An Unexpected Healing Story from Diet and Nutrition by Rudolf Ballentine

The story is told of an Irishman lying on his deathbed who was asked by his physician whether he had a last wish. Rallying enough to reply, the dying man responded, "Yes. I would like a cold pork pie and a bottle of stout." His wife shuddered, sure that it would kill him, but the doctor took her aside and gently reminded her that since her husband could not, in any case, recover it would be best to let him have this last wish fulfilled. So a friend was dispatched to the corner pub and soon returned with the pie and stout. The patient swallowed it down almost in one gulp whereup he stood up looking much improved. He then proceeded to make a rapid recovery.

Transformation and the Inspired Heart

Selected quotes from: The Inspired Heart: An Artist's Journey of Transformation by Jerry Wennstrom (2002)

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We cannot impersonate true integrity.

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Enlightenment is not a grand finale that leaves us blissfully risen, Buddha-like, above the suffering of the world. It is deep and unconditional surrender to what already exists and total trust in the larger inherent intelligence, which is willing to lead the way. To accomplish this is to die to everything we think is our personal identity, however intelligent, successful, and noble we think it may be.

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Eating could potentially become an instinctual, living prayer, the miracle we perform daily to keep us from death.

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By taking responsibility for what is manageable in our lives and tending the small things with reverence, we can relinquish the impossible attempt to play god to our larger creation. There is great freedom in knowing that nothing is ours to hold or identify with.

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Everything counts and fits into place. The way we get out of bed in the morning becomes as important as the moment of creating an inspired new work of art....High Art becomes the art of all things, of whispers from God in all directions.

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A time may come when you are asked to let go of everything you think you are and all that you think you possess. If you can give yourself to this process, what will emerge will be a truer self in a truer world. All will be well. All that you had hoped for, all that is most important to you, all that seemed to be impossible or gone forever will be sanctified and returned to you.

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for more about Jerry Wennstrom, see: http://www.handsofalchemy.com/