Higher purpose

[David Little]

Dear Colleagues and Students,

Kent and others have been bitterly criticized for bringing philosophy
and religion into the Homoeopathy. Most homeopaths tend to bring their
philosophical understand and religious insights into their work on some
level either consciously or unconsciously. Is this a "great sin"? One
might ask the question, where did this all start?

Hahnemann was a master linguist, an expert at ancient philology and
philosophy and a student of many original Latin and Greek texts. He was
also well read in the works of Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Kant,
Schelling, Hegel, and Goethe. He was a contemporary of Goethe, who was a
supporter of Homœopathy. He was also very fond of the writings of the
Chinese sage, Confucius, for whom he had the greatest respect. He felt the
rational approach of the oriental sage was much clearer in certain respects
than the emotionalism so prevalent in fundamentalist Christianity. He also
was a Deist and a Mason his entire life. His father taught him the
teachings of Rousseau from childhood. It is also very likely that a person
as wide read as Hahnemann was familiar with the scientific, philosophical
and religious writings of Swedenborg. Philosophy and religion had a great
influence on Hahnemann and the development of his work. Samuel once wrote:

"Philosophy represents the highest ideal towards which the human mind
is imbued with a desire to struggle. Philosophy is not only the highest of
all sciences; it is also the basis and the fundamentals of all others. No
science can exist without philosophy, for without its help it falls to the
level of a handicraft or at any rate of a subsidiary subject. This is true
above all of medicine." (Samuel Hahnemann, His Life & Work; R. Haehl,
Volume 1, page 251.)

Samuel Hahnemann believed that medical science degrades into a
mechanistic materialistic shell without the guidance of philosophy and
ethics. He infused the Organon and other writings with the philosophies he
studied and often spoke on moral, ethical and spiritual issues. His letters
to patients are offer medical advice as well as philosophical and religious
counseling. For Hahnemann to live and work without philosophy and religion
was impossible. It was simple part of his being.

Aphorism 9 of the Organon speaks of the "higher purpose". This aphorism
is based on the writings of the Masons and contains certain keywords of
their teachings. Hahnemann also referred to the "Grand Architect" of the
Universe and used other epitaphs of the Divine One taken from esoteric
groups. He made it quite clear that he considered his discovery of
homeopathy as a priceless gift from God. Most of all, Hahnemann was a
universalist who believed that all religions, cultures and times had
something to offer. This is just a small sample that shows how Hahnemann's
life and works are infused with ancient and modern philosophies, Deism and
Free Masonry. To offer a deeper study of this subject is something I simply
do not have time but I just wanted to touch on a few historical points.

As long as a person's philosophical and religious views do not change
the fundamental principles of Homeopathy as introduced by Hahnemann people
should be able to think for themselves. Kent only spoke about Swedenborg's
scientific and philosophical teachings in his lectures and never once
mentioned any of the New Church's religious teachings on the Bible or the
second coming of Christ. He was first and foremost a homeopath who help
thousands of people. Why do these people have to tear down others to
present themselves? If they really have something to offer it can stand on
its own two feet without trying to get up on the backs of others who have
gone before them. Whether they like it or not Kent was a great homeopath
and he inspired many others in greatness also. Nevertheless, do I believe
in everything Kent wrote and did? No, I don't but that does not mean that I
don't respect his contribution. Nothing in this world is completely black
or white and everyone has their strengths and weaknesses including yours
truly. Let us learn from each others strengths and forgive each others
weaknesses.

Others jump on the critiques Homeopaths offer about Allopathic
philosophy and aspects of their mode of treatment as if this is somehow
inappropriate. Haven't any of these people seen Hahnemann's writing,
Allopathy, A Warning to Patients written in 1833? No one is questioning the
marvelous advances they have made in emergency medicine, life support and
surgery but when it comes to general medicine, esp. in the treatment of
chronic diseases, there is much to be desired. Why is this? It is because
they have removed the vital philosophy of Hippocrates and others from the
study of medicine yet unknowingly continue to blindly follow the dictates
of Galen and Dioscordies! There is much room for improvement in these areas.

Yes, there are some homeopaths that think their "little white pills"
are the only way of healing that is not suppressive but they are ignoring
the fact that Hahnemann wrote about massage, hydrotherapy, magnetism and
Mesmerism in the Organon! Hering also wrote about these methods and more in
his introduction to his Guiding Symptoms. Hahnemann's private letters offer
suggest in diet, exercise, lifestyle and he sometimes referred patients to
Mesmerists. Hahnemann also noted in the Organon that allopathy can be
useful in life threatening emergencies. There has always be two schools of
medicine. The allopaths are the carriers of the ancient Greek school of
emergency and surgery and homeopaths are the carrier of the ancient Greek
school of materia medica. As these roles become more clearly understood in
the modern paradigm we will learn to work together more and more.

All of this aside, it is VERY important to study contributions like the
Direction of Cure, commonly called Hering's Laws. It is VERY important to
understand the signs of suppression and palliation. Different aspects of
this phenomena has been observed in traditional medicines for centuries.
These observations are VERY important no matter what school of the healing
arts one is using. If some of the symptoms of the patient are getting
better but their psychology, physical vitality and feeling of well-being is
getting worse something is VERY wrong! If local complaints disappear and
are followed by problems of the inner organs something is VERY wrong! If
complaints of the extremities are removed and complaints of the vital
organs appear something is VERY wrong! If symptoms move up the body toward
the head along with these other signs something is VERY wrong! This is just
common sense! Homeopaths and all healers must understand these things. This
is what the allopaths do NOT understand! If they did they could also
minimize side-effects and prevent a good number of iatrogenic diseases.

I tire of hearing Hering's laws being called "dogma", Kent's Lectures
on Homoeopathic philosophy called "religion", and careful critiques of
allopathy called "narrow mindedness" . Don't these parties realize that
always crying "dogma, dogma" and "religion, religion" combined with "X, #,
F, @ and !!!!" is also expressing a philosophical view? Don't they realize
that in some cases *they* are taking on the zeal of religious
fundamentalism? They never seem to look into the core of the issue or try
to put all the natural contradictions into perspective. What appears to
them as irreconcilable contradictions are often complementary opposites
that provide a larger view of a whole Gestalt-pattern. They point the
finger of their own undigested archetypes at others and spew out their own
complexes showing a lack of understanding the bigger, more multifaceted
picture. It often appears to be a case of the kettle calling the pot black!

There are some very valid criticisms that can be levelled at homeopathy
and homeopaths. We must be open to this criticism if we want to grow as a
school. There are areas of reform that are needed in our educational system
and office procedures. There is also too much ego and greed as well as
every other negative human emotion among us and in us. Nevertheless, we as
a community should not allow all these frailties to be used as ammunition
by those who would rather divide and rule. This brings use back to the
essential point, which is ethics, philosophy and higher ideals. It is these
guiding lights that make the homeopathic school different from the
mechanistic and materialistic schools. It is these factors that lead us to
the higher purposes of life in both our personal life and chosen
professions. Such thoughts are appropriate on Christmas Eve.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in a non-sectarian
way which honors all religions and all religious holidays. As the ancient
seers of India said "True is One but Paths are Many". Hahnemann's Grand
Architect of the Universe is far too Great a One to leave anyone culture or
time period with guidance from above.

Similia Minimus
Sincerely, David Little

[doctorleelah2h]

Dear David,
A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours as well.

Thanks for the discussion and details about Hahnemann.
Leela
--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, David Little wrote:
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[Dr. Ioan Teleianu]

Dear David Little,
We all have to thank you very much for your excellent work!
Dr. Ioan Teleianu

[saeedydr]

Hi David ! I am personally gratefull for your post and wish a Happy
New Year for you and all list members.
Any person can think and have believes of his/choice.BUT When two or
more persons are there It is always advised to talk a topic of
common interest.If one is eager to talk on a different topic then
there must be a consent from the others, otherwise it is all INHUMEN.
We are here in this group to discuss only and only Classical
Homoeopathy.I request the members to use direct E-Mails for
discussing maters other than that of classical homoeopathy.This
option is available in our group.This is the guidance from Hahnemann
and kent,as I understand.
Any one desirous to discuss Complex Homoeopathy,religeon,and a
variety of other topics can enjoy in other respected groups.
Thankyou & sorry for a relatively long post. SaeedCh
--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, David Little wrote:
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[David Little]

At 08:53 AM 12/27/2004, you wrote:
Hello all,

I think it is wonderful that there is a list devoted to the
Hahnemannian Homeopathy. When I use the word "Hahnemannian" I mean those
who use Similar cure Similars, the single remedy and the minimal dose,
which is commonly called "Classical Homeopathy". It is my opinion that
anything that Hahnemann discussed in his writings, letters and in
eyewitness accounts may be discussed on a list devoted to Homeopathy. For
example, Hahnemann spoke philosophy, medical history, homeopathic
psychology, psychological counseling, massage, the use of magnets,
electricity, galvanism, hydrotherapy, and Mesmerism in the Organon of the
Healing Art. He also spoke about diet, exercise, lifestyle, public health
issues, human mental institutions, the affects of environment, etc.in
several places.

Our science is not limited to the "little white pills" or "drops and
teaspoons". It embraces the healing arts from the philosophical view of
Homeopathy as well as Mesmerism, which is a mix of magnetic healing and
hypnotism. There are eyewitness accounts of Samuel and Melanie both using
Mesmerism on patients and I have found notes in the Paris casebooks and
letters about its application. Hahnemann called this work a "priceless gift
of God" in aphorism 288 of the Organon and then give detailed instructions
on its application.

It was Hahnemann who raised the subject of the "higher purposes" of
life. The close link between philosophy, mythology and religion makes it
impossible not to speak of various views, especially considering the close
relationship between archetypal psychology and contemporary homeopathy. I
think when it comes to saying this is MY religion and talking from the
point of doctrine that goes far beyond the way religion and philosophy were
discussed by Hahnemann. For the above reasons I think the discussions on
this list should be remain open *within reason* as long as it is in line
with subjects raised by Samuel Hahnemann. We do not want to turn our
homeopathic discussion groups into another "wholistic healing list" as we
would lose our original purpose and be over loaded with every kind of therapy.

Sincerely, David Little
---------------
"It is the life-force which cures diseases because a dead man needs no more
medicines."

Samuel Hahnemann

Visit our website on Hahnemannian Homoeopathy and Cyberspace Homoeopathic
Academy at
http://www.simillimum.com
David Little © 2000

[CLBernat]

David Little is absolutely correct. This list is dedicated to Classical
homeopathy and all the Classical homeopathy encompasses. The Organon is not
light reading. Like any masterpiece of literature it touches all levels from
heaven to earth.
Dr. Carol Stuart-Bernat
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]