My Reflections on Four Kinds of Healing Without Medicine

I consider myself quite the optimist. I like to tackle my days with a can-do attitude, even if the odds are against me. When I was younger, I remember finding four planks of wood and an old rubber mat lying around our shed, and thinking to myself, “I’m going to build a swimming pool.” I was so excited about the prospect of finally owning my very own backyard pool. Think of all the summer parties! It wasn’t until hours later and several failed attempts to fill said pool, that I realised there are some things in life that require more of a scientific approach.

My approach to health has always been similar. If ever I feel myself catching a cold, I like to think the illness away. Swallow it, so it will never see the light of day! Similar to my backyard pool encounter, I don’t allow reality to get the better of me. Unlike the pool encounter however, I have found this strategy works, for the most part. My husband puts it down to me having a strong immune system, but I definitely think there is something to be said about the power of positive thinking.

Now, we know that the Writings encourage us to always seek assistance and guidance from a medical professional during times of ill health. And while Abdu’l-Baha speaks about medicine being in a state of infancy,¹ that’s not to say we should avoid taking medication where directed. Baha’u’llah says in the Kitab-i-Aqdas:

Resort ye, in times of sickness, to competent physicians; We have not set aside the use of material means, rather have We confirmed it through this Pen, which God hath made to be the Dawning-place of His shining and glorious Cause.²

That being said, Abdu’l-Baha also talks about four kinds of healing and cure without medicine. I had never come across this section of Some Answered Questions until we held a devotional gathering for a friend going through a cancer journey. You can imagine how excited I was to finally find some method to my madness! Abdu’l-Baha says:

Know that there are four kinds of treatment and healing without medicine. Two are due to material causes and two to spiritual ones.¹

And He continues:

As to the two material kinds, one is due to the fact that in reality both health and sickness are contagious. The contagiousness of disease is rapid and violent, whereas that of health is exceedingly slow and weak. If two bodies are brought into contact with each other, it is certain that microbial particles will be transmitted from one to the other. In the same way that disease is rapidly and violently transmitted from one body to another, the strong health of a healthy person may also alleviate a very slight condition in a sick person. Our meaning is that the contagiousness of disease is rapid and violent, while that of health is very slow and of limited effect, and it is only in minor ills that this modest effect can be felt. In such cases, the strength of the healthy body overcomes the slight weakness of the sick body and brings about its health. This is one kind of healing.¹

I absolutely love that Abdu’l-Baha is talking about health being contagious. We talk so much about contagious diseases, but never about contagious health. We’ve all heard the saying that “smiling is contagious,” and people are always talking about laughter being the best medicine, so it shouldn’t be surprising that good health is able to be passed on, albeit slowly and slightly. We know that individuals are easily affected by their environment. Shoghi Effendi talks about it when he says that “Man is organic with the world. His inner life moulds the environment and is itself also deeply affected by it.”³ So it makes sense that if our surroundings breed health, we are in a better position to reap the rewards, and visa versa! Abdu’l-Baha then goes on to say:

Another kind of healing is through the force of bodily magnetism, where the magnetic force of one body affects another body and brings about the cure. This force, too, has only a slight effect. Thus someone may lay his hand upon the head or stomach of a patient and perchance the latter will benefit from this. Why? Because the effect of the magnetism, and the impression made upon the psyche of the patient, may dispel the disease. But this effect is also very slight and weak.¹

I have a friend who works as a kinesiologist (monitoring muscles to look for imbalances that are causing illness) and who also performs Reiki, a Japanese technique used for stress reduction, relaxation and the promotion of healing. Both these forms of therapy make use of the hands, and in many ways are intertwined with the first kind of healing we looked at. Until recently, I didn’t know much about these techniques, but after talking to my friend and also reading these words from Abdu’l-Baha, I can see how the use of magnetic force could be beneficial; if it has the potential to relieve stress, which is oftentimes a precursor to other maladies, then it’s worth giving it a shot!

Abdu’l-Baha goes on to talk about the two spiritual kinds of healing without medicine. He says:

The two other kinds are spiritual; that is, the means of healing is a spiritual power. One is when a healthy person focuses his whole attention upon a sick person, and the latter in turn fully expects to be healed through the spiritual power of the former and is wholly convinced thereof, to such an extent that a strong connection is created between their hearts. Should the healthy individual then bend every effort to heal the sick one, and should the latter have full faith that health will be attained, an excitement may be produced in his nerves from these soul-to-soul influences and bring about the cure. ((Abdu’l-Baha, Some Answered Questions))

This goes back to my initial thoughts on how the power of positivity cannot be underestimated. If both the healer and the sick person wholeheartedly believe that a cure is going to come about, then it will happen. Abdu’l-Baha assures us of this by saying:

…the sudden realization of a most cherished desire may impart such joy as to excite the nerves and restore health. ((Abdu’l-Baha, Some Answered Questions))

But, and there is a but:

But this is effective only to a point and not in all cases. For instance, should someone contract a grave illness or be physically injured, these means will neither dispel the illness nor soothe and heal the injury—that is, these means have no sway over grave illnesses unless assisted by the constitution of the patient, for a strong constitution will often ward off an illness. This is the third kind of healing. ((Abdu’l-Baha, Some Answered Questions))

It is the fourth kind of healing that is most effective, and which doesn’t rely on any contact, sight or presence in order to work. It is the kind of healing that relies solely on the Holy Spirit. Abdu’l-Baha says:

But the fourth kind is when healing is brought about through the power of the Holy Spirit. This depends neither upon physical contact, nor upon sight, nor even upon presence: It is not dependent upon any condition. Whether the disease be mild or severe, whether there be contact between the bodies or not, whether a connection be established between patient and physician or not, whether the patient be present or not, this healing takes place through the power of the Holy Spirit.¹

When we pray for healing, I don’t believe we should expect to be healed physically. These healing prayers, or any prayers for that matter, provide us with the spiritual means to cope with our illnesses, to overcome our frailties, to navigate through this disease-stricken world. Abdu’l-Baha says:

…the true remedy which will heal man from all sickness and will give him the health of the divine kingdom, know that it is the precepts and teachings of God. Focus thine attention upon them.⁴

When we rely on the Holy Spirit–through the Word of God–we give ourselves up to Him and are able to work through whatever comes our way. This is indeed, true healing.

1. Abdu’l-Baha, Some Answered Questions [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩]
2. Baha’u’llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 60 [↩]
3. Letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, To an individual believer, 17 February 1933 [↩]
4. Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, sec 133, pp. 151-52 [↩]

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Dellaram

Dellaram is a Baha'i, wife, and mother of three, who works as a freelance journalist and copywriter in her hometown of Ballarat, Australia. She is passionate about building community and loves the thrill that comes with op-shopping!