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Our series on “Zazen in the Hospital” continues with today’s adventure in my “soon turning 50” routine medical check up … the dreaded:
A little known fact is that the Buddha himself had a “personal physician” (Dr. Jivaka), and the odd middle-aged tummy troubles . ..
The turning point in Jivaka’s life came when Ananda cameto fetch him to treat the Buddha who suffered from “blocked intestines”(constipation?).When Jivaka saw the condition of the patient, itoccurred to him he might not survive a strong purgative. He then hadfat rubbed into the Buddha’s body and gave him a handful of lotuses toinhale the essence emanating from the flowers. JÄ«vaka was away when themild purgative was later administered to the patient, and he suddenlyremembered that he had omitted to ask him to bathe in warm water tocomplete the cure process. The Buddha, it is said, read his thoughtsand bathed as required.( Vin.i.279f; DhA. ii.164f).
(Later Buddhists often tried to discount the fact that the Buddha sometimes got sick in the old stories, by saying that he only was pretending as a way to teach or convert others to the Dharma; and it was infact impossible for him to experience pain. But I don’t know about that … I rather like the image of a very human “Buddha” who would sometimes moan and groan with a bad stomach or backache.)
But, still, I found today’s procedure sometimes a bit painful at moments (just a little … don’t put off getting one), and a tad scary too when thoughts of “the worst” would briefly come into mind … But that is just human …
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posted July 9, 2009 at 4:04 pm
I think zazen is good medicine.
posted July 10, 2009 at 1:51 am
Hi, Jundo -
Hope everything “came out OK”. (& glad we get a light anesthesia here in the States!)
Gassho
posted July 10, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Har har. For those with PTSD, this subject is not humorous.
posted July 12, 2009 at 9:43 am
I had a colonoscopy as well. Wasn’t too bad. Actual procedure was no big deal at all. The prep is annoying. I used to do a lot of Hatha Yoga practice, including regular enemas. For anyone who has done enemas or colonics, really shouldn’t be that much worse…
There are tons of preventive things folks can do to protect their digestive health…
quick note, some natural medicine digestive health websites:
[LINKS REMOVED FOR EDITORIAL POLICY]
gassho
posted July 13, 2009 at 11:52 pm
I had my first colonoscopy on my 50th birthday. The doctor came saying loudly ” I got the new Steely Dan CD.” let me tell you you want a happy doctor for that procedure. Didn’t feel a thing and woke up with no pain.
posted July 21, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Please do not take it for granted that everyone who wants to be responsible will just go out and get one….about fifty percent of Americans do not have health insurance and many of us cannot afford to pay cash for a colonscopy. I have very high risk factors but won’t be able to get one due to the cost.I have a job, it’s actually in the health care industry…but no health insurance. This is just one of the ways corporate health care works…employ a goodly number of contract employees.