by JJ Rusch

Created on: March 13, 2009

In Zero Limits, now available in paperback, Joe Vitale shares a remarkable story about a therapist in Hawaii who cured a ward of criminally insane patients without conventional one on one therapy. The therapist did not see patients but rather studied their charts in an office on the floor of the hospital where they were locked up. As the therapist studied each chart he would "work on himself", as he improved, the patients improved.

Vitale says when he first heard this story he was of course skeptical, but it gnawed at him; if this was indeed true he knew he had to find out more. He tracked down the therapist, Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len, and asked him to explain how the Hawaiian healing process he used called, "Ho'oponopono", (definitely not something you want to say three times fast) cured the criminally insane patients.

Total Responsibility

The ward at the Hawaii State Hospital where Dr. Len worked was "dangerous"; the staff was so fearful of the environment there, they'd walk through the ward with their backs against the wall afraid of being attacked; turnover was high and morale was non-existent. When Dr. Len came on board and began applying his healing methods, noticeable change started to occur within a few months; the ward began transitioning from a violent and tense state toward a peaceful and safe environment. The need for medications, restraints and seclusion rooms began to dissipate and staffing was no longer problematic. Patient activities (in ward and out) such as baking cookies for a bake sale, recreation programs and car washes, became standard practice.

Dr. Len did not provide therapy, psychological testing, attend staff meetings nor participate in patient case conferences. He walked the ward and was present at all activities, describing his presence as being "intimately involved in the workings of the ward". Eventually all the patients were released and the ward was closed.

Vitale was understandably amazed and asked Dr. Len, "What were you doing within yourself that caused those people to change?" "I was simply healing the part of me that created them," said Len. "I just kept saying, I'm sorry' and I love you' over and over again."

The concept of heal the world without by healing within is a tough one to grasp onto that Dr. Len says is a matter of total responsibility. "Everything in your life simply because it is in your life is your responsibility". Len's testament is literal and absolute, total responsibility' means that if we want to improve anything

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