Energy Healing Is Idol Worship
By Rabbi Noson Leiter
BS"D
It is a relentless source of encouragement that every energy- healing proponent who actually describes his experience confirms, and often amplifies, the Halachic objections to both "Energy-Healing" practices, and to the [a]theology standing behind them.
1) A recent writer describes his experience with discovering "miracle cures," attributed to "Ki" ("Universal Energy" as known in Japan). He also relates his initial concern that it was connected to a foreign religion. Thereupon he immediately insists that it has nothing to do with religion, without providing any rationale, explanation, or even defining precisely what he means by saying it has "nothing to do with religion."
2) IDEOLOGY:
Well, his initial concern was indeed well founded, because the very concept of "K-i" is foundational to far-Eastern Metaphysics and "New-Age" religion.
Moreover, K-i, as popularized in the West by the "New Age" movement, is actually a kefira (heretical) concept:
"K-i" refers to THE FORCE that, on one hand, is imagined to ANIMATE all that exists, and, on the other hand, is subject to physical qualities, e.g. Ki is thought to flow and stagnate, and is even considered manipulatable by Man.
We, of course, know that it is HaShem Alone Who animates the entire Creation.
Even those Ki-proponents who believe in HaShem (many explicitly deny HaShem, e.g. New Age leader Alice Bailey y"s, in "Esoteric Healing," p.393) deny the foundational Emunah that HaShem is not subject to any physical qualities.
In addition, whatever mystical "miracle" cures the writer claims to be privy to, they are demonstrably NOT scientific, natural techniques, nor are they known segulos. [Nor do they utilize Ruach haKodesh, as our Neviyim, such as Eliyahu and Elisha, did.]
Thus, by attributing the effectiveness (real, exaggerated, or imagined) of those methods to "K-i," he is attributing mystical techniques to a kefira concept. That attribution super-imposes a prohibition on the very practice itself. That prohibition, on it's face, is Yaihoraig Ve'al Ya'avor, as per Yoreh Daiyoh 155:1, as explained in our initial Op-ed.
4) PSEUDOSCIENCE:
Furthermore, by misrepresenting K-i as "bio-electric" energy, the writer conveys the impression that he either doesn't know what electrical energy is - and is NOT, or doesn't care - inasmuch as he uses the term deceptively - by applying it to that which it is clearly not. Clearly, if energy practitioners would be using electrical energy, that could be detected by modern technology. And if the levels of electricity involved are so extremely low as to be undetectable, then they clearly couldn't accomplish the claimed feats.
~~~
4. In addition, none of these types of New-Age energy manipulation techniques has been shown to work in any consistent manner. Thus, these methods don't even meet the threshold of a NON-understood natural technique.
It is a relentless source of encouragement that every energy-healing proponent who actually describes his experience confirms – and often amplifies – the halachic objections to both “energy-healing” practices and the theology behind them.
UPDATE
Mr. Orlow was exactly correct, as is clear from the sources cited, as well.
The point of "independent will" was accentuated more clearly in the original pre-edited language I submitted, which was:
"This very attribution - to any such force (real or imagined) - of the ability to help or harm on independent will is an Avoda Zorah belief; e.g. see Rambam, Principle 5 (and Chazon Ish Y.D.62:19)."
As I indicated in the initial email, even in the best publications, sometimes editing constraints under tight deadlines result in misunderstandings.
This is an important point, one which needs emphasis, particularly in the current environment, where foundational principles, Ikkarei Emunah, are under assault, in some cases even by ostensibly frum people and authors of "sefarim."
Rabbi Leiter
~~~~~~
-------- Original message --------
From: N L
Date:07/01/2018 10:56 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: JEWISH PRESS
Subject: ver.2 response to JP Energy Healing letter 3
ver.2 slightly corrected response to JP Energy Healing letter 3
..........
BSD
Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter
17 Tammuz 5778
It is a relentless source of encouragement that every energy- healing proponent who actually describes his experience confirms, and often amplifies, the Halachic objections to both "Energy-Healing" practices, and to the [a]theology standing behind them.
1) A recent writer describes his experience with discovering "miracle cures," attributed to "Ki" ("Universal Energy" as known in Japan). He also relates his initial concern that it was connected to a foreign religion. Thereupon he immediately insists that it has nothing to do with religion, without providing any rationale, explanation, or even defining precisely what he means by saying it has "nothing to do with religion."
2) IDEOLOGY:
Well, his initial concern was indeed well founded, because the very concept of "K-i" is foundational to far-Eastern Metaphysics and "New-Age" religion.
Moreover, K-i, as popularized in the West by the "New Age" movement, is actually a kefira (heretical) concept:
"K-i" refers to THE FORCE that, on one hand, is imagined to ANIMATE all that exists, and, on the other hand, is subject to physical qualities, e.g. Ki is thought to flow and stagnate, and is even considered manipulatable by Man.
We, of course, know that it is HaShem Alone Who animates the entire Creation.
Even those Ki-proponents who believe in HaShem (many explicitly deny HaShem, e.g. New Age leader Alice Bailey y"s, in "Esoteric Healing," p.393) deny the foundational Emunah that HaShem is not subject to any physical qualities.
"K-i" is, by definition, kefirah.
In addition, many energy healing proponents explicitly describe this "energy," that they purportedly utilize, as "god" (Otto & Knight, Dimensions in Wholistic Healing, p.48).
Furthermore, some (e.g. in Health Kinesiology (TM)) attribute to Ch-i energy the ability to independently, *willingly* help diagnose clients (documentation provided in "Rav Belsky on Alternative Medicine").
Furthermore, some (e.g. in Health Kinesiology (TM)) attribute to Ch-i energy the ability to independently, *willingly* help diagnose clients (documentation provided in "Rav Belsky on Alternative Medicine").
This very attribution - to any such force (real or imagined) - of the ability to help or harm on independent will is an Avoda Zorah belief; e.g. see Rambam, Principle 5 (and Chazon Ish Y.D.62:19).
Thus, the very notion of Ch-i, Ki, et.al. is antithetical to Judaism.
Not only is it prohibited to believe in such erroneous notions, it's prohibited to expose oneself or others to them, or to any ideas that could lead to rejection of Fundamental Principles of Jewish Faith (e.g. see Rambam Hil. A.Z. 2:2-3, quoted in part 3 of the previously cited Psak printed in Rav Belsky on Alternative Medicine, end).
3) PRACTICE:
3) PRACTICE:
In addition, whatever mystical "miracle" cures the writer claims to be privy to, they are demonstrably NOT scientific, natural techniques, nor are they known segulos. [Nor do they utilize Ruach haKodesh, as our Neviyim, such as Eliyahu and Elisha, did.]
Thus, by attributing the effectiveness (real, exaggerated, or imagined) of those methods to "K-i," he is attributing mystical techniques to a kefira concept. That attribution super-imposes a prohibition on the very practice itself. That prohibition, on it's face, is Yaihoraig Ve'al Ya'avor, as per Yoreh Daiyoh 155:1, as explained in our initial Op-ed.
Realize that it is foundational to Judaism that idolatry °itself° has no power whatsoever. However, sometimes Avoda Zorah related acts may result in "miracle cures," due to other factors, from placebo to a Divine test (e.g., cf. Rambam M"T, Hil. Yesodei HaTorah 8:3).
4) PSEUDOSCIENCE:
Furthermore, by misrepresenting K-i as "bio-electric" energy, the writer conveys the impression that he either doesn't know what electrical energy is - and is NOT, or doesn't care - inasmuch as he uses the term deceptively - by applying it to that which it is clearly not. Clearly, if energy practitioners would be using electrical energy, that could be detected by modern technology. And if the levels of electricity involved are so extremely low as to be undetectable, then they clearly couldn't accomplish the claimed feats.
~~~
Q: Granted that energy healing isn't electrical, or any understood scientific phenomena, how do we know it's not some undiscovered - but natural - phenomena?
A. Because not only is this "energy" force not detectable, it's usage flies in the face of the basic laws of natural Cause and Effect. To appreciate how deeply absurd it is to claim that energy healing is "natural," one needs to know the metziyus (realia) :
Energy workers generally claim to channel, or somehow manipulate a force. They claim to use this "force" to heal, to harm, to repel attackers, to attain "Enlightenment" (or endarkenment), bring World Peace, "Heal the Planet," etc.
1. The force itself is not measurable, or even detectable, using physical, scientific methods. Only certain individuals CLAIM to be able to detect it.
2. The methods of *utilizing* this purported force fly in the face of the physical Laws of Cause and Effect because physical, natural energies cannot be manipulated by the methods energy practitioners employ.
A. Because not only is this "energy" force not detectable, it's usage flies in the face of the basic laws of natural Cause and Effect. To appreciate how deeply absurd it is to claim that energy healing is "natural," one needs to know the metziyus (realia) :
Energy workers generally claim to channel, or somehow manipulate a force. They claim to use this "force" to heal, to harm, to repel attackers, to attain "Enlightenment" (or endarkenment), bring World Peace, "Heal the Planet," etc.
1. The force itself is not measurable, or even detectable, using physical, scientific methods. Only certain individuals CLAIM to be able to detect it.
2. The methods of *utilizing* this purported force fly in the face of the physical Laws of Cause and Effect because physical, natural energies cannot be manipulated by the methods energy practitioners employ.
Those methods include, for example: emptying the mind (an easy technique for many), meditation, visualization, nonsensical hand motions, verbal utterances, requests from Spirit-Guides, prerequisite
empowerment rituals like slow non-touch "clapping" (see Moreh Nevuchim 3:37), or "attunements" involving being "initiated" by a practitioner who himself has a "mesorah" of receiving "the Force" from another link in the chain of "Mesorah"...
Thus, theoretically, even if one could somehow prove that that they're using a physical force, the methods they're using to manipulate that force are not natural, physical methods. Thus, the techniques cannot be categorized as natural, physical methods.
empowerment rituals like slow non-touch "clapping" (see Moreh Nevuchim 3:37), or "attunements" involving being "initiated" by a practitioner who himself has a "mesorah" of receiving "the Force" from another link in the chain of "Mesorah"...
Thus, theoretically, even if one could somehow prove that that they're using a physical force, the methods they're using to manipulate that force are not natural, physical methods. Thus, the techniques cannot be categorized as natural, physical methods.
3. Energy Healing is often performed long-distance. Many energy practitioners will "send energy" to a client thousands of miles away.
4. In addition, none of these types of New-Age energy manipulation techniques has been shown to work in any consistent manner. Thus, these methods don't even meet the threshold of a NON-understood natural technique.
May HaShem open up the eyes of all those who truly wish to see, with the Geulah Shalaimah bekarov.
It is a relentless source of encouragement that every energy-healing proponent who actually describes his experience confirms – and often amplifies – the halachic objections to both “energy-healing” practices and the theology behind them.
Mr. Blum describes his experience discovering “miracle cures,” attributed to “Ki” (or “universal energy” as it’s known in Japan). He also relates his initial concern that it was connected to a foreign religion. He then immediately insists that Ki has nothing to do with religion without providing any rationale or explanation.
In truth, his initial concern was well-founded. Ki is foundational to far-Eastern metaphysics and New Age religion. It refers to a force that is imagined to animate all of existence; it allegedly flows and stagnates and can be manipulated by man.
We, of course, know that Hashem alone animates all of creation. Even those Ki proponents who believe in Hashem (many explicitly deny Him, including New Age leader Alice Bailey in Esoteric Healing, p. 393) believe He is subject to physical qualities. Ki, by definition, therefore, is kefirah.
In addition, many energy healing proponents explicitly describe the “energy” they purportedly utilize as “god” (see Otto and Knight, Dimensions in Wholistic Healing, p.48). Furthermore, some (e.g., in health kinesiology) attribute to Ki energy the ability to “willingly” help diagnose clients (documentation provided in Rav Belsky on Alternative Medicine). Attributing to any force (real or imagined) the ability to independently help or harm is avodah zarah, plain and simple (see Rambam, Principle 5, and Chazon Ish, Yoreh De’ah 62:19).
Not only, therefore, is it prohibited to believe in Ki, it is prohibited to expose oneself or others to them (see Rambam, Hilchos Avodah Zarah2:2-3, quoted in part 3 of the psak printed in Rav Belsky on Alternative Medicine).
Whatever mystical “miracle” cures Mr. Blum claims to have experienced, they did not result from scientific or natural techniques or from known segulos. By attributing effectiveness (real, exaggerated, or imagined) to techniques based on to Ki, he is thus attributing power to a kefira concept and violating a prohibition of the severity of yaharog ve’al ya’avor. (If an avoda zarah related act ever results in a “miracle cure,” other factors are the cause [e.g., placebo, a Divine test, etc. – cf. Rambam, HilchosYesodei HaTorah 9:5].)
Mr. Blum refers to Ki as “bio-electric” energy, which sounds like a real physical force. But modern technology cannot detect this “energy.” Ki proponents may reply that the levels of electricity involved are so low as to be undetectable, but, if so, this energy couldn’t possibly accomplish the feats ascribed to it.
Some may ask: Granted that Ki isn’t electrical energy, or any other understood scientific phenomenon, but how do we know it’s not some yet undiscovered natural force?
The answer is that not only is this “energy” not detectable, its usage flies in the face of the basic laws of science. To appreciate how deeply absurd it is to claim that energy healing is “natural,” one needs to know the facts:
1) Energy workers claim to channel, or somehow manipulate, Ki to heal, harm, repel attackers, attain “enlightenment,” bring world peace, heal the planet, etc. This force is not measurable, or even detectable, using physical, scientific methods. Only certain individuals claim to be able to detect it.
2) Energy practitioners allegedly manipulate Ki by emptying their mind (an easy technique for many), meditation, visualization, nonsensical hand motions, verbal utterances, requests from Spirit-Guides, prerequisite empowerment rituals like slow non-touch “clapping” (see Moreh Nevuchim 3:37), and “attunements” involving being “initiated” by a practitioner who himself has a “mesorah” of receiving “the force” from another link in the chain of “mesorah.”
3) Energy healing is often performed long-distance. Many energy practitioners will “send energy” to a client thousands of miles away.
It goes without saying that none of these types of New-Age energy manipulation techniques has ever been shown to work in any consistent manner. Thus, these methods don’t even meet the threshold of a non-understood natural technique.
May Hashem open up the eyes of all those who truly wish to see, and may we merit the coming of the geulah sheleimah b’karov.
Energy Healing Is A Gift From God
By Robert Harris Blum
As a shomer Shabbos, teffilin-wearing Jew, I was not exactly primed to believe in the transference of bio-electrical energy (“Ki” in Japanese, “Chi” in Chinese).
But I was living in Japan and one day contracted such a severe radiculopathy that for a year I was unable to turn my head or raise my arms even mere inches. I was told by three independent orthopedic surgeons that corrective surgery was impossible, and that I would remain in my injured state for the rest of my life.
One night, I saw Ki master Kozo Nishino on television. He was surrounded by nine men who charged at him simultaneously. He turned the palm of his hand toward them, repelling all of them backward several feet. I watched the replay three times, and decided that I had nothing to lose; I went to his school in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.
I asked him to heal me. He said, “If you want to be healed, join my school.” I replied that I was unable to turn my head or raise my arms. To which he replied, “Please wait for my head instructor, Mr. Yoshio Yuzaki. He will be here in 30 minutes. He will heal you.”
I sarcastically replied, “You’re the master. Why can’t you heal me?” He said, “He is a master too. Be patient and just wait.”
I explained my condition to Mr. Yuzaki. I sat beside him for about 40 minutes, with his hand on my neck. At the end of that time, he said. “You can move your head. Go on, raise your arms.” I did so. I was so amazed. I kissed his hand and thanked him.
And acupuncture? (Also based on chi and energy). How about aspirin?
ReplyDelete"Attributing to any force (real or imagined) the ability to independently help or harm is avodah zarah, plain and simple (see Rambam, Principle 5, and Chazon Ish, Yoreh De’ah 62:19)."
ReplyDeleteThis is a highly irrational statement. If there is a real force, then it is real, it is not avodah zarah. It is no different from understanding that your crops needs sun and rain in the right measure. As long as you do not worship the sun, as the ancients used to do, there is no avodah. If you build a greenhouse to create a warmer environment for your crops, there is no avodah zara.
For example, i have some allergies, which respond to certain medications, so it is real. they also respond to acupuncture, and to homeopathy. So they are either real, or placebo. But where is the avodah zara?
I asked Rav Bleich about alternative medicine some years ago, he said if there is scientific basis for it, then it is mutar, the example he gave was acupuncture, which has scientific evidence to support it. But acupuncture is based on chi (life force "chai") and energy meridians.
I think the key word is "independently".
ReplyDeleteIf a person were to say, "The sun is an independent force and I will use it to heal myself," that might be a case of forbidden medicine.
We all agree that the radiatiation from the sun is measurable. We agree that the healing power of that radiation can be measured -- for example, exposure to sunlight can lead to vitamin D production according to studies. Yet for someone to articulate that the sun exists independent of Hashem and then proceed to use sunlight to get Vitamin D for health reasons might be prohibited.
I'm not sure that alternative medicines are all that different from a lot of modern segulos that "guarantee" results - and that, too, can be a problem:
ReplyDelete(https://gettingtorahright.org/respect.html)
"But the last few centuries have witnessed the growth of an alternate approach. Some have come to believe that performing the right actions and saying the right words can force God to give you the things you want. The idea is that, built into the fabric of the universe are hard rules that can be exploited.
"Thus, it would seem, gathering large numbers of women in a room where they knead dough together, make a bracha, and separate challah is somehow guaranteed to evoke some positive effect.
"There's certainly no mesorah for challah taking gatherings: such things were entirely unheard of even a decade or two ago. And it's not like taking challa under these conditions - particularly outside Eretz Yisrael - is all that much of mitzva: our dough is טמאה, the חלה itself is burned rather than given to a kohen, and we're usually talking about עסה העשויה ליחלק (so its highly debatable whether it's even appropriate to make a ברכה).
"Why, then, do people do it? I can only imagine that they feel there's some mystical power associated with their actions and thoughts that somehow "flips a switch" in the heavens, forcing down bracha and overriding God's will.
"This "flip a switch" attitude is everywhere these days. If we're honest we'll admit that we're all guilty of it at least sometimes. Haven't you rushed through parts of davening under the pressure of time? Why not, instead, follow the words of שלחן ערוך אורח חיים א:ד "Fewer prayers with concentration are better than many prayers without" If you don't have the time, wouldn't it, therefore, be better to focus more on the core sections and skip the rest? Why cram it in?
"Because, deep down, you believe there's some mystical value in saying - or even just mumbling - all the words, thereby flipping the switch and overriding God's will."