The Taoist Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing: The Barefoot Doctor at TEDxHackney

What a "gift" to the Universe the Doc is....how fortunate I am to finally learn from him despite his not being on
Mother Earth anylonger.....He is a true blessing to society worldwide.

I met the Doc back in the 90's. He is consistent and always honest... good to see him here, first time I had realised he had done a Ted talk... must have some taoist synchronistic relevance right now. Handbook for the Urban Warrior is good but my fave is Handbook for Heroes... and personal plug... I get a shout in the Handbook for Lovers. Cheers Doc.
Mark This.

I was doing mundane chores while listening to this random talk, but when I heard the part about the speaker putting his hands on the person's back (kidneys) and the ensuing heat that flowed out, I perked up. That is when I realized the speaker is legit. I practice qi gong with a healer in Asia and this is a key part of the process, which is incredibly methodical and "scientific". Unfortunately, we have not well bridged the knowledge gap between western and eastern medicine and hence practitioners of western medicine still often discredit eastern methods and categorize them as "alternative". Rather than treat symptoms after the fact, these Taoist-rooted practices help ensure balance within the body. By preventing stagnant qi or qi blockage, they can thwart disease and prevent illness from taking root in the first place.

Wow, that smile at the end really warmed my heart. I’ve always like the teachings of the late Wayne Dyer but never really thought of actually practicing Taoism until very recently and I must say, I am in love. Thank you for such a great talk!

How interesting. I just listened to this, having never seen him before, went to Twitter to connect with him, found he just passed and the Celebration of his Life is today in London.🙏🏻

I’m very much open & willing to learn, since my brain tumour (2007) I don’t find it as straight forward to obtain information. Listening to your talk has done me the world of good & given my thirst of knowledge a much easier to understand perspective, thank you 🙏💐👏 x

I love to hear people think aloud! Thank you, Stephen!

I really really liked this talk, his courage to come forward like this with his life lessons, etc.. Wow!! Visionary !

Im glad he talked about the powers and problems of Psychedelics..
Sometimes in an induced state of mind.. depending on the dose and the nature of the medication.. the body effects hinder the intellectual enhancements. One wants to think and experience from the deepest level of cognition in ones present awareness of Mind, but the feelings one feels have their own electrical charge that are somewhat inhibitory if one does not know already how to move that energy back to the executive center.. I believe the implications one can gather from this insight is that: one MUST engage in some kinesthesiological exercise that is holistic in practice, whether aerobic or anaerobic.. that commands control over the peripheral and primary pathway of nerves that flow from the brain.. so as to achieve "balance" between the poles of ones being..

Loved this💗 Bought his book years ago
Brilliant!.. so great to hear him talk 🙏
Thankyou for sharing 💗

I have a very similar story studied Aikido, meditation and healing from 14. I am aware of other students who the Japanese Sensei's (treacher and master) have chosen to extend their teaching. My training stated in 1974 in Plymouth then move to London where I continued my practice and for work at the BBC. I am still follow the Tao in Zen and practice the meditations and healing I was taught and went on to learn other technique from India and the far east.

loved this wish they gave him more time

Lately I'm very much interested in Taoism and I feel like I've never been mentally more healthy. Thing I struggle with (a little bit) is that they are forcing me to take anti pscychotic medication, even though I have never been a threat to myself or anyone else (well they say I risk making people angry and that I once walked on a roof). I'm very much interested in how toaism relates to schizofrenia and if solid toaist practice can heal it.

I wish this could have been longer. Very interesting ❤️

Thanks for this video, a great introduction to Taoism 👍🏻

This guy helped me change my life 10 years ago with his manifesto book . recommended.

Become aware of both sides of life. So very true, and practiced for years. Thank you.

Oh my. About 20 years ago I ran into a DVD set of his then lost it when I started moving to different countries for work. Just found this on RU-clip now I hear he’s passed. Sad to find that out!!

This guy is amazing. Ive seen him talk in London before!

What a great talk. I enjoyed his story.

Thank you so much for existing Stephen. I just finished one of your books. I love you too man. More than you'll ever know

Very good talk. I feel there is a lot of truth here. We are not what we think. We are that which does the thinking.

it is true that pain brings suffering and that suffering comes from not being able to get what we want. All through life we follow the things that other people say we want and what we should do. That is the source of a great deal of conflict. The messages that tell us what we should do and what we should want is the problem. In other words these are the social norms and social roles that have been prescribed for us. Therefore the more we want the more we suffer. The Tao but more so the ideas and principles of Buddhism such as non-attachment, not wanting etc, go far toward illuminating the way. Does that solve the problem of chemical imbalances in our organism? No. Does it offset imperfections in someone's DNA? No. So within the framework of a healthy individual smelling flowers, singing songs and having a good time is probably one of the best remedies for mental health. After all didn't Krishna play a flute in the meadow? 😎

A true spotter. Brilliant. Your upbringing mirrors my own Sir. Well done.

Brilliant delivery. The path of least resistance :-)

This was the medicine I woke up in the middle of the night knowing I needed.

wonderful 🙏 would have loved to hear more hes amazing such a gift..love him!.

Thought provoking and entertaining. The Barefoot Doctor is clearly and intelligent and enlightened man.
Just a shame his main points were crammed into the last minute of his talk.

This is my first encounter with this guy and I really like his thoughts.

Great talk. Loved it.

the part where he says lean back on your shoulder blades and have your mind going back on your head is how i feel when i go deeper within myself. im amazed to hear it from somebody. i thought i was just imagining it.

Beautiful paradox: Yin Yang tells us we cannot be fully enlightened!
By accepting and loving that, we become enlightened ❤️

He is a tribe leader. I felt understood. Great talk!

What a brilliant guy! He explained Taoism way better than Alan Watts! Also, I wish he had time to talk more about those principles, by which the humanity can reduce the levels of suffering. I wonder where I can learn more about his teachings? I wish he had a bigger time and audience...

Interesting talk loved it thank you🙏

He's right. I like him. Brilliant commentary.

I love the barefoot doctors guide 2 the TAO .
Many year's ago a copy of that book slip it self into my hands. Thank you for your perspective of the WAY...

Master Russel's version of the Tao is intuitive because of actual practice of the Taoist process.

Thank you Barefoot Dr...I still remember your brilliant metaphor from your book. ' Dance with the dinner lady' I do that when I caught up in the struggle of my life
Thank you❤

Sweet. Wait for it. He absolutely nails it in the last twenty seconds.

Wow - I never caught his name. What a great talk. Thankyou! :)

6 years ago and look at that he was right about the economy

Fantastic talk!

Sigh.... I’m grateful I came across this. Beautiful explanation of the Tao....
And exert from the Tao Te Ching :
When the world lacks the Way, horses are bread for war. When the world has the Way, warhorses are freed to roam the land.

That was bloody awesome!!!

One of the greatest speech

Interesting. Although, I'd prefer his talk was more structured. The main point of the talk was rushed, just because he didn't check the timing. But thanks for sharing knowledge.

I like it! Thoughts too deep for the common man! 👍

To me it means balance such as the World struggling to balance the warrior with the merciful.

I used to be a pious Christian. Now I am an agnostic Christians. there are a lot of good teachings from Buddism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity. I believe in the universe which manifest itself in all different religions and beliefs.

amazing. will definitely do some research on daoism.

Bro imagine being a young man in the 70s. I am so jealous

Gone too soon and very much missed. 🙏

So basically, don't be the swimmer separately swimming in the river, be the water flowing in the river

Thank you Doc.

I do Tai Chi and it does take practice to produce the Chi, meridians.
Chi is a form of energy we create in our core and it expands out, then spiritually connects the universe together.
I get a tickling feeling in my spine behind my core.

Good talk. Very interesting.

Very good!

provacative. i have experienced the heat from a chiropractor. seems useful.

wonderful talk- thanks

The theater of life....I like this phrase...love your accent...easy to listen to....

Dao De Jing is a great book for everyone. ^^

I read in the description that the barefoot doctor has millions of followers

Got to the actual approach only in the last minute. Left hanging. And now I read that the died in January 2020. At age 65. Could not find cause of death. Wonder if he was being treated. RIP Stephen Russell

16:43 The message in a thimble.
But do listen to the whole thing. 😊

Great. Looking for a TED Talk about Taoism and find this dude who does everything unscripted -_-

Really liked what he said -

It's great to hear you talk again

Excellent! Hah. In the end--dont break lower back, fracture skull & crush scapular. Lol. JK. This is true weather u wanna give it a go or not. Why anyone would intentionally & w/o permission alter another person's adept body is ABUSE. I LOVE THIS MAN. TASHI

Brilliant!

*WARNING, essay* *below*
One question I've had since childhood was what actually started the big bang, and what preceeded it. The concept of absolute nothingness has always confounded me. I remember being drunk with my college roommate one time, and we started talking about it, we talked for hours, but we did arrive at a conclusion: there was some sort of law or mechanism of design that set things in motion, that predates the universe, and likely transcends time. At the time I was still thinking in the context of a God, so I called it "the architect" owing to the fact that nature has function but is also beautiful.
A year or so later I started reading some of Laozi and Zhuangzi's work in my classical Chinese class. I was blown away. How could these people from a completely different time and culture have a somewhat similar take to mine?
Simple, we are part of a greater whole, there are some things that transcend our differences.
I finally read the Dao Dejing last year, and what I felt was a sense of relief, something is out there, we just don't know how to describe it. I was filled with questions, but at the same time I knew they didn't really need to be asked, in a way I already knew the answer. That's the point, we are meant to ask questions, but listening is far more important. If you calm your mind, maybe you'll hear the universe whisper the answer back to you.

well from one barefoot doctor to the other, im surprised with all your inner growth and learning that you would have people, on your behalf, threaten me with legal action if I dont drop the name 'the barefoot doctor;. A universal term coined many years before you were born, that should belong to all of us... not just you. i for one, think the world needs healers, not brands.

This guy knows a lot and can probably move qi around. He took too much time beating around the bush. I guess he didn't want to just come right out and say that he has internal power that he can use to help or hurt others with. Qi gong is important but us westerners are just starting to find out about it. Some use it in positive ways and others use it to nourish a bad ego.

I read different books on wu wu wei and Taoism and his explanation is very clear and exhaustive. Great talk!

Literally the most fascinating 18 minutes I've experienced on the internet.

He is good. thank you

the acid trip story was on point

12:43 You used an ancient Japanese energy medicine called Reiki! Some practitioners say they feel heat or coldness coming from their hands, depending on the type of healing that needs done.

4:08 You can see evidence of this yin-yang economic theory, in the Tao-Jones index. May your spirit be in peace, Doc.

not enough time
for the subject
thanks for sharing
never STOP loving xx

Best TedX I've seen

What a shame that he didn't have enough time to relate the Taoist approach and Mental Health disorders, Unfortunately the talk over all comes across haphazard and slapdash, and I feel like I have no learnt anything.

Let me try to explain.
See my being is being contained.
So what you seeing isn’t me, it's just something my being is in.
See I’m really the soul that my body keeps in.
The energy that you only feel when I’m speakin.’
My physical features are just features.
My mouth is no different than speakers.
My eyes are like cameras.
Ears are like microphones, and it gets deeper.
See what if when you die you really waking up?
And what you thought was your life is a dream
And you made it up?
I think about the power of the human brain.
Mother Nature made birds and we made planes.
Fish have gills, we made scuba gear.
The future’s near, just think about what we doing here.
What’s the definition of a god?
Creator, omnipotent power that sees all?
We capable of all three, I mean really though.
With one click of a button I could see any one.
With one click of a button I could learn anything.
If knowledge is power than why ain’t I already king?
I dedicate this to the smart folks.
And loved ones that aren’t with us.
Light food

this guy is a notable role model.

Thank you for your time,6 year's ago, glad I found your talk, today

RIP Stephen Russell.

Taoism can cleansed panic attacks... this guy is talking about the unconscious part of the psyche and how to apply Taoism to cleanse its pain.

*'Dipping and rising' references a 2 dimensional image of wave action---which in 3 dimensions manifests as a spiral (a slinky = sine wave!).*

this is way to complicated of an explanation. here is what you need to know. be like water in all things. dont overthink it.

Really enjoyed

Great Wisdom

He said his speech is not practiced....I believe him.

Excellent

Aww he’s 43 and 3/4. Love him

thank you so much.

Very interesting I follow Alan Watts he's my favorite philosopher this is very interesting also check out Alan Watts he will blow your mind

It's astonishing that the word tao means person or people in our country and also heard that tao in another country meant I or me. Then to realize the fact that tao is in every each of us.

I really wish non Chinese speaking people would learn the Chinese language like native Chinese children n would learn, Chinese philosophy,history and eventually Taoism so that they would experience the richness and mysterious and wisdoms of Taoism. All the fable-like idioms from Chuangtze will make all of you feel like children in our eternal Cosmo. "Seek true happiness from the limitless time and space"

🙏🏽🙌🏽🙏🏽❤️🧚🏾‍♀️🙌🏽❤️🕉💚💯

Bless You , Thank You . Bare Foot Doctor . l Love