A Personal Reflection by a Buddhist Brother
(Here is a heart warming testament of a Buddhist undergoing treatment for colon cancer. The write up was written with the help of NORBU AI, integrating accurate medical information with Buddhist teachings.)
When cancer came into my life, everything changed. The body I thought I knew became unfamiliar. The future I had planned became uncertain. But the Buddha’s teaching on Kāyagatāsati – mindfulness immersed in the body – became my anchor through the storm.
Here is what I learned.
1. Acceptance was my first step.
I stopped asking “why me?” and started facing reality. Cancer had come. That was the truth. Fighting it only caused more suffering. So I accepted my condition – not as defeat, but as the foundation for wise action.
I also learned to “know the body“rather than «know your body.» The body I have now is not the body I had before treatment. It is weaker, more tired, and different in many ways. Instead of comparing it to the past, I observe it as it is – without judgment, without resistance.
This is the heart of body mindfulness: being fully present with what is, right here and right now.
2. Slowing down became my practice.
After surgery and during chemotherapy, I had to slow everything down. Eating, walking, resting – all became acts of mindfulness.
When I ate, I paid attention to each bite. When I walked, I felt each step. When I was tired, I rested without guilt. I stopped pushing through. I started listening.
I also practiced body watching (kaya nupassana) and mind watching (citta nupassana) – observing physical sensations and mental reactions without clinging or aversion. When mouth ulcers hurt, I noticed. When neuropathy made my hands feel strange, I acknowledged it. When frustration arose, I let it be.
This awareness freed me from extra suffering which could have been produced from a fearing mind. The pain was still there, but the struggle against it faded.
3. Holistic care became my way of life.
I focused on four areas:
Diet — I reflected on the purpose of eating: not for pleasure, but to nourish this body for practice. Basically, I practiced «Reflection on food (Paccavekkhaṇā)”. I ate smaller meals more often, switched to liquids when needed, and stayed hydrated.
Exercise — I started small. Washing dishes. Walking. Cleaning the house by sections. I did what I could without over-exerting.
Rest — I ensured 7-9 hours of sleep and rested when my body felt tired.
Light and bright mind — I minimised stress, stopped over-thinking, and appreciated small joys: blue skies, birds singing, the serene face of the Buddha. I used a singing bowl to calm my mind and stayed connected to the Dharma.
4. Kindness towards myself was essential.
I even treated my cancer cells with loving-kindness. I did not hate them. I understood they arose due to conditions. Harbouring anger only hurt me more.
I reflected on the four brahma viharas – loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity – and offered them to myself and all beings.
5. I understood conditionality.
With mindfulness, I saw cause and effect clearly. Stress worsened my condition. Rest helped healing. Food nourished or challenged me. This is paticca-sammupada: if this exists, that exists; if this ceases, that also ceases.
This understanding gave me agency. I could not control everything, but I could influence many things through wise action.
6. I did not reject help.
Cancer can be isolating, but I stayed in touch with family and friends. I explained my need for isolation, but I accepted their love and support with gratitude.
Final thought
Cancer has been one of my greatest teachers. It forced me to face impermanence directly. It stripped away illusions of control. It brought me to the present moment again and again.
Kāyagatāsati was not just a practice — it was my lifeline. Mindfulness immersed in the body helped me accept, adapt, and find peace amidst uncertainty.
May all beings facing illness find peace. May they be well, happy, and free from suffering.
