Visualization and Postive Thinking

It was noticed that a prince’s spine was not growing straight.  All the court doctors were summoned and it was agreed that unless some treatment was devised, the child would become a hunchback.

            This news greatly disturbed the king, who sent out word throughout the land that a large reward would be paid to anyone who could cure his son of the curvature of his spine.  From that day on, a steady stream of doctors, nurses, scientists, healers, magicians and other sorts poured into the place with every imaginable herb, root, exercise, potion and incantation.  None of the methods improved the boy in anyway.

            Finally a wise sculptor heard of the poor child’s problem and came to the king.  He asked only for some sculpturing supplies and materials and the chance to spend three days with the boy.  However, he warned the king that it had taken a long time for the spine's condition to reach this stage, and they must allow time for it to disappear.  The treatment would take two years.

            For two days the wise sculptor worked on a composition, carefully studying the boy’s physique from many angles.  During this time no one was allowed to see the piece.  Finally the third day came and the sculpture was unveiled.  It was a perfect statue of the boy standing straight and tall.

            Then the sculptor explained the method of treatment.  Each day the boy was to go before the statue and stand in exactly the same upright pose for as long as he could without strain or pain.  He was to imitate exactly the posture of th e statue, including the dignified and regal look the figure had on its face and the way it held its head.

            The sculptor spent the third day with the boy explaining that as he stood before the statue he must think of himself growing straight and tall and taking the shape of the figure before him.  Each day while standing he was to visualize himself in his mind’s eye as becoming straight and tall like the statue.  The most important thing to remember, the Master told the boy, was not ever to miss a single day.  To be certain, he should do his standing the first thing in the morning when his mind was clear and fresh, before anyone’s glance or remark could remind him of his hunched condition.

            The boy was then eight years old.  On the fourth day the Master left the king’s palace with no reward.  He said that he would return in two years to collect the reward, after the treatment had been proven.  The boy kept up the practice of standing before the figure each morning very early before anyone else in the house was up and around.  Each day he felt himself growing stronger and saw himself growing taller and straighter.  Each day he felt better and better and his confidence improved.  Those who were living around him and saw him every day did not notice any change at first but then they began to see it also.  First they noticed that the boy’s attitude was changing, that he was happier and more sure of himself.  Then they saw the change in his body begin.

            When the wise sculptor returned two years later, the boy was the picture of health.  He cut a truly regal figure, standing as straight and tall as any boy in the entire kingdom.  His father was overjoyed and offered to give the Master anything he desired.  The joy of seeing the boy in health and strength was reward enough for the wise man and he left as quickly and quietly as he had arrived