The Physical Cause of Disease
"The outer, physical causal factor in disease... is a disturbance in the balance, the proportionate equilibrium of all those elements of which the human body is composed."
The Spiritual Cause of Disease
"If humankind ... lived according to a natural, inborn equilibrium, without following wherever their passions led, it is undeniable that diseases would no longer take the ascendant, nor diversify with such intensity. But man hath perversely continued to follow his lustful appetites, and he would not content himself with simple foods. Rather, he prepared for himself food that was composed of many ingredients, of substances differing one from the other. The result was the engendering of diseases both violent and diverse."
Two Methods of Healing
"There are two ways of healing sickness, material means and spiritual means. The first is by treatment of physicians; the second consisteth in prayers offered by the spiritual ones to God and in turning to Him. Both means should be used and practised. Illnesses which occur by reason of physical causes should be treated by doctors with medical remedies; those which are due to spiritual causes disappear through spiritual means."
"Disease is of two kinds, material and spiritual. For instance, a cut on the hand - if you pray for the cut to be healed, and do not stop its bleeding, you will not do much good; this needs a material remedy. Sometimes, if the nervous system is paralysed through fear, a spiritual remedy is necessary... It often happens that sorrow makes one ill. That illness can be cured by spiritual means."
Healing through Diet
"When highly-skilled physicians shall fully examine this matter, thoroughly and perseveringly, it will be clearly seen that the incursion of disease is due to a disturbance in the relative amounts of the body's component substances, and that treatment consisteth in adjusting these relative amounts, and that this can be apprehended and made possible by means of foods. It is certain that in this wonderful new age the development of medical science will lead to the doctors' healing their patients with foods."
"When the science of medicine reaches perfection, treatment will be given by foods, aliments, fragrant fruits, and vegetables, and by various waters, hot and cold in temperature."
HOW TO STAY HEALTHY
Eat Healthily
"In all matters moderation is desirable."
"Do not eat except when you are hungry."
"The food of the future will be fruit and grains. The time will come when meat will no longer be eaten.... our natural food is that which grows out of the ground. The people will gradually develop up to the condition of this natural food."
Avoid Drink and Drugs
"Experience hath shown how greatly the renouncing of smoking, of intoxicating drink, and of opium, conduceth to health and vigour, to the expansion and keenness of the mind and to bodily strength."
Be Happy
"In a large measure happiness keeps our health while depression of spirit begets disease..."
"Verily the most necessary thing is contentment under all circumstances; by this one is preserved from morbid conditions and from lassitude. Yield not to grief and sorrow: they cause the greatest misery".
"We should all visit the sick. When they are in sorrow or suffering it is a real help and benefit to have a friend come. Happiness is a great healer to those who are ill."
Be Spiritual
"Matters related to man's spirit have a great effect on his bodily condition."
"Jealousy consumeth the body and anger doth burn the liver: avoid these two as you would a lion."
Meditate
"The spirit of man is itself informed and strengthened during meditation... Through it he receives Divine inspiration, through it he receives heavenly food."
Use Your Health
"The bounty of good health is the greatest of all gifts."
"Between material things and spiritual things there is a connection. The more healthful his body the greater will be the power of the spirit of man, the power of the intellect, the power of the memory, the power of reflection will be greater."
IF YOU ARE ILL
Consult a Doctor
"Whenever ye fall ill, refer to competent physicians... Whatever the competent physicians or surgeons prescribe for a patient must be accepted and complied with.
"Treat disease through diet by preference, refraining from the use of drugs; and if you find what is required in a single herb, do not resort to a compounded medicament."
"Abstain from drugs when the health is good, but administer them when necessary..."
Use Your Ill-Health
"Often physical sickness draws man nearer to his Maker, suffers his heart to be made empty of all worldly desires until it becomes tender and sympathetic towards all sufferers and and compassionate to all creatures."
Pray for Healing
A Bahá'í prayer:
"Thy name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy. Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion. Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succour in both this world and the world to come. Thou, verily, art the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise."
REMEMBER
"... you should not neglect your health, but consider it the means which enables you to serve..."
Published by the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Warwick,
Approved by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United Kingdom,
27, Rutland Gate, London SW7 1PD.
All quotations are from the Bahá'í writings.
