and

circumstances.Ibeginwiththe

situationofwhereIam.Youvegotto

startsomeplace,Isuppose.Inmycase

itwasNewYorkCity,

Lookingbackthereare

probablyseveraldistinctphases

ofdevelopmentinmyprocessof

maturation.Thepointhereisthe

senseofidentityandpotentiala

senseofself-esteem.

Myfamilywasstrongandviable.

Beforemyfatherpassedawayafew

yearsago,mymotherandfatherhad

beenmarriedoversixtyyears.Ihave

neverbeenmarried.Itjustnever

hasbeensomethingIcouldsee

althoughtheideaissomethingtothinkabout.

Thisspeakstosomething

importantmaybeaboutmy

upbringingitwasdisciplined

butopen-minded.Inretrospect

myparentsprovidedforalotof

possibilitiesonesummerwedrove

aroundWesternEuropeforfty-two

days.Weallattendeddistinguished

privateschoolsandoftenwoulddrive

acrosscountrytospendsummers

withfamilyinsouthernCalifornia.

Iwasntthemosthighranked

studentacademically,butIwas

captainandco-captainofthree

varsityteamsbymysenioryearwhen

Ibrokemylegplayingfootballatthe

outset.Istilllikefootball.Ilikethat

partofcompetition.

Igraduatedin1969andhadthe

optiontoattendYaleUniversity.It

wasauniquetimeframeandIthink,

lookingback,thatwasthecriticalthing,atimeoffermentaroundwar

andpeace,andcivilrightsamong

otherthings.

Yale,Ifeel,wasavaluable

educationalexperienceIguessI

approacheditasawholeexperience.

Ilikedthesizeandfeelofthe

communityandstandardsforawhile

Theywererelaxedsothatclasswas

prettymuchoptionalandIguessthatisonewayItookit.Iworkedwith

acommunityeducationalprogram

eventuallybecomingitsdirector.Iwa

neverthatmuchintocontemporary

musicanddrugsalthoughIhad

becomeincreasinglysocialand

radicalattheendofmyhighschool

tenure.IguessIsortofimmersed

myselfincollege.Ihadthesense

ofbeingonmyownasubstituteforathleticswhichIeschewedafter

secondaryschool.

Byandlargethereweretwo

phasestomycollegiatecareer:the

halcyonperiodofmyrsttwoyears

andthesortofburntoutperiod

ofthelasttwo.Towardtheend,I

beganlookingaroundforsomething.

Althoughithadnotbeenexcluded,

ourshadnotbeenareligiously-

orientedupbringing.More,if

anything,asortethicalcultureone.

Itseemedthatsomethingreligious

orspiritualjustmightbethekindof

thingtolookinto.

Iintroducedmyselfto

TranscendentalMeditationthrough

anorganizationoncampusand

becameinterestedinwhathad

Some Thoughts on My Homeless OdysseyBY EDWARD BOYD

EDWARDBOYD


15/28


becomemyyoungerbrothersinterest

inTheosophy.TheTranscendental

Meditationshowedmesomething,

butitdidntgivemeanything,so

Ieventuallyletitgo.Theosophy

seemedtosuggestformea

rudimentarylevelofhealthinterms

ofconstituentsandelemental

transcendentreligiousthought.This,Ifeel,hasstayedwithmealthough

therehasbeenmetamorphosis.This

Ilikehowever.Theotherthingabout

itthatappealedtome,asIgotit

anyway,isthesenseofhumanityas

awholeintermsoftypeswhatis

nowreferredtoasdiversity.

Ihadprobablyexpectedgoing

intomakeasmoothtransition

totheworldofworkandcareer.

Betweenonethingandanotherthatdidnthappen.Ididsecure

tworeasonablywell-payingand

potentiallypropitiousjobsoneas

acollegecounselorandanotherasa

loanofcertraineewithabank.As

Iseeit,Iwasatasortofcrossroads

inmyreal-life.SoeventuallyIbegan

makingplanstocometoColorado

whereIamnow.Myintentionwas

togotoschool,acquirewhatcredits

Ineededtostarttoteachandbegin

myteachingandhopefullylearninga

thingortwoalongtheway.

ThathappenedandIspent

aboutfouryearsteachinginDenver

beforeembarkingontheodyssey

ofhomelessnessanddisplacement

thatndsmeherenowtoBoulder,

Coloradoandallthingsconsidered,

notunhappytobehere.

AtthetimeIbeganinDenver,

IspentonesummerinBoulder

andaChristmasintheBayareaof

California.Theplanfromtherewas

thatIwasgoingtoreturntoNew

York,pullthingstogetherandgo

fromthere.GenerallyIhadthought

thatIneededtoseemore,growsomemore.Inmycase,betweenonething

andanotheritbecamecatchingand

ongoing.FromNewYorkItriedNew

Havenforawhile,backbrieytoNew

York,uptoBostonforawhile,out

totheBayareaforfewmonthsand

nallybackheretoBoulder.Ihave

nowbeenherealmostcontinuously

forthelasttwenty-twoyears.

Inallyhadthoughtaboutit

whileinSanFrancisco,whereImighthavethebestshottorealizewhat

InowthoughtIwaswhatIwanted

tobeabout.Ithoughtaboutthe

needtosurvive,possiblylivingin

theoutdoorswasoneconsideration.

Boulder,Colorado,frommy

experience,cameupasthebestbet.

HereIentermorethe

impressionisticphaseofour

procedure.Inembarkingonthis

journeythathascometobe

characterizedashomelessness,one

entersavastpsycho-metaphysical

zone.Actually,Ihaditplannedoutfor

onlyayear.Thatwentasplanned,but

betweenonethingandanotherIit

keptgoing.

Atonelevel,oneisacculturated

torelyonhumanity.Whereoneputs

oneselfinthisposition,acertain

amountofdislocationnaturally

ensues.Whereareonesrelative

coordinates?

Insomeways,asIreectonthis,

itseemslikeaconcentricjourney.

IcamehomefromNewYorkto

Colorado,inColoradoeventually

toBoulder,inBoulder,theBoulderShelter,toeventualemancipation

tothehomelessstatus.Isoughtin

Coloradoanewstate,asitwere,a

placewhereIcouldsortoutwhatI

hadtoandbegantondmyself.

Bouldergavemeaplaceto

survive,atleast,andoutofthisto

craftaregimenandroutineand

seewhatImightdowiththis.

FundamentallythisiswhatIthinkIhadbeenseeking.TheBoulder

Shelter,andthereisnowanewone,

gavemeaplacetostand,andone

wayItendtothinkaboutit,amodel

uponwhichtobuild.Asawkwardand

ungainlyasitmayhaveseemedback

then,youcouldbegintogettoknow

people,staffandpopulationandas

thatgrowsitbecomesimportantfor

onesenvironmentalsensibilityandonessenseofrelationship.

Thingsyoutakeforgrantedare

notnecessarilytakeforgrantedable.

Naturally,youseektotakeaccount

forthis.Perhapsinessence,thisis

wheretheideaofreligionbegan.I

havementionedinmyexperience

theimportanceofTheosophy.Along

theway,ithasinterestedmetotry

totakeaccountofthevariousmajor

religionsandmakesenseofthem.

Eventuallyforreasonsof

familiarity,Ireturnedtomy

experiencetopursuetheJudeo-

Christiancourse.Imadeupmymind

toreadtheBibleallthewaythrough

systematicallyandeventually

succeeded.

People have the need for something to do in their

immediate situation, relationship is important

as is organization.

CONTINUEDONPAGE14


16/28


17/28


I

fyouhopetochangeyourwayofbeingintheworld,

therearenumerousspiritualpathsyoucanchooseto

follow.Ofcourseyoumayhavetoputinalifetimeofwork.Butwhatiftheclockisticking?Whatifyouhavesix

monthstochangeoryouwilllikelyendupinprison?What

ifyouhavenoideahowtochange?Thisisthechallengewe

faceatExodusTransitionCommunity,wherewehelppeople

rebuildtheirlivesafterprison.

TheBureauofJusticeStatisticshascalculatedthat30

percentofindividualscominghomearerearrestedfora

seriouscrimeintherstsixmonths.Workingontheground

inEastHarlem,wherethevast

majorityofmycoworkershavebeenincarcerated,hasprovidedme

witharst-handlookatwhatgoes

intothisdepressingstatisticand

howwecanchangeit.

Mostpeopleassumethat

beingreleasedfromprisonfeels

exhilarating.Ihaveseenthat

ironically,thisismanypeoples

biggestfear.Cantheymakeitin

legitimatesociety?Howdotheyevenbegintrying?Afterafewawkwardattemptsatnding

work,thefearquicklyturnstodespair;thisisoneofthe

quickestpathsbacktoprison.

IrememberwhenStevenLlanos,oneofmycolleagues,

wasdiscussinghowhehadahorriblynervousfeelingbecause

hisdaughter,anaccomplishedboxer,wasghtingthenext

day.Hecasuallyremarkedthatitwasthesamefeelinghehad

whenhissentencewasreducedandhelearnedhewasbeing

released.Hetriedtogolegitimateonhisown.Withoutany

initialsuccess,heactuallystumbleduponExodusonhisway

toacrackdealjustthisonce.Whilewalkingdown104th

street,heheardafewparticipantsoutsideourofcediscussing

prison.Heaskedthemwhattheyweredoing,cameupstairs,

andneverturnedback.Sincethen,Stevenhasgottenmarried,

startedgoingtochurcheverySundaywithhissixkids,been

onthenewsforraisingmoneyforachildrensprogram,and

volunteeredtocareforarelativesbabywhowastakenaway

bychildprotectiveservices.Howwewereabletoguidehimto

thisnewlifeisthemiracleofExodus.

Exodusis

designedtobea

factoryofhope.Ourprimarypower

comesfromthe

factthatthelarge

majorityofour

staff,including

ourExecutive

Director,hasbeen

incarcerated.This

inspiresparticipants

thattheytoocanmakeit.Countless

timesIhaveheard

variationsofthequote,Hecamefromthesamestreetsas

me,andnowheswearingatie;ifhecandoit,thensocan

I.Thefactthatwehelpparticipantsbelieveinthemselvesis

thefoundationofoursuccess.Butasmanyspiritualseekers

havediscovered,beliefisonlytherststepintransformation.

Forlastingchange,thatbeliefneedstobefollowedbyaction.

Theproblemformanypeoplecominghomefromprisonis

thattheybelievetheonlyactiontheyneedtotakeistostartworking.GetmeajobandIllbene.Iwishitwerethateasy.

Wecertainlydounderstandthatemploymentisacritical

factorinreentry,whichiswhyExodusprovidesemployment

readinessandplacementservices.Participantslearnto

developresumes,interview,andsearchforjobleads.Wealso

havestaffmembersdedicatedtondingemployerswillingto

hirepeoplewithafelonyontheirrecord.However,wehave

repeatedlyseenthatajobwithoutotherstabilityorachange

inattituderarelylastsverylong.

Oneoftheprimaryattitudesthatthwartsuccessin

mainstreamsocietyisanexpectationofinstantgratication.

Unfortunately,thisattitudehasoftenbeenreinforcedbythe

illegalworld.Ifyoustealsomething,youhaveitimmediately.

Attheendofadayofdealingdrugs,youhaveapocketfull

ofcash.Afterprisonthough,thisattitudeleadstofailureat

workandinmainstreamlife.Ihaveseenthisdemonstrated

acutelywithparticipantswhoconsiderquittingjobsbecause

theyareonlypaideveryotherweekasopposedtodaily.

A Blueprint for ChangeHow a group of formerly incarcerated men and women are transforming lives in East Harl

BY ADAM FRIEDMAN

CONTINUEDONPAGE16

STEVENLLANOS(RIGHT)DISCUSSING

APARTICIPANTSGOALSWITHEXODUSCONTRACTCOACHIDREESHAMBY.

ADAMFRIEDMAN


18/28Winter 2010-20116

A Blueprint for ChangeCONTINUEDFROMPAGE15

Ofcourselecturesontheimportanceofdelaying

graticationrarelyaccomplishmuch.Tocommunicatethis

lessoneffectively,wehelpparticipantsdemonstrateto

themselvestheimportanceofstep-by-stepprogresstopositive

change.OurvehicleforthisinstructionisaplanningtoolcalledTheExodusContract.TheContractleadsparticipants

tosetgoalsanddevelopplanstoachievethosegoalsnot

onlyinemployment,butalsoineducation,spirituality,

family/relationships,health/physicaltness,andcommunity

involvement.Ourve-dayorientationincludesworkshops

focusingoneachofthelifeareasofthecontract.Weguide

participantstosetshort-term,measurablegoalssotheycan

experiencesuccessesintheirlivessoonafterleavingprison.

Followingtheworkshops,eachparticipantismatchedwithan

ExodusContractCoachwhoactsasamentor,guidinghimorhertotakethenextactiononthecontractandmovetoward

positivechange.Muchofthereasonthatweareabletolead

participantsforwardisbecausetheysetthegoalsandactions.

WhenStevenstartedtheExodusprogram,hisfamily

goalwastoobtainvisitationrightstoseehisdaughter.He

decidedthatinsteadofapproachingthecourts,hisrstaction

wouldbetocallhisdaughtersmotherandapologizeforhis

pastactions.Eventhoughthiswassomethingheclaimedhe

wantedtodo,heavoidedit.HisContractCoachrepeatedly

nudgedhim,andhenallycontactedher.ItledtoStevenreengagingwithhisdaughter,andsheisnowlivingwith

himandhisnewwife.Hishealthgoalwastostartplaying

basketballonweekends,whichhecitesasbeingahugestress

reliever.Initially,hewasconnedtoafederalhalfwayhouse

withlthybathrooms.Hiscommunityinvolvementgoal

wastoemptythebathroomgarbage.Thisledtohiscleaning

theentirebathroomregularly.Thestaffnoticedandstarted

liberallygivinghimpassestoleavethehalfwayhouse.Steven

sawhowhisactionsresultedinpositiveresultsinhislifeand

hascompletednumerouscontractssince.

Sometimesevenoneactioncanbethekeytochanging

direction.ManuelSmith,a49-year-oldparticipantwhohad

beeninandoutofjailsincetheageoffourteen,toldme

recentlythathelearnedjobsearchskillsandhowtoemailhis

resumeatExodus,butthattheContracthelpedchangehis

attitude.Inthepast,hehadperiodswherehediscontinued

hisillegalactivities.Althoughheadmitsnow,Intheback

ofmyhead,Ialwaysthoughtthatreturningtocrimewas

anoption.ThroughhisworkontheContracthewasable

torekindlehisrelationshipwithhisdaughter.However,he

continuallystalledonhisspiritualitygoalofreturningto

KingdomHall,theChurchhehadgrownupwith.Headmits

nowthathewasresistantbecausehethoughtinhisownmindthathecouldntgobackifhewasstillconsidering

returningtocrimeoneday.HisContractCoachsnudgingled

himtoreturntochurch,whichcausedhimtoabandonhis

attitudethatcrimewasstillafallbackoption.Manuelnow

claims,[TheContract]madeitseemlikeIcoulddothings

step-by-stepbecauseitshowedthatifyoudoonethingat

atime,thenthingsgetdone.Perhapsmostimportantly

hesaysthatthecontracttaughthimpatience.Recentlyhe

receivedextrachangeatthegrocerystore,butgaveitback

tothecashiersomethingheclaimsheneverwouldhavedonebefore.Heexplains,Itcountswhennobodyslooking

becauseitgivesyoublessings.

Thislife-changingatmosphereispartoftheExodus

DNA.Inmyveyearshere,Ihaveseenmanyvisitorstoour

ofcesbecomeinspiredbytheplace.WhenCongressman

RobAndrewsofNewJerseystoppedby,hetoldagroupof

participants,IregularlymeetwithSenatorsandCabinet

members,andIlearnedmoretodaythaninmonthsof

meetingswiththem.

Visitourwebsiteatwww.etcny.orgifyouwanttohelp,

[email protected]

inspired.

Adam Friedman spent four years as the Deputy Director of

Exodus Transitional Community. He previously worked as an

insurance analyst and advertising copywriter and volunteered

teaching meditation in New York City jails. He is now at STEPS

to End Family Violence, an organization that helps victims of

domestic violence.

EXODUSFOUNDERANDEXECUTIVEDIRECTOR,JULIOMEDINA,

ATTHE2004STATEOFTHEUNIONADDRESS,WHENTHE

PRESIDENTANNOUNCEDTHEPRISONERREENTRYINITIATIVE.


19/28


S

ervicetohumanityisanoblecalling.Whilethecall

compelsananswer,preparationforthatserviceiscritical.Throughoutmy25yearsinthehealingart,I

havecollectedteachingsthatimprovethepublicsabilityto

careforandserveothersaswellasthemselvesandtheirown

families.Oneofmymostimportantcriteriaformycollection

istheabilityoftheparticularteachingtoprotectthehealing

servantenteringintoapotentially

lifesavingact.Theteachingmust

includerecognitionofboundaries,

beanefcientandeffectivemeans

ofsupportinghealthandwell-being,andpromotesafetyinall

planesofconsciousnessphysical,

mental,emotionalandspiritual.

OneoftherstteachingsI

collectedearlyoninlifewasthe

approachtosavingapersonwho

isdrowning.Whileonemaydesire

tohelpapersonwhoisdrowning,

theAmericanRedCrossJuniorandSeniorLifesavingcourses

emphasizethatapotentialrescuerfollowcertainstepssothattheythemselvesdonotbecomeasecondvictimin

theunfortunatesituation.TheLifesavertakessometypeof

oatationobject,forexamplealifesaverring,withhimwhen

heswimsouttothepersoncryingforhelp.Rescuersarethen

taughttostopacertaindistancefromtheperson,calloutand

offerhelpbeforemovingintoassist.Therationaleforthis

processisthatitisawell-knownphenomenonthatpeople

whoaredrowningarehighlypronetograbattheheadand

neckoftherescuerwithsuchforceofwilltolivethatthey

oftenincapacitateordrowntherescuer.Theseprinciplesof

rescueindrowningsituationsarereallyquiteapplicabletoany

servicesituationinwhichpeopleinneedmaybegaspingfor

emotional,mental,spiritualaswellasphysicalair.

Yearslater,inthe1980sIcameacrossoneofthemost

profound,immediatelyapplicable,andeffectivelifesaving

teachingsIhavebeenblessedtoreceiveandapplyinmy

servicetoothersthatis,theteachingonimperildescribed

byMdm.HelenaRoerich(1879-1957).Mdm.Roerichwasa

Russianbornspiritualteacherandhealer,whoseseriesof

Agni Yogabooks,whichshereferredtoasThe Living Ethic,

waswrittenoverthecourseofthirteenyearsfrom1924-1937(Roerich,Letters of Helena Roerich,1967).Shewrotetheseries

undertheguidanceandinspirationofherspiritualteachers,

theMahatmasMoryaandKuthumi,wisebeingswithwhom

sheandherhusband,famedartistandhumanitarianNicholas

Roerich,hadbeenreceivinginstructionsince1920(Drayer,

Nicholas & Helena Roerich,2005,p.17).

Althoughthedictionarydenitiondenestheverb

imperiltomean,tobringintoperilortoendanger(Merriam-

WebstersCollegiateDictionary),Mdm.Roerichusedtheterm

asanoun.Shedenedimperilasthepoisonresultingfromirritabilitythatattractsdanger(Roerich,Agni Yoga,p.15)and

isdepositedagainstthewallsofthenervechannelsand

thenspreadsthroughouttheorganism(p.16).Thedeposits

ofimperilarepainfulandcontributetothedecompositionof

matter,includingthebody.Mdm.Roerichwrote,Ifmodern

sciencewouldtrytoexamineobjectivelythenervechannels,

givingheedtotheastralcurrents,itwouldencountera

strangedecompositionoftheastralsubstanceduringthe

passageofthatsubstancethroughthenervechannelsthis

isareactiontoimperil(Agni Yoga,15,p.15-16).Allpeopleareassubjecttothedeconstructioneffectsofimperilonadailybasis

justastheyaretothebasicelementsthatcreatethematter

universe:re,air,water,andearth.Butwhenonechooses

thepathofservice,particularlyhealingservicetohumanity,

thechallengesassociatedwithinteractingwiththepublic

increase.Inparticular,theexposuretoimperilincreaseswhen

oneministerstotheneedsofthesuffering.Mdm.Roerichalso

advisedthatastudyofthephysicaltracesofimperilcould

leadtoanunderstandingoftheaccumulationsofpsychic

energyandthatonecouldobservethetracesofimperil

inanynervechannel.Shealsonotedencouraginglythat

aroundthegranulationsofthispoisonousviper,isgathered

anothersubstancewhichabsorbsit(Agni Yoga,220,p.140

141).Thissubstanceisthepositivepsychicorspiritualenergy

discussedlater.

ThefollowingisanhistoricalmontageofMdm.Helena

RoerichsteachingsonimperilextractedfromtheLiving Ethic

andherpublishedletters.Inadditiontotheoverviewofthe

Transmuting ImperilInsight on the HealingArt from Madame Helena Roerich

BY MARTHA MATHEWS LIBSTER

CONTINUEDONPAGE1

MARTHAMATHEWS

LIBSTER


20/28Winter 2010-20118

teachingontheconcept,thismontagealsoincludessomeof

theremediesandantidotesconveyedbytheMahatmasto

theRoerichswhichtheywerethentosharewithallhumanity

asanofferingofhelpinthedissolutionofimperilandthe

healingofthoseinfectedbyit.

Imperil Explained

Thebodyisthevesselthroughwhichthespiritofhealing

andserviceows;thereforethepublicservantandhealeris

oftencompelledtoconsciouslyandpurposefullyguardtheir

ownhealthjustasthelifesavermustremembertokeeptheir

distancewhenrstenteringintoarescueofadrowning

victim.Mdm.Roerichwroteoftheimportanceofhealth,

ThereforeI

sayhealthmustbe

guarded.A

vessellledto

thebrimmust

becarried

withcaution

(Hierarchy,

102,p.65).

Incarrying

thathealthonebecomes

acutelyaware

ofthephysical,

emotional,

mentaland

spiritualor

energetic

stressorsthat

inuencebody,

mind,and

spiritevery

moment.Beingabletoacknowledgethepresenceofthe

poisonimperilinandaroundonesbeingcontributestothe

guardingofoneshealth.

Imperilisnotexperiencedbythesensesasareotherkinds

ofpoisonssuchaschemicalagentsandcertainplants.Itis

anenergeticsubstancethatmanifestsastheresultofthe

irritationthatispresenteverywhereinsociety.Mdm.Roerich

paintsavividpictureoftheexposuretoimperil.Indeed,itis

notnecessarytocallforthirritation,becausemenarelledto

thebrimwithit.Itisonlynecessarytolocksixbipedsinone

roomandwithinanhourthedoorwillbeshakingfromimperi

(Hierarchy,423,p.229).Shewritesthatirritationandimperilis

preciselythatpoisonwhichcausesmuchtroubletopeople.

Donotforgetthatmeetingwitheventhegrossestignorance

isnotworthprovokingonedropofimperil.Indeed,imperil

doesnotremainonlywithin;itevaporatesandpermeates

space,forthepurityofwhichweareallresponsible(AgniYoga,221,p.142).

Imperilnotonlyimpactsthenervoussystem.Itis

contagious(Hierarchy,335,p.183).Mdm.Roerichstatedthat

itisnecessaryonceandforalltounderstandaboutthe

infectionofimperil!Thisprocessistransmittedlikeleprosy.

Therecanbeeitheranincreaseofstrengthordisintegration,

therecanbenothirdcondition.Oneshouldnotadvise

strengtheningbyforce.Itisimpossibletosaveanyonefrom

leprosybycoercion.Itisimpossibletokeepanyonefrom

imperilbyviolence.Friendlinessisnotviolence.Growthoftheheartcomesnotfromawhip,andabeautifulgardencan

begrownonlybybeautifulactions(Fiery WorldI,161,p.92).

Hence,bothHelenaandNicholascommitmenttobeautywas

athemethroughouttheirlifework,whichwillbediscussed

belowasanantidotetoimperil.

Mdm.Roerichalsowrotethatimperilactsatfar

distancesandcanaffectthesubtlebody.Imperilclashes

likeadissonancewiththeFireofSpace(Hierarchy,335,p.

183).Yetdespiteitsprevalenceandabilitytospread,imperil

remainselusivetomodernscienceandmedicinejustasitseemswasthecaseintheearlytwentiethcenturywhen

Mdm.Roerichwrote:

Thekindlingofthenervecentershasnotsufciently

attractedtheattentionofphysicians.Itisveryimportant

toobservethattheamingofeachcentergivesriseto

symptomsofthelocalorgan,yettheorganitselfisnotill

butisonlyvibratinginresponsetothereofthecenter.It

ispossibletoshowthatmanyfalseillnessesareannounced

byphysicianswhentheydonotrecognizethebasiccause

ofsensations.Moreover,thecauseitselfofinammation

issuperciallystudied(Aum,202,p.96-7).Manyphysical

diseasesbreakoutasaresultoftheinltrationofimperil

justasifarebrandhadworkeditswayin.(Aum,294,p.143).

Sicknessmaynestlewithinamanforalongtime,butifitdoes

notmanifestitselfinacoarsephysicalmanner,noneofthe

earthlyphysicianswillacknowledgeit.(Heart,192,p.119)

Inaddition,imperilaffectspsychicenergy.Mdm.Roerich

statedthatimperil(aswellasfear,doubt,andself-pity)wasa

destroyerofpsychicenergy(Agni Yoga,389,p.246).Butitis

Transmuting ImperilCONTINUEDFROMPAGE17

HELENAIVANOVNAROERICH

(FEBRUARY12,1879-OCTOBER5,1955)

WASARUSSIANPHILOSOPHER,WRITER,

ANDPUBLICFIGURE.HERBOOKSCAN

BEFOUNDATTHEAGNIYOGASOCIETY.

(WWW.AGNIYOGA.ORG.)


21/28


importanttocarefullyportraywhatshemeantinthe1920s

bythephrasepsychicenergy.

Shewrotethat,PsycheisderivedfromtheGreek

meaningtherationalsoul(thehumansoul),andnallyit

becomesappliedtothehighest,thespiritualsynthesis,the

crownofthehumanbeingButinbothcases(AuthorsNote:

mediumsandpsychics)thehigherpsychicenergyisabsent,as

thisqualitycanbemanifestedonlywhenthecentersareopen

andareerilytransmutedThepsychicrealmisvast,anditincludesendlessdiversityofmanifestations,fromthehighest

tothelowest.Shewasverykeentodifferentiatepsychism

fromhigherpsychicorrealmsoftruespiritualityassociated

withthehigherManasandBuddhi(Roerich,Letters of

Helena Roerich,v.1.p.352).Psychismwasinevitablytobefound

associatedwithdisordersofthenervoussystem.(Fiery World

III,103,p.358)Imperilisthechiefenemyofdevelopmentof

psychicenergy(Aum,387,p.190).

Thelowerpsychicenergiesthatpromotethepresenceof

imperilcanhoweverbetransmuted.Mdm.Roerichdescribedthetransmutationprocessasimportanttothecreative

energiesnecessaryforcrossingintotheSubtleWorld.She

continued,Eachspiritualstrivingproducesitssediments,

whichassumetheaspectofsubtleenergiesduringthe

passageintotheSubtleWorld.Thus,itisimportanttoaspire

intotheHigherSpheres.Ecstasyofspiritandjoyoftheheart

yieldthoseenergieswhichnourishthesubtlebody.Indeed,

onlyafeelingimbuedwithhigherimpulsesprovidesthe

neededenergies.Itmustbeunderstoodthatimperiland

grossearthlydesiresproducetheiruglyulcers,whichthespiritmusthealinthesubtlebodyThusonthepathtothe

FieryWorldoneshouldbecomeaccustomedtothethought

abouttransmutationofthecenters,becauseliberation

fromthebodyisnotdeliverancefromspiritualulcers.

(Fiery World III,103,p.85)Inotherwords,healingoccursat

manylevelsofbeing.Sooftentheonlydiscussionarounda

diseaseorsufferingfocusesonphysicalsymptomsandtheir

physiologicaloranatomicalcause.Mdm.Roerichsuggeststhat

onespowerofthought,vibration,andassociationwithhigher

impulsesinuencestheimpactandpersistenceofimperil.

Thought Poison

Itishumannatureforsomeoneexperiencingillnesstoask

thequestion,whyisthishappening?Healthcareproviders

mayposeavarietyofexplanationsforcausation.Butinmany

healingtraditions,causationisidentiedasbeingwithinthe

personwhoissuffering.Theroleofthehealerorcaregiver

issimplyto,asstatedbyFlorenceNightingale,placethe

personinthebestconditionfornaturetoactuponhim

(Notes on Nursing,1859).Withinthisparadigm,apersons

beliefs,understanding,andthoughtsabouttheirsuffering

becomecriticaltothehealingprocess.Thosewhoserveothers

especiallyintimeofsicknessanddeathtransitionalsohave

theirownthoughtsandfeelingsaboutthepersonorgroup

forwhomtheyarecaring.Mdm.Roerichacknowledgesthe

powerofthoughtinhealingandcreatingillness.Itistime

topayattentiontotheamountofsicknessesgenerated

bythoughts.Duringeachsicknessitisnotbadtomakeasuggestionagainstnegativethoughts.Magneticpasses

overtheaffectedorgancanalsobemade.Nothingspecial

isneededbeyondtheprayeroftheheart,whichcreatesa

magneticlinkwiththeHighest.Duringthelayingonofhands

oneshouldnotthinkofthesickness,butshouldtrytounite

oneselfwiththeHighest(Hierarchy,132,p.79).

Mdm.Roerichchallengedthehealthprovidersofhertime

toconsiderthatimperilorpoisonousthoughtscouldaffect

peopleshealthevenatadistance:

Peopleespeciallyoftenclosetheireyestoeverythingreferringtobetrayalandpsychicmurder.Theydonoteven

wishtoconsiderthattheycanharmatadistancebytheir

thoughts.Thuspeopleavoidthatinwhichtheyaremost

oftenguilty.Onedoesnotevenhavetobeagiantofthought

inordertoharm.Evenamediocrethoughtpoisonedbythe

crystalofimperilwillbeveryeffectiveVerily,poisoningby

thoughtsisevenmoreharmfulthannarcotics.Likewise,one

canremindaboutinfectionthroughthought-transmission.

Onemaybeweakenedtosuchanextentthateachinfection

caneasilyapproach.Thoughtislikeakeywithwhichtoopen.(Hierarchy,125,p.75-76)

Shewarnedthatthefeelingsoffearandterrorin

particularformedapeculiarmagnetfordarkness.She

oftenframedherunderstandingoftheLiving Ethicinterms

ofdarknessandlight.Indeed,darknessadvancesuponone

possessedbyterror.Eachinstant,manisevokingLightor

darkness(Aum,145,p.73-4).Consciousnesswasoneofthe

focalpointsofMdm.Roerichsteachingsandwritingson

healing.Herwritingsonconsciousnessexpressapowerful

senseofhope:

Ifweknowthateveryconditioniscreatedbythe

consciousness,whichisinalienable,thentherecanbeno

fearforoneswell-being.Thedangersthatonecustomarily

fearsaredispelledbyabroadenedconsciousness.Therefore,

thegrowthofconsciousnessistheessentialfoundationfor

progress.Thentherewillbenodangers,therewillbeonly

obstacles.Overcomingobstaclesisameansforthedeveloping

ofenergy.Ifthemountainisperfectlysmooth,onecannot

CONTINUEDONPAGE20


22/28Winter 2010-20110

ascendtothesummit.Blessedarethestonesthattearthe

sandalsofthosewhoascend!(Heart,406,p.261)

Yetshechallengesherstudentstotakecomplete

responsibilityfortheoutcomeofthatexpanding

consciousness:

Certainperiodsofplanetaryexistencearesubjecttoassaultsoftheelements.Theoneresistancetothemis

aconsistentstrivingofpeopletowardarenewaloflife.

Thoughtcanprotectagainsttheelementalforces,otherwise

thebalancewouldbesogreatlydisturbedthatcosmic

catastropheswouldensue.Wouldayearoffamine,of

drought,ofdiseasenotbetheresultofmassdegenerationof

thought?Onemansthoughtsarenotenoughtoresistthe

elements.Anewtrendinconsciousnesscannotyetgivethe

neededformtoconsciousthought.Onlycompleterealization

andresponsibilitywillmakeitpossibletoinjectpowerintothought.(Agni Yoga,22,p.21)

Isitnotthetimeperhapstobringtheteachingon

imperiltothosewhowonderaboutthecauseoftheincrease

inearthquakes,tsunamiandotherearthchangessuchas

globalwarming?Healingtraditionssuggestthatallsuch

phenomenonsareareectionofconsciousnessjustasMdm.

Roerichsuggests.However,thelinkbetweenthatawareness

ofhuman-natureconnectionwiththepowerofthoughtin

particularthepowerofimperilisnotoftenincludedin

thediscussion.Mdm.Roerichdoesnotleaveherstudentscomfortlessafterherintenseteachingonimperil.Asanygood

teacherwoulddo,shegoesone

stepfurther

offeringa

numberof

simpleremedies

andantidotes

forpreventingand

dispellingimperil.

Antidotes and

Remedies

Harmonyinbody,

mind,andspiritis

notalwayseasyto

achieveand

maintainin

atroubled

world.

Therefore,itisalwayshelpfulwhenawiseteachersynthesizes

theirexperienceonthespiritualpathforjustamomentso

thatwecangraspasimpleremedythatinspiresustokeep

goingupthemountain.Thereareanumberoftheseremedies

intheLiving EthicthatIhavetestedovertheyearsinmyown

lifeandwithmyclients.Theseremediesfromtheheartof

Mdm.RoerichandtheMahatmasaresimplebutpowerful

healinginstrumentsintherighthands.

Onaveryphysicallevel,MdmRoerichcitedrestasanimportantremedyindealingwithimperil.Onlyrest,

shewrote,canhelpthenervoussystemtoovercomethe

dangerousenemythatcancallforththemostdiverse

irritationsandpainfulcontractionsoftheorganism(Agni

Yoga,15,p.15-16).Shewrotethattheyogicanindeedfeel

fatigueandbecomeillandthatrestandregenerationwould

beneededfromtimetotime:

Buthewillknowthatanewstoreofenergymustthenbe

gathered.Hewillknowwhereenergywasoverspentandwill,

withoutlosingequanimity,makeuseofvalerianandmusk.Itisajoytoknowthatourbodilyapparatuscanobtainthe

neededrestorativeenergy.Fatiguefromthepastishappiness

forthefuture.Anewreinforcementofenergyisalwaysan

advanceoverthepast.Thismeansthatfatigueisourfriend.

Itisbecauseofitthatthewiseserpentshedshisskin.The

serpentknowsthatthesuccessofthisregenerationdepends

onrest,anddoesnotstrikeduringthenewgrowth.Therefore,

thepersonwhoknowswhatinhimisfatiguedwillwisely

prescriberestforhimself,summoningotherofhiscentersfor

hiswork.(Agni Yoga,241,p.154-155)Valerian(Valeriana ofcinalis)isanherbcommonly

usedinRussianculture.Thetraditionaluseoftheplantis

predicatedonthestorythattheRussianSt.Panteleimon

distributedtherootofthevalerianplanttosickpeoplein

manyvillagesbecauseitlledhimwithsomuchjoy(Zevin,A

Russian Herbal,1997).

PlantsandowersweretheobjectofmuchoftheRoerich

familysresearchandservice.Inadditiontothevalerian

mentionedabove,MdmRoerichrecommendedanumberof

plant-basedremediestodispelimperil:

Healingthroughthefragranceofowers,resins,and

seedsgoesbacktohoaryantiquity.Thus,arosenotonly

possessesasimilaritytomuskbutalsopreventsimperil.A

gardenofroseswasconsideredbytheancientsasaplace

ofinspiration.Freesiasarebenecialforthesympathetic

nervoussystem,whichvibratessomuchinaYogi.Theseedso

barleyareunsurpassedforthelungs.Youknowalreadyabout

mint,abouttheresinofcedarandotherresins.Perfumes

arenowbereftofmeaninglikeallotherdesecratedvalues,



23/28


CONTINUEDONPAGE2

yettheoriginoffragranceunderliesausefulbutforgotten

knowledge.(Hierarchy,316,p.174)

Rubbingmintleavesalongthespineisrecommended

byMdm.Roerichforreliefofthepaininthespineduetothe

awakeningoftheKundalini(Agni Yoga,220p.140141).Ihave

alsousedmintalongthespinefordispellingimperil.Mdm

Roerichsaidofmint,Oneshouldrememberthatduringthe

departureoftheastralbodythephysicalremainsunprotected,

andiftheairispoisoned,theappearanceofundesirableguestsisunavoidable.Mintisthebestdisinfectant.Italsoaids

theastralbody,whichleavesthephysicalbodymoreoften

thanwethink(Agni Yoga,196,p.126).Thefreshpeppermint

(Mentha piperita)leavesarepluckedfromthestemsand

canberubbedgentlyeitherontheclientsspinalcolumn

oralongthezoneontheinnersideofthefeetassociated

holographicallywiththespine.

Shealsomentionstheuseoftheoilofeucalyptusto

cleansetheatmosphereoftheroom(Heart,465.p.266).This

canbedonemypurchasingmedicinalgradeessentialoilofeucalyptus,blending5-10dropswithoneounceofwaterina

glassspraybottleanddispensingitintotheair.

Spirituallyspeaking,Mdm.Roerichrecommended

patienceasoneofthemostimportantremedies.Mdm.

Roerichwrotethatitwasnotonlyaremedybutanantidote

toimperil.Itcounteractsimperilanditsassociatedexperience

ofdarkness.Wewillnotforgetpatience.Itisasolaceto

knowthatpatienceovercomesanyirritation.Intheintensity

ofpatienceaspecialsubstanceiscreatedwhich,likea

powerfulantidote,neutralizesevenimperil.But,ofcourse,patienceisnotalackoffeelingPatienceisaconscious

tensionandanoppositiontodarkness(Heart,478,p.272).

Andwhileinthatspaceofpatiences/hewhoisaficted

withimperilmust,accordingtoMdm.Roerich,repeat,How

beautiful everything is!Andhewillberight;becausetheow

ofevolutionfollowsimmutablelaw,itisbeautiful(Agni Yoga,

15,p.15-16).Aspirationtowardgreatdeedsandbeautywas,

accordingtotheRoerichs,thegreatestwaytospiritualize

andtorestorethehealthofhumanity(Roerich, Letters of

Helena Roerich,v.1,p.276).

Theraisingofonesconsciousnesschangesones

vibration.Mdm.Roerichseemstosuggestchangingones

vibration,raisingonesconsciousnessbychangingones

thoughtsandstrivingtowardtheLordonewouldnotonly

avoidharmfromthoughtssentbutalsoacquireimmunity

(Hierarchy,126,p.76).Thecultureofthespiritandthoughtare

tobefollowed,thusmanifestinganunconquerabledevotion

toHierarchy.Onlythusisthespirituplifted;onlythuscanone

beafrmedintheevolutionofthespirit.Hence,thebeauty

ofServiceiscontainedintheblendingofconsciousnesses

(Hierarchy,128,p.77).HierarchyisdenedintheLiving Ethicas

thelawoftheuniverse.Itisnotathreat,butthecallofthe

heartandaeryadmonitiondirectingtowardGeneralGood

[sic](Hierarchy,preface).

Throughmeditation,devotionalpractice,andserviceto

humanitypeopleconnectwiththeirheartsownenergy.Heart

connectionpromotesawarenessofwhenthereisaneed

todispelinharmonyandtransmuteimperil.Mdm.Roerichwrote,PeopleregardtheTeachingoftheHeartashaving

theleastfoundation.Butcanoneregardthecurrentofthe

heartenergyasanoccultthing?Onthecontrary,thereis

nothingmoreprecisethanthebeatoftheheart.Thesensitive

heartleadstotherenewalofconsciousness.Atleastshow

respectfortheheartinitswork(Heart,471.p.268).Today,the

HeartmathInstitute(www.Heartmath.org)hasconducted

numerousstudiesontheenergyoftheheartwhichis

identiedastheseatofintui-intelligence.Someoftheresults

ofthatresearchareanumberofself-helpexperimentsthatcanbeusedtocomplementonesmeditationpractice.Mdm.

Roerichidentiedheartintelligenceasthepointofaccessto

straightknowledge:

Oneoftenconfusesprejudicewithstraight-knowledge,

yetthesequalitiesaredirectlyopposedtoeachother.

Prejudiceisanoffspringofthemind,whereastheabode

ofstraight-knowledgeisintheheart.Thus,onecannot

comparetheoffspringofthemindwiththoseoftheheart.

Theacceptanceofsuchathingisnotonlyerroneousbut

alsoharmful,disparagingtheactivityoftheheart.Itcanbeobservedhowstrataofprejudiceareaccumulateduntilthe

entirelifeisturnedintoaself-erectedprison.Butstraight-

knowledgeconcernscosmictruth,hence,initselfitdoes

notcontainanythingdisparaging.Theself-developmentof

straight-knowledgeinducessolemnityoffeeling.(Heart,472,

p.268-9)

Conclusion

Mdm.HelenaRoerichrecordedateachingonhealing

imperilthatisprofoundinitsesotericunderstandingofthe

humanbody,energyelds,thepowerofthought,andthe

importanceofthesimplestofremediesappliedwithwholistic

understandingandintention.Theteachingiselegantinits

simplicityandcompassionateinitsapplicabilitytoeveryday

life.Myscienticobservationisthatmanytimessomeof

themostsimpleremediesarethemostprofoundlyeffective

especiallywhenapersonhasmadeamedicinethemselves

orreceivedaremedyfromapersonwhocaresaboutthem


24/28Winter 2010-20112

mostdeeplyandinfuseditwithpointedattentionto

healingtheneedofthehour.Mdm.Roerichgaveexampleof

thisphenomenon:

ARishisentsmallpiecesoflinenorpalmleaforbirch

barktotheneedyandsick.Thosewhoreceivedtheseridiculedthemandsaid,Isitnotridiculoustowasteonesforcesin

sendingblankfragments?Theypaidregardonlytowords.

Butthosewhowerewiseappliedwhathadbeensenttothe

affectedpartortheheart,receivingrelief.Theyunderstood

thattheRishihadplacedhishanduponitandsuffusedwhat

hadbeensentwithhispsychicenergy.(Heart,450,p.257)

Theteachingonimperilisasasimplepieceoflinen

orbirchbarkthathasbeeninfusedwiththehealing

consciousnessoftheMahatmasandthengiventothe

Roerichsforthesustenanceoftheirstudents.Itisaspecicexampleinthehealingartwhichacknowledgesancienttruth

foundinmanyculturesandtraditionsthatthepowerof

healingiswithinus.Thepowerofhealingisinuencedby

howwethink,feelandactintheworldtocreateourhealth,

thehealthofothers,andEarthherself.Thereforethishealing

teachingonimperilseemsessentialtothepathofevolution

andenlightenmentthepathofbliss.

TheteachingonimperildocumentedbyMdm.Roerichin

thebookHierarchy(422,p.228)linkstheconceptsofimperil

andblissinthefollowingmanner:Ifyouknowthatanexalted,selfdenyingthought

physicallychangesonesauraandeveninducesraysfromthe

shoulders,thenyoualreadyknowoneofthegreatmysteries

oftheworld.Eachvisibilityisthereexofamaterialreaction.

Thus,ifirritationgeneratesimperil,theneachexaltedthought

mustcreateanoppositebenecialsubstance.Andsoitis.

CertainlyBlissisacompletereality.Itisgeneratedinthe

corticalsystemandreactsuponthebrainmatter.TheTibetan

ringsehasadeepsignicance,beingthesedimentcrystallized

bythemanifestationofBliss.

TheMahatmasestablishedthattheirplanwastorst

establishthefactofimperilandthendenetheways

ofthemanifestationofBliss( Hierarchy,422,p.228).They

hadcompletefaiththatacontemporarybiochemistwould

ultimatelyshowproofoftheexistenceofBliss.American

scientist,Dr.CandicePertdidinfactdemonstrateaconnection

betweenemotionssuchasblissandneuropeptidesinthebody

(MoleculesofEmotion,1997),thematerializationorphysical

expressionoffeeling.Mdm.Roerichidentiedpatience,as

thestateofawarenesscapableofdispellingimperilasthe

sourceofBliss(Heart,479,p.273).Shealsowrotethatrosesare

benecialforBliss(Hierarchy,424,p.230).

Attendingtothechallengesrelatedtoimperilallows

theclearanceofthebodyfrompoisonandtheacceptance

ofthelightofMother(Mater)whichistheenergythat

healsallwounds,disease,andsuffering.Historyrevealsthat

peoplehaveexperimentedforcenturiesifnotmillennia

increatinghealingenvironments.Theteachingonimperilhoweverholdsthepotentialtodeepenourunderstanding

oftheinnerenvironmenttheworldwithin-thatwhich

enablesorpreventsusfromconnectingwiththehealing

environmentwithout.Canbarleysoup,rubbingthebodywith

mintleaves,surroundingoneselfwithroses,freesia,cedar,

andpinepromotehealthandhappinessandraiseourspirits

abovetheinharmonysoprevalentincontemporarysociety?

Theteachershavegivenfreelyoftheirhealingwisdomon

thedeconstructionofimperil.Thedecisiontoembracenew

understandingaboutthebodyandtotrysuchseeminglysimpleremediesis,asistradition,uptothestudent.These

teachingsonimperilarejustoneofthemanypioneering

worksintheareasreferredtotodayasholistichealthand

energymedicinebyMdm.Roerichandherfamily.

Dr. Martha Libster is an educator, clinical nurse specialist,

healthcare historian, and Herbal Diplomat known

internationally for her work on the complementarity of nursing

practice, technology, and healing traditions, in particular the

use of botanical therapies. She is creative director of GoldenApple Healing Arts (www.goldenapplehealingarts.com ), and online company

promoting enlightened self-care and holistic health decision

making.This article is reprinted with permission from Golden

Apple Healing Arts.

REFERENCESDrayer,Ruth.Nicholas and Helena Roerich: The Spiritual Journey of Two Great

Artists and Peacemakers.Wheaton,IL:QuestBooks,2005.

Nightingale,Florence.Notes on Nursing.NewYork:Dover,1969

Pert,Candace.Molecules of Emotion.NewYork:Scribner,1997.Roerich,Helene.Aum,AgniYogaSeries.NewYork:AgniYogaSociety,1936.

.Fiery World.Vol.I,AgniYogaSeries.NewYork:AgniYogaSociety,1933.

.Fiery WorldVol.III.NewYork:AgniYogaSociety,1935.

.Heart.NewYork:AgniYogaSociety,1932.

.Hierarch.NewYork:AgniYogaSociety,1931.

.Letters of Helena Roerich.Vol.1.NewYork:AgniYogaSociety,1954.

.Letters of Helena Roerich.Vol.2.NewYork:AgniYogaSociety,1967.

Zevin,Igor.A Russian Herbal.Rochester,VT:HealingArtsPress,1997.



25/28


The Art of Assisting the Dying

NeldaSamarelsbookletHelping the Dying: A Guide for

Families and Friends Assisting Those in Transitionpublished

bytheTheosophicalOrderofServiceislongoverdue.Neldas

experienceasanursewhohaswitnessedthetransitionofpatients,aswellaswithcounselingfamiliesthrough

theirgriefprocess,isprevalentinherwork.Thebeautyof

herbookletisthespiritualcompassionatetoneitsetsfor

anyonewhoworksintheeldofhospiceorisassistinga

lovedonewhois

neartransition.

Thebookletis

dividedintothree

sections.Therst

sectiongivesaprerequisitewhich

addressesthe

caregiversneedto

understandtheir

ownbeliefsabout

deathanddying;

thusfollowing

themottoWe

cannothelpothers,

untilwehavehelpedourselves.

Caringforaloved

onewhilethey

aretransitioning

increasesthechance

thatthecaregivers

ownissues

regardingmortality

anddeathwillsurface.Itisimportanttohaveaclearidea

aboutonesownissuesregardingdeath,soasNeldasays,

theycanbeplacedasideandthecaregivercanfocus

onassistingalovedonesdeathaccordingtothedyings

wishes,andnotthecaregivers.

Therstsectionalsocoversmeetingthephysicalneeds

ofthedyingaswellastheemotionalandspiritualneeds.

Achartwhichrelatestothephysicalneedsandtheproper

waytoprovidecomfortisgiven.Foranyonewhohasdealt

withthedying,thischartisincrediblyhelpful.Onewould

thinksomeofthesolutionswouldbecommonsense,but

oftenascaregiverswe,inourdesiretorelieveanysuffering,

dontthinkclearly.Wetrytoomuchortoohard.

Inthissectionthereisalsoanexplanationofthe

contextofawarenessofthepersondying.AsIwasreading

throughthematerial,Irealizedhowprivateandpersonal

thetransitionprocessisforthosedyingandthecaregivers;andhowwerarelywitnessit.However,thevignettesNelda

providesinWordsfromThoseNearingDeath,givethe

comfortthatmanycaregiversandlovedonesneedtoassure

themthatthosedyingarenotalone.

Neldarecommendsthatcaregiversreadsectionstwo

andthreepriortothedyingsnalstages.Thesesectionsare

abitmoreinstructiveandprovideinformationaboutthings

caregiversmayexperienceinthenaldayswiththedying.

Everyexperienceisdifferent,butasNeldareiteratesthrough

herbooklet,itisimportanttobeawareandpreparedforwhatmaybeexperiencedsoonecanprovideasmooth

transitionforalovedone.

TherearemanyofaspectsofthisbookletthatI

enjoyeddespitethedifculttopic.Itisinformativeand

straightforward.Itissmallenoughtolookthroughquickly

inordertondtheinformation,anddespiteitbeingsmall,

itprovidesanabundantamountofinformationfrom

variousaspects.IappreciatedthatNeldasfocusalways

wentbacktohowapersoncanhelpthe dying person.It

isnotaboutthecaregiver,butaboutthepersondyingandassistingthemandhowtocarrythisoutinthebest

waypossible.Itisabookleteveryoneshouldhaveontheir

bookshelf.

ANANYAS.RAJAN

Copies ofHelping the Dying can be obtain by request at

[email protected]

A Womans Theosophical Guideto Authenticity

AssoonasIheardthatourveryownAnanyahadpublished

abook,Irushedtoorderacopy,curioustoseehowshe

wouldweaveTheosophyintoherwomenslibtheme.The

rstthingIspottedwasthisonthebackcover:AnanyaS.

RajanhasbeenastudentofTheosophyandself-awareness

Book Reviews

CONTINUEDONPAGE2

Helping the Dying: A Guide for

Families and Friends Assisting Those in

Transition by Nelda Samarel.

TheTheosophicalPublishingHouse,

QuezonCity,Philippines,2010.

([email protected])


26/28Winter 2010-20114

forovertwenty-veyears.Aha!Ithought.Shesboldly

statingherphilosophyhere.Furtherdowntheback

coverIfoundthis:Ibelievetheauthenticselflieswithin

everyperson.Ibelieveinorderforwomentondtheir

authenticself,theyneedtounderstandthemythsthathavecreatedtheirhistory,whichgoverntheirlives,andwill

inuencetheirfuture.Ibelievewomencanchangetheir

livesbydiscoveringwhotheyareasindividuals.Ibelieveby

changingtheirlives,theycanchangetheworld.Aha!I

thoughtagain,Ananyaisreferringtothehigherselfasthe

authenticself.

ThenIstartedreadingthebookandfoundalmostno

referencetoTheosophyatall!AsIreadon,however,the

strongpresenceoftheosophyatatotallydifferentlevel

creptuponme:inthepersonAnanyaisassherevealsherselfunconsciouslyinherwriting.Rightfromtherst

word,itsasthoughshehasploppedherselfdownbeside

ustoshareacupofteaandenjoyachat.Thestyleis

completelyinformal,relaxed,spontaneous,personal,and

honest.Shetakesusonherownjourney,onourjourney,on

everywomansjourneytowardfreedomfromthegender-

basedbarriersthatencloseusandyetthereisabout

asmucheffortinvolvedforusinthereadingasinsitting

sippingtea.ThisdoesnotmeanthatGet Real!isthelazy

womansguidetoself-discovery.Sevenchallengingexercisesaregiventohelpusuncoverourauthenticselfandbythe

disarminglyfrankstoriesAnanyarelatesofthemythic

womantrapssheandvariousfriendshavefalleninto,

wecannotdootherthanreectseriouslyuponourown

entrapment.

WhatmakesthedifferenceinthisbookisthatAnanya

walkshandinhandwithuseverystepoftheway.Her

completeacceptanceofhumanweakness,thetruthfulness

andcaringshedisplays,andaboveall,theutterlackof

pretentiousnessofherstyleofwritingbringourdefenses

down,allowingustolookat,withoutfear,thelayersof

culturalandgender

conditioningthat

obscuresourreal

nature.Inshort,itis

theauthenticityof

theauthorherself

thatprovidesthe

magicinthisbook.

TheTheosophyIwasseekingshines

throughherassheis,

allwartsuncovered.

Somehowthevery

displayofthewarts

allowsustobelieve

thatwetoocanbe

beautifuljustas

weare.Insteadof

lamentinggenderpatternsasan

inbornhandicap

almostimpossible

toovercome,wesee

themasastepladder

andchallenge.Its

actuallyfuntodiscoverthemythofkeepingsilent;the

mythoftheuglyduckling;themythofthesupermom,

etc.

Afriendofminealwaysreadsthelastchapterofabookrsttogetasenseofwhereitisgoing,hesays.Iadvise

younottodothiswithGet Real!Asurpriseawaitsusas

Theosophistsattheendandithasitsrealeffectifwerst

readallthatsgonebefore.Illjustsayonething:Ihave

beenworkingquitecloselywithAnanyaoninternational

TOSprojectsforaboutthreeyearsnowandIthoughtIknew

her.IrealizenowthatIhavenevertakenthetimetolisten

toherstory.Ihadtoreadthisbooktogettoknowher.I

suggestthatyoucheckourdearAnanyaoutinGet Real! too

DIANADUNNINGHAM-CHAPOTIN

Comments,Questions,orIdeasfortheTOS?

[email protected].

Wedlovetohearfromyou!

Book ReviewsCONTINUEDFROMPAGE23

GET REAL! Fighting the

Mythic Woman, Findingthe Authentic Self.

ByAnanyaS.Rajan.

Lulu.com,2010.

Paperback,140pages,

$12.99.


27/28


The Healing Network BY HUTOXY CONTRACTOR

Inthesedaysofseeminglyperpetualcrises,itiseasy

tobecomecomplacentorevendespondent,feeling

personallyincapableofhavinganysignicantimpact

ontheworldsproblems.However,thereisverystrong

evidencethatourthoughts,wordsanddeedsdohavean

impactbeyondourimmediateawareness.Ifweaccept

thisasfact,itbecomesourresponsibilitytocontributeinanywaywecantothepositiveenergyofouruniverse.

Onewayofachievingthisistoconsciouslyinvoke

theangelichoststosendhealinglovetothosewho

suffer.TheTOSHealingDepartmentmanagesaHealing

Networkwhichhasofferedjustsuchaserviceformore

than15years.Itiscurrentlycomprisedof57groupsand

individualswhoarecommittedtoperforminghealing

servicesonaregularbasis.TheNetworkreceivesthe

namesofindividualswhoareillorinjuredviaadedicated

phoneline.ThesenamesaredistributedtotheNetwork

groupswheretheyarekeptforuseinthehealingservice

foronemonthstime.Weencourageanyoneandeveryone,theosophistandnon-theosophistaliketocontributethe

namesoftheirlovedoneswhohavebecomeill.

Wewouldliketoencouragegroupsand/orindividuals

whoarenotyetperformingaregularhealingserviceto

considerbecomingamemberoftheHealingNetwork.

Theonlycommitmentistoperform

oursimpleHealingRitualona

regularbasisoraddittotheirdaily

meditation.Mostgroupsuseitto

bringalovelyclosetotheirweeklystudysessions.

Tocontributenamesforhealing,

callour800numberatanytimeor

usetheonlineformonourwebsite

www.theoservice.org.Ifyou

telephone,youwillreacharecorded

messagegivinginstructions.To

becomeaparticipatinggroup,please

contactHutoxyD.Contractorat

[email protected]

forwardtohearingfromyou.

TocalltheHealingNetwork:

800-838-2179orusetheonlineform

atwww.theoservice.org.

Please note the Healing Network has a

new number: 800-838-2179.

A profound, fundamental truth concerning humans is that, in their spiritual,

intellectual, psychical and physical nature they are a miniature replica or epitome

of the whole order of created beings and things.

Geoffrey Hodson


28/28

For the Love of LifeTHEOSOPHICAL ORDER OF SERVICE, USA

P.O.Box660

Warrenville,IL60555

www.theoservice.org

CHANGESERVICEREQUESTED

Non-Prot

Organization

U.S.POSTAGE

PAID

Warrenville,Illinois

PermitNo.15

for the love of life - winter 2010-2011

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