Stephen Russell | |
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| Other names | The Barefoot Doctor |
Stephen Russell, who wrote under the pseudonym The Barefoot Doctor, was a practitioner and teacher of Taoism.
Stephen Russell | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Other names | The Barefoot Doctor |
Stephen Russell, who wrote under the pseudonym The Barefoot Doctor, was a practitioner and teacher of Taoism.
Russell grew up in Hampstead, an area in London. On leaving full-time education Russell started to travel extensively and began to deepen his study of Taoism. He returned to London in 1983 where he ran an acupuncture practice for 17 years, as well as facilitating self-help workshops. Some of his clients included celebrities such as Madonna. [1] [2]
He wrote twenty one books, including Barefoot Doctor's Handbook for the Urban Warrior, A Spiritual Survival Guide and Pure: A Path to Peace, Power and Prosperity.
Russell was a weekly columnist for The Observer for five years. [3] [4]
In addition to giving talks, leading workshops [5] and commenting on holistic and spiritual matters, [6] he made a series for BBC UK Style named "Barefoot Doctor" which was broadcast in 2003. [2]
Mainstream medical professionals have criticised the advice given in Russell's popular Observer column as being founded on traditional beliefs rather than science, and his books have been described as "health fiction". [3] [7]
He was accused of "sexually predatory" behaviour by several women. Jonathan Coe of medical practitioners' standards charity Witness, said that they had received five complaints about Russell relating to patients in treatment. Russell admitted to having sex with ex-patients. [8] [9]
Taoism or Daoism is a diverse philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to China. Taoism emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao—generally understood as being the impersonal, enigmatic process of transformation ultimately underlying reality. The concept originates in the Chinese word 道, whose numerous meanings include 'way', 'road', and 'technique'. Taoist thought has informed the development of practices within the Taoist tradition and beyond, including forms of meditation, astrology, qigong, feng shui, and internal alchemy. Common goals of Taoist practice include self-cultivation, a deeper appreciation of the Tao, and a more harmonious existence. Although diverse, Taoist ethics generally emphasize virtues such as effortless action, naturalness or spontaneity, simplicity, and the three treasures of compassion, frugality, and humility. Many Taoist terms lack simple definitions and have been translated in several different ways.
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