Mentioning Arego Leads Naturally to John of God

Hi All,

Of course for the last 30 years Brazil has seen the Spiritual Successor at work John of God.
The following link takes you to an overview and teh first 10 minutes of an Irish documentary of 52 minutes. Unfortunately to see the lot costs you 1 great british pound

http://www.booserver.com/projects.php?ProjectID=2286

For interest here is a touch of research on him in Brazil.

Extract from: Magazine of the Brazilian Association of Medicine; Sao Paulo, July/September of 2000
(Revista da Associacao Brasileira de Medicina; v. 46 n.3, Sao Paulo, Julho/Setembro 2000)
Psychic Surgery: an investigation
The summary of a Scientific Research by A.M. de Almeida, T.M. de Almeida, A.M. Gollner
Psychiatry Institute of Hospital das Clinicas, Sao Paulo's University School of Medicine; Department of Pathology of the School of Medicine of Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais
Summary - Objective: A very popular modality of treatment that captures a lot of the attention of Brazilian media is psychic surgery. To date it has received little scientific evaluation. Such phenomena raise issues about their authenticity, although research in this field is scarce.
Methods: This study presents the results of an investigation made with one of the most famous psychic surgeons in Brazil, Mr. João Teixeira de Farias. Thirty surgical interventions with cutting were observed, and among those, six patients undergoing surgery had their histories taken, plus the physical examination and examination of the tissues supposedly extracted from them.
Results: What was striking was the fact that the surgeon in fact incises the skin or the ocular tissue, besides making ocular scrapings without the use of any identifiable anaesthetic or antiseptics. Yet only one of the patients reported moderate pain when having her breast incised. The patients were examined for three days after the surgery and none of them showed any signs of infection. Longer follow ups of patients show no trace of infection at all on the surgical sites. The Histopathology examination of the specimens showed them to be compatible with the sites of origin, and except for a 210 grams lipoma, they were healthy tissues without any discernable pathology. A revision of the literature and discussion regarding to the placebo effect has been made in this study.
Conclusions: The surgical procedures are real, but it hasn't been possible to evaluate the efficacy of them. It did not appear to have any specific effect on the healing of patients. Our findings are undoubtely more of an exploratory nature rather than conclusive ones. Further studies are clearly necessary in order to further evaluate this unorthodox form of treatment.

Cheers

Jim

Of course there is a free 27 minute documentary in three 9 minute sections.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3




I posted these to help get an idea of this man and place. I do not see myself, unfortunately funding a trip unless it is meant to be. Last year we had Michael Glossop, a medium from Swansea visit us, he had been both to Brazil and had joined the trip John of God made to New Zealand. He was a great believer in the effectiveness of the healing. He had previously received treatment in the UK from two surgeons for a physical (not psychosomatic) back probem and spoke highly of the work of one of these, George Chapman's son, who dealt with the problem.

Cheers

Jim

There is also a book about him called:

The Miracle Man : The Life Story of Joao de Deus by Robert Pellegrino-Estrich

Z

Hello all,

I discovered from a friend that John of God is visiting the US and is going to be at an organization only 30 minutes from my house. I just registered for his program for next week, which should be very interesting. I will keep you informed about what takes place.

Take care,
Lynn

tmmw wrote:Hello all,

I discovered from a friend that John of God is visiting the US and is going to be at an organization only 30 minutes from my house. I just registered for his program for next week, which should be very interesting. I will keep you informed about what takes place.

Take care,
Lynn

Yes please do Lynn - I would be very interested in your views.

Z

I saw the documentary on JoG on TV and have to say it wasn't evidential as far as I could see. I am not saying he isn't genuine but I saw a number of people who had been there for quite a long time (months) and had nothing to show for it. There wasn't a single case in the documentary that was 1st hand that I can recall. Just a lot of desperate people. It struck me as as being like a mini Lourdes (not that I have been there either).

Hi Paul,

Yes I agree with you and of course even if the ratio of people healed is higher than may be experienced in other places, it is probably in line with what you really should expect in such an extraordinary environment.

I have included it here because it is of interest, compared say to the amazing record of George Chapman very little stands up.

I note the words of the Brazilian Association of Medicine I included at the start "Conclusions: The surgical procedures are real, but it hasn't been possible to evaluate the efficacy of them. It did not appear to have any specific effect on the healing of patients. Our findings are undoubtely more of an exploratory nature rather than conclusive ones. Further studies are clearly necessary in order to further evaluate this unorthodox form of treatment."

I also noted "six patients undergoing surgery had their histories taken, plus the physical examination and examination of the tissues supposedly extracted from them." that the report then indicated that in operations without anaesthetic or hygeine procedures only one felt any pain and no wound became infected. In itself, like Arego beforehand, this is startling.

However, their comment that although the material removed was consistent with the tissues of the areas it was removed from (i.e the operation had taken place), of the six people the tissue removed from five was healthy, so the efficacy of the operation in healing would be a placebo effect.

As I have already written I really do not know what to make of this at all. Some benefit some do not and each by markedly varying degrees. The removal of healthy tissue is contradictory but the operation with no pain and infection astounding.

I do believe the setting, the atmosphere and the energy must help many in some way. I also note that the Casa has always maintained an open door to research (unless there have been some rejections I do not know about). As far as I know neither John of God nor Arego actualy embrace the Spiritist movement in Brazil although there must be some fairly close links. The Brazilian who comes to our mission indicated that the Spiritist Spiritual healers are a big thing over there throughout the country.

Oh well I look forward to hearing from Lynn about her visit next week.

Cheers

Jim

From the Omega website:

Medium João is one of the world's most revered spiritual healers and mediums. Some who have spent time with him say that they have been cured of disease; others say that while a physical cure was not achieved, a spiritual or emotional healing was. Most say that their time spent in his presence was a profound and transformative experience. Omega offers this experiential healing retreat as part of the whole picture of healing, and in gratitude for the many ways in which healing occurs.

Z

Thanks everyone for your replies. It should be interesting and well worth really taking notice of all that transpires on the day I attend as closely as possible. I read that no photographs are allowed to be taken at the event though. I take it as a once in a lifetime experience that arrived almost at my doorstep, lol. We shall see what transpires...

Oh ya, we have to sign a release stating we will not hold John of God and Omega institute responsible for any loss, damage, expense, claim, etc.

Lynn

I do agree that it isn't reasonable to expect everyone to be cured - when ya gotta go ya gotta go I guess and I agree something interesting seems to be happening.

Hi all,

I attended the John of God event on Monday. I arrived, registered and was directed to follow "the potted plants" to the main
tent that was set up to give us our "directions" and that tent was to be used as the main "current" room. Current was when
everyone was in deep meditation concentrating on positive thoughts, upholding everyone in the group and helping JOG do his
work. JOG was referred to as the "Entity" because he was the medium for different doctors and Spirit workers that would come
through him and work on the patients. That term was actually hard for me to get past but again only a reference to his work.
There were 1500 or more people in attendance and despite this I actually found my friends and was able to sit and eat with
them.

There were different groups of us that were to line up to see JOG depending if we saw JOG the first time, second time, for a
spiritual intervention, or a revision. It all seemed a little confusing and we were required to always be in the right line,
lol. We had to hold up our hands and be counted by the staff as to which line we were going to be in because JOG needed an
exact count of who he was going to see.

As our morning line of people went to see JOG we were rushed through and were given just enough time to give him a picture of
someone who couldn't attend along with our intentions for the day then look briefly in his eye for him to give us quick instruction
for the afternoon. Then the afternoon lines formed again, my line of around 800 people went for "spiritual interventions"
and then were to sit with our eyes closed to have him pass us briefly.

Apparently JOG can't do surgeries with a knife in NY State, nor is he allowed to call any spiritual work done by the entities
"surgery" since that would be illegal because he would consider himself a doctor which he is not. We were told that his work
is not going to include surgery with a knife much anymore and is only needed for people that "believe" that a physical
surgery is needed to create a change in their physical health status. Now he is starting to do things called "spiritual
interventions" that are invisible surgeries performed by the spiritual energies of the entities that he works with. His
staff said that with this type of surgery there is little visible on the surface of the skin, sometimes stitches are present
on the inside under the skin only detectable with an x-ray or scan, plus the removal of the infected organ also detected with
a scan. I have herd that some people were given the message on Monday from JOG's spirit workers that they would begin work
here only if they would agree to go to Brazil for JOG to complete the work.

I didn't have any signs of spiritual surgeries taking place, but continue to feel a lot of intense energy in my body afterwards. I cannot
say that I herd anyone express that an instant healing took place from the people that were around me but all seemed positive that they believed something was going on.

I am still not sure of what to believe, though this is only my opinion. Everything that was stated about healings and surgeries was by JOG's staff so it is hard to get positive proof of what was actually going on from first hand accounts. I did enjoy the day though and the Omega campus is beautiful with around 190 acres. There is a wonderful meditation sanctuary that is high on a hill and so much to see.


Take care,
Lynn

Hi Lynn,

Thank you very much for sharing, it must have been quite an experience with all of that energy flowing around. The idea of non direct knife intervention does appear to make sese to me. I can also understand his difficulties with the healing issues even Spiritual Healing in the USA has to be hands off except on the head to neck.

Still overall it sounds like quite an experience in a beautiful setting.

BLL
Jim

Thanks Lynn for a very truthful and accurate report.

It is in line with what I've heard and one can't beat personal experience.

I trust you won't be going to Brazil!

Take care.

Z

Hi Jim,

Admin wrote:Hi Lynn,

Thank you very much for sharing, it must have been quit:30e an experience with all of that energy flowing around. The idea of non direct knife intervention does appear to make sese to me. I can also understand his difficulties with the healing issues even Spiritual Healing in the USA has to be hands off except on the head to neck.

Still overall it sounds like quite an experience in a beautiful setting.

BLL
Jim

Yes the USA's restrictions with hands mostly off healing must be difficult but I don't see him including this type of healing with a large event such as this one. They had little time to fit everyone in and the only way all the people were able to see him was to have very long lines of people passing in front of him quickly with a quick word about what directions were given and spoken to each one by his interpreter. He had to see an excess of 1500 people individually from around 9:30Am to noon, then a second round of many of the same people from around 2PM-4PM.

One of my friends was requested to have a crystal healing on one of the crystal beds twice in the afternoon. I didn't get to ask her too much about what that experience was like or what and who was involved yet. I remember she did say that he looked right in her eyes and told her "I know you", then gave her directions. That I did find very interesting. Nadine has been a healing practitioner and teacher for many years, certainly someone with a big heart and with very pure intentions. I met her for the first time in 1990 when we were both taking a series of "Ancient Wisdom" classes given by a now great friend that worked on Wall Street for many years. He offered these classes for free at the college with the only fee being a small amount to the college for registration. What an amazing speaker he is.

Anyways, it was an interesting experience.

Take care,
Lynn

Hi Z,

zerdini wrote:Thanks Lynn for a very truthful and accurate report.

It is in line with what I've heard and one can't beat personal experience.

I trust you won't be going to Brazil!

Take care.

Z

You're welcome and thank you. I will not go to Brazil, that's for sure.

Take care,
Lynn