Will get two thieves or none?

[donq]

There's a saying "like cures like." In my language it means using something sharp like a needle, to get a splinter (which is also sharp) out of your foot.
For example, one of remedies for water in ear is adding more water. Dropping few drops of water into the affected ear. Once done, turn immediately to the other side. And you can feel the water pour out of your ear.

Anyway, if I "set a thief to catch a thief", I might get two thieves? hahaha.

In psychotherapy, there's a technique called, "paradoxical psychotherapy" which is like a reverse psychological technique. (when you try to get someone to do something by telling them to do the opposite).

Let me give you an example from the wonderful story that Milton Erickson told that shows how resistance can be used to solve a problem. When Erickson was a small boy growing up on a farm, it was raining and his father was trying to bring one of their horses into the barn. His father pulled and pulled at the horse's rein, but the more he pulled the more horse resisted and the further the horse pulled away from the barn. Little Milton observed his father's dilemma and asked if he could help. His father smiled and agreed to let him lend a hand. Milton sized up the situation and grabbed the horse by the rein. He then turned the horse in the opposite direction from the barn and began to pull the horse by the rein. Naturally, the horse resisted like he had done to his father, but this time the horse backed little Milton right into the barn.

As for paradoxical psychotherapy, it's a bit more complicated. Here's an example: The therapist asks the patient to deliberately have the symptom at the therapist's office and/or outside the office. The idea is that, if a symptom is involuntary, having it voluntarily means the behavior can be controlled and is no longer a symptom. If the person can have it voluntarily, this means he/she can also not have it voluntarily.

There's also a Zen story.
A student said to his teacher, “My mind is anxious. Please pacify it.”
The teacher replied, “Bring me your mind, and I will pacify it.”
The student said, “Although I’ve sought it, I cannot find it.”
“There,” The teacher replied, “I have pacified your mind.”

[aceofcups]

hi Monty,

This came to mind.

The concept of Like cure Like" is the basis of the Theory of Homeopathic Medicine. Think that is where term actually came from. That taking even the most diluted portion, even if it would be poisonously toxic in it's full dose,  this small version can be helpful in the healing process.

Homeopathy works on subtle levels of consciousness.  On the psychological/spiritual level it could mean -- taking small does of what we fear and causes hindrances in our life and confronting then -- can be the medicine needed to cure them. If taken in the right amount and with awareness.

peace
charlie

[tribunalofmercy]

My car does that, Monty; when it acts up and I take it to my mechanic I tell the car to 'Act Like It Just Did a Minute Ago', on the road, but alas - it will Not, lol. Do you think it is like the subatomic particle that has only a Tendency to act, according to whom is Watching it? The energy of interaction has changed.....For surely the mechanic has an air of Authority that I do not, when I am alone with my car


Ace has explained the homeopathic so that I understand why we give a little of the flu in our vaccines, to prevent flu; or a little of venom to aid snakebite victims...yet we know that a little poison, over time, might allow the little old ladies to kill their gentlement friends in the play 'Arsenic and Old Lace'? lol

Perhaps it is Intent, after all, as much as the toxin, that aids or damages? I wonder if we do not give 'intent' the full credit it deserves? I wonder if every thing reacts as the water molecule does, to a degree, and changes it's very Design based on the thoughts, words and Intent of those interacting with it? Hmmmmm.

[donq]

Hi Ace,
Yes, homeopathy. I forgot to mention it. Thanks.
I also heard that there’s some herb that has two different effects: if we pick its root in the morning, it will help to heal constipation but if we pick it in the night, it for healing diarrhea! So, if we don’t be very very careful…lol

When I lived in the forest temple my friends (monks etc.) and I had to fight (try to stop it) forest fires every summer. Once my friend got an idea, and we decided to fight fire with fire. When we saw forest fire came closer, we tried to cut the trees as much as we could, to separate fire way (our forest was on the high mountain and we had only knives and ้hoes as our tools.) Then we gathered some wood/leaves and placed them on the way the fire was going to pass and lit them up. Our lit fire and its smoke would extinguish the forest fires eventually, more or less. Or at least, it could be contained/changed its way and we could still save our temple. It worked well most of the times. But there was once or twice that my friends and I had to run like hell as the wind shift swiftly and both fires came toward us. Hahaha

Hi Mary Anne,
Yes, when I reached my dentist’s office, my toothache always was (temporarily) gone! hahaha
It used to be believed that if you ate a lion’s heart, you would be so brave like a lion (hmm…but that very lion is already dead, right? or how could you get its heart? lol)
Yes, so agree about “intent.” I think our mind work in the strange/funny way. If something in our mind could not be voluntarily intended, we felt problems. As soon as I wanted to be brave (and wanted to eat that lion’s heart :-), it meant I invited more fear.
I read somewhere that if only we could change just a tiny little cell in our bodies, it could heal even cancer. The only problem is how to change that very little cell! Just only one staring cell!
Maybe, as you said, “Intent” is the secret of life?