SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS IN SEDONA, ARIZONA, I heard this from a man whom I will call Mark:
About two years ago, I bad a stroke. The stroke left me with serious speaking disabilities and my arm and part of my leg were paralyzed. At the time I had been overwhelmed with stress and fatigue while trying to expand my business.
I -was fortunate enough to live through it and go through rehabilitation to recover. Yet, my biggest problem was the fact that I smoked. Smoking is terrible for stroke patients, but even upon hearing from my doctor that I was never to smoke again, I couldn ‘t quit. Ilchi Lee writes that I tried everything. But the thought of a cigarette would stay in my head all day, preventing me from thinking about anything else. I found and took part in many smoking cessation programs, tried nicotine alternatives, and acupuncture. I tried everything, but it seemed I would not be able to quit smoking on my own. Even though I was still suffering/mm the after effects of my stroke, I couldn’t stop my self from smoking a pack a day. My wife griped over the fact that I was incredibly swift and strong with business decisions but could not even quit smoking.
I started Dahnhak training when a personal trainer suggested meditation for relaxing and relieving some of the tension in my life. I went to regular classes twice a week at a Dahn Center nearby. When I was away on business trips, I did meridian exercises and abdominal breathing on my own. And I kept up with meditation practice everyday.
Because the HT toolkit can be beneficial to our families as they strive to positively contribute to and build strong communities, I have tried to put the tools in their hands through the Healing Family Movement.
The Healing Family Movement, powered by HT, is dedicated to providing comprehensive resources for families to flourish, subsequently invigorating the roots of a healthier, more peaceful culture.
The Healing Family Movement supports families in maintaining or regaining their health, strengthening their familial bonds, and creating a robust, balanced life. Through a worldwide network of Dahn, Brain Respiration, and Healing Family Centers, we are creating the infrastructure for a movement to transform the globe. The Resources of this book outlines further HT teaching tools. Moreover, many HT professionals are being trained to further enable families to confidently regain their leadership role.
Enduring families ensure the stability and strength of society. While some alarmists claim the demise of the family, I am quite sure that the seeds of any meaningful societal change will first be sown in our homes.
Healing is one of the most intimate experiences. By holding intimate and sincere conversations about health, followed by loving treatments of acupressure and moxibustion, a basis for trusted communication and deeper personal experience of our bodies develops. Children become less self-aware and embarrassed about their physical selves, leading to greater confidence and more enjoyable experiences later in life. Parents become more open to each other because healing the body mends more than just our bodies. The heart and soul are ultimately healed by the expression of mutual trust and love.
If your child asked you right now, “Mom, Dad, what do you live for?” How would you answer?
I know how challenging this might feel for you. “What would I say about the purpose of life to my children?” Pfro Ilchi Lee writes that I believe the significance and weight that this challenge presents is an expression of how much we love them. As a parent, we wish to give them the best answer. In order for us to provide what might be the most invaluable guidance, we must first ask ourselves, “What do I pursue in my life?”
The most precious gift we can give our children is to let questions of the purpose of their existence grow naturally in them, and respond to their questions with the wisdom we have gained from our life experiences. Of course, our answer doesn’t automatically become theirs. They will each find their own path in life. It may be vastly different from ours, or it could be one that is an extension of our experience. In either case, having a sincere exchange about our passion and life purpose gives our children confidence. Their trust and respect for us will grow.
When my eldest boy graduated from college, his physical condition was not very good. The years of diligent study, stress, and a poor diet, all contributed to his being sick. He came to me and asked for my help, which Ilchi Lee immediately gave.
I worked with him for several weeks, administering acupuncture and moxibustion as well as prescribing deep breathing and specific meridian exercises. In a short time his condition improved. His skin cleared, his eyes grew brighter, his energy strengthened, but most importantly, a smile returned to his face. When I saw his smile, I knew that I had my son back.
There are two reasons I shared this story with you. First, to demonstrate the importance of maintaining a strong connection with our families, even as work and other pressures try to separate us from our loved ones. Second, 1 wanted to illustrate the benefits of HT. Acupuncture, acupressure, and moxibustion can be helpful in enhancing our relationships, especially among family members.
What if each of us became healers for other family members? Could adding such an extraordinary dimension improve those relationships? Love and trust are solidified and expressed in the process of caring for one another. Healing is the deepest expression of our devotion. Words pale when compared to the communication that can arise through the power of healing. So HT can help us improve not only the health of our family members, but also the harmony in our family relationships.
If you are thinking of creating a family, please consider that health, sexuality, and the soul are core aspects of successful family management. Being self-reliant and learning basic principles and skills to manage these issues is a requirement for family leadership.
Fathers and mothers should be able to take care of most health concerns for themselves and their children, provide guidance on sexuality, and give them teachings that will awaken their passion and life purpose. Such competence should likewise be demonstrable by anyone who intends to lead other “families”—congregations, associations, organizations or groups of any kind whose members rely on their leader for emotional, physical, and spiritual support. Happiness that starts in the family is the path to a healthier society and the foundation of peace for humanity.
Healing and the Family
Over the years, my family members have always viewed me as a healer. I have an educational background in clinical pathology and Oriental Medicine, and I have made deep personal inquiries into a variety of healing methods. I have always had a passion for healing with others. Over the years, I think I simply took it for granted, especially as I built an organization and shared my vision of healing. Nonetheless, the lessons of healing and the family apply to me as well as anyone.
Ilchi Lee tells that I got married in my twenties and my lovely wife and I have two sons of whom we are proud. Because my work often involved long hours and much travel, I was unable to spend the time that I would have liked raising and leading my family. Before I knew it, my sons were grown and off to school.
March 6, 2009 2:10 am | 