Solitary meditation helps Lisa
She’s a fighter, she is. Lisa Ray has discovered new reserves of strength, fortitude and a zest for life in recent times. Here, she looks within
and answers some soul searching questions about herself…
There’s a certain grimness about knowing your body system is misbehaving on you. How do you deal with this?
There is something sinister about your body under siege, under war. But you know the eastern tradition of warriorship, about being courageous enough to be vulnerable and open — it’s not so much about aggression. So I believe in the infinite power of the body to heal itself. I have to actually step back and trust and allow the process.
When Frank Zappa was asked about his coping with prostate cancer, he famously said “There are good days and there are bad days.” What are your days like?
I have days when I don’t want to get out of bed. Other days, especially when I’m on a steroid high, you can’t tie me down. I’ve been communicating with other Multiple Myeloma members and we laugh. There’s a business exec who says when he’s on steroids he wants to show up at the office in sweat pants because his dress pants don’t fit.
Will you be getting back to Bollywood when you are in full remission?
Why not! India has shown me so much support I’ll be happy to finally do some work there when I’m a member of the Full Remission Club. Chubby cheeks and all.
Since you heard this news, have you reached out to people you have not, for whatever reason, from the past years?
My decision to go public was an act of reaching out to an entire community.
If you could distill what you now think is important in life as opposed to what now seems to have been trivial, what would they be?
My basic spiritual belief system has only been reaffirmed not changed. I believe in basic goodness. I lean towards Buddhism so I believe there is Buddha nature in every individual.
Where do you draw your strength from?
I have done a lot of solitary meditation for the past few years. That inner space is important but I also now draw support from people. The Yellow Diaries (her blog) are a big source of strength. I read every single comment and make sure they are all posted for others to share. There are remarkable people and stories of inspiration and even practical information on the comment board.
Look at yourself in a mirror, how would you describe Lisa Ray?
I’m always surprised by what I see in the mirror and delighted by what’s in the plate in front of me.
Your message of hope…
“To be nobody but yourself in a world that’s doing its best to make you somebody else, is to fight the hardest battle you are ever going to fight. Never stop fighting.” E E Cummings.
