M
Learning is one of my great passions. I feel like I am a sponge soaking up all the knowledge these sage, seasoned macrobiotic teachers are offering. I have been taught about the Five Transformstions before, but in the hands of Kaare Bursell, it crystallizes in my mind. He explains that the Five Transformations can be used to explain our behavior, emotions and the condition of our organs and suggests the useful foods and tastes which help to heal those organs in the different seasons. We have the opportunity to observe Kaare administering a ginger compress which uses grated ginger, a root with downward yang energy, to activate circulation and break up and dissolve stagnation in the tissues. "We can achieve deeper healing through consistency, patience, discipline and the use of the ginger compress," according to Kaare.
The teachings of Bob Sachs are new to me. I arrive early in the morning to attend his Buddha Meditation class. Bob describes the Three Poisons, ignorance, attachment and aggression. This gentle meditation serves to uproot the poisons. Since I have had some recent challenges over being too attached to outcomes, sweet things, and other people's opinions, this meditation seems perfect for me. Bob explains that, "When the rational mind is suspended, the body is capable of miraculous things." The idea is to put a virus in our neuroses programs. He points out that our actions have created our current condition and our current thoughts and actions are shaping our future condition. There is so much personal power in this idea. We hold our fate in our own hands, for better or worse! Bob leads us through a nostril breathing exercise intended to open our channels and then a lovely visualization.
I am grateful I decided to attend this insightful class.
Other notable speakers include Dr. Michael Klaper and Dr. Colin Campbell. I had never heard Dr. Klaper before and he creates a presentation chronicling his life's journey from his childhood on a dairy farm through his traditional medical practice to his embracing a plant based diet. After witnessing many surgical procedures where diet influenced disease in the form of arteries filled with plaque causing heart operations, he decided that a change in diet can prevent disease and even death. Dr. Klaper's saying is, "from the operating table to the dining table." Dr. Colin Campbell is our surprise guest. In the neighborhood helping to promote his son Nelson's movie, Plant Pure Nation, he shows us how cancer can be turned on and off with the amount of animal protein consumed. His book, The China Study, documents the work he did in China on this subject. It is encouraging to see doctors and researchers taking on the traditional ways of thinking on health and disease.
The last day all of us gather together in the Peace Garden to honor and remember Michio Kushi, who passed away last December. Sitting on stone benches among a myriad of colorful paper cranes, Dr. Larry Kushi shares his memories of his father.
The Kushis opened their home in Boston to over a thousand students over the years and Aveline taught them how to make futons(new to the U.S.) for them to sleep on. The Kushis were pioneers of the organic, whole foods movement, urging farmers to plant fields without pesticides and guaranteeing that they would buy the produce the farmers grew. The first natural foods market was founded by the Kushis and named Erewhon. Many of Michio's students have started other companies including Eden Foods, Goldmine, East West Journal, the Kushi Institute, South River Miso, and Miso Master. Long time Macrobiotic friends spoke of Michio's influence on their lives and shared anecdotes. Verne Varona impersonated Michio impeccably and shared some brilliant stories of his early interactions with him. Sanae Suziki described the caring she received from Michio through the difficult trials in her life. Bob Sachs shared some warm sentiments as well. The spirit of Michio lives on in the lives of everyone he touched with his teachings.
Finally it is time to leave our old and new friends and return to our day to day lives. We will miss the superb healthy food prepared by Mark Hanna and his team, the comraderie of sharing food with everyone at a communal table, the special conversations we shared and the enriching macrobiotic learning that enhances our lives every day. All of us are encouraged by Larry Cooper, our charismatic host, to tell just one person what we have learned so it might change other's lives the way it has changed our lives. "One grain, ten thousand grains."
I return home energized and inspired to make my macrobiotic experience and spiritual life more meaningful. Hopefully, many more friends can attend next year to participate in the 34th Health Classic with me.
I would love to hear from some of you readers in the comments about your experiences with Michio or Macrobiotics.
