Honolulu Weekly

If health is not merely the absence of disease, than what is it?

Health is wholeness. It is the loss of the fear of death. It is also a complete integration of mind, body and spirit–the personal, social, spiritual and mental well being, and also the well being of our environment. The words health, holy and wholeness are the same word.

Another MD who is exploring the connections between traditional healing modalities and western allopathic medicine is Dr. Andrew Weill. In his recent book, Healthy Aging, he contends that human biological life cannot really be extended, but we do have control over the way that we live. Because in contemporary western society the inevitable biological decline may start in one’s forties–then it’s a gradual downturn where you develop chronic diseases and you eventually die of one of them. Dr. Weill says we can’t put off the death of the physical body, but we can put off the decline and continue to be healthy and vibrant much longer than is commonly thought. Then at the end of life it’s a fairly rapid degeneration and moving on to whatever is next. That seems to be in conflict to what you’re teaching.

By and large he’s right. I’m saying that the biological markers of aging–such as blood pressure, bone density, body temperature regulation, blood sugar, fat content, hormone levels, aerobic capacity, cholesterol levels, muscle and so on–can actually be reversed by up to 15 years through a combination of exercise, meditation, changing the way we perceive our physical bodies, proper nutrition and other factors.

There are telomeres in our genes that have a maximum life of 120 years, but who knows what tomorrow will bring in the world of technology. Right now that seems to be the maximum life span.

Do you think human life can, or should, be extended?

Only if it is in good health and you are making a contribution to society. In societies where elders are given more responsibility and looked up; where they have the wisdom of experience and good health at the same time. Is it a worthy goal to continue to extend the life span for it’s own sake? I don’t think so. If we conquered death, God forbid, we’d be doomed to living in eternal senility living in a mummified world. Death is the way Nature recreates herself.

You just got back from the Middle East — a place that is surrounded by death. How is your message received there, as opposed to a relatively safe environment such as the States?

What you said is not accurate. There are more deaths within the square mile of the White House than in Palestine. There is more violent crime in our inner cities.

Having said that, there is a new consciousness developing there. They are realizing that they cannot live in a stressed state where the Palestinians and the Israelis are going to be enemies forever. The new consciousness is slowly emerging that says are going to have to be compromises on both sides. The Arabs and the Israelis are close genetically–they’re both Semites and are first cousins. There are economic incentives to really live in harmony. That kind of consciousness is emerging.

Just like in Northern and Southern Ireland. It took a while, but now there’s peace. If you want a new crop you have to sow a new seed. You can’t keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different result.

In your recent open letter to all the presidential candidates you call for a ‘global grassroots movement of positive redemptive change.’ What does that mean?

It means that there is enough collective intelligence, creativity, caring and compassion to come up with creative solutions for poverty, conflict resolution, social justice and repairing the environment.

What if one of them gets elected and contacts you? What would you advise them to do about Iraq?

To get the best experts who believe in a process called ‘conscious communication.’ You start by establishing certain rules of communication: That we speak to each other respectfully. That we understand there is room for forgiveness on both sides. We refrain from proving the other person wrong. We recognize that both sides feel injustice. We are not going to be belligerent and are going to use the principles of Emotional Intelligence in our communication. We aren’t going to bring religion or ideology into our discussions. And we are going to recognize that there is fear. Once we do this there will be room for dialog and there are economic incentives for peace.

Right now there are economic incentives for war and the trading of weapons. We are one of the largest manufacturers and traders of weapons, and we give them to both sides of a conflict. Like India and Pakistan or the Arab countries and Israel. The President just returned from Saudi Arabia after signing a big deal to give them arms. So we have a war-based economy and my first suggestion is to start creating a peace-based economies and wisdom-based economies. Economic incentives are very powerful.

Here in Hawai’i we have an indigenous culture which was almost wiped out. Only in the past few decades has it been coming back. Part of this includes a reverence for the kupuna, the elders. How can a traditionally-based society address the problems of the modern world?

I think creating councils of elders is a very good idea. When communities do that–respects the elders and asks them for advice–that improves the well being of a community for transformation.

Are M.D.s healers in the traditional sense?

No, they are superb technicians who know everything about the human body, but are lousy healers because they know nothing about the human soul or spirit. Gradually there is a science emerging that shows that healing is a phenomena that is biologically oriented. As this science moves forward I hope MDs will move from being mere technicians to becoming healers.

Deepak Chopra will lecture at the Hawai’i Convention Center on Jan. 28. Info: (808) 875-4400 or [deepakchopra.com].