Picture: Lahiri Mahasaya: when he received word sent by Babaji that the sands of time were running out for this lifetime his body shuddered in reaction, then the great spiritual master immediately focused on the ajna and merged into Divine Consciousness.
We encounter disappointment, loss and jolts to our system on a fairly regular basis on this material plane; they are, and will always be part of our lives here. To weather these storms when they hit us and not allow them to knock us off balance must be a deep part of our spiritual practice.
The other day I received some news that was disappointing. I had been accepted as part of a new therapy in which they took samples of T cells with the idea that they would grow them in the laboratory and bank them against a day that I might have more tumors. The cells did not grow, that happens about 50% of the time.
Now, news like this can feel like a disappointment in the moment, but how do we keep that from sending us down a spiral into darkness? We have two major parts of our brain—the emotional mind and the reasoning mind. It is primarily the emotional mind that can attach itself to disappointment, loss or shock and retain it in the body where it loops back to itself in an endless cycle—accomplishing nothing and sinking the emotions into a pool of distress.
We can shift the focus from the emotional mind to the reasoning mind in a number of ways that does not suppress the emotions by denying them, but rather puts the reasoning mind in charge to help the emotional mind be useful—not self-destructive.
A way that God gave me to do this was inspired by binary computer coding. A binary code is a series of ones and zeros in different combinations to create a bit string for each symbol or instruction, a mathematical language. The principle for shifting from the emotional mind to the reasoning mind is simple. In life results or solutions are of two sorts, one is a yes, the other a no; either it is one thing or it is another. For instance, the results of the lab work with the T cells was either going to be successful in the growing the cells, a yes, or it was not going to work, a no. It was going to be a one or a zero.
We can spend an enormous amount of energy worrying about some outcome, but in truth all the worry in the world does not change what is going to be. Worry also produces a negative result as stress to our physical and mental health. With the reasoning mind in charge it can decide on proper action, or to remain in a restful, alert state. The emotional mind drives us to action, but the actions are usually not for the good. Also, the emotional mind acts as static on the mental radio which interferes with intuition of the Superconscious Mind. So not only does the emotional mind have a negative effect on the body and mind, but it also makes it impossible to hear the still, small voice of God within. The reasoning mind can be employed to become calm in meditation; a perfect receiver for Super-conscious inspiration and guidance.Therefore, the reasoning mind must be in charge.
In anticipating the results of the T cell therapy, it was either going to be a yes or a no, successful growth of T cells or not. In getting the phone call, I thought, “This is going to be a one or a zero, a yes or a no.” With a calm mind I listened to the results, connected with the reasoning mind and the higher thoughts of the Soul.
Even so, when I first heard the results they came as a disappointment; the procedure offered an option for the future if needed, that option is now off the table. As I continued with shifting to the reasoning mind and surrendering to God’s will, the disappointment lifted from me and the reasoning mind focused on what I could do now. “I do not need these T cells in the moment, and the best alternative is to have no new tumors at all. There are other possible treatments as well; so let us investigate those to see what is possible.” I made three telephone calls to specialists in the field to alert them to the lab results and to get consultations for new options.
The calm mind also focused on the present. “Today, I feel very good. My stamina and general sense of physical well-being is 100%; recovery from surgery has gone perfectly. God has me busy with His Work. My focus has been on my work for God, and my occasional prompting to the medical professionals to ensure they stay on top of my situation. God knows I need more time to complete what I want to finish for Mother’s work and my own, and to serve those who are striving for realization. He knows that my will is surrendered to His will in all matters, but He also knows my preferences.
“He also knows your prayers on my behalf—in that I am content. I think of nothing but perfect health; I do all in my power to promote a healthy body, mind and spirit in all the ways He directs me—in this I am content. God knows the load He has given to me; He gives me the strength to carry it—in this I am content. I live in a human body that has limitations, and He makes me know that I also live in Him, and that has no limitations—and in that I am also content. In the end, He will decide, moment to moment, what His will is for me, and whether He decides it is a one or a zero—I am content.”
Note: Pictures from Glacier National Park. If you would like to see pictures we took on our pilgrimage to one of Nature’s great cathedrals, you may use this link:
https://photos.dropbox.com/app/album/qmVtNHu10Ext5mP