Losar - 2/25/2009 - Year of the Earth Ox - Prayers

Dear Friends:
The New Year for Tibetans has begun, and for the next month all postive and negative actions are multiplied 100,000 times; however, because the situation in Tibet has worsened, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has asked that the usual Losar celebrations be curtailed. Please see a letter that he sent out in regard to this at http://www.dalailama.com/news.348.htm

In response, Ven. Thubton Chodron has sent out a request for prayers until March 10 in 7 languages; thus, I will post the English version. Please join if you can, and send Reiki, also. The situation in Tibet is collective karma, and impacts all of us. The prayers:
1) NETWORK OF PRAYERS FOR TIBET. If you are a practicing Tibetan Buddhist of any tradition, or a supporter of the Tibetan cause, or in general anyone who appreciates the values of love and compassion in this world, please read this and pass it to your friends and contacts as soon as possible.We are a group of international students of Tibetan Buddhism from different countries all over the world concerned about the future and the preservation of Tibetan Buddhism, Tibet, and the Tibetan culture.We have been inspired to take action after reading His Holiness the Dalai Lama's New Year message to the Tibetan people on 24/2/09 (see http://www.dalailama.com/news.348.htm )As you are probably aware, the situation in Tibet has worsened dramatically during the last year. According to different sources, Tibet has been closed to tourists, there have been attempts to isolate the Tibetan population by means of cutting internet access and mobile phones, and thereby preventing communication and independent reports about the actual situation there. Tibetans inside and outside Tibet had wished not to observe Losar this year with the usual celebrations, because of the terrible difficulties and sufferings experienced in Tibet over the past year; however the Chinese government has been trying to force the people in Tibet to celebrate Losar against their will. This could lead to demonstrations, and a chance for an unprecedented, unimaginable clampdown. His Holiness has advised people not to react to such provocation, to abide in patience in every situation, and to use this period of time to engage in prayers and positive actions.From our side, we would like to emphasize the need to acknowledge that this culture based on love and compassion could disappear from the world. Due to the interconnectedness of everything that happens on this planet, we think that this situation is not just a matter of the Tibetan people and politics, but a matter of the collective karma of everyone, and thus a matter of universal responsibility. In this regard we want to establish a network of people around the world who will share in this responsibility through meditation and prayer. During the next 15 days, starting from LOSAR, February 25th until March 10th, PLEASE HELP US TO CREATE THIS NETWORK OF LOVE AND COMPASSION for Tibet, by joining us in the practice of TONG-LEN (see below), or any practice you think will generate an atmosphere of love and compassion in our world. Besides any normal practice you may do, or any other peaceful activities, we ask you to join us two times a day, morning and evening, for five minutes or longer, whenever it is convenient for you, and to dedicate that the suffering of the Tibetans will come to an end, and that the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and culture will be preserved. Please also dedicate with prayers for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and of all the lineage holders of the different Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Please also recite the following prayer for the success of His Holiness’ wishes, which was composed by Himself at the request of the late H.H. Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche:Saviour of the snow land teachings and transmigratory beings,Who makes extremely clear the path that is the unification of emptiness and compassion,To the Lotus Holder Tenzin Gyatso, I beseech:May all your holy wishes be spontaneously fulfilled.PASS THIS TO OTHERS WHO YOU THINK WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THIS NETWORK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO WE CAN CREATE A POWERFUL COLLECTIVE ENERGY THAT COULD BRING ACTUAL CHANGES TO THE SITUATION. THANK YOU.
THE PRACTICE OF TONG-LEN (Taking and Giving)
This is a method for cultivating love and compassion by taking on the suffering of others and giving them the positive energy and happiness that they need. It is a mental exercise that trains the mind and heart in these qualities.There are various ways to do Tong-len; here is a simple version of the practice:First, imagine at your heart a dark ball, which represents your negative energy: attitudes such as anger, attachment, ignorance, and selfishness, as well as sickness and other problems. Then think of people and beings who are suffering; you can think specifically of the Tibetan people, as well as people and beings in other places who are oppressed, hungry, sick, frightened, and so forth. Generate a feeling of compassion: “how wonderful it would be if they could be free from their sufferings and the causes of suffering.” Then imagine drawing all the sufferings out of these beings in the form of a dark stream of light or smoke, coming out of their right nostrils and entering into your left nostril. It goes straight down into the dark ball at your heart, completely destroying it. Imagine that you have completely freed all those beings from their suffering, and the dark ball of your selfishness and negative energy, which was at your heart, has been completely destroyed. Next, imagine giving away your happiness, possessions, merit, and positive energy to those beings. Visualize these positive things in the form of a stream of white light, which goes out from your right nostril and enters through their left nostrils, filling them with happiness. Let your mind rest for a few moments in a state of peace and joy that you have been able to relieve others of their suffering, and give them happiness. Then dedicate the merit you have created that all beings may attain enlightenment as quickly as possible.
Love-Light,
Carol
http://www.carolwilson.org/

Newsletter XVII - How Faith Can Heal

Dearest Friends:
Last week I received an email from Nicole Friedman, PhD, giving me a heads up about a mind & body special issue of TIME magazine: “How Faith Can Heal” by Jeffrey Kluger; thus, I immediately dashed over to Barnes and Noble to purchase a copy. It was gloomy and raining outside but I found myself not avoiding the puddles on the upper Gateway mall plaza. Instead, I was hitting them with my UGGs and making big splashes---childlike, perhaps, but I do recall what Albert Siebert, Ph.D. defined as the “The Survivor Personality”:

1. Aimless playfulness for its own sake, like that of a happy child.
2. The ability to become so deeply absorbed in an activity that you lose track of time, external events, and all your worries, often whistling, humming, or talking to yourself absent mindedly.
3. A childlike, innocent curiosity.
4. An observant, non-judgmental style.
5. A willingness to look foolish, make mistakes, and laugh at yourself.
6. Open-minded acceptance of criticism about yourself.
7. An active imagination, daydreams, mental play, and conversations with yourself.

Perhaps we can benefit with more childlike behavior during these challenging times. I often say that never before have we not sung as we do not sing. Never before have we not chanted as we do not chant. Never before have we not laughed as we do not laugh.

I couldn't wait to dive into my newly purchased TIME magazine and agreed with Kluger’s premise (although understated), “Science and religion argue all the time, but they increasingly agree on one thing: a little spirituality may be very good for your health.” This is one of the reasons why I have focused on spirituality as it relates to health and healing rather than religion. Religion can too often focus on the differences in belief among people of various religions, and most of us are cognizant of conflict and wars fought as a result of those differences. I prefer to transcend those dualistic concepts and embrace our commonality, not our differences. Among other things, we are of the same essence, with the same unlimited potential, and our bond is that we wish to be happy. We all want to avoid suffering. Even an insect will run from suffering.

It is interesting, as Kluger notes, that our parietal lobe is active in matters of spirituality (located at the top of the head, aft of the frontal lobe, fore of the occipital lobe, north of the temporal lobe). The parietal lobe is a mass of tissue, centrally located, that processes sensory input. We put this center to work when we pray, chant, meditate, or travel on pilgrimage in search of a miracle. According to brain scan research conducted by David Newberg, MD, who has focused on the neurobiology of different religious and spiritual practices, when people engage in deep prayer or meditation, the frontal lobes take the lead because they govern focus and concentration; however, the parietal lobe powers down, which allows us to experience the sense of losing our earthly attachment. Previous research has demonstrated that changes in the brain become permanent with long-term meditators, appearing to have thicker frontal lobes than nonmeditators. According to Newberg, people who describe themselves as highly spiritual tend to exhibit an asymmetry in the thalamus—a feature that other people can develop after just eight weeks of training in meditation skills.

What positive outcome are we seeking more than any other outcome when we pray, chant or meditate? HEALTH. Kluger states, “So we convince ourselves that while our medicine is strong and our doctors are wise, our prayers may help us too.” In fact, prayer is considered a Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) as defined by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In a survey analysis conducted a few years ago, the use of CAM’s in the United States showed a prevalence rate of 62%; however, in a more recent analysis, prayer was eliminated as a dependent variable, and the CAM prevalence rate was reduced to 36%. Hang in there, everyone, as we continue to do a two-step dance with scientists who are in a quandary as to what to do with integrating spirituality with conventional medicine! I elaborate upon this in my book Healing Beyond Medicine in Challenging Times. I have to believe that progress is being made; however, we need to continue to be pioneers in a movement that will improve the healthcare crisis that exists today. Kluger says, “Speak up! More than 85% of cancer patients would not be offended if their doctors asked them about their spiritual needs---but doctor’s don’t ask.” Furthermore, “94% of patients said it was perfectly all right for doctors to ask them about their religious beliefs. Plenty of doctors have no quarrel with this---though they are less sure how to raise the topic. Still, they agree that if health-care providers suggest complementary care like acupuncture to some patients, why not faith and prayer to others?”

I have read three pages of the TIME special issue article, “The Biology of Belief”, and now I see a three page advertisement for AMBIEN®! After two more pages of reading I see an advertisement for AMGEN Wyeth followed by a three page article on “Faith and Healing: A Forum”, followed by a two page advertisement on VIAGARA®! This special mind and body issue ends with a two page advertisement by Merck for SINGULAIR®. Therefore, this special 15 page issue on faith and healing is saturated with 8 full pages of advertishing from pharmaceutical companies. Hmmmmm---Are pharmaceutical companies funding TIME magazine? The more powerful I see these companies become, the scarier it gets. They are even educating our physicians. Or shall we, perhaps, call it mis-educating? More two-steps; fortunately, we recognize the dance and continue to be relentlessly optimistic in matters of integrating spirituality into health and healing and what we know to be effective. Speak up, yes, and at the same time continue to do what we can do something about—ourselves--which will automatically impact others in a positive way. Our spiritual essence is waiting to be discovered and reclaimed, and we have the tools to assist us--tools that are inherently spiritual in nature: prayer, meditation, sound healing, Reiki, Karuna Reiki, aromatherapy, yoga….the list goes on.

AND---don’t forget to laugh and make big splashes when you hit those puddles.

Love-Light,
Carol
http://www.carolwilson.org/
Copyright ©2009, Carol A. Wilson

Thank You

Dearest Friends:

Happy Valentine's Day. My son just completed his first photo shoot of Cicily Diane, born on February 4 at 6 pounds 12 ounces. Cicily sends gratitude for your thoughts, prayers, wishes, and Reiki during her extended hospital stay in NICU. (I found the headband at Magical Child in Encinitas, CA.)

Love-Light,

Carol

Reiki in the News

Dearest Friends:

This is a story of a 7 year old boy with neuroblastoma. He underwent chemotherapy for seven months for 11 cancerous tumors and was sent home to die. His father and grandparents opted not to try an experimental drug, Tapotecan, that could damage his kidneys and heart, meaning he would have only a 50 per cent chance of surviving the treatment. Instead, they choose alternative treatments, including Reiki! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1136870/The-boy-11-tumours-sent-home-die--survives-grandparents-alternative-therapy-treatments.html?ITO=1490
As you read the reaction of modern medicine to his "healing", those reactions are against our healing rules. If we listen to that kind of pessimism, we allow modern medicine to force "their" predictable outcomes onto people.
Love-Light,
Carol