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Are You A Doctor?
by John C. Kimbrough
"Are you a Doctor?"
The question surprised me.
I was walking along a dirt road in Nepal.
An older man on the side of the road came up to me and asked me this. Perhaps he
was asking every Westerner who walked by that day, though I had the feeling that
there were not many Westerners walking down that road on a daily basis.
I told him that I was not a doctor, but did inquire about what his problem was.
There was some pain in his back. I could not tell if it was a constant, internal
pain, which could be something serious or just something in the musculoskeletal system
that was causing an uncomfortable strain or stiffness.
The only feedback that I could give him was to show him a simple two-posture sequence
of Hatha Yoga, consisting of a standing forward bend and a standing spinal twist.
I figured that this would release some physical tension and also get his mind a bit
more focused, as it would be freer from the limitations and imbalances of the body.
My feeling was that he could not see how this might help him, but he seemed to be
appreciative of my effort and taking the time to assist him.
Discomfort and worry
Many of us have symptoms that cause us discomfort and worry. Usually we are most
aware of physical symptoms, ignoring mental and emotional symptoms that also may
compromise our ability to be a light unto ourselves and others.
We just want the symptom alleviated so we can go back to our old habits and behaviors,
without looking at the habits and behaviors with any degree of wisdom as to their
skillfulness or wholesomeness.
This lack of mindfulness and discipline will just bring about the same symptom or
create a new symptom to deal with at a later date. Many of us are not mindful enough
to see the need and benefits of bringing about a deeper change to their being, in
their behaviors, habits, routines, and actions.
We can be a spiritual doctor to ourselves and others.
We can be a doctor to ourselves when we are mindful of our own problems and we have
the understanding of the treatments available.
We look at the teachings of Yoga and Buddhism and the practices that make them up
as being a treatment. We can administer them to ourselves once we know and understand
them.
The whole person
The teachings form a treatment in that they concentrate on the whole person and his
or her being and the causes of the problems, which are many times within our consciousness.
Our consciousness sometimes consists of confusion, conflicting ideas and desires,
emotions, and a lack of mindfulness of something better. There is this tendency for
us to attach to these states of consciousness, with no reflection as to whether they
are wholesome or not.
I frequently meet people who defend and justify their anger, prejudices, judgments
and hatred. They have stopped seeing a bigger picture, the conditioning that we are
all exposed to, the suffering that we all experience.
We have to be exposed to teachings in order to cultivate a knowledge of them and
their understanding, so we can use them to treat ourselves. We can be exposed to
them through reading, chatting with someone who is also on the path, watching videos,
and visiting teachers and retreats, meditation centers and Ashrams.
Yoga and Buddhism are known to be effective treatments to get us to a better way
of being.
Paths of living
Interestingly, three paths of living, Christianity, Buddhism and Yoga put forth similar
guidelines for living. They talk about how we work on ourselves before we start to
work with others.
This experience of working on ourselves is a lifelong process. It does not stop because
one becomes a teacher of Yoga, or has been practicing for a certain number of years,
or one sits in meditation for a certain number of hours each day. It is ongoing throughout
life.
Along the way, we may come to a point where we can assist others in their search
for a better way to live. This is also an ongoing process.
How we assist another this year may differ from how we assisted them a year ago --
and how we might assist them in a year from now. Our own path and practice assists
us in learning how to assist others in the most appropriate way.
So, while we are treating ourselves, we can assist others.
How can we do this? We can be a doctor to others when we take the time to listen
to what they say and what they feel with an open heart and mind. We do not necessarily
have to give them an answer or give them advice, but instead, help them understand
what is involved so that they can make a wise decision on their own.
This requires a combination of encouragement and questioning. Judgments and criticisms
about another's attitudes and behaviors are not always the best way to proceed, as
an individual may get defensive and angry.
We can gently point them in a direction, to a path and practice that may assist them.
I have found that women will be open to reading books and writings by other women
who have had similar experiences and found something worthwhile through the practice
of a spiritual path. It certainly seems that a number of women are finding something
in Yoga and Buddhism that brings them an inner strength and wisdom.
Individuals can be open to teachings when they are presented to them in a non-threatening
and non-aggressive way.
Yoga and Buddhism do not judge us as being sinners or sinful, but instead make us
aware that some of our mental and physical actions may be compromising our ability
to live the kind of life that we would like to live.
They address issues of thought, speech, action and livelihood in ways that are easy
to understand.
They offer a treatment for dealing with those uncomfortable aspects of our being
that we would like to be more aware of and deal with in a successful manner.
They help us doctor ourselves and others with success.
John C. Kimbrough lives in Bangkok, Thailand, where he teaches Yoga, Buddhism
and English. He has lived in Asia for 17 years. He has written a small manual on
Yoga, entitled "Yoga is for Better health and Living: An Introduction to the
Path and Practice of Yoga." This manual is free to those who are interested
in it. Ask for it by e-mail at johnckimbrough@yahoo.com. Because of the large volume
of requests, there may be up to a two-week period before you receive it.
Copyright © 2003 John C. Kimbrough
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DEC
2003
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