Two similar human beings:
In the 2010 winter Olympics, we saw an eye-opening phenomenon in Vancouver. It is
about Mao Asada of Japan and Kim Yuna of the Republic of Korea. They were surprisingly close together in age, and much alike in skills and performances.
The scene of the two embracing each other on the dais (winners’ stand) touched me greatly. They both looked more impressive to me there than when they were competing on the ice. In describing her experience, Kim said: “I know what is happening in myself at each moment. Mao and I are not simple competitors. We are two female figure skaters who happen to be walking on the same course of life.” Kim’s words came from her compassion and sympathy.
Spiritual ‘spring actions”:
When we treat our patients, people sometimes commit the mistake of considering us to be the savior and the patient to be the saved. Actually, we often see patients to whom we are induced to respect and admire. When things are going well, we all sustain confidence in ourselves, but once something unfortunate happens (including sickness) are we all able to handle ourselves with courage? That is a time when spiritual spring power is demanded. Those who are equipped with strong “spring power,” will be able to handle themselves well and even feel like helping those in similar situations.
The most elderly patient I’m now treating:
She turned 101 years of age this month (男性ならばhe) and is being rehabilitated after suffering injuries in the left hand and thigh. When she was eating, I asked if she liked her meal. She said yes with a smile. She appeared to be in good health and mood. She looked determined not to give much trouble to others. At 101, her spiritual “spring” was strong and stout.
Encouragement:
When facing a patient, words of encouragement are of the highest value. I always learn about this truth each time I meet a patient trying to overcome physical and mental difficulties. It is like sharpening an excellent sword. Words of encouragement are essential. Those who face patients must keep this in mind and keep offering encouraging words.
Back to Mao Asada, we remember what she said: “Gold is just another step above Silver.” Her eyes and mind were fixed on the next goal. This moved me and made me feel how serious she was making herself jump up to the next goal at Sochi.
“What I learned from horse riding”
I’m now practicing horse riding. I have been doing it for a couple of years at the suggestion of my teacher, who is an acupuncture and moxibustion specialist. Horse riding is an ideal way to cultivate one’s sense of balance because the body teｍperatures of a horse are just slightly higher than ours. A horse is a lovely animal, but for me touching a horse was a kind of challenge at first. It took time for me to get used to be comfortably alone with the horse with its long face and enormous eyes. One day, just before dinner time, the horse impatiently approached me from behind and gave me a bite. When I got near the horse a few days later, the usually obedient animal gave me a threatening look. A horse is a herbivorous tame animal. That may be the reason why it is quick to respond to our minds or spirits. As I fearfully passed nearby, the horse obviously saw through my mind. The horse knew that I was in fear of some sort. How sensitive it is!
“’Tsubo’ (specific points of our body) is very likely frightened”
Here I wish to write about things that occasionally happen to us while we try to give an acupuncture treatment to a patient lying on his/her stomach. Of course, the person being treated in the back but the needle makes the point respond the moment it is aimed at the specific point (tsubo). This occurs especially when the patient is mentally stressed and his/her “noxious air” is accumulated. In oriental medicine, the noxious air is called “Jaki.” When the abdomen is touched a ticklish sensation is felt even by adult patients. Being near such “patients” affects the person who is giving the therapy as well. Believe it or not, “Jaki” or noxious air fears the acupuncture needle and tries to avoid its influence. So, the most important thing in treating such a patient is to “arrest” the noxious air and keep it out of harm’s way. When the treatment is completed, the susceptibility disappears even to the surprise of the patient him/herself.
“The balance between the specific pressure point (tsubo) and the mental status of the patient”
The relationship between the specific pressure point and the patient’s mental condition is very close and mutually affective. In other words, if your mental status remains tensed up, the specific pressure point of the body fails to relax. On the other hand, however, if this condition is left as it is, it is likely to move in the opposite direction and suffers from lack of vigilance. This excessive slackness is regarded as a weakened vigilance. Being near such a person makes us feel as if our own energy is being sucked up by the patient. Such a relationship between normal vigilance and lack of it is in sharp contrast toward each other. Thus the delicate balance between the two is of utmost importance, because it directly relates to the balance of spiritual conditions. When this balance is lost the imbalance comes out in some form of physical symptom reflecting the oneness of mind and body. The manic-depressive psychosis, however, can be cured through acupuncture and moxibustion therapy. Examining the condition of the specific pressure point will help us to see if the therapy is working properly. Thus the mental status of the therapist is extremely important. If the mental status of the therapist loses proper balance, it can hardly expect to determine the mentality of the patient. Mr. Rempu Fujimoto, my master in oriental medicine, always tells us how important the therapist’s mental status is. For instance, if a thief happens to come across a small child almost at the point of falling into a deep well, the thief cannot help rescuing the kid. When a sudden pain occurs somewhere in our body, our hand moves to the point from where the pains seems to be coming. In like manner, when the therapist single-mindedly conducts the treatment for the patient, an incredible power comes out. What that “power” could be? It is nothing but the power of “Buddhahood” that is in all our lives. This truth is introduced in a publication written by the master himself: “The Secret of Acupuncture Moxibustion Treatment.” The book contains some philosophical truths.
Thus ceaseless efforts to accomplish perfect humanity on the part of the therapist is demanded. I myself have a long way to go! Whatever occurs in our minds, even if it remains unspoken, is conveyed to the patient transcending the distance that separates human beings. Oriental medicine is based on the philosophy which considers all human beings to be absolutely perfect.
At the end and the beginning of the outgoing and incoming years I could foster friendships with many people and enjoyed having dialogues with them. Dialogues give us opportunities to make friends. I was particularly inspired by one who is now engaged in research work in the United States specializing in the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Every time I see her, she moves me with her strong determination to work for the objective. Whenever we meet, I’m always struck with her words, especially related to US President Obama’s dedication to the establishment of a world where there are no nuclear weapons.
The Scale of Dreams:
Although she and I work in two different fields, we always agree that mutual trust in human beings should underlie all activities. It rises from constructive dialogue. I respect those who understand the value of dialogue, because it is through dialogue that genuine trust is born. Dialogue helps us discover many things that we have been ignorant of in the past. Dialogue leads to mutual empathy. True and effective therapies are born out of it. In the 21-century medicine, there will be no treatment that depends only on medical technologies alone. It is a century in which human life itself is placed at the center. Medicine is neither for those who give treatment nor for those who get treated. It is much less for money. I’m wondering what kind of patients I will face this year. The life value of each human being is unfathomable. An acupuncture-moxibustion therapist should be equipped with the power to bring out the healing power of the patient him/herself. Genuine “Respect” of the life of each patient is essential. In this sense, dialogue is the noblest kind of activities allowed only for human beings.
Therapy through dialogue:
In oriental medicine, mind and body of human beings are considered inseparable. By understanding what is going on in the mind of the patient the therapist can correctly guess the environment in which the patient lives. Correctly guessing the relationship between cause and effect leads us to the core of the physical problem. Truly effective treatment of the disease is therefore impossible unless the therapist is able to carry out effective dialogue with the patient. I am reminded of what the former president of Montreal University of Canada once said: “The dialogue between the doctor and the patient brings out the curing power of both. But unfortunately, in the field of today’s medicine the central position is given to medical instruments to the exclusion of the relations between the doctor and the patient as human beings.” Sarcastic confusion of the computer mouse and the stethoscope are often taken up as an ironic instance.
Even among Western medicine specialists, the importance of the trust between the patient and doctor is increasingly emphasized. As I said, I’m now thinking of the patients whom I am going to treat this year. The life power of each individual is “unfathomable.” An acupuncture-moxibustion specialist must respectfully understand this relationship, I believe.
Just in front of me I see a lovely mug cup. It was presented to me by a friend on my birthday in October this year. For some reason, my birthday is rather hard to remember, but this friend of mine had never forgot to send me her friendly words on each of my birthdays for as long as 15 years!
But a month and a half after she presented the mug cup to me, she passed away. It occurred on the morning of December 10th. She was still in her 40s. The fatal illness was hepatic cirrhosis that had developed from malignant lymphangioma
Just around the time that the mug cup arrived, she was permitted to leave the hospital out of her doctor’s consideration to allow her an opportunity to spend her short remaining life with her beloved family members at home.
The letter from her that accompanied the mug cup said, “I’m suffering from malignant lymphangioma but I’m fine. I’m sure I’ll get well soon.” It was hard to believe that
the letter was from a person who was expected to live only a little more time. She was no longer able to walk normally. I’m sure she wanted to tell me about her sickness.
She had always dedicated her time and thought to others. She was really a most considerate individual. How much she thought of others is just amazing and unbelievable.
During a period we kept exchanging letters successively, she sent me some self-addressed and stamped envelopes and some postcards. This helped me save my time a lot. She wanted to help me. Meanwhile, the malignant lymphangioma had spread to most parts of her body. Major blood vomiting occurred in January and in July. The second case was far more serious. To her sister who came to help, she said, “Don’t tell Mom about this. She’ll be shocked.” So saying she tried to cover the evidence of the blood.
When I visited her just a week before her death, I was shocked at the change of her appearance. Death was on her face, but she looked pleased with the gift I brought to her. Patting it dotingly with a smile, she thanked me profusely. It was our last friendly chatting. As I was about to leave, she suddenly began to cry. She had never shown such an honest expression of her emotion even to her close family members. In my mind I said, “You’ve done really well with courage,” and touched her forehead and cheeks for a while. When her sister came into the room, she changed her expression abruptly and contentedly said, “When I get well, I’m gonna come to your acupuncture office.” I regretted not having advised acupuncture earlier. She ended her life peacefully a short time later, after thus dedicating her thought to the benefit of other people.
(Eternal life)
I once heard that people die and leave his world, but their lives continue to live eternally, melting into the universe, but they never mingle with the lives of other people. It is said that the thoughts we entertain and things we do during our lifetime remain the basis of our lives forever. During the course of this life process, a turn of fate occurs that takes us back into this world again, in the same state as in the previous lives. There are some people who say one’s life occurs only once and death means an absolute end. I do not agree. There is no end in our life, and that is why we try to improve ourselves while we live.
I’ll keep using the mug cup she presented to me and treasure it as a constant reminder of what she taught me while she was alive. She taught me what thinking of others really means.
(Gorgeous sunshine of the setting sun)
It is already five years since my mother passed away on November 26th.
She was a very strict person, I was seldom commended by her for
anything I did. But she gave me words of strong encouragement just before
she died: “You will certainly become a splendid physician, far better than me.”
The image of the setting sun over Mt. Rokko that I saw from my 17th floor apartment right after I saw her off on her eternal trip still vividly remains
in my mind.
It was as if the sunshine was applauding her great victory of accomplishing
50 years as a practitioner of acupuncture and moxibustion. It was indeed
a marvelous evening sun. While she was living, she often said: “We all die
in the same way as we have lived.” Her life and the image of that great evening sun are superimposed on each other in my heart and mind. Thus I cannot help applauding her for the splendid way she went.
(Death means a temporary rest)
I have witnessed quite a few cases of death after my mother passed away.
All of them went like a senset seeking a rest after the curtain fell on their lives
What is the objective of dying? I once heard someone equating it to the process of recharging our energy, meaning we rise again like a glorious sun the next morning.
(A truth endorsed by science)
A certain newspaper once carried an article on the origin of life: The various
kinds of life we see today descend from one life that existed at the beginning, which diversified into what we see today. Science thus confirms that no living things can avoid death. Dr. Fukuoka, a molecular biologist, says that science has proven the grand rule of transmigration, which means every living thing exists depending on mutual help. Thus, the existence of every living thing keeps repeating life and death. Everything owes its life for its existence. This is the core of oriental thought. And it has been proven by science!
(Exquisite balance)
This truth can be witnessed in the life of every human being.
It was once said by a noted teacher that we all have within ourselves a great pharmaceutical factory. How true it is! It means our natural healing power. Acupuncture is the best way to help maximize this power.
Recently I was taken to an institution where they help patients of cerebral infarction with partial paralysis of their bodies. At the facilities I noticed how they are helping the patients redevelop their own physical power or abilities in the midst of various “barriers” such as chests of drawers of different heights, which was evidence of how much effort was being made there to help the patients enjoy improving their sense for living in given environments. The same applies to our physical problems. Depending solely on medicines alone for curing them is the surest ways to lose our “natural healing power.”
(The rhythm of the universe equals mercy)
In any case, it seems to me that the development of science is proving the mysterious value of oriental medicine. Mr. Kazuo Murakami, a biologist of world-wide reputation, expresses his wonder at the mysterious function of life, which he called “something great.” In my humble opinion, this “something” means “mercy” in Buddhist terms. Loving others, grieving at the misfortune of others, and many other feelings of compassion. They all come from the “rhythm” of the universe. It is no hyperbole to say that our way of living can improve only when it is based on this rhythm of the universe. It leads us to prepare for out next life as we close our life as if in the great evening sunshine I saw at my mother’s death.
The 5th anniversary of her death makes me think about many things. My heart is full of gratitude.
