Q&A With Coué
SOME NOTES ON THE JOURNEY OF M. COUÉ TO PARIS IN OCTOBER, 1919
The desire that the teachings of M. Coué in Paris last October should not be lost to others, has urged me to write them down. Putting aside this time the numerous people, physically or mentally ill, who have seen their troubles lessen and disappear as the result of his beneficent treatment, let us begin by quoting just a few of his teachings.
Question.--Why is it that I do not obtain better results although I use your method and prayer?
Answer.--Because, probably, at the back of your mind there is an unconscious doubt, or because you make efforts. Now, remember that efforts are determined by the will; if you bring the will into play, you run a serious risk of bringing the imagination into play too, but in the contrary direction, which brings about just the reverse of what you desire.
Question.--What are we to do when something troubles us?
Answer.--When something happens that troubles you, repeat at once "No, that does not trouble me at all, not in the least, the fact is rather agreeable than otherwise." In short, the idea is to work ourselves up in a good sense instead of in a bad.
Question.--Are the preliminary experiments indispensable if they are unacceptable to the pride of the subject?
Answer.--No, they are not indispensable, but they are of great utility; for although they may seem childish to certain people, they are on the contrary extremely serious; they do indeed prove three things:
1. That every idea that we have in our minds becomes true for us, and has a tendency to transform itself into action.
2. That when there is a conflict between the imagination and the will, it is always the imagination which wins; and in this case we do exactly the contrary of what we wish to do.
3. That it is easy for us to put into our minds, without any effort, the idea that we wish to have, since we have been able without effort to think in succession: "I cannot," and then "I can."
The preliminary experiments should not be repeated at home; alone, one is often unable to put oneself in the right physical and mental conditions, there is a risk of failure, and in this case one's self-confidence is shaken.
Question.--When one is in pain, one cannot help thinking of one's trouble.
Answer.--Do not be afraid to think of it; on the contrary, do think of it, but to say to it, "I am not afraid of you."
If you go anywhere and a dog rushes at you barking, look it firmly in the eyes and it will not bite you; but if you fear it, if you turn back, he will soon have his teeth in your legs.
Question.--And if one does a retreat?
Answer.--Go backwards.
Question.--How can we realize what we desire?
Answer.--By often repeating what you desire: "I am gaining assurance," and you will do so; "My memory is improving," and it really does so; "I am becoming absolutely master of myself," and you find that you are becoming so.
If you say the contrary, it is the contrary which will come about.
What you say persistently and very quickly comes to pass (within the domain of the reasonable, of course).
Some testimonies
A young lady to another lady: "How simple it is! There is nothing to add to it: he seems inspired. Do you not think that there are beings who radiate influence?"
. . . An eminent Parisian doctor to numerous doctors surrounding him: "I have entirely come over to the ideas of M. Coué."
. . . A Polytechnician, a severe critic, thus defines M. Coué: "He is a Power."
. . . Yes, he is a Power of Goodness. Without mercy for the bad autosuggestions of the "defeatist" type, but indefatigably painstaking, active and smiling, to help everyone to develop their personality, and to teach them to cure themselves, which is the characteristic of his beneficent method.
How could one fail to desire from the depths of one's heart that all might understand and seize the "good news" that M. Coué brings? "It is the awakening, possible for everyone, of the personal power which he has received of being happy and well."
It is, if one consents, the full development of this power which can transform one's life.
Then, and is it not quite rightly so? it is the strict duty (and at the same time the happiness) of those who have been initiated, to spread by every possible means the knowledge of this wonderful method, the happy results of which have been recognized and verified by thousands of persons, to make it known to those who suffer, who are sad, or who are overburdened . . . to all! and to help them to put it into practice.
Then, thinking of France, triumphant but bruised, of her defenders victorious but mutilated, of all the physical and moral suffering entailed by the war; may those who-have the power (the greatest power ever given to man is the power of doing good [Socrates]) see that the inexhaustible reservoir of physical and moral forces that the "Method" puts within our reach may soon become the-patrimony of all the nation and through it of humanity.
Mme. Emile Leon,
Collaborator, in Paris, of M. Emile Coué
"EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE"
By Mme. Emile Leon, Disciple of M. Coué.
When one has been able to take advantage of a great benefit; when this benefit is within reach of everyone, although almost everyone is ignorant of it, is it not an urgent and absolute duty (for those who are initiated) to make it known to those around them? For all can make their own the amazing results of the "Émile Coué Method."
To drive away pain is much . . . but how much more is it to lead into the possession of a new life all those who suffer. . . .
Last April we had the visit of M. Émile Coué at Paris, and here are some of his teachings:
Question.--Question of a theist: I think it is unworthy of the Eternal to make our obedience to his will, depend on what M. Coué calls a trick or mechanical process: conscious autosuggestion.
M. Coué.--Whether we wish it or not, our imagination always overrules our will, when they are in conflict. We can lead it into the right path indicated by our reason, by consciously employing the mechanical process that we employ unconsciously often to lead into the wrong.
And the thoughtful questioner says to herself: "Yes, it is true, in this elevated sphere of thought, conscious autosuggestion has the power to free us from obstacles created by ourselves, which might as it were put a veil between us and God, just as a piece of stuff, hanging in a window, can prevent the sun from coming into a room."
Question.--How ought one to set about bringing those dear to one who may be suffering, to make themselves good autosuggestions which would set them free?
Answer.--Do not insist or lecture them about it. Just remind them simply that I advise them to make an autosuggestion with the conviction that they will obtain the result they want.
Question.--How is one to explain to oneself and to explain to others that the repetition of the same words: "I am going to sleep. . . . It is going away . . ." etc., has the power to produce the effect, and above all so powerful an effect that it is a certain one?
Answer.--The repetition of the same words forces one to think them, and when we think them they become true for us and transform themselves into reality.
Question.--How is one to keep inwardly the mastery of oneself?
Answer.--To be master of oneself it is enough to think that one is so, and in order to think it, one should often repeat it without making any effort.
Question.--And outwardly, how is one to keep one's liberty?
Answer.--Self mastery applies just as much physically as mentally.
Question (Affirmation).--It is impossible to escape trouble or sadness, if we do not do as we should, it would not be just, and autosuggestion, cannot . . . and ought not to prevent just suffering.
M. Coué (very seriously and affirmatively).--Certainly and assuredly it ought not to be so, but it is so often . . . at any rate for a time.
Question.--Why did that patient who has been entirely cured, continually have those terrible attacks?
Answer.--He expected his attacks, he feared them . . . and so he provoked them; if this gentleman gets well into his mind the idea that he will have no more attacks, he will not have any; if he thinks that he will have them, he will indeed do so.
Question.--In what does your method differ from others.
Answer.--The differ not the will which rules us but the imagination; that is the basis, the fundamental basis.
Question.--Will you give me a summary of your "Method" for Mme. R----, who is doing an important work?
M. Coué.--Here is the summary of the "Method" in a few words: Contrary to what is taught, it is not our will which makes us act, but our imagination (the unconscious). If we often do act as we will, it is because at the same time we think that we can. If it is not so, we do exactly the reverse of what we wish. Ex: The more a person with insomnia determines to sleep, the more excited she becomes; the more we try to remember a name which we think we have forgotten, the more it escapes us (it comes back only if, in your mind, you replace the idea: "I have forgotten", by the idea "it will come back"); the more we strive to prevent ourselves from laughing, the more our laughter bursts out; the more we determine to avoid an obstacle, when learning to bicycle, the more we rush upon it.
We must then apply ourselves to directing our imagination which now directs us; in this way we easily arrive at becoming masters of ourselves physically and morally.
How are we to arrive at this result? By the practice of conscious autosuggestion.
Conscious autosuggestion is based on this principle. Every idea that we have in our mind becomes true for us and tends to realize itself.
Thus, if we desire something, we can obtain it at the end of a more or less long time, if we often repeat that this thing is going to come, or to disappear, according to whether it is a good quality or a fault, either physical or mental.
Everything is included by employing night and morning the general formula: "Every day, in every respect, I am getting better and better".
Question.--For those who are sad--who are in distress?
Answer.--As long as you think: "I am sad", you cannot be cheerful, and in order to think something, it is enough to say without effort: "I do think this thing--"; as to the distress it will disappear, however violent it may be, that I can affirm.
A man arrives bent, dragging himself painfully along, leaning on two sticks; he has on his face an expression of dull depression. As the hall is filling up, M. Coué enters. After having questioned this man, he says to him something like this: "So you have had rheumatism for 32 years and you cannot walk. Don't be afraid, it's not going to last as long as that again".
Then after the preliminary experiments: "Shut your eyes, and repeat very quickly indeed, moving your lips, the words: 'It is going, it is going' (at the same time M. Coué passes his hand over the legs of the patient, for 20 to 25 seconds). Now you are no longer in pain, get up and walk (the patient walks) quickly! quicker! more quickly still! and since you can walk so well, you are going to run; run! Monsieur, run!" The patient runs (joyously, almost as if he had recovered his youth), to his great astonishment, and also to that of the numerous persons present at the séance of April 27th, 1920. (Clinic of Dr. Berillon.)
A lady declares: "My husband suffered from attacks of asthma for many years, he had such difficulty in breathing that we feared a fatal issue; his medical adviser, Dr. X---- had given him up. He was almost radically cured of his attacks, after only one visit from M. Coué".
A young woman comes to thank M. Coué with lively gratitude. Her doctor, Dr. Vachet, who was with her in the room, says that the cerebral anaemia from which she had suffered for a long while, which he had not succeeded in checking by the usual means, had disappeared as if by magic through the use of conscious autosuggestion.
Another person who had had a fractured leg and could not walk without pain and limping, could at once walk normally. No more pain, no more limping.
In the hall which thrills with interest, joyful testimonies break out from numerous persons who have been relieved or cured.
A doctor: "Autosuggestion is the weapon of healing". As to this philosopher who writes (he mentions his name), he relies on the genius of Coué.
A gentleman, a former magistrate, whom a lady had asked to express his appreciation, exclaims in a moved tone: "I cannot put my appreciation into words--I think it is admirable--" A woman of the world, excited by the disappearance of her sufferings: "Oh, M. Coué, one could kneel to you--You are the merciful God!" Another lady, very much impressed herself, rectifies: "No, his messenger".
An aged lady: It is delightful, when one is aged and fragile, to replace a feeling of general ill health by that of refreshment and general well-being, and M. Coué's method can, I affirm for I have proved it, produce this happy result, which is all the more complete and lasting since it relies on the all-powerful force which is within us.
A warmly sympathetic voice calls him the modest name he prefers to that of "Master": Professor Coué.
A young woman who has been entirely won over: "M. Coué goes straight to his aim, attains it with sureness, and, in setting free his patient, carries generosity and knowledge to its highest point, since he leaves to the patient himself the merit of his liberation and the use of a marvelous power".
A literary man, whom a lady asks to write a little "chef d'oeuvre" on the beneficent "Method" refuses absolutely, emphasizing the simple words which, used according to the Method, help to make all suffering disappear: "IT IS GOING AWAY--that is the chef-d'oeuvre!" he affirms.
And the thousands of sick folks who have been relieved or cured will not contradict him.
A lady who has suffered much declares: "In re-reading the 'Method' I find it more and more superior to the developments it has inspired; there is really nothing to take away nor add to this 'Method'--all that is left is to spread it. I shall do so in every possible way."
And now in conclusion I will say: Although M. Coué's modesty makes him reply to everyone:
I have no magnetic fluid--
I have no influence--
I have never cured anybody--
My disciples obtain the same results as myself--
"I can say in all sincerity that they tend to do so, instructed as they are in the valuable 'Method', and when, in some far distant future, the thrilling voice of its author called to a higher sphere can no longer teach it here below, the 'Method', his work, will help in aiding, comforting, and curing thousands and thousands of human beings: it must be immortal, and communicated to the entire world by generous France--for the man of letters was right, and knew how to illuminate in a word this true simple, and marvelous help in conquering pain:
'IT IS GOING AWAY--! There is the chef-d'oeuvre!'"
B. K. (Emile-Leon).
Paris, June 6th, 1920.
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