Expert: Justin Choo - 4/19/2011

Question
i am 17 with 14 heart defects and i don't know how long i will live on this earth and want to know any advice to make my time on this planet peacefull..i would like to know any montras you know and any advice you could give to me about life, happyness, and moving on into another life and how to help my mind become as free as i can before i move on...thank you so much

Answer
Hi Matthew,

I am sure you have come a long way.  It makes me feel very inadequate to give advice.  I take it that you are a Buddhist or very inclined to Buddhism.  In such case, a simple recitation paying homage to the Buddha is good enough.  This is actually not a "mantra" but a "salutation" to the Buddha.  A devoted Buddhist will feel a sense of confidence and protection when he recites this salutation.  This is the recitation in Pali:

"Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhassa"
(Homage to the Buddha, the Blessed One, the Exalted One, the Fully Enlightened One.)

If you are spiritually inclined, you may like to do some simple Buddhist meditation, which may give you calmness in mind.  You may like to communicate with the rest of the world through the internet on topics that interest you.  In this way, you will feel that your life is well lived, and will make effort to make yourself healthy, and not to surrender to circumstances.

This Buddhist site is worth visiting :
http://www.dhammaloka.org.au/
This site is in Western Australia where Ajahn Brahmawamso resides. He is an English monk and is a very popular speaker. You can listen to his talk through this site.

Another site which I strongly recommend you to read is the blog maintained by a cancer survivor.  I hope this person will give you encouragement to "fight" on.
http://upekah.blogspot.com/

May you be well and healthy in days to come.

Take care,

Justin Choo

(Please come back if you need any clarification)