The Search For Enlightenment

The morning had started so well, that pesky virus that the boss had brought into the office had appeared to have been defeated and I was feeling great. My morning auto chant had been followed by a short phone call to Bumble and all was right with the world.

But as the day wore on I started feeling sniffy and my throat was getting sore again, curse you pesky virus. It was clear that the infection had just taken the morning off but was now back with a vengeance, just in time for my annual appraisal.

So the boss and I coughed and sniffed our way through, what turned out to be a rather positive, dissection of my last twelve month’s of effort. It looks as though my bonus will fall well short of that of the bankers, so short in fact, that it will be non-existent, but times are tight.

By the time it came to wend our way home, I was feeling hot and cold, had a runny nose and just felt like going straight to bed, so I did. But by nine, I was wide awake and needed to take the fight to these invaders. So I put on some warm clothing, had a hot drink, and settled down in front of my Gohonzon.

Who knows what the neighbours thought, because I’m usually quite quiet when I chant, but tonight I let rip and kept it going and going. With my hands pressed together against my chest, I could feel the vibrations coming from my solar plexus and that’s always a good sign.

After forty minutes of chanting, my nose had stopped running, my temperature felt normal and most surprising, my sore throat has gone. Now I’m not claiming any mythical healing powers for chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, but my life-energy was definitely on the up.

All I know is, that chanting works for me. Whether I’m feeling down, or stressed, or in this case, a bit sick, it works. It’s actually a pretty good work out if you do it with some gusto, a bit like a gentle jog or a bike ride, nothing too strenuous. But it allows me to focus on my self-awareness and to let whatever is ailing me drift off into the background.

So next time to get the sniffles, forget the Night Nurse, the Beecham’s or the paracetamol, give yourself a huge dose of extra strength NMRK and feel better instantly.