Chris: Fearless in the Face of Cancer

I’ve had cancer three times. Receiving a diagnosis is scary to say the least. In 2008, when I had it the second time, I went on a spiritual search to help with the crazy levels of stress and anxiety that come with such a diagnosis. I went to see Kadam Morten give a Dharma talk and straight away I knew this was it – this was what I had been looking for!

16 years later I can say that Dharma has changed my life, I see a big difference in myself from who I used to be. For one, I no longer struggle with depression, and I handle everything better. Yes, I get stressed sometimes, even anxious…but it’s not long-lasting.

The third time I got cancer was in 2021. By then I would say I had become a Dharma practitioner in that I had more deeply integrated the teachings into my life. I could see the effects of all my practice over the years when I had surgery because to my surprise I found that I was almost fearless. I wasn’t upset or anxious. I would even say I looked forward to the surgery! This amazed even me. It was a very different experience, profoundly different than my earlier experiences with cancer.

I’m getting older now. I don’t know how much time I have left of this life. I find my spiritual practice is becoming more and more important to me. I want to keep doing as much as I can with the time I have – keep training my mind, keep helping out at the Center, so that I can help others and bring benefit to people. I want to do as much as I can.

My life has become full of meaning.