I had a good talk earlier today with my friend Barbara Pike, who has been chanting for about 35 years, and who is currently in a skilled nursing facility recovering from lung surgery.
Aside from a quick pop-in by a zone leader a couple of weeks ago, most of Barbara's Buddhist support has come from the online community (like me). I sent her a copy of Charles Atkins' book "Riding the Wheel to Wellness" (thanks, Chuck!). Barbara has really enjoyed reading it, and has also been connectng on a regular basis with her Chinese energy healer, Stanley (helluva Chinese name there, Stanley).
The overall news is good, she does not need radiation or chemotherapy. She is also heartened by the cards she has been receiving from friends she has met online, many in far-flung places. She is encouraged by this "ever-widening circle" of Buddhist friendship, and the interconnecting web of Daimoku that is being chanted for her.
Barbara is currently suffering from something called "dysautonomia" - that is to say, a failure of the autonomic nervous system which makes it hard for her to stand up with out her blood pressure going through the floor and causing her to faint. But I have been focusing my daimoku on her brain and autonomic nervous system and Barbara says that she has "turned a corner," and can really feel the difference since last weekend.
I enjoy knowing that I can be of help to others. It's something I really love about my practice of chanting Nam(u)-Myoho-Renge-Kyo. I don't have to fret too much, and I can always access a healing state of mind to transfer to those who need it.
And our circle of friendships, our circle of people who chant for each other is widening day by day. What a wonderful thing to be a part of. Thank you all for checking in here. I enjoy this blogspace, and I enjoy writing to all of you. Be well and happy.
Byrd in LA
Posted by wahzoh at March 27, 2008 06:36 PMhi! i have been following this thread for quite some time on the SFI group... its very heartening to read about you chanting for someone else, and that too since so long. i really feel that buddhism is all about helping out others... i feel this enormous change has happened inside me since i began practicing... i pray even for people i dont like... and somehow want to actively change things in their life that are not right by chanting for them. sometimes i also tell them about the practice... but i usually have to be careful about this, coz i know everyone is not of that frame of mind that i tell them and they begin chanting.
my prayers are with barbara! good luck to her!
i am writing from another corner of the world... MUMBAI... if that helps to see the circle widening!
Posted by: ambs at March 28, 2008 01:04 AMWow! That news is going to blow Barbara out of the water! She will be sooooo excited to hear that there is someone is INDIA chanting for her!
Thanks a lot for writing in,
Wahzoh
Posted by: Byrd in LA at March 28, 2008 01:12 PM