I have been practicing NSR for only a week now, but strange things are happening. For instance, I have been craving fresh vegetables! This is not like me! The past two evenings I have visited restaurants with salad bars and filled my plate (plates, actually) with fresh vegetables. One of the two nights I even left off the dressing! Now, I like fatty foods. But lately it seems that my body is craving, no, demanding, fresh, whole foods. I want to go to McDonald's, but not for a Big Mac. I hear they have delicious salads and yogurt parfaits!

Also, my girlfriend asked me yesterday what I have been doing different lately. When I asked her what she meant, she said that I seemed more calm, was more playful, and seemed to be more positive about life in general!

All this time I have been doubting my practice. Am I trying too hard, am I repeating the syllable or letting it happen, etc. But just like David says, the real proof is to be seen in daily life. Are we different? I am. And after only a week of practice! The proof of the practice is in how we live. Thank you guys for making this so easily available to all people. God bless.

ghop

Dear ghop,

I enjoyed reading your report. Funny, how we can think of normal behavior as bizzare. Well, that makes sense when we've lived with chronic nervous system dysfunction all our life (as we all do).

We can't predict the order of such benefits. One person will first have a need for an improved diet, another will stop smoking, another will stop craving sweets. In any case, when we feel clearer and more alive, naturally we will want to take care of our body a little better.

There are many other benefits that will come in time.

A truly efficient path to normalcy requires few rules of conduct. The enlightened person has all the self-control they need to live the life they want. And, by the way, "divine love" (that is, life-supporting ethics, the kind taught by Gautama Buddha and Jesus Christ) comes about spontaneously, too.

David Spector
NSR Meditation/USA