NCJ Number
199394
Date Published
2002
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This paper outlines the 10 main principles of traditional Indian healing.
Abstract
The main cause of violence is the emotion of shame, which the authors define as the “absence or deficiency of self-love.” They further explain that the emotion of shame may trigger a person to move in one of four directions: withdrawal, hurt or attack self, avoidance, or hurt or attack another person. Since the emotion of shame can trigger negative actions, it is important to heal the soul, so to speak. The authors explain that the indigenous peoples of the world have developed successful methods of healing from spiritual ills. They present 10 elements that are central to traditional Indian methods of healing: prayer, naming of illness, confession, talking things out, solidarity, respect, connections, control, a sense of place and space, and the ongoing nature of healing. Each of these 10 elements is discussed in more detail. For example, they explain that the basic theme of the element of prayer is that when a person feels alone, they can ask for help. In this way, no one is ever alone. The element of “talking things out” suggests that a lot of our problems are due to false assumptions. Therefore, if we talk things out, our false assumptions are corrected, often for the better. In conclusion, the authors point out that although traditional methods of healing have been largely cast aside in modern society, indigenous peoples knew what they were doing when it came to healing spiritual ills. As such, society would benefit from re-learning old customs.