People of all ages gathered in the Student Union Monday night to receive a very different type of medicine through a lecture called "Healing the Spiritual Way."
The lecture focused on the teachings of Bruno Groening, a German spiritualist who believed it was possible to cure any physical illness, including addiction, through the channeling of energy from God. According to Groening, such energy has existed since the beginning of mankind, and anyone may act as a conduit for this divine strength.
"Tonight's program will open your mind to possibilities you've never thought about, maybe even change your life," Richard Leo, community leader for the Bruno Groening Circle of Friends, told the audience.
What makes Groening's message unique, said group members, is that it's non-denominational. Despite the use of God, no religion is excluded from the practice.
Furthermore, the healing itself takes a minimal commitment to complete. The lecturers suggested two ten-minute "channeling" sessions, at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. every day.
Leo said after his first spiritual healing session, he felt rejuvenated and ready to start anew.
"I experienced this energy two years ago at a conference on South Campus. I had depressions for 10 to 12 years. But that very next day I did not have depressions again," Leo said.
The main lecturer, Franz Gringinger, is a member of Groening's group of over 6,000 doctors and medical specialists who document acts of spiritual healing that do not have scientific explanations. Gringinger has run a private practice in Austria for the last 12 years and said he has witnessed unusual spiritually related occurrences.
Gringinger said he has practiced for numerous years in a number of fields, including as work as an osteopath and a chiropractor, but was not satisfied with that work alone.
"There must be more that we can do for the sick people," Gringinger said.
Gringinger added that when he first learned about the teachings of Bruno Groening in 1996, he was skeptical.
"How it worked I didn't know, but I see it worked," said Gringinger, emphasizing that faith was the key element to the success of the treatment. "If you trust and believe and continue to believe, it can come."
John Leiker gave a live testimony at the lecture.
Leiker said he was an alcoholic before he learned about Groening's spiritual treatment. From the time he was 18 years old until he was cured, Leiker claimed he drank 12 to 18 bottles of beer a day, totaling over 200,000 bottles of beer.
Leiker said he credits Groening's teachings for completely curing him, to the point where he does not even suffer from alcoholism at all.
"I can still be a social drinker," Leiker told the audience.
Gringinger concluded the lecture with an emphasis on the strength of faith and positive thinking.
"It works in every case. There is no healing that can't be healed, there is nothing incurable, but not every person is curable, it depends on you," he said. "Never let such (negative) thoughts into your mind, because if you do, the energy will run away from you."
