A Healing Chant/Prayer

I am a baby boomer, as are many of my friends.  Now, when we meet, one of the first topics of conversation is “how are your parents” (or mother or father).  It seems like many of us are having the experience of loved ones and friends dying.  Often, death may seem like a blessing because the person has had an illness that debilitates and causes the family to feel helpless. 

Picture of healing lotus from qimansworld.today.com

 

 

 

Several days ago, one of my clients phoned me and said that she and some friends wanted to get together to do a healing prayer for a good friend that had cancer and was given several months to live.  She asked if I could recommend a good healing prayer.  I recommended the following chant to her.  

Traditional Buddhist Blessing and Healing Chant

Just as the soft rains fill the streams,  
pour into the rivers and join together in the oceans,  
so may the power of every moment of your goodness  
flow forth to awaken and heal all beings,  
Those here now, those gone before, those yet to come.

By the power of every moment of your goodness  
May your heart's wishes be soon fulfilled  
as completely shining as the bright full moon,  
as magically as by a wish-fulfilling gem.

By the power of every moment of your goodness  
May all dangers be averted and all disease be gone.  
May no obstacle come across your way.  
May you enjoy fulfillment and long life.

For all in whose heart dwells respect,  
who follow the wisdom and compassion of the Way,  
May your life prosper in the four blessings  
of old age, beauty, happiness and strength.

I love this chant because it is so peaceful and beautiful.  When I read it and say it, it makes me feel connected with the All.  If you decide to use this chant for someone you know, say it out loud,  either one, three, or seven times, each time that you do the chant.  There is power in the sound of the voice and power in the number of repetitions.

Many Blessings,

Judy

Wood Caribou

Picture from www.deer.rr.ualberta.ca Years ago, my husband and I spent a week in Jasper, and hiked the mountains and explored springs, falls, and natural wonders. One of the natural wonders that was a surprise is Wood Caribou. I had no idea that caribou existed as far south as Jasper National Park. Every where we went, we saw signs up advising of Caribou crossing, and notices to stay away from them because they were quite aggressive with humans. We thought that seemed fair since humans are the predator that has caused the most damage to the Wood Caribou. In spring, Caribou climbs to the high alpine meadow of the Rockies. Since hiking trails now lead to some of these meadows, we expected to see herds of them. However, they were invisible. Perhaps this is part of their message to us. Knowing that the males are significantly larger than females, and that both of them will each weigh 450 and 250 pounds respectively, it is hard to believe they could hide so easily. Most Caribou are predominantly brown to olive, with whitish under parts, buttocks and legs. There is some geographic variation. Some populations in Greenland and northeastern Canada have nearly white coats. Both sexes are antlered.  Caribou offers many messages. - every year, take two big trips. A change of scenery allows you to appreciate what you have. - learn how to use your environment to your advantage to feel safe and to enjoy the abundance of it. - do not be afraid of adventure. Being a risk taker keeps us interested in life and helps us stay alert for predators (those who would use us to their own advantage). - enjoy the wilderness and protect it. Everything came from it, and most life depends on it (logging, gas, oil, coal and mining in general). Many blessings, Judy

The Lesson From The Useless Eyebrows

Have you ever complained about something, and called it useless?  I know I have.  When I read this Buddhist teaching, I was cast into a place of asking forgiveness from all those “things” over the years which I labelled useless.  Just because I could not understand their place in the system of “things” did not give me the right to call them useless.  I felt quite humble after I finished this story, and, it stays with me. 

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The Useless Eyebrows                                                
(told by Ven. Master Hsing-Yun) 

Note:  rough drawings from Judy…

Once, a person's eyes, nose, and mouth had a meeting. First the  eyes said, "We, the eyes, are of utmost importance to the body. Everything must be seen by us to know whether it is beautiful or not, big or small, tall or short. Without eyes, walking around will be very difficult. So we, the eyes, are very important. But we have been improperly placed under the eyebrows, which are of no use. It is just not fair!" 

Next, the nose said, "I, the nose, am the most important. Only I can distinguish a good smell from a foul odor. The act of breathing is also dependent on me. If I do not let the breath pass through, everybody will die. So I am the most important. As important as I am, I have been unfairly placed beneath the useless eyebrows. I am most unhappy." 

Then the mouth said, "I am the most important part of the human body. I can speak; if not for me, there would not be any communication among people. I take in the food; if not for me, everybody would die of hunger. Such an important part as myself has been placed in the lowest part of the face. The useless eyebrows, however, have been put on the highest part of the face. This I cannot accept!" 

After the others had spoken, the eyebrows spoke slowly, "Please do not fight anymore. We, the eyebrows, are surely the most useless things; we admit defeat. We are willing to be placed below you." Having said this, the eyebrows settled down below the eyes. Unfortunately, the person no longer looked like a human being. Next, they eyebrows settled down below the nose. It was still horrible; it still did not look like a human being. Then the eyebrows settled down below the mouth. This looked even more ghastly! The eyes, nose, and mouth huddled to discuss the situation again. They concluded that it was best if the eyebrows returned to their original place on the face; it was the most appropriate spot for them. When the eyebrows returned to their original spot, the appearance was once again that of a human being. Thus, we can see that what appears to be the most useless thing can be indeed the most useful.

Many blessings,

Judy