Abstract
Modern science and medicine have influenced the healthcare industry in many ways. Modern science believes in the intervention rather than focusing on the spiritual factors that are associated with the disease or illness. It is important that the modern medicine realizes the importance of spiritual healing. With advancements in spiritual healing over the last 3 decades, spirituality has been introduced in modern intervention. General physicians and healthcare professionals are seeking more focusing on the spiritual needs of patients. Clinical studies have found that spirituality when combined with modern medicine improves the quality of life and increases the survival rate of the patient. This paper focuses on the Buddhist, Christian and Sikh perspectives of spiritual healing. The Buddhist and Sikh philosophy are then compared to the Christian perspective of healing.
Introduction: Many religions and cultures believe that spirituality can treat and cure all illnesses of life. Spirituality brings about inner-healing. Spirituality deals with a person’s emotional, psychological and physical health. It is regarded as the best non-medical intervention for chronic diseases like cancer and HIV/AIDS. Spirituality forms the basis for all religions. Spirituality can be used during the good and bad times of a person’s life. Spirituality is said to remove the bad components or disease-associated components to bring about healing in an ailing patient. Spirituality focuses on the mind and soul of the body to bring about the healing process. In many cultures and religions, spirituality is followed in a different manner. (D Aldridge, 1981). However, most individuals follow spirituality even in a healthcare setting. Hence, it essential that the healthcare professional has a basic understanding of the religious views of the patient. Catering the spiritual and religious needs of the patient is become a key component in the healthcare setting. The paper focuses on the spiritual components of Christianity, Buddhism and Sikhism in a healthcare setting.
Christian perspective on healing: The Christian or Catholic faith describes healing with prayer and harmony. The spiritual perspective on healing in Christianity brings the harmony of the body and the healing process. Faith in god and self-belief are key factors for healing the human body. The body that is considered the temple of god can be healed by congregating love, prayer, kindness and the sacraments laid down in the bible. (Loon V A. 2004) (Kelsey, & Morton K.)
Buddhist Perspective of Healing: On the other hand, the Buddhist perspective of healing focuses on meditation and the root cause of the disease. It is considered that a healthy mind would have a healthy body. Illness begins when the mind is corrupt and filled with negative thoughts. The body can be healed of illness by meditation and focusing in love and gratitude. The Buddhist perspective of mind is that the mind is non-physical, shapeless, formless and colorless. The mind is pure, pervasive and limitless. It is like the sun in the bright sky. Disease or illness prevails in the body when the mind is diverted and performs tasks that are non-essential. Sickness can be prevented by purifying the mind. It is essential to remove the negative karmic imprints that prevail in the mind. (Paonil, W., &Sringernyuang, L)
Healing in the Sikh religion: In the Sikh religion, spirituality is given importance in all walks of life. A baptized Sikh is bound to follow all key components of the Sikh religion. Spirituality in Sikhism is based on a person’s behavior towards the society. Key components of spirituality and healing in Sikhs are the Practice of Kindness, Counting of one’s blessings, the attitude of gratitude, enjoyment of momentary pleasure of the present, forgiveness, body care, strategies for coping hardships and stress, devotion of time and energy to family and friends, simple living, and a mind free of hatred and worries. It is considered that an ailing individual could heal himself by being happy and accepting the facts of life. (Paonil, W., &Sringernyuang, L) (Kelsey, & Morton K.)
Components of healing in Christianity: Christianity focuses on prayer, faith, love and gratitude for spiritual healing. Faith or belief ensures that an individual would believe in a karmic or spiritual force that could heal sickness. The person relies completely on the spiritual (termed as ghostly) power to remove the root cause of the illness. Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. Love, kindness and gratitude are key components of spiritual healing in Christianity. The body begins to feel a sense of relief and inner healing commences when key components of Christianity are followed. Prayer is considered to be the most powerful component of spiritual healing. The Holy Bible has many prayers that could heal the body. In Christianity, patients are required to consume communion (Eucharist) before a medical intervention. In such cases, the patient should inform the health care provider and take the necessary permission. Catholics prefer being blessed by a priest before undergoing a medical intervention. The Catholic religion does not permit life-sustaining treatment. It important that the patient informs the health care provider his/her criteria during death-like situations. (Puchalski, M., C. 2009)
Components of healing in Buddhism: Buddhism has a single component for spiritual healing. It focuses on the mediation and inner healing. Buddhism states that mediation helps an individual to focus and clear the mind and soul that is filled with greed, selfishness, worries, pride and anger. Mediation keeps the body and mind calm. It helps in focusing the real aspects of living. Only a healthy mind and soul would be free from sin and illnesses. In Buddhism, patients believe that the state of silence and peace is maintained in the health care setting. Patients from a Buddhists background should inform the healthcare provider of medication that involves animal byproduct. Most Buddhists refrain from consuming medication that has animal byproducts. In many cases, patients are comfortable in seeking help from a health care provider of the same sex. The patient should declare her consent on receiving treatment from the opposite sex. (Levine & Steven. 1987)
Components of healing in Sikh religion: Spirituality and healing are found in the Sikh religion, as well. During the baptism, Sikhs are bestowed to wear the five K’s that help them concur the difficulties in life. These five K’s include Kirpan, the sword, Kangha, comb worn in the hair, Kachh or Kashera, cotton breeches or shorts, Kesh, uncut hair, a turban is normally worn and Kara, a steel or iron bangle. These key components are worn by all baptized Sikhs. Key components of spirituality and healing in Sikhs are the Practice of kindness, counting of one’s blessings, the attitude of gratitude, enjoyment of momentary pleasure of the present, forgiveness, body care, strategies for coping hardships and stress, devotion of time and energy to family and friends, simple living, and a mind free of hatred and worries. (Grewal V, 2010)
Health Care Providers and Spiritual Differences:
Patients in the healthcare setting come from various religious and spiritual backgrounds. Patients undergoing treatment may come across a health care provider from a different religion background. However, religion and health care should never be mixed and should be independent of each other. In some instances both, patients and the health care provider are given instructions for better efficiency and communication. (Helming, MB. 2011)
Patients should interact with the health care provider about his/her religious beliefs and culture. If the health care provider is from a different religion background, the patient should inform the different religion aspects that need to be followed before and after the treatment. In Christianity, patients are required to consume communion (Eucharist) before a medical intervention. In such cases, the patient should inform the health care provider and take the necessary permission. Catholics prefer being blessed by a priest before undergoing a medical intervention. The Catholic religion does not permit life-sustaining treatment. It important that the patient informs the health care provider his/her criteria during death-like situations. (Ehman J C. 2007)
In Buddhism, patients believe that the state of silence and peace is maintained in the health care setting. Patients from a Buddhists background should inform the healthcare provider of medication that involves animal byproduct. Most Buddhists refrain from consuming medication that has animal byproducts. In many cases, patients are comfortable in seeking help from a health care provider of the same sex. The patient should declare her consent on receiving treatment from the opposite sex. (Puchalski, M., C. 2009)
Patient point of view in health care provision (Christianity Philosophy)
Health care providers are trained to help and provide the best treatment to patients from different ethnic and religious backgrounds. The training involves understanding different religious beliefs, using scientific-religious journals, interaction with the patient and communicating the needs of the patient to the medical team. (McCabe D, 2005)
Patients tend to be comfortable in a health care setting with a health care provider inclined to the patient’s religious beliefs. A sense of confidence, reliability and determination is observed in patients. A patient would have psychological benefits from such health care providers. It is observed that patients undergoing treatment from health care providers inclined to religious beliefs have a high chance of survival rate. The quality of life of such patients improves to a significant level. Patients interact and communicate easily with such healthcare providers. Patients feel like home during the treatment. Patients tend to feel-free and communicate with the health care provider in an efficient manner. . (Helming, MB. 2011)
As mentioned earlier, Catholic patients prefer being blessed before and after the treatment intervention. Receiving Holy Communion (Eucharist) is mandatory as it resembles the body of Jesus Christ. Health care providers who understand the needs of a Catholic patient tend to be efficient and supportive. Patients feel secure and demonstrate a sense of reliability and trust to such health care providers. Thus, it can be concluded that religious beliefs and cultures if respected and maintained can enhance the health care facility to a significant extent. (Torosian MH &, Biddle VR. 2005)
Conclusions
There are different forms of spiritual healing and every religion or caste focuses on the healing of the inner soul through different mediums. Finding the root cause of the illness and then transforming the mind (inner soul) to such an extent that there is removal of the root cause of the problem. Behind the diagnosis of spiritual healing are three main principles that are followed. These include the person’s sixth sense, destiny and the resolver (spiritual healer). Spiritual healing has claimed to heal chronic ailments like HIV/AIDS and Cancer. The quality of life and survival rate is said to increase after spiritual healing. It is important that the health care provider understands the religious needs of the patient before, during and after a medical intervention. (Torosian MH &, Biddle VR. 2005)
References
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