ROSICRU Cl AN ORDER

A M O R C
TRADE MARK
Supplementary Monograph
PRI NT ED I N U. S. A.
The subject matter of this monograph must be understood by the reader or student
of same, not to be the official Rosicrucian teachings. These monographs constitute a series
of supplementary studies provided by the Rosicrucian Order, A M ORC, both to mem
bers and non-members, because they are not the secret, private teachings of the Order.
The object of these supplementary monographs is to broaden the mind of the student by
presenting him with the writings, opinions, and dissertations of authorities in various fields
of human enterprise and endeavor. Therefore, it is quite probable that the reader will note
at times in these supplementary monographs statements made which are inconsistent with
the Rosicrucian teachings or view-point. But with the realization that they are merely
supplementary and that the Rosicrucian Organi zation is not endorsing or condoning them,
one must take them merely for their prima facie value. Throughout the supplementary
series the authors or translators of the subject will be given due credit whenever we have
knowledge of their identity.
SUPREME TEMPLE, ROSICRUCIAN PARK, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA
"Consecrated to truth and dedicated to every Rosicrucian"
SPECI AL SUBJ ECT LECTURE NUMBER
BA
PHYSI CAL LAWS OF BODI LY HEALTH
The physi cal body i s "t he hol y t empl e of God. " The mor e per f ect i t s
condi t i on t he bet t er i s t he soul ' s chance t o f ul f i l l i t s dut i es and
obl i gat i ons, and t o enj oy i t s r ewar ds. No i ndi vi dual Ego can so wel l
expr ess i t sel f t hr u a def ect i ve as t hr u a nor mal l y heal t hy i nst r u
ment . I f t her e ar e physi cal or psychi cal means wher eby we may i n
duce and sust ai n condi t i ons of heal t h and mai nt ai n t he physi cal body
at i t s hi ghest poi nt of per f ect i on, i t i s our dut y t o i nf or mour sel ves
and appl y t hem. J udged by r esul t s, i t i s nat ur e' s i nt ent i on f or us
t o obser ve al l l aws t hat gover n t he heal t h of t he body. They ar e
consi st ent wi t h t he Di vi ne Pl an wi t h whi ch we must cooper at e.
A doct or I know, t el l s hi s pat i ent s t hat t hey di g t hei r gr aves wi t h
t hei r t eet h. Ot her wi se mor al per sons ar e i mmor al pat er s; t hey eat
t oo of t en and t oo much at a si t t i ng. Many coul d cut i n hal ves t he
quant i t y consumed and be bet t er ci t i zens. Too much f ood makes a man
spi r i t ual l y heavy, i nat t ent i ve, and i nt er f er es wi t h hi s ef f i ci ency
i n wor k. Peopl e dr i nk st i mul ant s when t hei r ner ves ar e al r eady over -
st i mul at ed and eat sweet s when t hey ar e t oo f at and i n no condi t i on
t o assi mi l at e an addi t i onal amount . They eat t o enj oy t he pl easur es
of t he pal at e af t er t he body has r eached t he l i mi t of i t s need and
t hey l i ve t o r eap t he har vest of excess. I t t akes mor e cour age and
st r engt h of char act er f or most per sons t o deny t hemsel ves savor y f ood
and st i mul at i ng dr i nk t han t o t el l t he t r ut h. Sel f - i ndul gence i s
easy but damagi ng; sel f - cont r ol di f f i cul t but upbui l di ng.
Anyone who moves hi s muscl es sel dom, or si t s al l day at hi s j ob, can
not expect t o r emai n l i mber unl esswi t h dai l y r egul ar i t yhe wal ks,
or t akes f i ve or mor e mi nut es f or st r enuous exer ci se. Those occupi ed
i n sedent ar y l abor shoul d make t he most of ever y change of posi t i on,
st oop f r om t he wai st t o pi ck up a paper , wal k acr oss t he f l oor wi t h
el ast i ci t y and upl i f t ed muscl es, t hr ow out t he chest and hol d up t he
head. I know a woman who st ands on one f oot whi l e she put s her shoe
on t he ot her ; t he pr ocess of dr essi ng and undr essi ng pr ovi des var i ed
oppor t uni t y f or l i mber i ng up t he body.
Ther e came t o us as gi r l s at home a dr essmaker who sat bol t upr i ght
at her wor k; her chest and back wer e per f ect l y car r i ed. I n t he ear l y
days of her busi ness, she was once shocked t o see her sel f i n a mi r
r or bent over i nt o a unsi ght l y huddl e. Sewi ng was t o be her l i f e
wor k and she det er mi ned t o l ear n t o sew si t t i ng er ect . She di d. Her
f i ne appear ance was ent i r el y due t o her own ef f or t and st r engt h of
char act er . She ceased maki ng her sel f a host f or t uber cul osi s ger ms.
Habi t i s a val uabl e f r i end when used f or and not agai nst us.
Fr esh ai r i n t he l ungs i s an i mpor t ant f act or i n heal t h, and yet
many r ef use i t when t hey coul d have i t ; al l who wi l l may get suf f i
ci ent oxygen i nt o t he syst em t o suppl y i t s i mper at i ve need. Women
who st ay at home al l day shoul d open t he door or wi ndow of t en and
l et i n t he f r esh ai r . Or sever al t i mes a day shoul d put on a wr ap
and st ep out of door s wher e t hey can t ake t en br eat hs of f r esh ai r ,
sl owl y i nhal i ng and exhal i ng. Even t hose i n cr owded wor kshops can
~C~
Page Two
r ef r esh t he physi cal body wi t h t he out - of - door s oxygenat ed ai r by
br eat hi ng deepl y when t hey do get out si de. At l east ei ght out of
t he t went y- f our hour st he hour s of sl eep*can be spent except i n
t he most ext r eme weat her as near l y as possi bl e i n t he out si de ai r ,
I have a si st er who sl eeps out of door s t he year r ound* i n wi nt er she
wear s a cot t on f l annel gar ment , l i es bet ween cot t on f l annel sheet s,
and put s a f l annel bl anket under t he mat t r ess t o keep out t he col d.
The comf or t abl e i s spr ead under an out si de cover t o r et ai n t he heat .
I n a col d cl i mat e wi t hi n t he r oom one may have wi ndows al l open t o
f ul l capaci t y i f t he bed i s ar r anged as descr i bed. The physi cal
syst emneeds oxygen, must have oxygen. Thi s i s a si mpl e and ef f ec
t i ve way t o get i t i n adequat e quant i t i es.
An excessi ve amount of sl eepover ni ne f or an adul t i n good heal t h
i s si mpl y a habi t , and t ends t o make hi mf at and sl ot hf ul . And
yet , t her e i s a wi de l at i t ude i n t he way vi t al i t y hol ds out . I t i s
a pi t y t hat ever y one who has l ost hi s f i r st f r eshness by noon cannot
l i e f l at on hi s back f or t en mi nut es i n per f ect ment al and physi cal
r el axat i on. I t i s especi al l y I mpor t ant f or peopl e of ner vous t em
per ament ' or f or qui ck, al er t wor ker s t o t ake a hal t f or r epose al l
nat ur e has her per i ods of r est f or r enewal of f or ces. She expends
her s mor e evenl y t han man who shoul d vol unt ar i l y and i nt el l i gent l y
gi ve t i me f or her r ecuper at i ve mi ni st r at i ons. I t pays anyonet he
mor e wor k t o be done t he bet t er i t pays- ~t o st op, r el ax, and r est .
POWER OF' THOUGHT OVER THE PHYSI CAL BODY
I s t he physi cal body af f ect ed by ot her t han physi cal causes?
I f so, t o what ext ent ?
What act i on ot her t han physi cal may be t aken t o I mpr ove one' s heal t h,
t o check or r emove weakness, t o pr event i l l ness or di sease?
For year s, Dr . Duboi s of Ber ne, Swi t zer l and, was sought by pat i ent s
and by ot her doct or s f r om al l over t he cont i nent of Eur ope. One day
a woman came t o hi maf t er a l ong j our ney f or r el i ef f r om an i ncr eas
i ngl y t r oubl esome mal ady. The odor of f l ower s i nvar i abl y made her
f ai nt . Ever ywher e she went , i f she wer e near f l ower s she swooned
she was f or ced t o become a r ecl use. At t he second cal l , as she st ep
ped f or war d t o meet Dr. Duboi s, she saw behi nd hi m an i mmense bouquet
on t he t abl e beyond. She coul d scar el y bel i eve her eyes! But yes.
I t was t r ue! She gave hi ma r epr oachf ul gl ance and cr umpl ed up i n
a swoon. When she had r ecover ed, t he physi ci an sai d t o her , "Madam,
you must come her e and smel l t hese f l ower s. " I ncr edi bl e! She coul d
n' t ; she woul dn' t . She demur r ed; I t woul d make her f ai nt agai n.
He i nsi st ed t hat he coul d cur e her onl y af t er hi s own met hod. She
br aced her sel f f or t he or deal , l eaned over and smel l ed t he f l ower s
t hey wer e ar t i f i ci al !
Al ways her t hought had been power f ul enough t o i nt er r upt moment ar i l y
t he nor mal f l ow of bl ood t hr u her hear t ; t hen she had f ai nt ed. He
coul d never have convi nced her by t el l i ng her t hat she needed psychi c
al r eeducat i on.
The f ol l owi ng i s i n a physi ol ogy I once st udi ed:
"A But cher was br ought i nt o a dr uggi st ' s f r omt he mar ket pl ace op
posi t e, l abor i ng under a t er r i bl e acci dent . The man, on t r yi ng t o
hook up a heavy pi ece of meat above hi s head, sl i pped, and t he shar p-
hook penet r at ed hi s ar m so t hat he hi msel f was suspended. On bei ng
exami ned, he was pal e, al most pul sel ess, and expr essed hi msel f as
suf f er i ng acut e agony. The ar m coul d not be moved wi t hout causi ng
excessi ve ps. i n; and i n cut t i ng of f t he sl eeve he of t en cr i ed out ;
yet when t he ar mwas exposed, i t was f ound qui t e uni nj ur ed, t he hook
onl y havi ng t r aver sed t he sl eeve of t he coat . "
And t he f ol l owi ng i s t he doct or ' s obser vat i on:
"The sensat i on her e was per f ect l y r eal , but or i gi nat ed i n t he change
i n t he br ai n and ner ves, i nst ead of t he ext er nal senses. "
The sensat i on, t he pai n, was act ual not i magi nar y, we not e. I t was,
however , a t hought of gr eat vi t al i t ynot l acer at ed f l esht hat
caused t he excessi ve exci t at i on of t he ner ves and br ai n. So- cal l ed
" i magi nar y i nval i ds" do not i magi ne t hat t hey ar e i l l . They ar e i l l .
Thei r t hought s ar e f or cef ul enough t o gi ve t hem r eal i ndi gest i on, r eal
head- aches. The cause of t hei r I l l ness i s i n t he r eal m of t hought
and emot i on. not i n t he physi cal r eal m. I t i s a physi cal di sabi l i t y
caused by t hei r cont i nuous t hought habi t . To change t hei r st at e of
heal t hi n cooper at i on wi t h t he Gr eat Pl ant hey must al t er t hei r
habi t of t hought .
CELLS
The human body, we r ecal l , i s composed of cel l st i ny f or ms, A cel l
i s a cavi t y wi t h cel l ul ar wal l s whi ch separ at e i t f r om ot her cel l s.
These cel l uni t s t oget her compose t he bodi l y or gansas t he hear t ,
l ungs, ner ves, and gl ands. We have bone- cel l s, car t i l ege- cel l s, rnus-
cl e- cel l s, and f at - cel l s. I n f act , even t he ski n i s an or gan made
up of cel l s. Cel l subst ance di f f er s i n each ki nd of cel l ; each has
i t s dut y t o di schar ge, i t s speci al f unct i on t o per f or m. Because i t
i s endowed wi t h t he f unct i ons of sensat i on, nut r i t i on, and r epr oduc
t i on, i t can r un i t s own af f ai r s. I t i s a l i t t l e or gan by i t sel f
and yet i t uni t es wi t h ot her s t o compose t he st r uct ur e of al l t he
bodi l y or gans, as, f or exampl e, t he or gan of si ght . I n al l t hese
cel l s many moder n aut hor i t i es hol d t hat t her e i s a l ow t ype of con
sci ousness cei l consci ousness.
As an i ndi vi dual , you ar e endowed wi t h t he sense of t ouch, and when
you t ouch anyt hi ng, you have a sensat i on; when a cel l comes i n con
t act wi t h an obj ect out si de i t sel f , t he cel l i s sai d t o exper i ence a
sensat i on, per haps, as t he shadow of a super b f l ower i s r el at ed t o
t he bl ossom i t sel f . I t i s supposed t o be t he suggest i on of a sensa
t i on.
Sensat i on i s of t he ut most i mpor t ance, f or cel l s ar e shor t l i ved; i f
t he cel l s of whi ch an or gan i s composed di e, t he or gan ceases t o
f unct i on. They "f eel " and r espond t o t he pr esence of nut r i t i ve ma
t er i al br ought t o t hem i n t he pl asma of t he bl ood. . Among t he mi l l i ons
of cel l s t hat go t o make up t he physi cal body, eachendowed, wi t h t he
f unct i on of nut r i t i on each one, t akes i t s f ood f r omt he bl ood sup
pl i ed t o I t as t he bl ood ci r cul at es t hr u t he syst em. I t does not t ake
up t hat whi ch i t does not need, but t akes t he speci al sor t of nut r i
t i ve mat er i al t hat i t r equi r es t o r ebui l d and r enew i t s par t i cul ar
cel l ul ar t i ssue.
Two subst ances uni t e t o make a new subst ance unl i ke ei t her of t hem,
as bef or e sai d, and a chemi cal change t akes pl ace. I f oxygen and
hydr ogen gases ar e pl aced, t oget her I n t he r i ght pr opor t i on and under
t he pr oper condi t i ons, t hey uni t e t o f or mwat er whol l y unl i ke oxygen
or hydr ogen. I n t he cel l t he mat er i al t aken f r ombl ood i s changed,
chemi cal l y i nt o t hose subst ances i t needs f or nut r i t i on and r epr oduc
t i on. By vi r t ue of t hi s f unct i on of r epr oduct i on, t hen, t he cel l r e
pr oduces i t sel f and t hi s pr ocess i s goi ng on cont i nual l y.
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