| But then you have to learn to back off and, paradoxically, not care whether what you’re striving for is being achieved or not. In that backing off—through the relaxation response, or going to sleep, or going to a museum, there are scores of things to do—often what you’ve been striving for comes forth as a manifestation. And that is the ‘breakout.’ After backing off, the passive state, just letting it happen on its own, then you have that breakout occur. The fourth step is that you’re at a new plateau and you can repeat the process. That’s the formula of the breakout principle.
What are you most passionate about these days?
First of all, I am very pleased that I’ve lived long enough to see that what was originally ridiculed, is now widely accepted. And wouldn’t it be nice if there were a truly balanced three-legged stool where we could combine our phenomenal successes in pharmacology and surgery, along with helping ourselves help ourselves. To achieve such a balance is why we have now been incorporated as part of the Massachusetts General Hospital.
This is the Benson-Henry Institute?
Yes. In other words, to give it a base, to be part of our health and well being that could effectively not only treat but prevent diseases in a fully balanced manner that includes scientifically proven approaches such as the relaxation response.
It occurs to me that if the relaxation response was broadly practiced as a normal first stage approach to many health issues, in a preventive way, that there would be far less need for the other two legs of the stool, the drugs and surgery.
You’re absolutely correct, and that’s why we’re striving to have this in our school systems in the United States.
To what extent has that happened?
This is the work of Dr. Marilyn Wilcher. It’s widely disseminated and recognized to be important. The issue is that the school systems don’t have enough money to be trained. But it not only helps the children themselves in their struggles with the manifestations of stress—not only anxiety, insomnia, and bellyaches, but also drug abuse, violence and alcohol abuse. The schools recognize this. They want it. That’s why we’re trying to federalize this if we can.
One of the premier prep schools in the United States, Phillips Exeter Academy, now has every single student there learning the relaxation response. It’s in many of our ghetto schools and in many other school systems. Marilyn Wilcher’s work at Needham High School, where there was an outbreak of suicides and car accidents, was quite noteworthy. Not only will it be treating the children, but as they get older they’ll remember that they have a capacity within themselves to heal themselves.
It seems to me that in terms of public policy, to lose the opportunity to incorporate this work as widely as possible would be a classic example of being penny wise and pound foolish.
You’re absolutely right, pound foolish.
Is there anything else you would like to bring up, to add to what you’ve said?
I am very appreciative of the time you have spent to prepare for this interview. Your questions have been right on. You’re helping the word get out. And if people have already heard it, then to reinforce it. One point I’d like to emphasize is that as my career has evolved, there’s always the latest and the newest that come around claiming to be the best. When in truth, it’s the same. So whether it be TM, or mindfulness meditation, it’s a common end point. Let the reader choose what’s important for himself or herself, what they believe in. Then they’ll be more likely to carry out the approach.
Daniel Redwood, DC, the interviewer, is Editor-in-Chief of Health Insights Today. |
