Back in 2004, I had a chance audience with the Protector, through an oracle, where he gave me the following personal advice: “Stay longer, learn more Dharma, start work and business here.” This meant that I should stay in the same country as my wife and do Dharma work and practice there.

Being new to Dharma, I did what any newbie would do. I thought that I knew my life best and planned to go back to my home country, take care of personal matters and then return to join my wife as soon as possible. Well, the obstacles kept coming – from wanting to start a career, to getting work experience, to paying off debts, to getting some savings to support me coming back to do Dharma…

It took me three years and an ultimatum from my wife to take the Protector’s advice. All my friends and colleagues thought I was nuts. I had no savings and no job prospects. I only had two thoughts: to do live and breathe Dharma and have a long relationship with my wife in a Dharma community.

It’s coming up to almost four years since I made that shift and finally moved to be with my wife and commit to the Dharma. Along the way, the Protector has been there when I needed him the most. For example, there was a time when I overstayed my travel visa, when I first came back to be with my wife. The Protector arranged circumstances so I would meet the right people at the right time and the obstacle was overcome. There were no penalties nor further delays.

If we are sincere in our motivation to be in the Dharma, I do believe the Protector will answer our prayers. Never think he is not there, never struggle with your attachment to your expected outcome; rely on the Protector and know that he will protect you. It is his sworn oath to all the Buddhas.

~Drew~

Yes, I was guilty of that and more! I will be the first to admit I was a social butterfly, a bee even, busy collecting nectar and invariably collecting pollen too. With my limited knowledge of the Dharma now, I equate nectar to good merits and pollen to be negative karma. And boy did I accumulate more pollen then nectar without truly realising this!

The reason I am sharing this is to put into perspective what has transpired over the last 8 months for me. I ‘tripped’ over Buddhism some time back but it hardly left a ‘bruise’. This time, I stumbled upon it in a big way and I must say it has left quite a scar. I’m not equating what I am learning as a negative imprint but a positive one. What I mean is that this ‘scar’ now permanently reminds me of an important turning point in my life.

Looking back now, I think it all started exactly eight years, six months and 13 days from today, as I write this. It was when I met the love of my life, a love at first sight! It is this same person that led me to the Dharma and I believe this is not the first time he is doing this! Perhaps I was fortunate enough to accumulate enough merits to be given another chance? If so, I best not blow this one!

It is through this Dharma path I am now on that I have ‘chanced’ upon Protector practice. I am still very much a fly on the wall in the grand scheme of things. However, I am absorbing and learning a lot being this fortunate insect with a poor excuse for a brain. Even if I do not have a first hand experience to share, I can see the impact it has on the life of my partner and the people around us.

Our business went through a 180 degree turn for the worse at the height of the financial crisis back in October/November 2008 and we were both extremely close to throwing in the towel. But I know now, through the Dharma and inevitably because of Protector practice, we are still afloat and we do see some land ahead. In fact, in hindsight, where we are in our business is so much healthier for us now. Living out of a suitcase and jet setting around the world for work was not a life. How we delude ourselves into thinking we are happy!

We are both much calmer individuals now. We have both grown in our relationship. We are both enriching our lives in ways we never thought we would even have the chance to. Overall, I know we are being ‘looked’ after and that I am blessed to be able to have the opportunity to practice in this lifetime and wish I may continue to do so in lifetimes to come.

~ Oliver Stansted ~