Art of Living TRUE STORY

The doctor struggled to tell me the ‘bad news’, but I remained calm and very grounded. I recall spending my birthday thinking where and how will I be next year? It was my second time diagnosed with cancer. The first time was back in 2010 with Melanoma, after a small surgery with local anesthesia, no further treatment was needed. This alone taught me that life can be challenging; made up of ups and downs, and when we fall into a problem, we have to stand up again. We have to face it, learn from it, and keep moving. Beating Breast Cancer would be one more challenge, and a great learning process in my life. I guess the combination of my job together with my spiritual journey, generated the strength needed to face those kind of battles without fear. Being a nurse helps me to understand the fragile nature of the human body and that cancer, is a possibility for anyone. The lumpectomy went well, without complications, Living OF Art and I came back I felt free of the idea that I have to home the same day. I accepted immediately the idea

My name is Kamala, and in May 2019, I was informed by the look beautiful to the eyes of others of radiotherapy, but I was reluctant to have chemotherapy due to the aggressive nature of the treatment, as well as all the unpleasant sideeffects. I live a very holistic lifestyle based on yogic principles, meditation, a vegan diet, and natural therapies to bring back the balance. I was concerned that my body wouldn’t be dealing well with those chemicals. doctor that I possibly had Breast Cancer based on the result of a routine mammogram. The biopsy was done the following month, and confirmed that I had left BC, initially grade 2 and the next step would be surgery – But after surgery, the results confirmed a very aggressive type of cancer – grade 3… 26 BLUSH | WINTER 2020 Kamala sevenstarmedia.co.uk

Art of living BLUSH | WINTER 2020 27 BLUSH | LEISURE & LIFESTYLE Then I came to the realisation that the bigger enemy was inside of me – poisoning me even more – my body had to be stopped! I accepted to go along with the treatment to fight this battle. I felt like a newborn baby during chemotherapy, because all my cells were renewing. The symptoms were controlled with medication and I never felt bad about my image. Before the hair fell out, I shaved my head and started looking at myself as a different kind of beauty. I never rejected my image, not even when the eyelashes and eyebrows were falling out. I felt free of the idea that I have to look beautiful to the eyes of others. I refused to wear wigs or make-up or false eyelashes – although I understand the reasons why this may be important or helpful to others going through treatment. I wanted to be myself – the way I was, and still I am! Currently, I’m on Herceptin Intravenous till next January… so it is a long run of recovery. And sending love to myself has been a very important part of my treatment. Coincidently, when I did radiotherapy, they took me inside of a room called Venus (the planet of Love), this was a sign for me. Nothing is forever, everything is a cycle, and if there is a beginning, there is also an end. Living means you go with the flow, accepting whatever comes in your life – even if it’s difficult – as a positive experience. Trying to learn from everything, but not falling into drama of it all. Surviving is different to living; as we are hanging onto the problems, stressed, living in fear, not aware of the beauty of existence. It’s wrong when people think that life should be made only of good things – How can we learn then from just one side? Experiences like this one for myself can be seen as good, because they help us as souls to elevate towards an inner journey that is needed to grow as spiritual beings. Faith and love are two important ingredients to take along the journey, because they will make us see the light when crossing through the tunnel. Paramahamsa Vishwananda says, “-people like to hang onto their problems and onto their worries. Whenever a problem arises, the solution is also there, but mankind usually focus on the problem rather than the solution”. The teachings of my spiritual master Paramahamsa Vishwananda and the path of kriya yoga, gave me the acceptance, the inner strength and the equanimity needed in this situation. “Don’t hang on to negative things in life,” he says. “-They are part of life! You have to go through it! But know that in every moment, God is next to you. Develop this relationship! Love Him! Trust Him! … Changes start now, when you are aware of yourself, and when you are aware of how you are looking at things… Let the love awaken inside of you and let it grow…” I reflected about myself and I came across a question that I needed to find the answer to — For the second time in my life, my body was working against me and going into a process of self-destruction, so what could I do to help me? I realised that I was always looking for perfection, and very judgmental and negative about myself – not loving ‘me’ enough. I was very strict with myself. I understood that my body was not working against me, but actually being a reflection of all my thoughts. The mind is so powerful, whatever you think creates a certain kind of energy that can be constructive or destructive. Love is our natural state. The cancer turned into a good experience, showing me how to live my life better, to love myself more and to be less judgmental about me. I decided not to cry at my own misery, but to change instead; to forgive me, to love me and to pay more attention to my thoughts. As I learned from my master, “whatever you do with love will always be perfect”. From your experience and understanding can you outline the difference between living and surviving? How will your personal definition support your recovery process? sadhana.bhaktimarga.org/atmakriya-yoga Being a nurse helps me to understand the fragile nature of the human body sevenstarmedia.co.uk