The Stillness of Life: The Osteopathic Philosophy of Rollin E. Becker, D.O.

Edited by Rachel E. Brooks, M.D.

The Stillness of Life: The Osteopathic Philosophy of Rollin E. Becker, DO reveals the deep thinking and insights of a remarkable osteopathic practitioner and teacher. This book is a collection of his more personal communication and teachings, including ideas he was not comfortable to freely share in public at the time.

Dr. Rollin Becker (1910-1996) ceaselessly pursued his own understanding of health and healing in the context of his lifelong practice of "cranial osteopathy." Following in the path of Drs. A.T. Still, the founder of osteopathy, and W.G. Sutherland, the developer of "osteopathy in the cranial field," Dr. Becker benefitted generations of students with his teaching, and he continues to do so through his collected works.

The contents of The Stillness of Life span a time from 1949 to 1987. They show the development of Dr. Becker's ideas over time and demonstrate his strong commitment to continual observation, reflection, and growth. The material covers a broad range of discussion on osteopathic subjects. At one end of the spectrum are thoughtful articulations as he instructs those early in their practice life. At the other end are Dr. Becker's attempts to put into words the indescribable energetic and spiritual aspects of his understanding. The book also contains correspondence between Rollin Becker and his great mentor, Dr. William G. Sutherland. These letters show the close relationship that developed between student and teacher in the last decade of Sutherland's life, and Dr. Becker's dedicated search for understanding.

Dr. Becker strongly believed that a philosophy, no matter how great it might sound, was of little use unless it had a practical expression. Given this belief, osteopathy was a perfect venue for his life's work. Osteopathy's philosophy is far-reaching, and its application to patient care is direct. Osteopathic understanding, as enunciated by its founder, Andrew Taylor Still, encompasses everything from the physical structure of the body to the universal forces that govern all nature. Similarly, the practice of osteopathy has within it the simple taking hold of a bone as well as being conscious of all the forces operating in the patient, including his or her highest spiritual nature.

The Stillness of Life serves as a unique opportunity to share in the more personal reflections and insights of a great osteopathic practitioner and teacher. All who practice a healing art will find in this book ideas that will deepen their own understanding and practice.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

1. ANN ARBOR SEMINAR (1979)

Wide-ranging discussion of osteopathy, the nature of disease, the role and responsibility of the physician, and Dr. Becker’s approach to treatment. Included are discussions of: imprints from disease and trauma, relating to health and not problems, the Silent Partner, the process of surrender, personal attainment, teaching, the large tide, fulcrums, the locked sacrum, and frozen shoulders.

2. USING THE STILLNESS: Recorded Conversation with Anne L. Wales, D.O. (1970’s)

Discussion of the use of stillness in a treatment program, stillness as the motive force for securing changes, and the awareness of stillness with the mind and with the hands.

3. A CONCEPT FOR HEALTH, TRAUMA, AND DISEASE and RHYTHMIC BALANCED INTERCHANGE TECHNIQUE (1975)

Discussion of the stillness of life and of time, space, and movement as manifestations of life in health as well as in trauma or disease. The concepts of rhythmic balanced interchange, potency, fulcrums, and working with body physiology. A step-by-step description of using rhythmic balanced interchange technique (RBIT) in a treatment program. RBIT as a means to evaluate the state of patients and their response to treatment. Clinical applications.

4. WHAT DO YOU DO? Question and Answer Panel (1988)

Describes being guided by the mechanism and using an assessment of the health mechanism. Water bug analogy. Putting the mechanism to work. Protecting yourself.

5. KNOWING TO TREATING (1967)

Knowing-to-treating as the ideal direction of flow in osteopathy. Encouragement to look beyond osseous lesions and the mere mobilization of lesions. The osteopathic lesion as an effect and the time factor in diagnosis. Physical, emotional, and mental etiologies of osteopathic lesions. Nervous system response to trauma. Role of the operator.

6. THE SILENT POINT: Recorded Conversation with Donald Becker, M.D. (1962)

The difficulty of finding words to describe potency.

7. THE PRIMARY RESPIRATORY MECHANISM: Recorded Conversation with Donald Becker, M.D. (1962)

Encouragement to visualize normal function, specifically the mechanism in the newborn. Discussion of the Breath of Life. Relationship between cranial bone and membranous mobility. The manifestation of this mechanism in the extremities with its compensatory patterns and its use in diagnosis.

8. A DIAGNOSTIC CHALLENGE: Recorded Conversation with Donald Becker, M.D. (1962)

A brief description of the diagnostic reasoning in a case of possible glioma.

9. A POINT OF REFERENCE: Recorded Conversation with Ted Rankin, M.D. (1962)

A conversation attempting to describe and understand a "point of stillness" in trauma or disease conditions. Dr. Becker dismisses the possible role of fasciculations. The role of nerve nutrients is discussed. Description of a point of reference from which a total pattern can be seen and affected. Trapped energy within trauma and three types of palpable movement. Approach to treatment.

10. ACUTE AND CHRONIC RESPONSE TO TRAUMA: Recorded Conversation with Donald Becker, M.D. (1966)

Discussion of the effects of whiplash on the meninges and how this can lead subacutely to nerve root symptoms. The role of nutritional deficiencies in this pathology. Discussion of the chronic results from trauma, the potential for change, and an approach to treatment.

11. TRAUMA CASES AND THE POWER SOURCE: Recorded Conversation with Donald Becker, M.D. (1967)

Dr. Becker’s son encouraging him to express himself freely despite the lack of a receptive audience. Discussion of two trauma cases, one with a prominent vector of force and the other with fibrotic changes. Description of a power source or energy field as a cloud above one’s head available to assist in the palpatory experience.

12. LEVELS OF PALPATION: Recorded Conversation with Donald Becker, M.D. (1967)

Comparison of the concept of structure-function with that of function-structure. Suggestions for the development of palpatory skills using the total upper extremity, the proprioceptive sense, and a fulcrum.

13. CORRESPONDENCE: WILLIAM G. SUTHERLAND, D.O. (1949-54)

Includes a letter to Dr. Becker from his mother.

14. CORRESPONDENCE: ANNE L. WALES, D.O. (1956-87)

15. CORRESPONDENCE: COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS (1955-86)

16. STORIES OF DR. BECKER

Stories that shed light on Dr. Sutherland’s use of the statements "If you understand the mechanism..." and "behind the curtain." Also an example of Dr. Becker’s personal approach to living.

17. SELF-TREATMENT APPROACHES

A treatment for chronic sinusitis and the use of "I Am In Silence" as a therapeutic tool.

18. REFLECTIONS AND INSIGHTS

A collection of short pieces written by Dr. Becker expressing his thoughts and ideas.

19. GUIDING THOUGHTS

Quotations from others who influenced Dr. Becker, covering the topics of osteopathy, medicine, science, nature, spirituality, and guidance for living.

Bibliography

About the Sutherland Cranial Teaching Foundation

About the Editor

About the Author

Rollin E. Becker, DO (1910-1996) was a remarkable practitioner and teacher of cranial osteopathy. He was born into an osteopathic family--his father, Arthur Becker, DO, at that time was a teacher under the guidance of osteopathy's founder, Andrew Taylor Still. Rollin, after practicing for a decade, deepened his study of Dr. Stills writings, and also met and became a dedicated student of cranial osteopathy's founder, William G. Sutherland, DO.The guidance of both Still and Sutherland led Dr. Becker to learn from the most authoritative source available – the living forces present within the living body. He became a ceaseless observer, continually seeking an answer to the question: What is "health" and what is the most efficient and effective way to help bring it about? In his lectures and writings, Dr. Becker taught in a way that encouraged his students to seek and observe those same living forces of health within the body that he had learned from. Dr. Becker lived the osteopathy that he taught-it being both simple and profound. His understanding of health and healing, and his capacity to apply it for the benefit of his patients and students, were profound. Yet this great depth of knowledge and skill were always delivered in the simplest and most direct way possible. He met the needs of each person who came to him as best he could and strove to learn something more about Life from each encounter.

about RACHEL E. BROOKS, MD

Dr. Brooks’ lifelong dedication to osteopathy began in 1975 when she met Rollin E. Becker, DO. He was a great practitioner and teacher of cranial osteopathy who had been a close student of Dr. William G. Sutherland, the founder of that osteopathic approach. She also had the opportunity to study closely with Anne L. Wales, DO, another close student of Dr. Sutherland’s.

Dr. Brooks teaches cranial osteopathic courses and served on the board of trustees of the Sutherland Cranial Teaching Foundation for sixteen years. She teaches across the US and internationally and is sought for her personal and historical insights regarding the practice and foundations of osteopathic practice. Her current series of courses is titled, “The Power of Presence.”

Dr. Brooks has also undertaken many publication projects. In the 1980s, she assisted Anne Wales, DO in the editing of Teachings in the Science of Osteopathy by William G. Sutherland, DO, and she helped edit the second edition of Sutherland’s Contributions of Thought.

In 1997, she founded Stillness Press, LLC. Rachel E. Brooks, MD is the editor of these Stillness Press books: Life in Motion: The Osteopathic Vision of Rollin E. Becker, DO, The Stillness of Life: The Osteopathic Philosophy of Rollin E. Becker, DO, and Three Great Teachers of Osteopathy: Lessons We Learned from Drs. Becker, Fulford, and Wales