A Tale of Meditation, Taxi Driving and Crohns Disease

Hello – my name is Gerald. I’m a meditating, taxi driving, donut eating, FISU Member! My introduction to FISU was through my girlfriend, now wife, Anusha. I can remember when Anusha and I were out one evening having a drink and chatting about things we would like to do in the future, and one of the things was that she’d always been interested in learning to meditate. One year later I remember taking her to the first session of the FISU meditation course. That evening Anusha was telling me about her experience and that her teacher’s name was Muktesh. I asked Anusha “what sort of name is that?” Anusha explained that it was his spiritual name. I said “one day, you’ll have a spiritual name – Bogbrush!” I never take anything seriously at first, apart from when Arsenal loses, and then I take things very seriously. After a few months I started seeing changes in Anusha. For example, she was a lot more patient with me, and I saw a much more positive attitude to life in her. I have always believed in a positive mind. Actually when I was 17, I sent off for a book titled ‘The Silent Breath’ which was a book on meditation, but I realised that I could not learn from a book, I needed a teacher. [caption id="attachment_203" align="alignleft" width="475" caption="FISU Meditator's London Black Cab or Taxi"][/caption] A couple of years later Anusha took me to an open Satsang where I met Rajesh & Jasmini. At the time I was suffering from Crohns disease, which is an incurable disease of the bowels. A few of the symptoms are fatigue, stomach-aches, weight loss, and an irritable bowel. Specialists usually treat the illness with medication but in extreme cases an operation is required. Also, research has not concluded what causes the disease. Bad eating habits, stress and anxiety can trigger an attack of the disease. That evening Rajesh explained to me that meditation would help with the symptoms of the illness, as it had helped others who have had the same problem. Therefore, a couple of months later I booked up for my introductory talk on ‘why meditate and what meditation is all about’ with Jaidev, who can talk the ear holes off an elephant, but is a great teacher and has now become a good friend. FISU’s techniques deal with the route cause of what’s causing a problem or disease. Once you start to tackle the cause you find that the symptoms start to alleviate and disappear. My nervousness lead to many attacks, and usually my nervousness would be triggered by a fear of failing. Meditation raised my confidence, therefore calmed my nerves, which has resulted in less and less symptoms of Crohns. Also, eating irregular hours and the wrong foods brought on symptoms, but meditation raised my awareness to what my body required. I now intuitively know what foods will aggravate my stomach. Another problem area which didn’t help my disease was where I would leave things to the last minute and then rush to complete them. I realised that I was putting pressure on myself and all I needed to do was organise my time more efficiently. Meditation taught me to observe myself and I’ve realised that the Crohns disease was a ‘thorn in my side’. I was embarrassed that I had it and felt it was a weakness. Now I’ve learned to accept it and feel confident that FISU’s techniques coupled with my conscious effort will keep the disease stabilised. My consultant is extremely pleased with my progress and response to my medication and I only have to have a check up once a year. Miracously, at my last check-up the specialist said that my Chrohns disease has cleared up by around 30% which is quite amazing and I attribute this to meditation. FISU has a saying that ‘medication and meditation go hand in hand’ and it is so true! Work life: Being a London Taxi Driver can be stressful as it is long hours and very tiring due to concentrating on the roads. My typical day would be, awake at 6am to meditate, drive into London, start work at 8am, a break for an hour (to banter with my other cab mates), finish around 7pm. Believe it or not, being a ‘knight of the road’ you have to tackle all sorts of obstacles. This is when FISU’s techniques are well used. Fore-instance, in the morning people who arrive late for work count on Cabbies to ‘save their skin’ and get them to the office on time and they start to rush you! Before meditating I would at times be manipulated and start speeding for them, but now I’m non-affected by their demands. It’s the personally prescribed techniques which have helped me to become non-affected and non-attached by people and situations – powerful stuff! Usually, in the afternoons, I start to feel tired (more so before I started meditating). I now do my techniques and sometimes meditate in the afternoon rather than evening and feel really refreshed, as though I’ve had an afternoon nap. During the evenings, every idiot seems to appear on the road, people cutting you up, swearing at you and my biggest gripe was rudeness! This use to bother me, but now I find it just doesn’t affect me – it goes straight over my head. Interests: I have a hobby – I learn different fighting arts, Jeet Kune Do, Brazilian Jiu-juitsu, and boxing. These are very demanding (training wise) but because I meditate I find I have extra unlimited energy to continue. Life at home: Until recently, I was a ‘throw-back’, believing the woman should do the washing, ironing, cooking, basically the whole lot. Now things have changed and I’ve become a ‘millennium man’. I’ve realised that I was very selfish. Now Anusha and I split the chores and we have a much more balanced relationship. PS – I told her off the other day for changing my vacuum bag! Sex Life: Mind your own business! With the help of FISU my illness is now under control andi improving and I can plan ahead for a better future, instead of worrying which day Crohns is going to strike next. My thinking is now positive and relaxed, rather than feeling aggressive and trapped. I’m much more open and caring towards others, rather than arrogant. Overall, I am now willing to change, because to change is to grow. Gerald Ashby – London Taxi driver!