Murthy

I am a doctor for over 50 years. Looking back, it Is difficult to recognise how I neglected my 'BODY'. Rather how I took the body for granted, as though the body was there to do everything I wanted to do. My professional life has been successful both academically and in giving back to the society. I have worked in national International organisations and made significant contributions. I did not regulate my food Intake, make exercise and rest a regular part of my daily life. As a result, with obesity, I became a fertile ground for colon cancer. (see photoes). Looking back ,In 1977( I was 30 years of age) I recall one of my teacher warning me to be careful about my bodyweight. I did not think of my 'body' but my career.

I was diagnosed with colon cancer In July 2013. I had surgery followed by 6 months of chemotherapy. This period I will call It as all 'BODY'. The Investigations of the different parts of the body, the chemotherapy sessions and the associated side effects affecting energy, taste, bowel movements, headaches, neuropathy, and many more brough me to think of 'BODY' Is everything. I had moved from a life of 65 years of 'no body' to think of nothing else than my body. In the last 12 years of disease free status, I have severe neuropathy In my feet that restricts many activities. Any physical symptom, like a pain In a part of the body, bowel disturbance, a day of fatigue , takes me back to the days of Illness with fear of relapse. It looked like I had a life revolving around my 'BODY'. A positive outcome was the healthy lifestyle I adopted - daily exercise, sleep for 8 hours, rest and relaxation, minimising stress and finding pleasure and fulfilment In things I could do.

A very important development of the last twelve years, along with physical care,(I am now 90kg) is the re-examination of spiritual questions about , 'Who am I?'. I delved Into my the spiritual resources of my religion, Hinduism, and made efforts to understand the real me. In Hindu philosophy teaches us that the human life Is precious but we are part of the larger universe(Atman-Paramatman) and this life Is only part of the larger life cycle. More Importantly the body is not central but the 'soul'. This delving into my spiritual resources, helped me to master pain, suffering and overcome fear of death. I also started using my skills to help others with their emotional health. In short, I moved by 'no body' to 'body' and again 'no body'. This spiritual journey facilitated by cancer has been a positive one for me.