Chronic Illness
By Karmayogi
In our tradition, illness is understood to be the result of past karma.
A lady was suffering from asthma for over a decade. In an affectionate
family, illness is an occasion for attention. People overcome their
resistances and offer unusual help. In other families, where no one
feels any emotion for another, it becomes an occasion for the patient to
develop immeasurable endurance. Occasionally, someone at home will
attribute motives to the sufferer. This lady was one of extraordinary
politeness and was so independent that she would seek no help from
anyone except her children.
Hospitalisation was an annual phenomenon. It sometimes prolonged for
weeks or months. To her, the physical suffocation was unendurable.
During one such visit to the hospital, the doctors found it a hopeless
case and refused to attend on the patient. The faith the patient had in
the divine Mother that SHE would save her life and spare her the pain
gave way. She could no longer pray to save her life. She shifted in her
mind. She thought of praying that she should no longer suffer. She sent
for her children, removed the IV tubes, and refused further medication.
To the children she made a profound declaration, ”I can’t live anymore.
Mother will protect you both. Have faith in The Mother.” They broke out
in a wail. A weight was off her mind. She fell asleep.
When she woke up, there was no suffocation. Her face was bright. Her
voice was clear. To the nurse attending on her it was a wonder. The
nurse ran to the doctors and reported. They were unbelieving, and rushed
to the patient offering to revive the treatment. The lady preferred to
go home. In the next fifteen years hospitalisation was rare and far
between. This is negative FAITH. She prayed to die. Mother gave her
health and life. A positive faith, though it sees no response, will
imply one. It takes the attitude, ”I have done my best. The pain is
unrelenting. No prayer to Mother will be in vain, even if the results
are NOT visible. My duty is to exhaust my prayer of faith and not
despair. The best will happen to me.” Such a faith will give the same
results but in a higher fashion. No recurrence will ever be there.
A positive Faith brings the positive opportunities of health and the
society. A negative Faith wards off the existing problems. One who
relates to the Spirit has a greater chance of developing a positive
FAITH.