After my visit to Alachua I spent another 2 weeks in Florida, visiting the Vaishnava communities in Tampa, DeLand, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Everywhere I was well received and taken care of, and I spent a blissful time in the association of eager devotees. Every evening they had arranged a program in somebody's home, and devotees enjoyed the profound and transformational topics of discussion. It was also a good time to visit Florida - the weather was nice and sunny, while it was still cold in other parts of the US. Only when looking at the map did I realise how far South I was....
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The topic of death is always an intriguing subject relevant to one and all.
You may know that I journeyed two times through the experience of having cancer. With a mundane vision, to receive the diagnosis of such an aggressive and fatal disease is considered one of the most horrible situations one can imagine. Yet, a Vaishnava can turn any calamity into a golden opportunity to cling more firmly to the shelter of Krishna and His devotees; in reciprocation, the Lord manifests Himself more tangibly to such a devotee; thus, going through the journey of a cancer treatment can almost become a sweet experience which, for an outsider, is difficult to fully comprehend.
In 2017, when undergoing chemotherapy in Bangalore, in the first meeting with my oncologist, I introduced myself by giving him a half-hour talk on my understanding and attitude towards death. I felt he had to first understand my mood and mindset before administering the chemotherapy. I explained to him the essence of the science of the soul, and how a devotee’s attitude towards death is entirely different from that of a non-devotee. Needless to say, he looked at me with an open mouth – lost for words; he had never heard anything like that before. In utter disbelief, he asked, “Would you be willing to repeat all of this to my colleagues?” And I happily responded, “Definitely, with great pleasure.”
Then I immediately started planning for a program for the doctors and nurses in the auditorium of the hospital. The local devotees assisted me and arranged books and prasadam. We printed beautiful invitation cards, and I went through the whole hospital – to every office and department – and personally invited all the staff. Over one hundred doctors and nurses assembled.
It was a great absorption for me to make all the arrangements – truly the highlight of my chemotherapy! Many of them were Christians, and also Muslims. The program was well-received – a great success. People were truly impressed, for they were asking, “So when will the next program be?” Some people left the hall with books and japa beads in their hands, after taking prasadam to their full satisfaction.
Sometimes we come across the understanding that chemotherapy is merely a way for doctors to fill their pockets with money, and thus they push the patients to accept the treatment. During my first chemotherapy in Melbourne in 2007, I observed the opposite – oftentimes, it is the patient who can’t stop undergoing the treatments. They may be clinging to the illusion that they will never have to die if they continue these treatments. People like to keep themselves in denial.
I was using every treatment as a great preaching opportunity, attending every appointment with a big bag of maha prasadam of Sri Sri Radha Vallabha – beautiful Deities installed by Srila Prabhupada. I distributed all these delicacies to the doctors, nurses and patients; in this way, conversations opened up and they gave me a chance to preach. Once an elderly patient turned to me with the remark: “These treatments are terrible, aren’t they? But the alternative is also not very good.” The alternative he referred to was death. I couldn’t restrain myself, and I spontaneously exclaimed, “Well, we gonna have to die anyway – sooner or later! We won’t be able to avoid that!” He was visibly shaken – as if he had never thought about it…
Again, when I took another light chemotherapy in 2017 in Bangalore, I had to regularly remind my oncologist of the fact that his treatments would not keep me alive forever – eventually I would have to die, no matter what advanced medicines he might give me. I could perceive his serious face transforming into a smile, responding: “Yeah – actually, you are right!”
Both doctors and patients like to forget this fact and keep themselves in illusion. However, according to my experience, if a patient in all earnestness inquires and wants to know his expected life span, a good oncologist will give a realistic prognosis. But as a rule, people don’t want to know – they don’t ask these questions. They cannot confront themselves with the topic of death, due to ignorance and fear. Likewise, a similar phenomenon may also occur in regard to medicines. People visiting a doctor demand to get a prescription for a long list of medicines. Otherwise they feel unsatisfied, considering him to be a bad doctor. If a doctor recommends a diet and rest to cure a disease, he will be out of business....
On the 16th of April I moved on to Charlotte/North Carolina...
Your servant, Devaki dd
Please visit www.theholynameretreat.net
www.therootsofspiritualculture.net
https://www.facebook.com/instituteforspiritualculture/
You may know that I journeyed two times through the experience of having cancer. With a mundane vision, to receive the diagnosis of such an aggressive and fatal disease is considered one of the most horrible situations one can imagine. Yet, a Vaishnava can turn any calamity into a golden opportunity to cling more firmly to the shelter of Krishna and His devotees; in reciprocation, the Lord manifests Himself more tangibly to such a devotee; thus, going through the journey of a cancer treatment can almost become a sweet experience which, for an outsider, is difficult to fully comprehend.
In 2017, when undergoing chemotherapy in Bangalore, in the first meeting with my oncologist, I introduced myself by giving him a half-hour talk on my understanding and attitude towards death. I felt he had to first understand my mood and mindset before administering the chemotherapy. I explained to him the essence of the science of the soul, and how a devotee’s attitude towards death is entirely different from that of a non-devotee. Needless to say, he looked at me with an open mouth – lost for words; he had never heard anything like that before. In utter disbelief, he asked, “Would you be willing to repeat all of this to my colleagues?” And I happily responded, “Definitely, with great pleasure.”
Then I immediately started planning for a program for the doctors and nurses in the auditorium of the hospital. The local devotees assisted me and arranged books and prasadam. We printed beautiful invitation cards, and I went through the whole hospital – to every office and department – and personally invited all the staff. Over one hundred doctors and nurses assembled.
It was a great absorption for me to make all the arrangements – truly the highlight of my chemotherapy! Many of them were Christians, and also Muslims. The program was well-received – a great success. People were truly impressed, for they were asking, “So when will the next program be?” Some people left the hall with books and japa beads in their hands, after taking prasadam to their full satisfaction.
Sometimes we come across the understanding that chemotherapy is merely a way for doctors to fill their pockets with money, and thus they push the patients to accept the treatment. During my first chemotherapy in Melbourne in 2007, I observed the opposite – oftentimes, it is the patient who can’t stop undergoing the treatments. They may be clinging to the illusion that they will never have to die if they continue these treatments. People like to keep themselves in denial.
I was using every treatment as a great preaching opportunity, attending every appointment with a big bag of maha prasadam of Sri Sri Radha Vallabha – beautiful Deities installed by Srila Prabhupada. I distributed all these delicacies to the doctors, nurses and patients; in this way, conversations opened up and they gave me a chance to preach. Once an elderly patient turned to me with the remark: “These treatments are terrible, aren’t they? But the alternative is also not very good.” The alternative he referred to was death. I couldn’t restrain myself, and I spontaneously exclaimed, “Well, we gonna have to die anyway – sooner or later! We won’t be able to avoid that!” He was visibly shaken – as if he had never thought about it…
Again, when I took another light chemotherapy in 2017 in Bangalore, I had to regularly remind my oncologist of the fact that his treatments would not keep me alive forever – eventually I would have to die, no matter what advanced medicines he might give me. I could perceive his serious face transforming into a smile, responding: “Yeah – actually, you are right!”
Both doctors and patients like to forget this fact and keep themselves in illusion. However, according to my experience, if a patient in all earnestness inquires and wants to know his expected life span, a good oncologist will give a realistic prognosis. But as a rule, people don’t want to know – they don’t ask these questions. They cannot confront themselves with the topic of death, due to ignorance and fear. Likewise, a similar phenomenon may also occur in regard to medicines. People visiting a doctor demand to get a prescription for a long list of medicines. Otherwise they feel unsatisfied, considering him to be a bad doctor. If a doctor recommends a diet and rest to cure a disease, he will be out of business....
On the 16th of April I moved on to Charlotte/North Carolina...
Your servant, Devaki dd
Please visit www.theholynameretreat.net
www.therootsofspiritualculture.net
https://www.facebook.com/instituteforspiritualculture/
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