WHAT THE SAINT SAID “Come here,” she said, “Sit down.” He knelt beside her and she leaned close. “No amount of medicine in the world will cure people’s sickness. People are sick because they are not following their dharma. You must help them find their dreams.”
She was Ama–the hugging saint, absolutely, completely dedicated and called to serve and be of service in loving kindess to the world. He was Shiva–my friend and Ayur Vedic doctor. He had been to see her to ask her advice. Things weren’t happening the way he’d hoped. All he wanted to do was to help the world be truly, ultimately healthy–why were there so many roadblocks right now? He was hoping for encouragement, guidance, inspiration. He got it.
Dharma: 1. Essential quality or character, as of the cosmos or one’s own nature. 2. The doctrine or teaching of the Buddha 3. That which upholds or supports. Law or Natural Law
“So Lindsey,” he looked at me with his great big grin, “What is your dream?” “I know it,” I answered, “And I’m living it more and more every day.” The fact that my health, wellness, and happiness continue to grow in leaps and bounds isn’t coincidental.
CLICHES AND MATTERS OF THE HEART Talking about following our hearts can seem cliche. It’s used so often in pop psychology, it’s almost become trite. We skim over it, dismiss its power. But holisitic health practitioners like Shiva are learning, and sharing, that realizing our essential quality or character–that which upholds and supports us and is as much a part of our natural selves as our breath–is essential to our health and happiness. Living our dharma, our deepest truest dreams for ourselves, isn’t self-centred. It’s the most useful gift we can give to the world.
Because we are born with these dreams, these passions, these talents or drive to pursue them, for a reason. It might not be the reason we first think of. But if we stick it out, and keep on following our heart, we’ll eventually find out why and what we’re meant to do. And that calling will be more fulfilling, more radiant, more beneficial for the world, than anything we could have come up with on our own.
So if you went to see Shiva for a first-time appointment to talk about your health, one of the first questions he’d ask you is this: “What is your dream?”
