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Harry was a quiet 65-year-old man from Canada, of Indian descent, who had never practiced yoga before. He had Stage 4 lymphoma, and had just finished chemotherapy and radiation two months ago, which had proved unsuccessful. Doctors could give him no more treatment. Although he was in constant pain (for which he had morphine), he was determined to attend as much of the program as he could. Right from the beginning his will to live was very apparent.

The results of a test on the first day of the program showed much tension, depression, and anger. I was not surprised—he was told he had only six months to live. Sujaya, one of the co-participants, wrote: “We each had our stories but his was the most painful as his cancer had not been contained by traditional medicine. He was in debilitating pain caused by the spreading tumor. His eyes reflected the pain and hopelessness he felt and my heart went out to him. I could not imagine what it must feel like when you are waiting to die.”

Harry had great difficulties with asanas and yoga nidra because of the physical pain. But he faithfully attended all classes and did as much as he could. As we went on to the second week of the retreat, with each passing day Harry developed a definite sparkle in his eye and a lightness in his walk. He was changing his attitude to the medical prognosis. He began to talk about the future.