SOULBATH PEACE FOUNDATION CELEBRATES THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS
WITH TERMINALLY ILL CANCER PATIENTS
(KARUNASHRAYA is a home and center for the care of the terminally ill cancer patients.
A Project of - The Indian Cancer Society
Soulbath Peace Foundation's, "RAJ BHOWMIK-BTS DREAM" Volunteers celebrated Christmas in 2009, with patients at 'Karunashraya' – An home for terminally ill cancer patients.
Karunashraya means an Abode of Peace – At a time when cure ends, one needs a space for care. This is the philosophy at Karunashraya where care is provided absolutely free in this calm and serene environment.
Our Founder, Sri Raj Bhowmik says - "My whole effort is to bring a new consciousness to people's lives. A consciousness with which they will decide to put a new found awareness in every step that they take in whatever they do in life. These steps multiplied will lead the way towards the beginning of a new era filled with love, joy and peace for oneself and for the global society."
Under the guidance of Sri Raj Bhowmik, SPF’s philosophy has always been to affirm Life - that is conscious and aware. To take this forward in a place where care and hope begins when cure ends, SPF reached out to make the transition on this special day to brighten up for the patients and their families by silent yet intense and engaging interactions.
Karunashraya means an Abode of Peace – At a time when cure ends, one needs a space for care. This is the philosophy at Karunashraya where care is provided absolutely free in this calm and serene environment.
Our Founder, Sri Raj Bhowmik says - "My whole effort is to bring a new consciousness to people's lives. A consciousness with which they will decide to put a new found awareness in every step that they take in whatever they do in life. These steps multiplied will lead the way towards the beginning of a new era filled with love, joy and peace for oneself and for the global society."
Under the guidance of Sri Raj Bhowmik, SPF’s philosophy has always been to affirm Life - that is conscious and aware. To take this forward in a place where care and hope begins when cure ends, SPF reached out to make the transition on this special day to brighten up for the patients and their families by silent yet intense and engaging interactions.
We saw about 35 patients in the different wards, had conversations with them that drew their attention back towards living a life that was normal…normal, hopeful emotionally …and something that they are now more hopeful about.
It was beautiful to see a human side in Meena Kumari (patient) who aspired for a for a haircut & also participated in giving hope towards a discussion that drew her attention.
Thaiyamma today lives in the ward, not visited by her family and cries every time she thinks about them but was happy as she saw her new- found son in SPF Volunteer, -Udaiy, and wanted to have a cake cutting ceremony to celebrate it.
It was beautiful to see a human side in Meena Kumari (patient) who aspired for a for a haircut & also participated in giving hope towards a discussion that drew her attention.
Thaiyamma today lives in the ward, not visited by her family and cries every time she thinks about them but was happy as she saw her new- found son in SPF Volunteer, -Udaiy, and wanted to have a cake cutting ceremony to celebrate it.
The
When pain is unbearable, one begins to behave like a child- seeking attention. Here in terminally ill cancer patients this pain is indeed unbearable. Yet amidst this, it was beautiful to see that if that part in the individual is addressed by helping them make their bed, or being with them or just talking to them about simple things, their faces would light up and it would be brighter around.
These are memories that are cherished by us because they are intense moments – some of silence, some laughter, some hope and above all to look forward in life together from here.
In life when we are “busy” living life, we create an environment around us where we become indispensable in the roles that we play. At Karunashraya, since death is knocking so close there were some who had deeply accepted their state and others yet fighting to understand that we come as puppets to play our role. The “Chief Referee” will blow the whistle and when, that we do not know. But at all times, accepting any situation in life and playing the essence well for ourselves and others remains etched in our hearts from this experience. We all come from a Source that is the same and on the Earth we have a rent to pay.
Some of us are aware that this rent is for everybody’s existence and some do pay it without fail. But some people forget that this Earth is a journey through transition and hold on and hold back. Letting go and leaving the situation becomes tough when the ‘Chief Referee’ blows the whistle. And then there is pain… a pain that manifests as disease…. pain that is unbearable.
So what can we do Now?
Just as what Sri Raj Bhowmik says, 'To understand, respect and accept that this is a transition. We need to play our best shots in this game of Life – to let go and flow….Life is a journey….there are no destinations….there are only milestones on our path telling us where we are headed.'
So many miss seeing! So many miss being aware!
These are memories that are cherished by us because they are intense moments – some of silence, some laughter, some hope and above all to look forward in life together from here.
In life when we are “busy” living life, we create an environment around us where we become indispensable in the roles that we play. At Karunashraya, since death is knocking so close there were some who had deeply accepted their state and others yet fighting to understand that we come as puppets to play our role. The “Chief Referee” will blow the whistle and when, that we do not know. But at all times, accepting any situation in life and playing the essence well for ourselves and others remains etched in our hearts from this experience. We all come from a Source that is the same and on the Earth we have a rent to pay.
Some of us are aware that this rent is for everybody’s existence and some do pay it without fail. But some people forget that this Earth is a journey through transition and hold on and hold back. Letting go and leaving the situation becomes tough when the ‘Chief Referee’ blows the whistle. And then there is pain… a pain that manifests as disease…. pain that is unbearable.
So what can we do Now?
Just as what Sri Raj Bhowmik says, 'To understand, respect and accept that this is a transition. We need to play our best shots in this game of Life – to let go and flow….Life is a journey….there are no destinations….there are only milestones on our path telling us where we are headed.'
So many miss seeing! So many miss being aware!
Karunashraya reminded us all about a big milestone of death and how this can be crossed through dignity, respect, grace and above all, -LOVE.
I will end this article with one of my favorite poem by Sri Raj Bhowmik-
The Rain and the Thunderstorm,
Are here to ‘come’
You and Me,
Are here to ‘go’.
In this intrinsic flow
Kept alive by the Almighty,
I vow to thee-
In all the births
Wherever thou should be,
With all the Rains and all the Thunderstorms
I will without fail,
Bring myself to thee.
Because wherever thou art –
That is my rain home to me.
- Sri Raj Bhowmik
I will end this article with one of my favorite poem by Sri Raj Bhowmik-
The Rain and the Thunderstorm,
Are here to ‘come’
You and Me,
Are here to ‘go’.
In this intrinsic flow
Kept alive by the Almighty,
I vow to thee-
In all the births
Wherever thou should be,
With all the Rains and all the Thunderstorms
I will without fail,
Bring myself to thee.
Because wherever thou art –
That is my rain home to me.
- Sri Raj Bhowmik
(The Caregivers and SPF Volunteer's at Karunashraya)
SOULBATH PEACE FOUNDATION VOLUNTEERS EXPERIENCE TESTIMONIALS
Dr. Shantu, (SAHHEAL Healing Consultant & HEAD SAHHEAL LEARNING STUDIOS, INDIA)
My experience at Karunashraya on Christmas was indeed very special. It was very different being with someone I didn’t know, to strike this beautiful conversation about herself, participating with her in her living that life in her way and then seeing her respond from an empowered position about the same pain that she was finding it difficult to bear. This was my experience with Latha. She taught me so much about my own self that even words cannot describe. Seeing all of us bonding together as SAHHEAL Healing Consultants doing our best jobs and feeling a difference in their own existence after a meaningful conversation to see their understanding of life change made me feel humble about Life. Life, our biggest teacher & has innumerable ways to help us learn our lesson and reach our goal. I am thankful to Existence, to allow me to be with so many of my fellow beings and play a direct role in their life ; to learn something about my own self. This experience makes me more loving towards others and myself.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sumati (SAHHEAL Healing Consultant, SALON OWNER, Hair & image Specialist, Bangalore)
All that everyone needs is love, care and attention through our loving words, smile & touch. What I understand is that everyone wants joy. No one wants to be in Pain & they want to live longer to complete everything they are thinking of (or dreaming). They believe that death is painful. They are not aware that they have been here for a long time and there is in some a complete denial of the disease. As a SAHHEAL Healing Consultant, we could make them understand that death is not painful. We only shift bodies and it can be painless. I would want to visit this place regularly and do some work silently. It would surely help our friends here to accept and move towards a peaceful and silent death that is empowering.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vijaya (SAHHEAL Healing Consultant, Asst. Professor in Clinical research)
This was my first visit as a SAHHEAL Healing Consultant that really touched my heart’s depths. I could meet many people but got in touch with a couple of them. I spent some time with hem and understood their life stories. I could really see that in their entire life story, the role they were playing was enormous but their own existence was no where. They identify themselves with their children and their family but no identity to their inner self. The learning was enormous “People even in deepest pain and at a point where life is ending are still entangled in bondage, but fail to find love which they have always sought for. Just by being there, sharing a smile, giving a hug, listening to them we can make a difference because that’s all one needs in the deepest pain & end stages of life. The simplest action of being compassionate and giving love can touch many lives & make a difference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Udaiy (SAHHEAL Healing Consultant, Project Manager, IBM)
Life if taken as an object is the same filled with emotions at any stage of life. The true needs of the dominating emotions at the present needs to be addressed to bring happiness & calm in the mind. Every emotion needs to be attended with love and true understanding in the form of feelings & attention at the basic level. Life and death are at its place; mind and its present feeling are at its place wanting to be addressed. There is a lot of pain and sadness in the minds of patients and their family members. All these can and need to be addressed with love and understood by keeping the Death at its place. All their emotions need attention, love and understanding.
My experience at Karunashraya on Christmas was indeed very special. It was very different being with someone I didn’t know, to strike this beautiful conversation about herself, participating with her in her living that life in her way and then seeing her respond from an empowered position about the same pain that she was finding it difficult to bear. This was my experience with Latha. She taught me so much about my own self that even words cannot describe. Seeing all of us bonding together as SAHHEAL Healing Consultants doing our best jobs and feeling a difference in their own existence after a meaningful conversation to see their understanding of life change made me feel humble about Life. Life, our biggest teacher & has innumerable ways to help us learn our lesson and reach our goal. I am thankful to Existence, to allow me to be with so many of my fellow beings and play a direct role in their life ; to learn something about my own self. This experience makes me more loving towards others and myself.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sumati (SAHHEAL Healing Consultant, SALON OWNER, Hair & image Specialist, Bangalore)
All that everyone needs is love, care and attention through our loving words, smile & touch. What I understand is that everyone wants joy. No one wants to be in Pain & they want to live longer to complete everything they are thinking of (or dreaming). They believe that death is painful. They are not aware that they have been here for a long time and there is in some a complete denial of the disease. As a SAHHEAL Healing Consultant, we could make them understand that death is not painful. We only shift bodies and it can be painless. I would want to visit this place regularly and do some work silently. It would surely help our friends here to accept and move towards a peaceful and silent death that is empowering.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vijaya (SAHHEAL Healing Consultant, Asst. Professor in Clinical research)
This was my first visit as a SAHHEAL Healing Consultant that really touched my heart’s depths. I could meet many people but got in touch with a couple of them. I spent some time with hem and understood their life stories. I could really see that in their entire life story, the role they were playing was enormous but their own existence was no where. They identify themselves with their children and their family but no identity to their inner self. The learning was enormous “People even in deepest pain and at a point where life is ending are still entangled in bondage, but fail to find love which they have always sought for. Just by being there, sharing a smile, giving a hug, listening to them we can make a difference because that’s all one needs in the deepest pain & end stages of life. The simplest action of being compassionate and giving love can touch many lives & make a difference.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Udaiy (SAHHEAL Healing Consultant, Project Manager, IBM)
Life if taken as an object is the same filled with emotions at any stage of life. The true needs of the dominating emotions at the present needs to be addressed to bring happiness & calm in the mind. Every emotion needs to be attended with love and true understanding in the form of feelings & attention at the basic level. Life and death are at its place; mind and its present feeling are at its place wanting to be addressed. There is a lot of pain and sadness in the minds of patients and their family members. All these can and need to be addressed with love and understood by keeping the Death at its place. All their emotions need attention, love and understanding.