Geographical proximity and trade brought Ayurveda to Lanka some centuries before the birth of Christ. Yet, since time immemorial, and even before the advent of Ayurveda, indigenous deities have been invoked by indigenous medicine men to absolve man of physical and mental malady. Furthermore, geographical location has blessed the island with an abundance of flora containing valuable medicinal properties. In addition to these, Unani made its way to Lanka’s shores with Muslim traders, as allopathy and homoeopathy came with western civilization. Immaterial the nature of disease, the right to be healed was the fundamental right of everyman. And the diseased was at liberty to use that system, or systems that guaranteed the greatest relief.

Healing is not bound to caste, creed or ethnicity. ‘If you cannot be a king, be a healer’. In this tradition many Lankan kings, Buddhadasa, Parakrama Bahu, were great healers as they were great kings. Hence, very early in Lankan history, through royal patronage, medical centres had been built throughout the country. With the progress of time, as kings concentrated more on kingship and less on healing, the science of healing was nurtured and passed from the traditional veda ralas (indigenous physicians) to their disciples. Even altruistic monks adorned not just the robes of religious virtue, but also of meritorious healing.

Merit. Merit is the soul of the nation. As it is the soul of man. It is merit that ensures favourable karma. It is merit that enables upward mobility to everyman in the continuous sea of life. Be it a king, a vedarala, a monk or a layman…..if he had the power to heal, he would not restrain it through false dogma. Healing was the science of compassion in Lanka. Now, and then.

Now, in the tradition of great healers, comes Master Cho Kok Sui who has designed a system called Pranic Healing to teach everyman the art of universal health. One need not be a king, a monk or a veda rala to learn it. All you need is compassion, loving kindness and the will to heal.

It has been said that the very first system of healing had been divulged in the ‘Atharveda’ in 100,000 Slokas. These 100,000 Slokas had been given to man by none other than Lord Brahma. Yet, with the progress of time the 100,000 Slokas had reduced themselves to 10, 000 Slokas to fit the poverty of human intellect.