Dr. Quang was a doctor who continued to be employed by the new Vietnamese government following the 1975 change. He was considered an experienced doctor and well respected by the provincial hospital.
Around 1980, I was practicing esoteric Buddhism, and after having performed a few exorcisms, I became well-known.
Dr. Quang had received some teachings from me and had some understanding in mysticism.

An interesting story took place as follows:
There was an elderly woman who suffered severe headaches. She had been to the hospital and, although many doctors had tried their utmost to treat her with the best available medicine, her symptoms did not improve.
The elderly woman was the mother-in-law of Mr. Sau, the police chief of the provincial committee of the Party, who had entrusted her to the care of the hospital.
As for Dr. Quang, he worked at the hospital during the day, and in the evening received patients at his home to earn some extra income.
The elderly woman did not mind the long travel to Dr. Quang’s residence. Her family drove her there every evening for Dr. Quang to treat her. Dr. Quang was definitely hesitant to see her, because of her communist background, and because his private practice was not exactly legal to say the least. Moreover, he also knew her son-in-law was the chief of police of the provincial committee of the Party. After treating her a few times, Dr. Quang suggested to her that she should go to the hospital and he would treat her there. She declined, saying that if she went to the hospital and only looked for him, it would hurt the other doctors’ feelings, and furthermore, he would not always be available to come and treat her himself.
She reiterated that only Dr. Quang could help her. Dr. Quang knew fully well that he only gave her injections of ordinary vitamins, but surprisingly they did ease her headaches, at least temporarily.
Dr. Quang finally had an inkling that her illness might have been caused by the Spirits.

At that time, Dr. Quang and I frequently chitchatted over coffee and cigarettes. One day, Dr. Quang suggested that I should come to see the elderly lady. Since I was researching spirituality and metaphysics I gladly accepted the invitation.
A few days later, Dr. Quang took me on his Vespa to the old woman’s house in the suburbs, about 5 to 6 kilometres from town.
On entering the house we met the old woman and two other women. One woman was probably the wife of the police chief of the provincial committee of the Party, and the other, his sister-in-law. We were each offered a drink at the reception table in front of the family Buddhist altar.

Ignoring social formalities and the exchange of pleasantries, I immediately began the task at hand.
In front of the statue of Buddha, I formed the Cundi mutra – hands gesture symbolizing the invocation- and recited aloud the set of Five Mantras (Um lam, Um xi lam…) seven times. I then sat in front of the old woman and had her join her palms together in prayer. Then I said to the Spirit that caused her illness “ Please confirm the Realm You come from for the family to understand, by moving this lady’s hands in the following manner : If it is the Lower Realm, move her hands in front of her chest and let her bow 3 times, if it is the Intermediate Realm, bring her hands in front of her face and let her bow 3 times, and for the Superior Realm, move her hands above her head and let her bow 3 times”.
The elderly lady’s hands suddenly began to shake strongly and make sinuous movements up above her head. She then bowed her head 3 times to the amazement of her family.
I then asked for a small glass of water, and after reciting Buddha’s name 3 times I gave it to her to drink. I confirmed that the Spirit involved was a ‘fairy’ coming from the Superior Realm, who had a predestined affinity with the old woman. She had come to help the old woman in her mundane and spiritual paths.
And that was all. Dr. Quang and I said good bye and we left together.

Approximately one month later, close to the New Year celebration, I came home one day and was told by my family that Mr. Sau, the police chief and his driver had brought over a pair of chickens as token of gratitude from his mother-in-law who had been cured from her chronic headaches.
Until now, Mr. Sau and I only knew about each other, but we had never met one another.

Until next time…
Old_Guru August 31, 08