There are many
autoimmune diseases that attack the humans’ immune system, which is supposed to
protect the humans from diseases.
Myasthenia gravis is a disorder of the immune system with
muscle weakness in the body, most notably in the eye muscle, often resulting in
double vision or drooping eyelids. The severity of the disease symptoms can be
severe, debilitating, and devastating.
The disease affects
not only the body but also the mind, and the spirit of the individual. That is
why the ancient TAO wisdom may help. The TAO is the profound wisdom of Lao
Tzu, the author of the immortal classic Tao Te Ching, which has
become one of the top most translated works in world literature.
How can the TAO help
the autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis?
First of all, the
diagnosis of myasthenia gravis can be
devastating. The onslaught of the disease can be sudden with no previous symptom
or warning at all. Patients often ask the questions: “Why me?” and “What
did I do?” This may lead to anger or bitterness.
To add insult to
injury, patients are often told that there is no cure because medical science
has not been able to pinpoint the exact cause or causes of the autoimmune
disease. This may lead to frustration or even despair.
Given that relaxation
holds the key to alleviating the disease symptoms, it is important to maintain
total relaxation of the body and the mind, and this is where the TAO may play a
pivotal part.
The TAO stresses the
natural cycle of things, including disease. That is, disease, like any human
tragedy, may occur with or without a reason.
"The Creator has
no judgment, no preference:
He treats everything and
everyone alike.
Every manifestation
attests to the mysteries of his creation.
So, we, too, embrace
everything and everyone with no judgment, no preference.
His grace, never
depleting and forever replenishing, shows us the Way.
Judgment and
preference separate us from his grace, causing attachment.
Only with his grace do
we find renewal and rebirth along the Way."
(Lao Tzu, Tao
Te Ching, Chapter 5)
According to Lao Tzu,
in life, all things complement each other, such as life and death, joy and
sadness, success and failure; nothing lasts forever because everything follows
a natural cycle. Therefore, it is important to embrace everything without
preference or judgment, and everything in life is a life-learning opportunity.
Relaxation and inner
harmony may not only alleviate the disease symptoms, but also enable the
patient to find ways of self-healing. Remember, nothing is set in stone.
Self-healing begins with the mind first; the mind prepares the
environment for the body to heal itself, even of an autoimmune disease.
Stephen Lau
Copyright© by Stephen Lau
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