Wisdom tradition says that there is a direct correlation between our states of mind and our physical health.
The equivalence between the two factors is not immediate nor mechanistic. An advanced soul will have a poor health, if its mission consists in challenging and fighting the accumulated karma of human ignorance. Many other factors are involved as well. However, the impact of states of mind on the state of physical health is always enormous. Hence the life of HPB was saved by his Master three times with the use of mantra. A mantra is a tool or vehicle through which mind and thought change matter, dense and astral.
The Power of Sound and Thought
“We say and maintain that SOUND, for one thing, is a tremendous Occult power; that it is
a stupendous force, of which the electricity generated by a million of Niagaras could never counteract the smallest potentiality when directed with occult knowledge. Sound may be produced of such a nature that the pyramid of Cheops would be raised in the air, or that a dying man, nay, one at his last breath, would be revived and filled with new energy and vigour.”
Helena goes on:
“For Sound generates, or rather attracts together, the elements that produce an ozone, the fabrication of which is beyond chemistry, but within the limits of Alchemy. It may even resurrect a man or an animal whose astral ‘vital body’ has not been irreparably separated from the physical body by the severance of the magnetic or odic chord. As one saved thrice from death by that power, the writer ought to be credited with knowing personally something about it.” (The SD, volume I, p. 555)
One of these healings is described by HPB in “The Letters of H.P. Blavatsky to A.P. Sinnett”, TUP, Pasadena, CA, page 105. However, the influence of mind over a living body is part of life for everyone.
In different ways, all the thoughts and words of each citizen affect the quality of his own astral and physical life and the lives of those around him. Such effects may be helpful or harmful. They work as repetitive mantras, whose quality and results may be consciously improved.
Whether constructive or destructive, elevated or selfish, our thoughts and emotions cause an impact on the cells and organs of our own physical bodies, and on the lives of other persons as well. This fact shows our responsibility in life. Every emotion counts. Each word spoken or silently thought has karmic effects upon its creator; and the intention of ideas and feelings, not their appearance, is the central factor in Karma.
How do our organs and cells directly feel the impact of our thoughts and sentiments, all the time? Esoteric philosophy teaches that living cells are conscious. They have their own sort of perception. They constantly interact with our thoughts, our attitudes, our modes of vibration. They absorb the energy of our life-impulses. We are responsible for the well-being of our body. In the same way we influence the well-being of others around us.
Blavatsky writes:
“… Occultism, unlike modern science, maintains that every atom of matter, when once differentiated, becomes endowed with its own kind of Consciousness. Every cell in the human body (as in every animal) is endowed with its own peculiar discrimination, instinct, and, speaking relatively, with intelligence.” [1]
And she expands the idea elsewhere:
“Occultism tells us that every atom, like the monad of Leibnitz, is a little universe of itself; and that every organ and cell in the human body is endowed with a brain of its own, with memory, therefore, experience and discriminative powers. The idea of Universal Life composed of individual atomic lives is one of the oldest teachings of esoteric philosophy, and the very modern hypothesis of modern science, that of crystalline life, is the first ray of ancient luminary knowledge, that has reached our scholars. If plants can be shown to have nerves and sensations and instinct (but another word for consciousness), why not allow the same in the cells of the human body?” [2]
Imagination Paves the Way to Facts
“As Jean Paul Richter says somewhere, the most painful part of our bodily pain is that which is bodiless or immaterial, namely our impatience, and the delusion that it will last forever.” (Letter LIII, page 296)
In the text “Hypnotism, And its Relations to Other Modes of Fascination” [3], we see these words by Blavatsky:
“Imagination is a potent help in every event of our lives. Imagination acts on Faith and both are the draughtsmen who prepare the sketches for Will to engrave, more or less deeply, on the rocks or obstacles and opposition with which the path of life is strewn. Says Paracelsus: ‘Faith must confirm the imagination, for faith establishes the will. … Determined will is the beginning of all magical operations. … It is because men do not perfectly imagine and believe the result, that the arts (of magic) are uncertain, while they might be perfectly certain.’ This is all the secret. Half, if not two-thirds of our ailings and diseases are the fruit of our imagination and fears. Destroy the latter and give another bent to the former, and nature will do the rest.”
The last two sentences can be rephrased as positive, healing statements.
Thus we could also say that approximately “half, if not two-thirds of our ailings and diseases can be cured by our imagination and hopes. Strengthen the latter and give a constructive bent to the former, and nature will do the rest.”
Sivananda on Right Thought and a Radiant Health
In his book “Thought Power”, Swami Sivananda writes:
“The body is internally associated with the mind, rather the body is a counterpart of the mind; it is a gross visible form of the subtle, invisible mind. If there is pain in the tooth or in the stomach or in the ear, the mind is at once affected. It ceases to think properly; it is agitated, disturbed and perturbed.”
“If there is depression in the mind, the body also cannot function properly. The pains which afflict the body are called the secondary diseases, Vyadhi, while the Vasanas or desires that afflict the mind are termed mental or primary diseases, Adhi.”
“Mental health is more important than physical health. If the mind is healthy, the body will necessarily be healthy. If the mind is pure, if your thoughts are pure, you will be free from all diseases primary and secondary. ‘Mens sana in corpore sano - a sound mind in a sound body’.” [4]
A few sentences after this, Sivananda adds under the subtitle Thoughts Affect the Body:
“Every thought or emotion or word produces a strong vibration in every cell of the body and leaves a strong impression there. If you know the method of raising an opposite thought, then you can lead a happy harmonious life of peace and power. Thought of love will at once neutralize a thought of hatred. A thought of courage will immediately serve as a powerful antidote against a thought of fear.”
And in Chapter Six of the same book “Thought Power”, item entitled “The Gamut of Thoughts” (item 14 in the Brazilian edition):
“There are various kinds of thoughts. There are instinctive thoughts. There are visual thoughts. There are auditory thoughts (thinking in terms of hearing). There are symbolic thoughts (thinking in terms of symbols). Some thoughts are habitual.”
“There are kinesthetic thoughts (thinking in terms of movement, as in playing a game). There are emotional thoughts. Thoughts change from the visual stage to auditory stage and from auditory to kinesthetic.”
“There is intimate connection between thinking and respiration as there is close relation between mind and Prana. When the mind is concentrated, breathing becomes slow. If one thinks fast the respiration also becomes fast.”
The Healing Power We Have
If we become aware of our responsibility for the whole flow and rhythm of thoughts, we can intelligently regulate their production so as to have a better health and be more effective in noble action.
On the healing power of good thoughts, we have said elsewhere:
Whatever I send forth, comes back, in essence. There is no separation in nature.
Every time I sincerely wish the best to other beings, a similar kind of healing energy is sent to my own mental, emotional and vital principles. From them, it goes down to my physical body, including its cells, nervous system and main organs.
Therefore we all should regularly take a couple of minutes to repeat, once and again, slowly:
“Om. I send peace, vigour, vitality, to all beings and the same to every cell in my own body. Om. I have no attachment to pain: the best is yet to come. I send life and harmonious strength to every part of my being. I wish the same to each person of good will. Om, shanti.”
In order to compensate for some suffering, or perhaps to prevent it, one may send the energy of thankfulness to the different parts of his physical organism, and to his fellow beings as well.
By expanding the power of good will, our existence is improved. It is an intelligent thing to do, to purify oneself, to wish the best to those around us, and make the Meaningful Journey from ignorance to universal compassion. [5]
It is worthwhile mentioning the books by French thinker Jean des Vignes Rouges (1879-1970). JVR wrote many a significant text on the influence of a bright mind and a persistently correct willpower not only on one’s inner life, but on one’s own physical body, as well as on the life of others. Building a strong goodwill is an art and a science in itself.
Since 1875, most of the numerous spiritual failures in the modern theosophical movement - including some of its leaders - occurred not because people had not access to correct information about the Path, but because they had not the Spiritual Will necessary to Act Accordingly. Hence the teachings themselves were distorted and “adapted” to the unfortunate lack of correct will and willpower. Such a basic mistake will probably be corrected in our century.
NOTES:
[1] From “Transactions of the Blavatsky Lodge”, part II, as included in “Collected Writings” of HPB, TPH, USA, vol. X, p. 322.
[2] See the article “Kosmic Mind”, Collected Writings, vol. XII, p. 134: the article contains an extensive scientific discussion on the consciousness of cells.
[4] From the book “Thought Power”, by Swami Sivananda, various editions, Chapter Four, “The Functions of Thought Power”, Item One, “Thoughts Promote Radiant Health”.
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The above article was published on the websites of the Independent Lodge of Theosophists on 29 July 2025. An initial version of it is part of the April 2025 edition of “The Aquarian Theosophist”, pp. 10-14, where it will be seen under the title of “Thoughts Along the Road”.
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Helena Blavatsky (photo) wrote these words: “Deserve, then desire”.
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