Monday, July 6, 2009

Another couple of really tough days! Have felt pretty lousy the last couple of days and despite my best intentions I have been unable to keep this blog up to date.
This little epic is possibly the most difficult thing I have ever had to contend with. However, I will not let get me down. It is perhaps all too easy to just say “I give up” and let events run their course.
It came as a blessing this morning when I received a ‘phone call to say that the radio-therapy machine was not working and that I should not come for my treatment. Bit disappointed as it meant that the remaining treatments would not finish when I hoped they would. It was not too long afterward when I realised that I actually needed the break.
24 Treatments completed with ONLY 10 to go!
At the start of my current lesson (almost five months ago) I was sent the following words, which I reproduce here. These words helped me then and are helping me right now.

The Zen Master Hakuin lived in a town in Japan. He was held in high regard and many people came to him for spiritual teaching.
Then it happened that the teenage daughter of his next door neighbour became pregnant. When being questioned by her angry and scolding parents as to the identity of the father, she finally told them that it was Hakuin, the Zen Master.
In great anger the parents rushed over to Hakuin and told him with much shouting
and accusing that their daughter had confessed that he was the father.
All he replied was, “Is that so?”

News of the scandal spread throughout the town and beyond. The Master lost his reputation. This did not trouble him. Nobody came to see him anymore. He remained unmoved.
When the child was born, the parents brought the baby to Hakuin. “You are the father, so you look after him.” The Master took loving care of the child. A year later, the mother remorsefully confessed to her parents that the real father of the child was the young man who worked at the butcher shop.
In great distress they went to see Hakuin to apologize and ask for forgiveness. “We are really sorry. We have come to take the baby back. Our daughter confessed that you are not the father.”
“Is that so?” is all he would say as he handed the baby over to them.
The Master responds to falsehood and truth, bad news and good news, in exactly the same way: “Is that so?” He allows the form of the moment, good or bad, to be as it is and so does not become a participant in human drama. To him there is only this moment, and this moment is as it is.
Events are not personalized. He is nobody's victim. He is so completely at one with
what happens that what happens has no power over him anymore.
Only if you resist what happens are you at the mercy of what happens, and the world
will determine your happiness and unhappiness.
The baby is looked after with loving care. Bad turns into good through the power of non-resistance.
Always responding to what the present moment requires, he lets go of the baby when it is time to do so.
Imagine briefly how the ego would have reacted during the various stages of the unfolding of these events.

(Author unknown)

5 comments:

  1. You are quite incredible the way you are handling everything. I really admire you and you are a great inspiration to many. I just can't wait until this awful time is over for you, as you say only 10 more to go. My thoughts are with you at all times. Lots of love, Sue x

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  2. Hi Grant, i am phyllis a teacher with the DCSA and you have been on my mind all last week. I was shown you with a beautiful flower opening up in your throat and was told that you will have a new voice. I see from this blog that it is so, your words of courage and strength will inspire many and the rest you have been given will indeed help renew your energy. We are all praying for you and Margi at this time and our thoughts are of strength to get you through this challenge with grace and courage. best wishes to you both Phyllis nz

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  3. Hi Grant, it's me Madeleine. Good luck with everything you are going through. You are in my thoughts and in my prayers. You are an example to all of us.

    Lots of love and care.
    Madeleine Fourie

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  4. Sending lots of love from cape town. We are counting the moments with you. Each breath you take is a step forward.Navigate your way slowly and deliberately. Your life essence is behind your breath. Feel it. Notice it.Your pain is our pain. Breathing with you. Moving with you. Being with you. Gail and Graeme xxxxx

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  5. This is a message to both of you from Fred (the framer) and Lester to let you know that we are part of the whole crowd that is sharing this journey that you have to take.....and that we really want to be part of that trip....so please do NOT stop posting Grant's news and thoughts - we both really DO need to keep up with you

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