Page 381 - WLMIG_6132004.indd

that your physical body won’t allow you to be as active as you were?” Jack replied, “Of course, I would like to have the strength to carry out activities like I previously did. However, be careful not to dip your hand in the stream of karma. Don’t get aached to what happens in the outer world. Everything in the outer world passes; it has no lasting meaning. This illness is just another experience that Swami is giving me, and it is important not to get aached or reactive to it.” What a powerful statement about devotion and detachment: not just the words, but also Jack’s living example. Jack’s thoughts, words, and deeds were one with Swami’s teachings.
Jack was sent home with instructions to see his personal physician for follow-up care. The diagnosis was lymphoma and the prognosis for a person of his age and level of disease was not good. Aer talking with an expert and understanding the statistics, Jack chose not to take chemotherapy or other treatments that would weaken him. He would place himself in Swami’s hands. He did not fear death.
Even though I have faith that Swami is omnipresent and omniscient, I sent a note to Swami about Jack’s diagnosis and prospects for recovery. Meanwhile, Jack sent a note indicating that he placed himself totally in Swami’s hands. At about the same time, I heard from people at the ashram that Swami had already known about Dr. Hislop’s condition, and he had told some of the older devotees that Dr. Hislop would have no pain throughout his illness. He also mentioned that Jack was a good devotee who had been in unbroken meditation on Swami for the past 15 years.
Jack was happy to hear of Swami’s comments. Not so surprising, throughout Jack’s struggle with illness, he did not have pain, which is highly unusual for this type of cancer.
The devotees in the area provided loving care and support. Jack was visited daily and, when he felt strong enough, was taken out for a walk or a meal. One devotee became his personal
381