Way of The Seekers — Page 113
113 THE something wrong with his nervous system. He should consult a competent physician. If medical advice is not available, he should follow the following fourfold regimen: 1. Physical exercise. 2. Stoppage of all mental work. 3. Proper diet. 4. Try to feel relaxed and keep cheerful. It should be remembered that in many cases spiritual maladies are occasioned by imagination like physical illness. This is confirmed by my own experience. When I started studying medicine, I began to feel as if I was suffering from every disease which I tried to study. But a medical student told me that their teacher had warned them against such a phenomenon. I would, therefore, urge you to avoid falling into the mistake of imagining that you suffer from every spiritual ailment that you happen to contemplate. This reminds me of the story of a teacher who was a hard task-master. On one occasion his students decided to take a holiday. One of them proposed that if they would cooperate with him, he would procure them a holiday. They agreed. Whereupon he approached the teacher and with concern in his voice enquired whether the teacher was feeling well. The teacher told him to shut up and attend to his work. But the student persisted and told the teacher that indeed he looked somewhat pale. The teacher was furious and gave the student a bit of his mind. He was soon followed by another student who made the same enquiry from the teacher. He too was rebuked, albeit, with a little less vehemence. He was followed by yet another student who in turn was followed by still others repeating the same enquiry and voicing the same concern. When the seventh student approached, the teacher admitted that he was, in fact, feeling a little out of sorts but admonished the students that they were harping on his indisposition unnecessarily. When the fifteenth or sixteenth student enquired about his health, the teacher confessed: Yes, I do feel a little feverish. Let me, therefore, take a little rest.