Dennis Benson

The belief that a focussed mind can in some mysterious way control and cure any part of the body has been around for a long time. One of the many books published on the subject first caught my eye back in the fifties. W.J.Ennever wrote ‘Your mind and how to use it’ and emphasised the need for willpower and concentration plus the importance of focusing your attention. Given this all things are possible. Over the years since then I have read with fascination a succession of articles on ‘miracle cures’, a phenomena resulting from terminally ill patients suddenly being found, to the amazement of their doctors, to be clear of cancer. In almost every instance the patients has reported that he or she ‘willed’ the tumour to go.

Today we learn of yet another example of the extraordinary power of the mind to mend the body. Graham Miles, 66, is a stroke victim and has told how he amazed doctors by overcoming ‘locked-in’ syndrome as a result of which he was left paralysed except for his eyes. Graham was diagnosed with ‘locked-in’ syndrome at the age of 49, having suffered a stroke on the way home from his work as a gas engineer. He spent six months in Mayday University Hospital in Croydon and six months in a rehabilitation unit before he went home. He recalls that his initial paralysis was so complete that he even found it hard to breathe. He felt that he had been ‘left to die’ by clinicians.

Moving his eyelids was his only means of communication but he remembers thnking that he had a major problem and knowing that he had to deal with it. He began to focus. The first ‘target’ was his voice and after two months it began to return to the extent that he could manage one word at a time. He then began to concentrate on his big toe. He would close his eyes and will it to move. One day, after about three months, it flickered. Thus encouraged, Graham started working on different parts of the body. Toes first, then fingers. Five months after his calamity Graham took his first steps using a zimmer frame.

His consultant was bewildered and confessed that he didn’t know how he was still alive. But alive he is and today Graham drives a manual car and races Jaguar E-types. He now lives a normal life and is sure that the brain isn’t totally understood – “apparently there is a lot of extra capacity in it and it seems as though I’ve found some of it”. The father of two believes that “if you are totally focused and have sufficient commitment and mental stamina, you can break down the barrier between brain and body”.

Many of the other amazing recoveries reported over the years have told similar stories. In every instance the victim has been told that there is no hope and in every instance they have used their long period confined to a bed to focus on to a specific spot with the order ‘recover’. It is easy to be sceptical but pictures like those of Graham in today’s newspapers give living proof that powerful minds can achieve anything.

Many best-selling authors such as  psychiatrist Scott Peck have recorded their belief that many of the functions of the mind are still a mystery to us. Others have advocated mantras, a popular one in the sixties was ‘every day and in every way I am getting better and better’. A whole range of techniques have burgeoned and many have recorded positive outcomes. Others have not and the key to the whole process seems to be the abilility to focus for long periods. I imagine that people who practice meditation are far more likely to succeed.

My self understanding tells me that I am unlikely to be a successful practitioner. I have a ‘butterfly’ mind that seems to hop from one subject to another at the  speed of a ferret going through a pipe. As I walk around, Test matches, Alan Titchmarck, Zsa Zsa Gabor and a zillion other whimsies compete with each other for attention. But I am encouraged by the thought that if I found myself in a predicament such as Graham’s I would ignore the doom-laden prognoses and focus and focus. And so would you.

In going public, people such as Graham miles are performing a great public service. They are telling faint hearts such as me that there is always hope if you battle. But we need to believe in the possibility. In 1920 the Scottish physicist, James Dewar, said that minds are like parachutes, they only function when open’. Like many of my allotment pals I tend to have a closed mind and we undoubtedly miss out in many ways. Not all are grave life-or- death issues but all could benefit from use of the mind. Edwin Moses, the Athlete and Olympic champion hurdler, was asked how he achieved such incredible performances. He replied that he didn’t really see the hurdles, he merely sensed them like a memory. In today’s world of cricket, players such as Mike Atherton recall that in a long  innings they always focussed their mind on one object to the exclusion of all else. In various ways they were all using the power of the mind.

Ekhart Tolle in ‘The Power of Now’ tells us that the problem is that the mind is a superb instrument if used properly and sparingly, but in the case of most of us the mind uses us, takes us over. I’m afraid that cap fits me! But my weakness doesn’t stop me admiring the amazing willpower and determination of people like Graham Miles.

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                                                         WELL DONE TROTT AND BROAD!

Yet another appalling batting performance by the top England batsman today. Fortunately the supposedly less accomplished bats Trott and Broad (who both made centuries) saved the day as Pakistan did their usual version of giving up the ghost.

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                                                      SLEAZE REVELATIONS CONTINUE!

Yesterday I wondered how long it would be before the Daily Telegraph came up with more sleaze revlations relating to the coalition government. The answer proved to be just one day!

Today we learn that the Conservative Party is offering meetings with David Cameron for £2000. It seems that businessmen who pay up two grand per year qualify for ‘Team 2000′. This entitles them to meet the Prime Minister for receptions, dinners and ‘discussion groups’. Even better is the ‘Leader’s Group where for a cool £50,000 per year it is even possible to be invited for dinner at Mr Cameron’s home.

Is it any wonder that most people now regard politicians in the same way as they would view a rattlesnake in a lucky dip!

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                                                               GEORGE COHEN SPEAKS OUT!

George Cohen, a member of the 1966 England World  Cup winning team, has lashed out at premiership ‘stars’ who abuse their extreme wealth to “hide behind the law” when they have committed indiscretions. His comments came after another England player was granted a further gagging order stopping publication of details of his private life.

As George rightly remarks these pampered peole have the money to prevent anything embarrassing coming out. Of course this is what happens when you pay someone more in a week for kicking a ball about than a brain surgeon earns in a year. And the irony is that the presnet England team is grossly inferior to the one that George starred in!

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                                                            PLEASE HELP!

Thankyou for joining me for a few minutes each day. Can I pursuade you to leave a comment from time to time. I ask because some readers have said that comments make the articles more rounded. i would really appreciate your contribution whatever it may say! And so would the ferrets!                      THANKS!

YESTERDAY’S QUIZ ANSWERS   1. Embroidery or needlecraft    2.  The Nobel Prize for Peace 

TODAY’S QUESTIONS;   1.Who wrote The Far Pavilions in 1978?   2.  Who wrote In the Shadow of Man?

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