Who’s Your Guru?
by Dr. James E. Carey, DD, PhD (computer technology). Former Director and Executive Trustee of Creative Health Institute 501(c)-3 non-profit Trust.
As editor of this newsletter, and as one of the volunteers that create, produce and distribute the home study version of the Dr. Ann Wigmore / Creative Health Institute program, I get lots of letters.
One of the most common queries I receive is about resolving the conflicting advice of various “raw food gurus.”
Somehow, I’m expected to have all of the answers. And at a deeper level, people want to know WHY there are so many conflicting opinions and methodologies surrounding raw foods – why can’t we all agree on the facts, they ask?
First I bear in mind that the greatest mistake in life we can commit is one-sided-ness, when we believe that we are in possession of the only exclusive truth, and everything and everybody else is wrong.
Therefore, I trust little of what I “think” I “know.” After all, “everybody knew” that the earth was flat, that ships made out of metal would sink, that the human body was incapable of traveling faster than 35 mph, that Dewey would be elected President over Truman, and that cooking food was healthy.
So I examine what is being said from a critical viewpoint. Is there clinical evidence, unbiased studies, scientific research to back up what the person is saying, or are they merely rendering an opinion? In most cases we’re listening to opinions – opinions not necessarily gathered from unbiased personal observations and research.
Then I look at who made the statement and what their reputation is. People like Dr. Gabriel Cousens, Dr. Douglas Graham, Dr. Bernard Jensen, Dr. Edmund Bordeaux Szekely, Dr. Lorraine Day and Dr. Ann Wigmore, after receiving a through medical education, have made extended, often life-long, scientific and clinical studies of the effects of raw and cooked foods on the body, and back up their opinions with statistics and evidence, not just anecdotal stories.
Others, like Victoria Boutenko, Paul Nison, Hiawatha Cromer, Nomi Shannon and Juliano, have studied raw foods extensively, often for decades, usually with recognized raw living food experts or academies, have devoted years of their lives studying the effects upon themselves, sharing the raw living foods lifestyle with others, and have often participated in studies as well as conducted their own. After accumulating all of this experience, their friends encourage them to speak out publicly about what they’ve learned.
Both of these groups are eminently respectable, and I trust their advice and opinions.
There is a third group. These are raw fooders that have taken a two-week program somewhere are are now out to save the world. With less than a year of experience they come out with their first book.
I applaud those who have purity of motivation, but unfortunately, many have jumped on the bandwagon because they see this as a “good business opportunity.” Interest in raw food is up four-fold annually over the last three years, it’s the #2 diet and Hollywood, and it’s often “sexy” to the media.
Sometimes there appears to be a new “insight” or “revelation” in the work of these newcomers, but opinions are merely empty words until they are backed up by solid evidence.
I try to read the works and newsletters of all raw fooders, but the more I see blatant self-promotion the more I question their motives and the validity of their writings. So many, many times their “original work” tends to be composed of re-worked material originally developed by the people named above.
We have an ironic saying in academia – “stealing from one person is plagiarism, stealing from two or more is research.” My point is that true research is more than just rewording the works of others.
Anybody that emails me more than once a week about their “exciting, revolutionary” new book, or video, or discovery, is suspect. They tend to be shameless self-promoters, rewriting and reworking the material of others.
If you want to find out if something is true, first ask yourself if it’s in harmony with the laws of nature? If yes, there’s a one-third probability that it’s true.
Then ask if it’s in harmony with eight thousand years of wisdom, with all the highest teachings of the great spiritual giants, philosophers and scientists. If yes, there’s a two-thirds probability that it’s true.
Then ask yourself if it’s in harmony with your inner intuition. This inner intuition is another avenue to truth (see Power vs. Force), and if it’s in harmony with your intuition also, then you can be sure that it is true.
“Gray are all the theories, but green is the tree of life.” – Goethe
“Be your own doctor.” – Dr. Ann Wigmore
PS “I’m raw when possible, organic when practical, and I pray over the rest.” – Unknown
PPS: Even if you’re not 100% raw, how much better are you doing today than when you were on the SAD? – Jim Carey
PPPS: “[Because of their diets] nine men in ten are suicides.” – Benjamin Franklin
August 10th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
[...] Be Careful Choosing a Guru [...]
August 11th, 2009 at 10:15 am
When I first started out, I had a hard time because I was coming across a lot of conflicting information. I am now doing what you say in this post and it works.
August 11th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
“I try to read the works and newsletters of all raw fooders, but the more I see blatant self-promotion the more I question their motives and the validity of their writings.” I’m grateful to read your perspective. The self-promotion seems pandemic currently. It’s disheartening. There’s a group of these “gurus” who appear to have coalesced their efforts and now promote each other. They don’t have the educational background. Their data is primarily anecdotal. And they’re guided by the marketing expertise of the latest great rich quick schemers and it’s such a drag. I can’t fault anyone for wanting to make a buck off the Internet I suppose. But I’m beginning to feel accosted by the relentless self-promotion and the promise of top secret exclusive information while espousing spiritual values and intentions. If I pay this, I can become a member of an exclusive “in the know” circle benefiting from the latest “research” and discounted products and…Jeezumpete! The biggest drag for me is that this rabid self-promotion has become such an obstacle to those approaching and new to the raw food lifestyle. It raises their hackles. To heck with the standard concern of “how will I get enough protein”. Now their chief concerns revolve around encountering these snake oil tactics so early in their experience and the apparent contradiction of intentions and motivations. Everyone on the band wagon tooting their own horn. That’s one crowded band wagon.
August 11th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Jim, your message is as wholesome and down to earth as the model for eating and living that you share. Thanks for stepping up and continuing to be a beautiful conduit for Creator’s message.
August 11th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Thank you for the kind words…
August 11th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Great post, Jim.
Down to Earth wisdom indeed.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
I have just finished reading Why Suffer? And I wish to
learn more.
Thank you for the opportunity to learn more.
Gjel Stenet
August 24th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Very interesting article and very true. I purchased a course from you a couple of years ago, lots of good info.Been about 90% raw since March 0f 04. The Raw and organic movement has really grown since then and it is interesting to see all the contradictions. Going to see Mat Monarch and Angela Stokes on October 18 in St Augustine and Viktoras Kulinskas on Nov 1st. I’ve read their book and now can ask some questions.
August 26th, 2009 at 11:10 am
I read the available information and decide for myself what fits into by belief system and also what works for me – Dr. Ann Wigmore’s statement “Be your own doctor” rings true to me!
September 6th, 2010 at 10:27 am
Hi Jim,
Brave of you to speak the truth. I was one of the organizers of the first two Raw Food Festivals in Portland, Oregon back in 2000 and 2001. What has happened to the ‘raw food movement’ since then has been amazing. After the 2001 festival I moved back to Puerto Rico to be with my family and have since been teaching raw foods here on the island and I have dedicated much of my time to working with local farmers so that we might have more local organic food available. I often have clients asking me to ‘certify’ them and offering me lumps of money to do so. I am always amazed that those asking for certifications have not even had a personal experience with detox but, they want to teach and set up web pages, etc. As far as I am concerned the only person that can really certify anyone is the holy ghost and a personal experience with detox. As we all know whenever Madison Avenue gets a wiff of profits we have trends and movements. Good luck with your suit with the Ann Wigmore Institute. Perhaps one day we will meet and I can share some good stories. Peace, M.I. Suárez
September 6th, 2010 at 11:00 am
To simply follow, as a lemming does, doesn’t show any intelligence at all, and these follower-type people are scary to me because those types can be convinced of anything.
I’d much rather be a leader-type person and do my own research; come to my own conclusions and choose what works best for my body.
I have an extensive library both in the E-version and hard copy books from various Gurus and glean from them what makes sense and ‘throw away’ what I deem ridiculous.
I’ve noted the differences such as those who eat a little grain; some meat; some dairy (goat) to those who don’t at all.
What’s key is what works for YOUR body. In my family we are all different. One sister’s body cannot handle greens but does well on grains and animal protein (her opinion, not mine); while I suffer greatly with breads, pastas and anything ‘flour’ and cannot survive without a daily dose of greens. She and I are also the same blood-type for anyone wondering..
I have met Victoria Boutenko and absolutely LOVE her. She’s real, and she’s honest and she’s true to herself and to all. I receive newsletters from Matt and Angela and have corresponded with them and feel the same about them.
And is only the message what is important, or also the Messenger? That’s up to you. But I can tell you that for me, if the Messenger is a hateful, uncaring, nasty person (not to mention greedy) as I discovered one known curly-haired individual to be, then I will not EVER purchase, read, or promote his works again!
Not when there are plenty of “Light-Filled” individuals such as you, Jim Carey, whose motives are pure and simple and are of geniune care for people.
September 6th, 2010 at 11:02 am
Can you edit to show the sentence as “curly-haired CANADIAN individual..”