#6. Robert Mattson: True Mastery and Meaning can be Gained by Letting Go of Old Ways of Thinking

Join me for a conversation with  Robert (Bob) Mattson as he describes his more than 50-year journey with macrobiotics.  Bob describes the year he spent in Oroville, California at the Vega Study Center with teachers Herman and Cornellia Aihara, both health pioneers.  While at Vega, he transcribed the "Morning Tea" sessions with Herman and Cornellia, a time when students and teachers engaged in informal Q&A over morning tea.  Bob shares the pearls of knowledge so freely offered during these sessions including:  "psychological/spiritual healing can occur in an instant while physical healing takes time."  Herman:  "Once a person changes his or her mind and decides to heal, this is the important 'instant' that is the spark that spurs healing."  Herman:  "For our spiritual development, we sometimes have to give up things we really cherish ( like smoking or sugar)."  Bob quotes from Verse 48 - Tao Te Ching – "In pursuit of knowledge, every day something is added.  In the practice of the Tao, every day something is dropped.  Less and less do you need to force things, until finally you arrive at non-action.  When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.  True mastery can be gained by letting things go their own way.  It can’t be gained by interfering."  Bob:  "The world is gained by letting go - when we mature, we discover this is a more peaceful way to live and when we let go, we create the space for new ideas to emerge.  People who eat poorly - their judgment is impacted and rarely are they prepared to let go of old ways of thinking."  Touching upon his current writing project - the vocabulary for a new world constitution - Bob reckons with one planet, one global civilization.  He also speaks about a paper he wrote on microbial life - spurred by his conversations with E.O. Wilson, the prominent biologist and writer who he was chauffering at the time.  Most of us would be satisfied with Wilson's responses to questions posed; Bob however decided to conduct his own research.  He purchased 25 books on microbes from the Harvard Book Store and undertook an extensive research and writing project.  He claims it is no coincidence  that his most recent and current writing projects on microbes and personal rights are perfectly aligned with what the current state of the world -given the pandemic and the erosion of our most precious rights.  I queried as to what he learned in his role as a taxi driver, personal driver and chauffeur to many prominent individuals.  Bob:  "The rich and famous are actually quite ordinary, but caught some lucky breaks.  Many are quite expert in their chosen field, but this brilliance doesn't necessarily permeate to other areas of their lives."  He views one of the keys to a long and fulfilling life to always remain a student, something he learned from Herman Aihara.  Bob:  "By taking up a diet with whole grains and vegetables as primary foods, one stands a chance of undoing the systemic conditioning that we are confronted with early in life and beyond."  He truly adheres to the adage which he has created "whole grains whole brains."  Thank you Bob for an awesome conversation!I would love it if you would follow, rate, or write a review for my podcast.  What you think matters and I appreciate all feedback!Get in touch with topic ideas relating to my podcast's categories:The meaning of health and well-being, personal and collective consciousness, and maximizing full human potential.  My email:  [email protected] sincere gratitude, Noreen