Though I met my Lama almost 20 years ago, I only reconnected with him a few years later during a chance encounter at a restaurant. I remember I folded my hands to him; he did not say much but asked his assistant to take down my particulars. I was reconnected again!

At one point, I wanted to do some business as I had some spare cash from the contract work that I was doing then. At the same time, it was a difficult time for my Lama as he also had financial difficulties. We decided to do a business venture together so that proceeds could also go towards supporting my Lama’s Dharma work.

At around that time, the Protector took trance through my Lama and advised me to study the Lamrim. I complied to the request as I liked to read anyway.

Six months into the business, things started to not work out: I didn’t listen to advice, wanted to do things my way and a host of other things came about to upset things. Sleeping was getting more and more difficult.

"Then, somehow, I remembered the stuff I had learnt about karma from reading the Lamrim and Shantideva’s quote also came into mind: ‘If you can do something about it, why worry? If you can’t do something about it, why worry?’" ~ Anonymous

From then, I relied on the Dharma to pull me through difficult times, thanks to the Protector’s advice.

On another occasion, I was once at my Lama’s residence, trying to do some work. I remember I was suffering from a fever at the time and was literally shivering from chills and sickness. Just then, I thought of my Lama and Protector as one, chanted a few mantras and almost immediately, the fever subsided.

I know my body very well – when I start to get flu-like symptoms, it doesn’t go away just like that. The symptoms always turn into a full-blown flu before I can recover!

Just recently, I was feeling really exhausted and felt like I was falling ill again. I needed to do something which my Lama had asked me to do and, not wanting to disappoint him, really did not wish to get ill at this crucial moment! So, I thought of my Lama and Protector as one again and the illness did not manifest into a flu as it normally does. I managed to complete what I needed to do!

Author: Anonymous