Spiritual! What does illness mean?

 Spiritual! What does illness mean?

Next, the spiritual meaning of illness. While it cannot be stated absolutely, there is a spiritual significance to illness.

In the teachings of Silver Birch, which have influenced spiritual thought, it is said that most illnesses arise from one’s own causes, and that the majority of illnesses can be cured.

However, as an exception, some illnesses are believed to occur by fate in order to resolve karmic debts from past lives.

The human body is sometimes called a “microcosm,” and in fact, each person is like a divine presence to their own body, endowed with a highly blessed physical form.

The world operates on balance, and when balance is disrupted, collapse becomes more likely. From a spiritual perspective, the primary cause of illness is living a life that disrupts this balance.

Excessive thoughts or actions are often the source of this imbalance, and one common example is illness that arises from stress.

Next, regarding the pleasure principle proposed by the psychologist Freud: whether people are eating, sleeping, or relieving themselves, some degree of pleasure is inevitably experienced. Humans are creatures who seek pleasure, and Freud referred to this as the pleasure principle.

Extending this idea, one could say that “sense of presence = pleasure.” When a person feels happiness, they simultaneously experience a strong sense of presence and strong pleasure.

Not being able to feel one’s sense of presence is not merely a lack of self-awareness; the human body and mind influence each other, and this can easily generate stress as a perceived threat to life.

Stress responses place a person in a state where they must either attack or escape the source of stress, either of which requires energy and can generate more energy within the mind and body.

However, of course, there are situations in which a person can neither attack nor escape. In such cases, stress operates nearby, triggering the body’s maximum defensive instincts.

If the body moves, it may be “detected” by stress. As a protective instinct, the body may feel heavy or sluggish, and mental lethargy may appear.

Similarly, if one tries to speak, stress may notice, leading to a loss of vocal strength or diminished assertiveness in speech.

External stimuli can agitate the mind and cause involuntary physical movement. To counter this, a person may unconsciously block external stimuli, leading to slower responses to commands or interactions.

Smaller physical postures are more effective for hiding oneself, so one may become hunched or drop their shoulders.

If one forces movement under these conditions, the balance of mind and body may collapse, increasing the likelihood of illness.

Generally, most people are unaware of these processes. Few visit psychiatrists or psychosomatic clinics, and illnesses arising from stress and defense mechanisms may be treated only superficially with conventional medicine, without addressing the mental factors at play.

In modern times, there is a general tendency to treat the body with physical medication alone, overlooking the interplay between mind and body.

While scientific evidence is important, it is equally crucial to recognize that the mind can cause illness in the body. From a spiritual perspective, this understanding is also significant.