Results 1 to 20 of 20

Thread: Where The Rubber Meets The Road

  1. #1

    Where The Rubber Meets The Road

    Friends, Family,

    As many of you know from my earlier posts, my mother was recently diagnosed with cancer. Another statement I'd made during my written tirade was about 'losing my practice'. I was very firm in that belief until I found my way back to my zafu for a few days in a row. There was a clarity that I had afterward that wasn't amazing, or wonderful, it just was. I'd like to share that with you.

    During the beginning of my mother's diagnosis, my Dad was understandably upset. There were decisions that needed to be made that he was uncomfortable with, he was worried for his wife, and after losing one of his brothers to cancer mom's diagnosis terrified him.

    Once my mother started chemo, she spiked a terrible fever of 106. We had to take her to the ER where she stayed hospitalized for 2 days. They lowered her dose (it's a oral medication) and that seemed to take care of the situation.

    My brother, during this time, hid behind me, unsure whether to come down from Dallas or to wait for someone to tell him too. My wife played an almost over protective but loving daughter-in-law to Mom and was at the same time very high strung about the situation at hand.

    My mother was a range of emotions. First she was happy there was a positive diagnosis of an illness that explained her previously unexplainable symptoms. This of course was followed by a persistant fear of death where she would oscillate between sad, scared, and accepting.

    "So what about you, Jigetsu? How did you feel?"

    At first, I had thought to myself that I was just numb from the news. I neither reacted positively, nor negatively. I just asked questions. After my time on the zafu however, I understood things to be different. I wasn't numb, I just new deep inside that wanting her to not have cancer would not change reality. Wishing things to be other then what they were would only cause me to suffer, which in turn guiding my actions and words could cause others to suffer. Ripples in the water.

    I had been there for my Dad, giving him facts about the illness and correcting some of my mother's statements that made her condition seem worse then it was. (I love hear dearly, but she exaggerates a lot, often on purpose.) I had been the one that touched her, and knew she was hot. With out asking, I went and bought a thermometer and took her temperature. I had been the one to call her doctor to see what the orders were, and I had been the one to talk gently to her during her fever delirium. (In retrospect, she was saying silly things. We laugh about it now.)

    I spoke to my brother, assuring him everything was under control. Talking to him the way he needed so he could find peace. I commended my wife for taking such good care of my mother, and I would talk to Mom for an hour at a time just so she could tell me the same stories she'd been telling me because she needed to say them. They were about death and dying, and I was unshaken.

    I was, and have been deep in practice. I didn't lose it, I was living it.

    I'm not saying anything to gain any merit, please understand, I'm just trying to illustrate that everything was done automatically with out trying to add anything, nor take anything away. In doing so, I promoted calm and acceptance in myself and others. Ripples in the water.

    Of course, if you'd like to toss a little Metta our way, I wouldn't turn that down either.
    _/\_
    Jigetsu

  2. #2
    Much metta to you and your entire family Jigetsu...you have learned much, young one.

    Deep bows.

    Gassho,
    Dosho

  3. #3
    Much Metta for your mother and all your family Jigetsu, may she recover and get well soon. Your learning is our learning...

    Deep Gassho
    Thank you for your practice

  4. #4
    Dear Jigetsu,

    Your learning is our learning...
    Absolutely true! I will offer much Metta for you and your family. Take care of each other and keep us updated when you can.

    Gassho,
    Kelly/Jinmei

  5. #5
    Much metta for your mother. Sounds like you are doing everything right.

  6. #6
    Mp
    Guest
    Much metta Jigetsu to you, your mother, and your family. Will dedicate this weeks Zazenkai to you all.

    Gassho
    Shingen

  7. #7
    Such time can be the greatest teachers.

    Just being with our family struggling through such times, being with our sick parents, can be the more sad-yet-beautiful of life experiences.

    You sound like a loving son.

    Gassho, J
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Jundo View Post
    Such time can be the greatest teachers.

    Just being with our family struggling through such times, being with our sick parents, can be the more sad-yet-beautiful of life experiences.

    You sound like a loving son.

    Gassho, J
    Thank you all for the metta. The practice continues, I'm with her at the ER right now. Dad is back with her. Another fever and more delirium.

    I'll update later.
    _/\_
    Jigetsu

  9. #9
    Metta to you and your loved ones! And thank you for sharing your practice.

    Gassho, Dennis

  10. #10
    It is a great lesson that if we just do what needs to be done the worrying can often fall away, and things seem to almost take care of themselves.

    May we all remember that at such times.


    Much metta to you, Jigetsu. Thank you so much for sharing. Please do keep us updated when you can.


    Gassho
    Andy

  11. #11
    Metta to you, your mum and your family.

    Your presence must be a comfort.

    Gassho

    Willow

  12. #12
    Meta to you and your family.

    gassho
    william

  13. #13
    Metta to your Mother, you and each of your family.

    Gassho
    Heishu
    Last edited by Heishu; 05-24-2013 at 12:13 AM.


    “Blessed are the flexible, for they never get bent out of shape." Author Unknown

  14. #14
    Jigetsu, may your mother, yourself and your family have peace during her sickness.

  15. #15
    Jigetsu,

    I am just a fool in life, but I have found that hard times are our best practice grounds.

    Much metta to your family and to all suffering medical conditions.

    Gassho,

    Kyonin
    Hondō Kyōnin
    奔道 協忍

  16. #16
    Update: Blood transfusion then likely she will be released tomorrow. I'm here with her, just sitting.
    _/\_
    Jigetsu

  17. #17
    And we sit with you.... Metta
    Deep Gassho

    Sent from Tapatalk
    Thank you for your practice

  18. #18
    Thank you for sharing-very touching and thoughtful. Please keep us posted. I hope her treatment goes well. May you and yours be safe safe and still.
    Gassho, Kaishin
    Thanks,
    Kaishin (開心, Open Heart)
    Please take this layman's words with a grain of salt.

  19. #19
    Mp
    Guest
    Jigetsu, thank you for the update and we continue to sit with you all.

    Gassho
    Shingen

  20. #20
    Thanks for the update Jigetsu...continued metta to you and your family.

    Gassho,
    Dosho

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •