Blending Eastern spiritual teachings to heal body and soul

Russians often describe themselves as spiritually closer to Asia than Europe, and that tendency has become more apparent in the growing popularity of Eastern religions, horoscopes and medical practices. Certainly the 30-odd St Petersburgers at a recent seminar on "Rang Drol" gladly devoted five days, 12 hours a day, to learn the system's techniques. Some had waited as long as four years for the chance to experience it for themselves.

Rang Drol, Tibetan for "self-release," is a hybrid system derived intellectually from the Japanese jin shin jyutsu. Its practical application and teaching methodology were developed by Theresia Rasch-Schaffer, a German student of Buddhism who led the seminar during her first visit to St Petersburg in mid-December.

Mrs Rasch-Schaffer learned the secrets of Rang Drol through her own self-healing experience 18 years ago. She had fallen very ill and was nearly paralyzed on one side of her body.

Her internal organs were fine, but she could not move and was in a great deal of pain. The doctors she turned to could do nothing to help her, but she realized that she could help herself.

Sitting before a mirror for hours, Mrs Rasch-Schaffer studied her body's responses to steady pressure on various points on her limbs and torso. As the pain lessened and she regained movement, she began to see a system of pressure points and their interconnections.

After her recovery, Mrs Rasch-Schaffer studied with a Japanese teacher and discovered the intellectual basis for the practical system she had already worked out.

Mrs Rasch-Shaffer also began sharing her knowledge and has been teaching the system professionally for nearly 13 years. Through her own students and other contacts, she knows of more than 1,000 people now using Rang Drol professionally in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Rang Drol "is neither esoteric, nor New Age," said Mrs Rasch-Schaffer. "It is not a therapy, only a harmonizing, a balancing. Anyone can learn it."

According to Mrs Rasch-Schaffer's published materials, Rang Drol "allows us to cleanse ourselves on all levels, using our energy system. The art of Rang Drol is based on the profound wisdom of the harmony of the whole person."

Applying the hands to points called energy gates initiates the process of bringing the body into harmony.

Once the body's energy regions start to open up, "the harmony that has commenced then spreads as a pleasant pulsation," and as the energy awakens and arises, "everything improves more and more in and of itself," through the body's inherent wisdom.

"Rang Drol works on the intangible body, but also on the tangible body," said Mrs Rasch-Schaffer, "therefore it's deeper, stronger [than chiropractic or acupressure]. Most importantly, you do not DO, but just let happen. That way you can't make mistakes."

Just as that description reflects a Buddhist principle, most of the St Petersburg enthusiasts came to Rang Drol through the Buddhist Center Karma Kagyu, which sponsored Mrs Rasch-Schaffer's visit, and by the recommendation of Ole Nidal, a Buddhist spiritual teacher who comes to Russia frequently.

Many are massage therapists or health practitioners themselves and want to increase the tools available to help their patients.

However, Galina Politiko, a practitioner of Tibetan massage and Japanese reiki, pointed out a basic difference between reiki and Rang Drol. "Reiki can be used only for other people, but Rang Drol can be used for both others and yourself."

Hannelore Ditz of Austria discovered that even a child can successfully learn and use Rang Drol. About five years ago, Ms Ditz was suffering from a slipped disk that was causing her great pain and made her right leg very difficult to move.

"I was driving the car and lifting my leg from the accelerator to the brake with my hands," Ms Ditz said. "I could walk only three minutes before the pain became too bad."

With a friend's encouragement, Ms Ditz went to Mrs Rasch-Schaffer, who found the offending spot on Ms Ditz' back immediately.

"When she touched my spine, I experienced again the pain of when it first happened. I knew she knew what she was doing," said Ms Ditz.

After a year of regular sessions with Mrs Rasch-Schaffer, Ms Ditz could walk again without pain, and was three centimeters (a little more than an inch) taller.

Ms Ditz called her 11-year-old daughter to her side, explained where to place her hands, and her daughter was able to relieve her pain by following her instructions.

In keeping with her belief that anyone can do Rang Drol, Mrs Rasch-Shaffer tries to reach as many people as possible; her schedule is booked solid for the next year.

She says she will definitely return to St Petersburg in December of this year, because many people here are waiting for what she can teach them.

The seminar took place on the basketball court at a children's sports school.

As the seminar ended, Mrs Rasch-Schaffer said, "When you've told your friends about it, we'll probably need a bigger space!"