Cancer and mindfulness meditation (audio)

John Preston, Skanda Vale Hospice; Crystal Quintero and Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

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Skanda Vale Hospice · John Preston: Intro to mindfulness meditation. Part 1/4

Mindfulness Meditation and Cancer

What does "mindfulness" really mean? (Visual.ly)

John Preston was a Buddhist monk and cancer patient. He attended the Skanda Vale respite care center and offered his fellow patients a course in guided mindfulness meditation.

The practice was very beneficial, helping cancer patients manage the emotional challenges of a life-threatening and sometimes terminal diagnosis. He graciously agreed to allow the publishing of this wonderful four-part course.

It begins with a short introductory interview. It's for everyone (not just palliative care patients) to benefit from. Preston passed peacefully at home a few months after this course was first published.

First of all, can I ask how did you hear about Skanda Vale Hospice?

What if there were many cures to many cancers?

JOHN PRESTON: I visited Skanda Vale years ago. We live near Newcastle Emlyn. We literally came over for a visit and had a look around. We heard that they had a day hospice, and when I became ill a year ago, once I’d come out of hospital, and things were, you know, beginning to quiet down, we went over to have a look.

So we saw Sister Saskia, and we saw the others, and [we] were very, very impressed.

And I decided to attend each Friday. I suffer from liver cancer, which is inoperable, and I don’t know how long I’ve got.

So then you offered to run a mindfulness meditation course?

Yes, I said if you’d like to have a course, then I’d be very happy to provide. It is based on the five years that I was a Buddhist monk.

Where were you a Buddhist monk?

Nowhere very exciting, I’m afraid! It wasn’t Tibet or Thailand. It was Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire [England]! (Laughs)

So what school of Buddhism did you study?

Theravada. It’s the Thai/Burmese/Sri Lankan, [sometimes erroneously called] the Southern School. 

And what’s their main practice?

The main practice would be vipassana and metta – [insight and] loving kindness [meditation].

Can you explain what vipassana meditation involves?

Vipassana is sitting in meditation [practicing mindfulness exercises for direct insight into the true nature of reality], simply witnessing whatever comes up. We’re not trying to change anything [about reality]. We’re not trying to improve, modify, or sterilize…whatever comes up, be it pleasant or unpleasant [but rather see things as they actually are].

It’s all impermanent! We just watch! (Laughs)

So you develop a kind of quiet, calm detachment then?

That’s right. One can see that the thoughts just arise. You can’t stop them; you never will. Vipassana allows you to concede that most thoughts are not worth taking seriously. The [dis]stress arises through taking inconsequential thoughts seriously.

OK. And do you have to be a particularly religious person for this?

No, no, no! People say to me, “Are you a Buddhist?” I say, “I don’t know!” I really don’t! Anyone can practice: You don’t need to believe anything. In fact, that was one of the attractions to me: you didn’t have to believe it. You just had to go and see [for yourself].

It’s about [direct] personal experience. The Buddha described it as “a come and see Teaching.” More + AUDIO