An Emotional Yet Glowing Evening

A simple classroom was the venue for a terrific fundraiser last evening at The Center for Spiritual Living.   It was filled with a variety of foods, desserts, drinks, raffle ticket prizes and silent auction items.  However, the main feature was some 70 people whose hearts were overflowing with love for the woman who recently learned she has breast cancer.

For the first two hours, upbeat conversation, smiles and laughter were the bywords.  But no amount of Breast Cancer Awareness Days, Weeks, Months, or any related events could have prepared anyone for the ensuing chapel ceremony.

At center stage was a highly emotional hair cutting scene. 

Leading the proceedings was a woman who in 2006 was told that her own breast cancer would end her life sometime in 2009.   She began with a Mundan Prayer, usually reserved by Hindus for a child’s first haircut.  In this case, it was explained that what had transpired until this point in her life was one life and now things would start anew.

For this occasion, the script was something like this:  “Let this unbreakable razor cut the locks, and let the waters with their moistening power soften the hair of (said person).  May God remove disease for this (person).  May (person) attain to long life.  May (person) acquire knowledge from this experience.”

A table set between the speaker and the hair-cutting recipient, included a statue of Kwan Yen, the goddess of compassion and mercy.  It also held a small menorah and a candle, both representing the light of brightly-burning flames.

The lady, whose hair was easily shoulder length, remained pretty calm at the outset.  But a few tears were evident throughout the gathering.  A quick, loud shriek followed, sending more people into tears.  But the lady re-gathered her strength, and all calmed down.

During this process, two mantras were repeated 54 times apiece.  That adds up to 108, which is like a necklace of that many mantra counting beads.  The Internet mentions some 40 different reasons for the magic of that number.  It includes reference to the heart chakra, which was also part of last evening’s ceremony.

A handout sheet given to all recipients says that “Mantras, when combined with meditation, can have powerful, life-transforming spiritual, mental, and even physical benefits.”

The first of the two mantras was “Thiru Neela Kantam.”  It is chanted in the throat while visualizing a blue light, and is known as the bad karma-busting mantra, including that of financial matters.  The second mantra was chanted by all in a more happy and upbeat manner, with the thought that anything is possible.  It was “Ara Kara—Perfect Health.”

How fitting that the event was sponsored by a group known as ESPW, which stands for Encouraging, Supporting and Promoting Women.  Prior to the proceedings and well after it had ended, highly supportive well wishers hugged the ceremony’s recipient and told her in countless ways just how equally beautiful she looked after her hair was removed.

Indeed.  Her incredible beauty from within radiated a glow from her smile that was just as prominent as rays of sunshine that sparkle and glisten the earth’s waters.