Practical Application of OIDA-Therapy
1. Diet (a).
The recommended diet for OIDA-Therapy is the lactovegetarian diet or optionally the vegan diet. The OIDA- Therapy diet concept is connected to the concept of all-embracing love and trying through diet to avoid any unnecessary aggression towards animals. To try to eat organically produced food which has not been adulterated with genetical modification processes is more a part of common sense than of OIDA-therapy. The same goes for only using sea salt and natural sweeteners and whole products (brown rice etc.) If you eat sane and healthy food everything else will improve. In the ancient Sanskrit medical treatise “Ayur Veda” there are many more diet recommendations which simply can not be discussed here due to lack of space.
2. OIDA meetings telling about one’s discovery of faith (b)
One of the best ways of regaining faith is to listen to those who have made progress in their own OIDA-therapy and have thus recovered their faith in their own mystical traditions learned during their upbringing or in any other faith they feel inclined to. Such meetings should not have a proselytizing element but rather reflect on the benefits of a life with faith in opposition to the life they lived previously without faith.
Such meetings also provide a forum for meeting other people who are also searching for their faith and provide a wonderful platform for conversations such as nr. 5; faith and philosophy talks, nr. 10; the basis for the fear of faith therapy, and allows people to get practically involved with their own practise in nr. 9; sharing therapy. This platform can even expand into home programs conducted by those who have received help from the OIDA-Therapy. Such meetings can start with the participants saying the OIDA prayer, and the most beautiful presentations of such meetings can later be put on the Internet to extend the influence of such meetings to other people who have no chance to attend such meetings.
3. 12 Step Program (a, b, c)
The 12 Step Program developed by the A.A. (Alcoholics Anonymous) and N.A.( Narcotics Anonymous) is in the same spirit as Oida-therapy with the direct application to a concrete problem which was caused by a lack of faith. The principle of not wanting to hurt anybody and feeling very repentant if an individual has hurt anybody in the past is the very essence of a healing attitude towards oneself. And any type of engagement which decreases our capacity to serve others is exactly what OIDA-Therapy wants to help us to overcome.
4. Oida questionnaires to refine our discrimination (a,b,c)
The OIDA questionnaires are helpful for all types of therapies. They introduce to us a self-critical approach. They also help us to question values that are widely accepted but which are nonetheless full of faults. OIDA questionnaires add some humor to our therapies. And they also give us substance for a lot of discussions for group therapy and for inter-religious dialogue. OIDA-Therapy never intends to offend anyone, it rather teaches us to love people in whatever stage of development they are in. At the same time, if we are not self-critical we may never discover how to make progress. To meditate on our inner voice to obtain answers to sincere questions is a very nice process. And then comes a more difficult stage which is to put into action what we have been told by our inner voice. In this connection it will also be important what type of association we choose because it is much easier to follow one’s ideals in the company of others who share them.
5. OIDA therapy: faith and philosophy talks (b)
People have lost faith due to those individuals claiming to have faith but who behave in an unacceptable manner. Often people also give up their faith to facilitate involvement in attachments and activities which their faith restricted.
It is very healthy to reevaluate the teachings of any faith tradition independent of the faulty or virtuous activities of others and to reconsider these teachings in the light of their impact on philosophy and social behavior. All the different types of faith can be analyzed in this faith. With the help of nr. 6; Chart meditation, different types of faith can more clearly be understood. Most of the charts provide bases for wonderful discussions.
To help make the meetings more concentrated they should also start with the OIDA prayer.
6. Chart meditation (a, c)
The many OIDA chart and diagram meditations provide a lot of educational information. The beginning of every chart meditation is to read the introduction. The next step is to try to find yourself in the chart. What is the message for you from this chart? Does this chart confront you with ideals which you are currently not putting into action?
Write on a piece of paper all that which makes you curious about the chart and investigate more about it. OIDA- Therapy teaches us about that which we can understand with reasoning as well as about that which is beyond our reasoning faculty. Some of the charts will also help you to understand more about other mystical traditions and belief systems, thus they are also very helpful for interreligious dialogue and an understanding of the OIDA Vedic tradition.
7. Educational system therapy questionnaire (a, c)
This questionnaire was especially created to give an understanding of where our educational system has gone wrong and thus kept us in illusion regarding some very important aspects of life. And if you’re an adult and somehow involved in the educational system yourself you can see how irresponsible it is to teach lies to others as if they were truths.
The OIDA-Therapy is a commitment with the truth. It doesn’t work if we lie to ourselves or to others. Therefore it will turn out to be a very great benediction if you or any educational system takes it seriously and is willing to correct your-/itself because how can you change somebody who does not want to change? We are supposed to be the well-wishers of those we educate. Therefore eliminating lies and uncertainties presented as truth from the educational agenda should be considered the first priority.
8. Getting to know and follow your mystical tradition (a, b, c)
OIDA-Therapy encourages us to define what is the origin of the faith we still have. We are supposed to study the true mystical traditions and free ourselves from frustrations which were created by those who previously discouraged our faith. Once you have defined the values of your faith, then hopefully you will have found one or more persons with whom to share the practical application of your faith.
We should try to become realized and philosophically profound in that faith system. That means, we should develop saintly qualities, be charitable with others and a good example in general. That in itself should give you a healthy vitality inasmuch as you are helpful to others and don’t make trouble to others. If you’re not convinced about any particular mystical tradition, feel free to study as much as you like about other faith traditions. You will discover that they are all very similar in nature. And even if you do not find your place completely you can surely learn a lot from studying about all the different faiths. So there is no way you can lose.
9. OIDA sharing therapy
This therapy is connected with the central effort of OIDA- therapy to heal people and to make them happier. It is natural for a person who has solved his problems through any particular system to recommend that same process to others. OIDA-therapy is for all those who suffer in this world due to a life lacking in values or simply because of having lost faith in the meaning of life. And we hope that as people get benefited from OIDA-therapy they will also try to share the benefit with others.
To collaborate with the efforts of OIDA specialists to organize group therapy of type 2, 3, 5, 6, 10 and 11 are all ideas to get involved. The more we know about OIDA- therapy the more qualified we become to participate in such programs. The main principle is, you get what you are giving; if you help others to find faith your own faith will also be strengthened.
10. Fear of faith therapy
The Fear of Faith therapy is especially designed so that those who have been brought up in atheistic systems or who have had their hearts broken by the wrong behavior of some hypocrite in the name of faith can be cured from their fear that everything that has to do with faith is dangerous or doesn’t deserve any of their attention. Good experiences give us enthusiastic faith while bad experiences may cause just the opposite. Many people nowadays have been brought up in systems where it is almost considered illicit or illegal to talk about any faith. Thus they may be quite traumatized in relation to the entire topic. They need to review like a serious student the entire history of faith, the origin of humanity, the natural faith of indigenous groups in the natural forces and the lives of the theists who dedicated their existence to all-embracing love.
By studying all the material that OIDA-Therapy offers there is quite a good chance that they become curious and want to find out about the beauty of faith and its healing values.
11. OIDA-Therapy: inter-religious dialogue participation (b)
The inter-religious dialogue is very helpful for increasing communication and appreciation between different schools of faith as well as ethnic communities. Such dialogues are currently being held in many parts of the world. OIDA-therapy promotes the study of the history and the applications of any mystical tradition. To study the history of those who have committed violence, theft, murder, slavery and other injustices in the name of religion is not considered to be of any value from the point of view of OIDA-therapy, but inasmuch as in different mystical traditions saints have made their appearance, practiced and taught all-embracing love it would certainly be valuable to know more about it.
So what about the dialogue with religious institutions? OIDA-therapy wants to give everybody the benefit of the doubt. Every human has the chance to become a truly mystical being. And it would not be fair to hold the mystics and teachers of love responsible for nonsense done in their name on a later date, nor can we disqualify the contributions of all-embracing love even if they come from people who belong to religious institutions that have previously committed serious mistakes. The OIDA-therapy inter-religious dialogue is foremost concentrated on creating a common platform on which claims for exclusivity are shunned and where individual responsibility for each individual’s action is promoted as a universal principle which includes the relationship between human beings and animals.
Those who endorse violence towards other living entities will hardly be attracted to the principles of OIDA-therapy. It may thus be very doubtful that any healing will reach them while they are still creating terror in the lives of others. But it is always appreciated in the inter-religious dialogue if the principles of universal love can somehow be made more known.
12. Developing contact with your inner guide (a)
You may not be sure about taking help from any particular mystical tradition, but you could be interested to know, how mystical traditions have helped people.
Or you would like to get help from within. How to get inspiration where to research about faith traditions. Or to know at least theoretically how traditions, towards which you feel sympathy, deal with the problems of life.
In this connection we like to recommend a specific prayer. Considering that we all have our inner voice, we can approach that help from inside.
„Oh my Lord, Creator and Maintainer of everyone, wherever You are and whoever You are, I hope that You are listening to me. I am your little child. I have decided that I want to conduct my life under Your guidance and for Your happiness. Please reveal in my heart, what You want me to do and bring me to a person or place where I can learn about the truth.
I, from my side, promise to You, that I will try to do everything I am supposed to do. I will also try to stop doing anything, which is not pleasing to You. From now on, I am yours.”
Recite this prayer three times and meditate for five minutes on its meaning and implications for your life.
Please take note that vegetarian diet and abstinence from intoxication is favorable for practicing and understanding this prayer.
Read in the Holy Scriptures of your mystical tradition.
Repeat this process at least once a month to review wether your faith is growing, or the need for finding new answers and light on your path is increasing. Write down what is important for you in your own mystical tradition and compare it with the respective chart (see: mystical tradition identity chart in appendix)
13. Review your faith or other faith traditions
Review your faith according to some general guidelines provided in the mystical tradition identity charts.
You can do the same review with other mystical traditions, using their identity chart as a way to understand them better or a way to deepen your faith in the common origin of all mystic healing systems.
Read the chart and meditate how and when any of the items were important for you or how have they influenced your religious life and faith.
Write down where and why you have lost faith in any of the items in your chart.
This will give rise to many questions within you. There are four ways to deal with these questions:
Find a trustworthy person in your mystical tradition and questions him about the respective topics.
Write all the questions on a piece of a paper and pray for further inner guidance to be able to resolve your doubts.
Read what type of philosophical or practical answers and Still without your grace I feel no hope. guidance are given by other mystical traditions and in this Please help me to heal my broken heart. way find out more about the doubt in question. If you The world of violence is tormenting me. feel that these inquiries are helping you to deepen or ex-Let me be a part of your loving plan. pand your faith in a more universal, all embracing way, Let divine faith help us to see you everywhere, then continue your investigation and your prayer for inner so that we may also think of you in our last hour” guidance. 3. I have offended endlessly,
14. OIDA prayers (a, b) given suffering to animals and man.
I have ruined my health and brain, One prayer is included in “Developing contact with your trying to enjoy and going insane. inner guide”. Here are some additional prayers: I broke my word a thousand times and still I thought that this is fine.
1. “Oh Lord, creator and maintainer of all beings, Oh Lord of the fallen, please come to me, oh Divine Mother of devotion and faith, let me take shelter of your sacred feet. please bestow your grace upon our brothers and sisters. And shower me with causeless grace, Your universal form which sustain all of us to serve your cause with smiling face. as mother earth and all the elements That faith will guide me that I share, and your unlimited energies Your love with all so they come near.“ which penetrate the material and spiritual realms, allow us to have the faith to relate amongst us 4. Mysterious Faith, with all embracing tender love and care. Please take me unto your shelter Let all souls find shelter in your divine love, Guide me to your Lord of love give us love to forgive and to be humble Remove my ignorance give us your service as our guiding star. And selfish desires Let us find the faith and love, as we are Make me strong searching for you in different traditions and countries. To follow your ideals Let us heal from our mistakes Make me humble and become your trusted devotees To never offend so that we may serve your family Make me simple wherever we may meet them in our life. With wisdom Oh my Lord of time and space, Make me sharp please heal us from all disturbances Against illusion and show us the way to you.“ Make me soft To serve with love
2. „My divine Lord(...............................) Make me bright (your preferred name for God), To see your light people search for you all over the world. Give me determination They sing your glories in many ways. To leave my faults They make beautiful types of temples for you To follow you They read holy books which teach about you. All the way They visit sanctuaries connected to you or your beloved. So that someday My soul can stay With love personified. Oh Faith Divine I am Yours Not mine Egotism Has me driven But You have given Hope again Faith in love Gift from above Meaning to follow Lessens to swallow A way to go To find my home Oh flower of faith Oh ray of light Oh taste for truth Oh love divine Grant me Your grace Your love is mine. Send me the guide To trust the wise Without fanaticism To heal with inner vision To see the love in all And serve the highest goal
15. The Holy Name Therapy
Repetition of sacred words addressing God or divinity in different ways has been part of mystic traditions in general. For those persons, who do not belong to any specific mystic tradition, it is recommended to note, that through repetition of sacred names - either mentally or verbally - a contact with the higher realms can be established. This is a scientific process, since it can be verified by each and every one of us. It is like a cosmic universal prayer. It is the recognition of our need for help. It is the initial faith that some higher realm exists, and that it is aware of our existence. It is an initial communication with the inner voice or inner guardian.
In the Vedic tradition, the chanting of mantras is part of every ceremony. It can be done either individually or collectively. The tradition teaches us that there are no hard and fast rules for invoking divine powers through the recitation of the Holy Names of the Lord.
OIDA-therapy recommends an individual Holy Name Meditation process, especially for those who have lost faith in a specific source. The Holy Names are prayers from the heart for receiving a special grace. They are prayers for a intervention from above. That intervention brings hopefully the recovery of our faith. To start this practice, it is highly recommended to go into the forest or to any natural setting. There we can feel the proximity of the energy of Mother Nature. This will help us to find the peace of mind and to concentrate better on the chanting. If it is impossible for you to reach such a place, then try to find any clean and quiet place where you will not be disturbed. There you can bathe your body, mind and intellect in the purifying influence of the Holy Names or invocations of God, or His divine powers.
You can sit, stand or walk. Try to vibrate the divine sound through your tongue, mind and ear. Meditate that the sound is reaching and penetrating every cell of your body. Try to mentally situate yourself in the mood of the universal prayer: “Oh my Lord, Please let me become an instrument of Your love. Oh my Lord, please guide me, so that I can find my path to You. Oh my Lord, I want to offer my very existence to You. Oh my Lord, please protect me from anything, which could lead me away from You.” These general prayers show the recommended mental attitudes. They will help us to get a quick and positive result from the meditation. You can do this meditation once a day or more. Try to fix a regular time for it and do not interrupt the meditation by talking with others or any other activity. Since every mystic tradition has some recommended invocation, we won’t go into further details here.
1. Hatha yoga – pranayama (a,c)
There are many yoga schools nowadays teaching different varieties of systems which all originate in the sacred teachings of Patanjali. They are very helpful for increasing the capacity to concentrate. If you’re lucky and the teacher is actually qualified to teach about the origin of Vedic culture, kirtan and love for God, you may get a good start there towards healing. Especially if you maintain contact with somebody who is actually practicing the OIDA Veda therapy.
2. OIDA-Veda chart meditation (a,c)
The information you can obtain from the charts allows you to understand your identity and learn how the Vedas guide the soul towards different spiritual perfections. You will find various teachings which come from different teachers of the Vedic scriptures all harmonized in the options offered by OIDA Veda-therapy. OIDA Veda-therapy has its roots in the oldest culture of the world which still has much to offer to the world despite 400 years of Mogul colonialization and 300 years of European colonialization. The only reason India was able to survive this onslaught of violence and cultural distortion is because the Vedic teachings have been passed down from gurus to disciples and they were not centralized under some ecclesiastical structure. Thus the colonial powers in India were not able to do what they did in South America (i.e. when they decapitated the local traditions by killing all their priests and intellectuals).
3. Yama – Niyama guidance to develop values (a,c)
4. Mantra Chanting (a,b,c)
The 8 points of Yama and Niyama given in the Raja Yoga system provide us with clear guidance in regards to how to prepare for higher realizations. The same things happen if we start to chant mantras with the appropriate explanations. You can find the list of Yamas and Niyamas on our homepage as well as a Mantra Chanting guide which for the sake of space we haven’t included here.
Hunabku - Maya Symbol for Duality
The duality which we experience in our existence, like black and white, hot and cold, pleasure and pain, gives inspiration to search for that existence which is beyond duality. For some that is the unmanifested Absolute and for others it is the eternal love for God. Whatever our eternal destination may be, we have to learn to transcend duality.
Questionnaires
In the next section you can find some questioners which are able to help you to define your own situation.
Please answer the questionnaires in solitude, answer each question slowly, and while doing this, consult your inner voice.
Answering these questionnaires helps you to have a clear view about the level of your ignorance (or more hopefully, your clear understanding), and about the size of your ego. It also shows to which directions are you led by a too big ego, or too little understanding - or by clear views and selflessness
The process of answering these questionnaires gives you also some hints about where to go from here.
The questionnaires for self-research