HOPE IS A DECISION - WITH DIVYA SINGH FROM NEW DELHI, INDIA
Smitten By Faith Issue Nr.00052 3rd December 2022
My guest today, DIVYA SINGH is a courageous young woman whom I have known since 1987 when my husband and I attended a royal wedding of Divya’s relative in India. Back then Divya who was in her late teens captivated everyone with her lively energy and her big big smile. As ‘Auntie Joan’ I partied and had as much fun with Divya, her sister Gitanjali and the younger crowd of royal cousins - as I did with my good friends, the grown-ups. I would see Divya and her family each year - for decades - whenever I visited our friends in our beloved India. Later, unexpectedly and so suddenly, when Divya reached her mid twenties, the dancing suddenly stopped for Divya. Life seemed to have dealt her a cruel blow when as a young adult, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). As a progressive disease of the central nervous system, Divya slowly began to lose her mobility and muscle control and today Divya has been in a wheelchair for the past 25 years requiring a permanent carer to help her with the most rudimentary of tasks, including eating and drinking.
MS is caused by one’s immune system mistakenly attacking the brain and nerves. It's not clear why this happens but it hits young adults, particularly women. There is still no drug that can cure MS, but a combination of medicine, physical, occupational and speech therapy treatments are available which can help modify somewhat the course of the disease. Many of the symptoms of MS can be managed and treated and enable the MS sufferer to cope with and relieve symptoms, slow the progress of the disease and maintain a reasonably good quality of life. I am so happy and delighted to say that Divya has managed this - very successfully. She does not give up. Because she has faith; she has hope. Divya cannot move much but she still manages to write. For me, receiving her ‘what’s app’ messages is a joy; Divya affirms what the human will can achieve.
Left : Divya during the very early stages of her MS. Here she is, so beautiful and I think, in spite of her progressive affliction, trying to slow dance ?
Right : Completely immobilized by her MS, Divya is in her wheelchair with her beloved dog, Muffin (who has since passed).
And so, today’s article by DIVYA SINGH brings in another dimension to living with MS – the SPIRITUAL DIMENSION. Divya writes inspiringly of how her faith has enabled her not only to cope with the disease but has inspired and enriched her life. We will hear Divya’s voice today as she writes about HOPE, Faith and Prayer. Divya practises Nichiren Daishonins Buddhism, a branch of Mahayana Buddhism founded in the 13th century by a Japanese priest Nichiren. Divya says that chanting ‘Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo’ the mantra or invocation in Japanese has changed her life. She says, “when you repeat Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, little by little you eliminate all the poor decisions that you've made. The more you repeat it, the more you clarify your life and you will get closer to your true nature, avoid wrong decisions.”
I might also add that Divya has been so blessed and fortunate to have always had the absolute love and care from her immediate family – her father Bharat Singh, her mother Meena Singh and her sister Gitanjali Singh. Additionally, Divya has a huge wide circle of aunts, uncles and fun-loving cousins – all of whom love and embrace the brave Divya into their lives. Divya’s family have indeed given her their utmost and unconditional support – cheering her on each day in her transformative spiritual journey of hope
Above : Divya -today - with her parents, Bharat and Meena Singh who have been lovingly with their daughter through thick and thin
Above : Before the MS manifested itself, the carefree Divya in her teens with her parents and her beloved elder sister, Gitanjali.
Left : Divya in her wheelchair surrounded by some of her many loving and supportive cousins
Right : Happy school days - Divya on the left with her sister Gitanjali centre and on the right, her cousin, HH Princess Chitrangada Singh at ‘Welham Girls School’ in Dehra Dun, one of India’s top boarding schools for girls
HOPE IS A DECISION BY DIVYA SINGH
New Delhi, India 3rd December 2022
I have MS and I have lived with my physical progressive deterioration for the past 25 years. I am now in a wheelchair and cannot move or take a drink or eat without help from my family and my carers. But, my mind is intact and I am grateful because I have FAITH and as a result of this, I have NO FEAR and I have HOPE.
I am a Buddhist and I have been practicing Nichiren Daishonins Buddhism for the past 6 years. Initially I was not able to accept that I had MS. Now with the help of my Buddhist practice I have accepted it and faith and hope have helped me a lot in that journey.
I chant daily for at least 3 hours, study various Buddhist concepts and also keep in touch with other Buddhist members. I address each and every issue in my prayers. I also chant to be able to do really well for my exams. Yes, I still take exams. I don't give up. I want to learn about everything. Right now, I am studying Spanish and recently, I got 53% for the exams. And so now, I am aiming to get 80% ! Why not ? I am also chanting to lose weight. I chant for the whole building I stay in; all the people who practice; the doctors who attend to me; my parents, sister and their friends. I also chant for all the help I get from my nurse . I chant for my mother to be calm. I also have other prayers – like the Russian Ukraine war to end, diseases like covid, monkey pox, asthma to be controlled. Issues like inflation, petrol and diesel prices are also something I include in my prayer as it helps me become a better person and raise my life condition.
I know my prayers are getting answered- slowly and steadily- That is why I chant.
Faith has helped me to become a better person. I know my prayers are getting answered and I am more able to deal with my anger and frustration. I pray and offer gratitude for everything because I know that whatever has happened to me was to make me aware and become a better version of myself. Prayer has power; no one who prays can deny it and those of us who have not yet experienced this must put it to the test. I know my prayers for all of us and our families and all others for health of body, mind and spirit will be granted. I have FAITH and HOPE.
I can say that my chanting of the Buddhist mantra ‘Nam Myoho Renge Kyo’ really works for me and others.
When you place your trust in the divine, the Universe responds.
All we need is to be receptive without the ‘but’.
The Universe sees from beginning to end and what mysticism gives us is for us to understand and accept with grace and gratitude. This is not to say that difficulties won't put in an appearance but it's all there for a reason which either we can see or which works on making us wiser and stronger.
Would you agree? I speak from my own experience.
Pranam🙏 . When we send out the right messages to the Universe and our determination to achieve the goals that are joyful and worthy – this sets things in motion for help to come to us. This is a fact experienced by countless people across the globe.
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
I have learnt that the “ …Universe doesn't give you the people that you want; it gives you the people that you need. To help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and make you the person that you were meant to be. I know that we were not born to spend our days in despair, lamenting our existence. Nor were we born to squander our lives in self-indulgence, piling up regrets. We were born to play out a great human drama of triumphing over difficulties; dancing with happiness and with joy while dispelling the clouds of doom.”
So, for me with my MS - in my adversity, I have discovered that this has provided a sense of myself and I have achieved remarkable emotional and spiritual growth.
And so, I am not afraid of anything today. Hope is a decision.
BE HAPPY ALWAYS !
The pictures above show a Divya who is still able to enjoy partying inspite of her MS disabilities. Such an inspiration !
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