Part 5
When I woke up in the evening, I felt the pain the second I shifted my body. This pain lasted for a week. The nearest way I could describe my experience is, it seems that my backbone segment was being sandwiched by two heavy blocks of cement.
When the lab test result came back, it was negative for the entire test they performed which was a good sign but also meant that my sickness was still unknown. The doctor recommended a prototype injection. When I asked the doctor whether the injection could cure me and when could I stop the injection if I choose to take it. He explained that this is not a cure but it is just prevention and the success rate was 50%. Once I take the injection, I would need to continue for the rest of my life.
After a long discussion with my mom, we decided not to take the injection. This was the turning point of my spiritual journey. She then called her temple leader (my mom is Nichiren Shoshu’s believer in Jakarta) and shared about my situation. She passed me the phone and shared that Mr. Yudo (the group leader) wanted to talk to me. He asked whether I would choose the prototype injection or to take up the religion and start eradicate my bad karma. I shared that we have decided not to take up the injection and I am willing to take up the religion. The next day, we travel back to Singkawang for few days and flew back to Jakarta.
Right after we reached Jakarta, my mom started to invite me to chant together with her. Since then, I often opened the altar and talked about my sickness to the Gohonzon (the object of worship in Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism).
A week passed by, I realized that my eye’s conditions were not getting better. I started to think whether the religion is just another gimmick. I doubt taking up religion could cure me. That night I prayed until I fell asleep. I asked, “if this is the religion for me, I would want the answer now, today. Not tomorrow. Not next week but today”.
That night, I had the best dream ever. In my dream, I saw a person that has a similar characteristic as how Sakyamuni Buddha being illustrated in the religious books. He just smiled to me. It was the calmest and happiest smile I ever saw. Then the light started to shine from in between his eyebrows and the sun started to shine from the back of his head. This was the best answer to the question I had.
A week after, my cousin brought my brother and me to Starbucks to enjoy some late-night hot chocolate. On the way back, I sat down in the car and focused on my breathing. When I opened my eyes, I noticed something different. I began to see one light post after another and not long after, I could see the car in front of us. I asked my cousin whether the car plate number was B 12345 and he said, “Wait, let me drive closer.” After a while, he said, “Yes it is. How did you know?” I answered, “it seems that my eyes sight is returning.” It was the happiest and most magical moment in my life. We kept on playing what was the car plate number in front of us all the way back. My parents rejoiced once they heard the news that I had recovered.
After my eyesight had fully recovered, we traveled back to Sarawak for a follow-up check-up. When the doctor and the nurse saw me, they did not believe that I was the same person. They asked my mom what treatment and medicine I had taken because it was quite impossible for me to be fully recovered. We just smiled and said all we did was taking the vitamin B that prescribed by them.
I almost accepted that my blindness will be permanent. But its turns out that miracle can happen! I believe anyone might experience dark moments in his or her life and, because miracle happened to me, I just want to let everyone know that miracles can happen to them too. At the same time, it will only happen to you if you believe in it.