Vol. 34 No. 33 - I AM the Witness

Vol. 34 No. 33 - I AM the Witness - July 1, 1991

I AM the Witness

Dear Mother,

I want to tell you about my meeting with Gautama Buddha. It happened while I was working as a nurse.

I had been trying really hard to come to grips with the Five Dhyani Buddhas and to put the Teachings into action in my everyday life. I tried to make myself acutely aware so that I would notice each time I started to demonstrate one of the poisons–ignorance, anger, hate, pride, greed, envy or jealousy. I would try to catch myself and turn it into a virtue before it became a poison. It was like a spiritual game of tennis–return the serve, or get the ball (the virtue) over the net.

My job was on a busy medical unit looking after very sick people. A lot of them were also AIDS patients, many in the terminal stages. I admit that, prior to nursing these patients, I had prejudices. But I soon realized that it was not my job to judge. As a nurse, I had a duty to care for all patients equally according to their needs.

These patients needed practical love, divine love. Buddha and the Masters teach this. Love is the eternal panacea that heals all. Was I to be responsible for them passing from the screen of life without a cup of love or kindness being offered? No! Their suffering and pain was great. Many were angry with everyone. I learned a great lesson in humility.

I have always been reminded of a dictation by Gautama Buddha that I have read in the 1980 Pearls of Wisdom (twenty-three times!): “I Will Be in the Heart of the Little Child.” When I used to work as a nurse in England, I reminded myself of this when I picked up the little children and babies. I would think, “Here is the Buddha or the Christ. It is my job to protect that threefold flame and child, for here is Buddha smiling in my arms.” So what was the difference with adults? None, so I tried to treat each patient as the Buddha or the Christ.

I can honestly say that the task was not as easy as it sounds. I had more work on my unit than one person could possibly cope with, patients who in most cases were very sick, many of them cantankerous and difficult to deal with, let alone please. Often relatives could also be very demanding or critical, even as one tried one’s best, juggling one crisis after another, trying to get medicines given on time, start IVs, keep others on schedule and do all the observations needed as well as pour oil on troubled waters. Indeed, every day seemed a herculean task. Try keeping your cool amongst that lot!

Well, I thought I was doing quite well in learning my lessons. My pride “always goes before a fall” or enlightenment. One afternoon shift, I took report for my patient assignments. One of my patients, my colleague told me, was Mr. X, a very rich man. He was an old man in the twilight of his years and very sick. But typical of most rich people who have more than they need, he was grumpy and miserable. (Trust my luck to get him!)

I went about my work. When I came to Mr. X, I found that he was indeed a very sick man. His temperature was very low, his blood pressure was in his boots and his pulse was weak and slow. Didn’t look too hopeful. Due to his condition, he was being monitored frequently by state-of-the-art equipment, an electronic blood pressure machine and pulse recorder and electronic thermometer. As soon as I touched him, he growled angrily at me, complaining of my cold hands. “No pleasing this guy,” I thought–“typical rich and miserable.” His behavior confirmed the reports of my colleagues.

On the second occasion when I came to take his observations, the scene was repeated. His temperature was still very low, as well as his blood pressure and pulse. He was irritable and shouted at me. I stood there telling myself, “What a grumpy old codger he is–more money than sense!”

Then I heard a voice call my name: Who was I to judge this man? Would I treat the Buddha or Christ in this way? I answered no.

With that, I looked at the patient again and there was the face of Buddha aglow over his face. I was so startled! It was unbelievable and I was so ashamed of myself.

Suddenly the old man opened his eyes and looked at me. It was as though a curse had been broken, just like in Cinderella. He took my hand and complimented me on how warm my hands were. Yet minutes before he had complained how cold they were. As I looked at him, I noticed that he himself had the ears of a Buddha. I again took the patient’s observations. His temperature, blood pressure and pulse had all risen to an acceptable level. Yet only five minutes before, I had recorded them as dangerous!

It was as though someone had slapped me in the face to remind me never to judge another as I had done. I later learned that this gentleman had originally come from England, my homeland, so we had much in common. I also learned that he had been a very generous man, endowing the arts, medicine and many other worthy causes.

Now when I find myself off course, I try to think of Buddha as Lord of the World, keeping the Flame so beautifully. Why should I with my human disharmonies make Gautama Buddha’s day more difficult? Why burden him or others around me on this planet with more inharmony?

I don’t say I manage to master each day perfectly, but I now have a reference point and bear living witness to what criticism can do to a person.

I thank God and Gautama Buddha for this enlightening experience and witness unto the truth it has taught me.

Beloved Mother,

The Pearls are the greatest blessing I can imagine, short of the live dictations. Since I work in the shipping department here at the ranch, whenever we have a mailing I like to get a sneak preview by reading the Pearl before it’s out the door. Sometimes when my work requires me to visit the print shop I’ll see and read the blue-line copy. The message of the Masters is so sublime that almost every time I hear a new dictation or read a new Pearl I exclaim to myself how it’s the greatest one I can remember!

Ever since I read my first Pearl, I have been awed by the radiation I feel when reading them. Sometimes I forget to make the call to the Master whose dictation I’m reading to overshadow me, and yet I still receive the blessing. Recently I was reading Hercules’ dictation while riding on the bus from LRY to Big Spur. I closed my eyes for a second and immediately “saw” an incredible blue sphere of energy surrounding me. I knew His tangible Presence was there with me.

Mother, although I have not witnessed firsthand the amount of loving care and attention to detail that you pour into the Pearls, I can feel it each time I read them. And to think that you have faithfully done this week after week for some thirty years now–well, that’s true constancy! It is hard for me to understand why some who finally find the Pearls don’t immediately recognize the truth and blessings contained in them. They are truly our most holy communion and the greatest gift in writing the planet has ever seen.

I have kept every Pearl I’ve received over the last sixteen years in three-ring binders. Whenever one of my decree-book binders has given out after daily use, I have simply gotten a new one and used the old one to keep my Pearls in. Although I confess I haven’t read each Pearl five times as the Master has requested, I’ve always tried to keep abreast of the latest releases by devouring them as soon after receiving them as I can. When I have been in the midst of intense work and have had to put them aside temporarily, I’ve always been rewarded later and gotten even more out of them.

I also want you to know how much I love reading the “I AM the Witness” section of the Pearls. The testimonies are so inspiring that it is hard for me not to read them before I read the Pearl itself! I am sure many of us have thought of how nice it would be if these were compiled into a book that would be published and ready for anyone who may question you or our community after hearing the lies of the detractors.

The fact that hundreds and thousands of us have had very personal and seemingly miraculous experiences with the Masters proves that we’re all not just a bunch of glassy-eyed zombies! We’re the avant-garde of the age, call us what they may. And very soon those who don’t have experiences like we have will be in the minority. Upward and Onward to Victory.

All my love and devotion,

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