Alzheimer's Isn't What You Think It Is

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I have long felt that senility (like depression) is, at bottom, a removal of interest from the world. During depression (and during senility, I believe) people withdraw into themselves, living on an inner and Astral plane. From the view of the outside world, they have become senile and incompetent. In "old-age" decline, as in depression, interest is withdrawn from the outside world, perhaps giving the opportunity to lick one's wounds, to recover, to take a rest. It is a retreat during which the oriented mind, directed to the outside world, functions less well, but not the mind that is directed inside. We recognize that in some cases of senility, there is brain damage, but even here there is a cooperation, and a combination with the removal of interest. Depression makes senility much worse, and depression may simulate senility.

There is a new book on the scene: The Ozawkie Book of the Dead or Alzheimer's is not What You Think It Is, by Elmer Green, PhD. Elmer Green is a significant notable in our evolving spiritual landscape. He is the father of biofeedback, and has been important, as well, in his field of engineering. He created and developed the Voluntary Controls section of the Menninger Clinic, known as the Harvard of Psychiatry. He has been, and remains, an outstanding and creative leader in the field of energy medicine and in the spiritual-transpersonal movement.

His biography reveals much about his persona and his own spiritual evolution. Only recently has he allowed himself to come into the open, and that for the sake of what he can teach through his personal experience.

We learn that at the age of three he was visited by a High Entity, a glowing figure in regal robes, who came to him in the night and whom he called the Teacher. Ever since he has been guided by the Teacher. Under this direction, he has created significant discoveries of the mind and spirit. Through scientifically valid experimental design he has forged a bridge between science and mental energy and power. He is the father of biofeedback. He has created literature and organizations to spread knowledge concerning the expansion of the mind and consciousness. He has lectured all over the world, and has created spiritual groups who attend the Council Grove Conference. Amongst these groups are the best, brightest, purest and most "other-motivated" spiritual-scientific minds that I have encountered. From the Council Grove effort grew a larger one called ISSSEEM (International Society for the Study of Subtle Energy and Energy Medicine). In this he carries forth his mission to a larger audience, bringing forth increasing spiritual-scientific knowledge about the mind and High Mind. He creates a map of the subtle energies we create and comprise, and brings forth knowledge of how to translate spiritual aspiration into the realm of High Consciousness and Purity. After all, is not this the real and final solution of society's problems — for the promotion of the individual's personality brings the elevation of society itself.

Why The Ozawkie Book of the Dead? Ozawkie, Kansas, is where Elmer lives. His book runs parallel to the writings in the Tibetan Book of the Dead and Egyptian Book of the Dead. These all comprise manuals, which lead the individual through the Bardo (the In-Between realm) on the way to admission to the Light. They are manuals that assist us to move from this material plane (departing this body) into the higher realm of the other side. In this Elmer shows that the transitional period during which the Alzheimer patient is living is the time when there is a withdrawal of interest from this body and this world. Though the patient may seem "out of it" we are shown that Alzheimer time is time for inward self-inspection. It is necessary, during this withdrawal period, to introspect, to discover and to drop the baggage-residue of the lesser personality, preparing for the ascension which will bring the Alzperson closer to the Light.

Elmer was well-prepared to deliver this message. He has drawn his experience from five years of the most tender, devoted, altruistic, unconditionally loving attendance to his wife and partner, Alyce. Together they had traveled through life, and together they had contributed so much to the world through their efforts to bring psycho-spiritual studies and knowledge of transpersonal evolution to our world community. Alyce was an Alzperson for five years.

During the time that Alyce grew progressively withdrawn and unable to care for herself, Elmer, almost literally, became another body for her. Tenderly he attended her needs while continually encouraging her to know herself. Previously, Alyce had concentrated only on the loving and spiritual side of herself and of the world. It was necessary for her to know, and become familiar with, the lesser part of herself. It was necessary for her to do so in order to move on. During this time of Alyce's Alzheimer trial, there was so much soul-to-soul communication: ESP, thought transference, messages from Alyce's High Mind. Many times, the two lived together on the Astral Plane, experiencing together and communicating easily on that plane. Again, most meaningfully, there were many times when Alyce spoke from her High Self, delivering significant messages of instruction to Elmer.

In all of this we see what appears to be only a withdrawal of the Alzheimer person. It is a removal of interest from this material world. But we see that it is a time of transition, a time for understanding the self, a time for finding and dispensing with the left-over personality ballast that might otherwise keep the soul from rising. We see that the Alzheimer time is a preliminary, and a preparation for rising to a higher level from which great insights can be delivered.

Subsequent to Alyce's passing, Elmer would continue his life, gradually dropping his nostalgia in order to continue his journey of service, his journey of continued personal ascension, and his continued preparation for the time of his own transition. It seems his trainsition will be a long way off. His leadership and penetrating and exploring mind continue with strength and inspiration. And again, meaningfully, during this time Elmer has received visions and messages, important guidance from Alyce, living in her High Self.

So here, we see hope. We see that Alzheimer's is neither a decline nor a reduction of the person, but an opportunity to move into the higher plane; an opportunity for self-discovery, the self-discovery and self-transcendence we must all accomplish, in our own journey of ascension. We have the opportunity to prepare, to become purer and more advanced as souls in a journey upward, in a journey of service to humanity and a journey of service to our Lord — our Divine All.

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Maurie D. Pressman, M.D. is the author of Enter the Supermind, Visions From the Soul and co-author (with Patricia Joudry) of Twin Souls: A Guide to Finding Your True Spiritual Partner. Dr. Pressman is Emeritus Chairman of Psychiatry at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Temple University Health Sciences Center. He is Medical Director at the Center for Psychiatric Wellness, clinics that operate in Philadelphia and Haddonfield, N.J. These clinics bridge traditional and spiritual psychotherapy. Dr. Pressman can be reached at 200 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106; telephone: 215/922-0204; fax: 215/922-3008; email: mauriedavid@earthlink.net; website: www.mauriepressman.com.

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