Religion and psychology, thought by many to be two totally separate areas of discipline and human fulfillment, can be found to have a meeting point in the ancient Hebrew Tales of the Hasidim for healing and helping; in fact the word Hasidim itself has its origins in the Hebrew word hasid, which means "pious" which, when incorporated with the healing and helping elements, shows how the religious and clinical can mesh into a new discipline for the mind and spirit of the individual's benefit.
             From a strictly religious point of view, those who study the early Hebrew texts and religious writings are often surprised to find that the early religion, while completely separate, is strikingly similar to that of early Christianity; one of the most prominent similarities is the existence of a central religious figure- for the Hebrew, it is the Good Master in the Name of God, as translated from the original language, and for Christians, it is Jesus. Both individuals preached obedience for God, but also an attention to one's self and others, which can likewise be interpreted as a conscious acknowledgment of the need to take care of the mind, body and spirit for total well-being.
             Universally recognized as one of the most important writings of modern day that explores how interrelated the issues of the faith and overall harmony of the individual as a human being with specific physiological needs and requirements is Martin Buber's pivotal book The Way of Man According to the Teachings of the Hasidim . In this book, Buber asserts that the spiritual essence of man comes into play in that he has been assigned by God a "situation in life", and within that situation, he can embrace or walk away from it (hence the concept of free will), but ultimately, he cannot change that situation- only make the most of it in the big picture.
             In the most basic terms, based upon Buber's writings, we can develop two human
             ...