
CD Audio Program
Dr. Wright brought this spiritual cleansing technique back with him from Burma where he
was a cultural attache. With both an ordination (S.T.B.) and Ph.D. in Religion from
Harvard Divinity Schools in the 1930s, Dr. Wright entered the Foreign Service where his
African American heritage, though not unique, was nonetheless rarely seen.
Shortly after his arrival in Burma, the ambassador called him into his study there and
said something like "Leon, you need to get out into the religious community and
explore things a bit. Get acquainted. Why don't you go out and learn to meditate or
something?" This seemed a perfect suggestion to Dr. Wright. So he learned the
location of a nearby monastery and made an appointment to see the Head Abbot.
To his surprise, he was immediately and cordially received by the Abbot. Dr. Wright was
given a schedule of the group spiritual practices, assigned a permanent seating position,
and instructed in Buddhist meditation techniques practiced by all the monks in residence.
The principle technique he learned and practiced is a variation on what is called the
"breath of fire" in Hatha Yoga. But what Dr. Wright learned is a separate
discipline in its own right because it employs a specific combination of breath and
focused intentionality to spiritually cleanse the body, section by section. The rhythmic
breathing clears the aura almost scientifically. Healing can take place "out of the
overflow of spirit" as Dr. Wright says.
As far as I know, "Dr. Wright's Spiritual Cleaning Out Technique" is unique.
It can only be found through one of his students who has decided to teach the technique.
As one of these former students, I know full well that its origins are Eastern and
ancient. Nonetheless, it is he who brought it to this country. And I have given it his
name to honor the teacher who first brought it to the West.
Dr. Wright practiced this technique the entire two years he was in Burma. At one point
midway through his stay there, he opened his eyes while doing the technique and could see
fire coming out of his feet. Near the end of his stay there, he had a deep meditation in
which the hand of Christ appeared to him and gave him a yellow rose.
At his last meditation at the monastery, the Head Abbot called the assembly together,
and made the following statement: "We must honor this man, Dr. Leon Wright, who has
been among us and is now departing. He has made more spiritual progress here than 1 in
10,000 monks makes in an entire lifetime."
It would be an understatement to call this statement singular praise. This is
particularly true when it comes from a Head Abbot, and when that statement pertains to
someone who is really "just passing through." But those who have studied with
Dr. Wright affirm that the statement is no exaggeration.
Dr. Wright's Ph.D. dissertation, "Alterations of the Word of Jesus as Quoted in
the Second Century," was published as a monograph by the Harvard University Press.
His worldly attainments and honors are many: former Guggenheim Fellow, past Vice President
of the American Theology Society, and others. He was recognized as a distinguished
professor by his peers, and taught both standard and evocative courses in religion and
theology at Howard University for over thirty years. But the technique he taught his
spiritual students and friends is a gift of inestimable value for us all.
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