Deepak Chopraone of the greatest exponents in the combination of Holistic Medicine and Spirituality considered in the United States One of the most influential people of the 20th century by Time magazinewho defined him as the “poet-prophet” of this type of medicine.
working as an endocrinologist in the seventies felt constrained by conventional medical approachesWho in his opinion gave more importance to disease than to health.
Since then, it has come to be believed that health, more than the simple absence of disease, is an active balance between body, mind, and spirit. He has dedicated his life to integrating Western scientific tradition with natural medicine.Combining the principles of quantum physics with oriental wisdom.
Media writer, this doctor of Indian origin Has published over forty books translated into over thirty languagesAnd gives renowned talks and seminars all over the world.
In 1995, he founded the Chopra Center for Wellness in California., which offers training in holistic medicine and medical treatment and personal development. In interviews, he expresses himself with poise and answers questions with surprising speed.
healing power of meditation
Meditation can prevent and even improve various health problems. How do you think you get it?
Meditation allows us to return to our most spiritual state. body stable. The mind becomes stable. In this state of maximum relaxation, we get rid of stress and fatigue, we are in harmony. And that absolute stillness allows us to connect with ourselves and activate the healing potential of the body. There are many studies that show that meditation has many health benefits: regulates heart rate, improves high blood pressure, lowers cortisol and adrenaline levels, increases resistance to stress…
-It is also a way to cultivate spirituality, but is it the only one?
This is a very important way, but there are others: being in touch with nature, through relationships, yoga, silence…
– Why the silence?
Reserving moments each day to be silent is a way of connecting with yourself. If we stop talking, reading, watching television, listening to the radio… once or twice a day and devote ourselves only to “being”, at first we may be distressed and obsessive thoughts may arise. Can, but over time the internal dialogue is silent. Then we find out who we are and what we need. I do it every day. I reserve one time in the morning when I wake up and another in the afternoon.
spiritual laws of success
At other times, a spiritual life means giving up wealth. Now there is more talk of a combination of spirituality and success in business. Are spiritual and economic wealth obtained through parallel routes?
When you don’t have enough financial well-being, your basic needs are not met or you get a very good salary, you spend too much time worrying about it. First there are basic needs and then love, self-esteem, compassion, creativity… and if you don’t have to worry about your existence, you can develop that part further and become aware of the vast possibilities of being. Can be But this does not mean that economic well-being is a guarantee that one will have a full spiritual life…
Sometimes when there is no project, the obsession with money can block out everything else, because in that stubborn pursuit of material things one can overcome oneself.
In one of his most popular books, he explains the seven spiritual laws of success. How would you define “success”?
For me, success is slowly replacing the demands of the ego with the ability to feel love and compassion. It is a journey and not a destination, a journey in which one achieves goals, feels zest for life, with personal relationships that fulfill the self, with a sense of well-being and peace of mind… We can say that success is connecting with the spiritual and creative part of us.
Recent scientific studies have confirmed that loneliness, depression, sadness and other negative emotions can have a negative impact on health. Is it necessary to be happy to enjoy good health?
I don’t think of happiness in those terms. One may feel happy in certain moments but it is impossible to be happy all the time and in fact the moments when one does not feel happy or when problems arise, the pursuit of happiness becomes an opportunity to grow, heal, learn and be more. She goes. creative…
To enjoy a fulfilling life it is often more important to overcome our own inner obstacles than the obstacles posed by the outside world. In your experience, what are the most common internal barriers?
There are many internal barriers, but the most common are self-doubt, dependence on others, low self-esteem, and conditioning from culture and institutions.
Some tips for a full and healthy life
If you had to give someone advice on how to make the most of their time in this world, what would you say?
I would tell them to question the assumptions they have about things, question everything they hear. also that he breathes well and gets enough sleep, that he pays attention to his diet and takes supplements and vitamins, that he practices meditation, certain mind-body techniques, such as yoga, and exercises regularly Is. Another important thing is to learn to look at yourself, try to understand why you feel fear, anxiety, insecurity… Also try to be a good person and build relationships based on respect, love and compassion. develop the And I would still say two last things to him: to have a sensible attitude towards life and to approach it with an open mind.
Do you follow them all?
– Well, I guess since I spend all day dealing with it, I’ve had enough of it and turned it into a habit.
You talked about diet. Today we all accept that having a healthy diet and exercise is important, and in fact we never stop listening to general recommendations on food, whether one trend or the other. However, don’t you think that diet should be individualized?
-Undoubted. This is a very common problem. We have very different people following the same general dietary recommendations. Now, general recommendations may work for some people, but not everyone. Each one has its own nature, it reacts differently to food, it depends on its metabolism, ability to eliminate toxins… It is one of the pillars of Ayurvedic nutrition. Everyone should be aware of their relationship with food, let their sense of taste guide them, observe what tastes good and what feels bad. There is no universal diet. Diet should always be individualized.
– What diet do you follow? Are there foods that you always indulge in or always avoid?
-I try to reduce dairy products and meat, and above all eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. I also avoid any kind of processed food.
Biological creativity and healing power of the organism
– Do you think illness gives people an opportunity to learn?
-Yes, of course, this is an opportunity to grow, to look for other ways to foster creativity. We can say that it is an opportunity to exercise creativity organically.
You compared the human body to a pharmacy, saying that we all have the power to create substances that will heal us. How can this “inner pharmacy” be stimulated?
Through meditation, exercise, mind-body techniques, nutrition, taking vitamins and supplements, and ultimately enhancing emotional well-being. Stimulation through the senses or healing techniques may also be used, such as massage, aromatherapy…
-Some drugs and treatment techniques are attributed to the placebo effect. How do you think the placebo effect works?
“We still don’t know exactly how it works, but it is clear that hope and intention affect healing. This is a very good example of how the mind can have a biological effect, how it can act as that “inner pharmacy”. We talked about earlier. It’s also interesting to see how we can consciously awaken that healing response.
In Spanish they say that faith moves mountains…
– That’s so true.
Holistic Medical Paradigm Shift
-You have been hailed as a pioneer of holistic medicine, which is becoming increasingly popular. You yourself, as a doctor, have moved from conventional to holistic medicine. Why do you think this happens? Why do people turn to this type of medicine more and more?
I find that conventional medicine forces the patient to think that they only recognize what is happening to their body, whereas with holistic medicine they are aware, as the name suggests, that their The body, your body along with all their complexities are being taken care of. mind and your soul.
– In holistic medicine the personal treatment given to the patient, the fact that the doctor talks with him and devotes his time, is it therapeutic in itself?
It is very therapeutic. In fact, there have been studies that show that, upon entering the consultation, a series of biochemical changes can already be produced in the patient, just by the fact of interacting with the doctor.
-How can traditional medicine and naturopathy be combined to address cancer?
-In the specific case of cancer, conventional medicine makes it possible to identify the type of cancer with great accuracy and in some cases gives very good results. However, naturopathy also plays an important role and should not be discounted. It can help to make conventional treatments more effective, for example by forming certain habits, and reduce their side effects or make them more tolerable.
We take it for granted that complementary medicines can’t harm us. do you agree?
No, you have to be very careful. Some products that are used, even if they are natural, can have side effects and it is convenient to know what they are.
-Conventional medicine has more and more doctors who accept the holistic medicine thesis. Are we moving towards a mix of the two?
-I hope so.
There is a lot of information out there today about living a healthy life, sometimes conflicting. Do people now know more about how to take care of themselves or do they think so?
I think the fact that there is more and more information on both conventional medicine and complementary medicine is very positive. Now people can find a lot of things online and have information they can ask their doctor. And I think it’s important to question your doctor. Patients who complain and want get much more than those who merely comply.
