In Eight Steps to Happiness Geshe-la says "'Self' and 'other' are relative terms, rather like 'this mountain' and 'that mountain ... 'This' and 'that' therefore depend upon our point of reference. This is also true of self and other. By climbing down the mountain of self, it is possible to ascend the mountain of other, and thereby cherish others as much as we presently cherish ourself."

Saturday, February 20, 2016

good results so far

Hello Friends!
I found out last night that my CA-125 marker for ovarian cancer went down, from 482 two weeks ago to 428. I believe that means the Topo chemo is (finally) working.

Do you think it's a coincidence that R & I - and lots of other NW Sangha - went to the Western Canada Dharma Celebration with Gen-la Khyenrab and Gen Thekchen last weekend, for the empowerment of Avalokiteshvara, and teachings and meditations on the practices of him and powa?

So many precious insights to take away, including that the brain is the "organ of confusion," so we should put aside questions like whether we have really gotten the deceased to the Pure Land. What is "real" anyway, when everything is ultimately mere imputation? 

Of course, that doesn't mean that we have blind faith. Buddhism encourages us all to personally investigate the teachings - to actively "interrogate" what Buddha says, through experiments in our daily lives (is this making me happier?, is this making my relationships better? for example); through deeply contemplating and meditating on the reasonings; and through recognizing the long history of Masters who are the source of this wisdom, starting with Buddha Shakyamuni.

Last Wed I started radiation too, to receive blessed lights to reduce or maybe even eliminate the tumor pressing on my bladder and causing incontinence. That treatment will be every weekday for at least 4 weeks. 
Thankfully I have Sangha friends who will drive me - which gives us a good chance to talk. I see it as a nice way of relying on Sangha. I "ain't too proud to beg" when my driving is unsteady. Thank you Cecilia & Deb for the continuing rides to class, and to Susan, Jeff, Marsha, Mary, James and Marie, as well as other "players yet to be named" (as they say in baseball trades) who have driven me to & from medical appointments, none of which is ordinary.

For further tests, my regular brain MRI scan is Wed, Feb 24, and my torso CT is Mon, Feb 29, after which we will know more.

Thank you for your continuing support.
Prayers always appreciated. You keep me here.

Love,
Mimi

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