from Vinaya
When I found out I had breast cancer, everyone told me, “Have surgery as soon as possible.” I was not so much in a hurry. First I wanted to understand from Master why he had sent this to me and how—perhaps even if—he wanted me to be healed.
When I heard, though, soon after I was diagnosed, about one of the most famous and skilled physicians in Italy, who specialized in breast cancer, I decided to go forward and see if this was what Master wanted.
My husband and I called and were able to get an appointment with the doctor for the next day. When I arrived at his office, something felt dissonant. I couldn’t explain it. He had the best reputation, but he didn’t feel like the right one for me.
I explained to my husband my perplexing feeling, but he wanted to go ahead with the pre-surgery exams anyway. When it was all done, we arranged to see the doctor again when all the paperwork was in. In Italy we have a national medical system, and everything has to be documented in advance.
When all the papers were ready, I went for my next scheduled visit. To my astonishment the doctor refused to see me! He said he was too busy and I would have to come back another time.
Very strongly I felt, “This is not the doctor to operate on me.”
I told my husband, but because he was so worried about me, and this doctor was supposed to be the best in Italy, he tried to persuade me to go ahead. Something stronger than I made me refuse even my husband.
In meditation that night, I said to Master, “I want your will, not mine. I need to understand clearly. Please write for me what you want me to do.” After that, I went peacefully to sleep.
In the morning we went to the community temple for yoga and meditation. When we came home we saw that someone had slipped a handwritten note under the door.
I said to my husband, “This is a note from Master.” My certainty surprised my spouse. I had not told him about my prayer.
The note was from my friend Laura telling me about another doctor in a nearby town who also specialized in the care I needed. He was not famous or rich, but Laura felt I should try him.
When my husband and I went to see this doctor, we knew immediately he was just the right one. He performed the operation and everything went perfectly.
Seven months later we heard that at the very time that famous doctor would have operated on me, if I had let him, two other women had surgery by him. Both had serious troubles afterwards. One will be affected for the rest of her life. That doctor is now under investigation.
