Letters
From Todd, a Listener of Zencast :
I really want to thank you for having Zencast.org and providing these podcast that you do. Wish I did live in the California area so that I could visit you guys and See it all in person. But these podcasts are about as good as being there.
I want to thank all that are involved with bringing these great podcasts to the world.. I don’t know all of your names but please accept my greatest thanks.. I do know the below teachers, and thank them by name, but everyone involved thank you. You have given so much.
Gil Fronsdal, I have to admit has help me and my middle son the most.. Jack and Tara are great too.. But Gil has really said alot of things I really needed to hear. And has really helped me to connect more with my Timmy so that I could reach him. My middle son Timmy is Autistic. While I love all three of my boys very much. Timmy has been my greatest challenge and my greatest teacher.
Alot of people are unfamiliar with Autism they hear a little bit about it on the news or they might of even seen rain man.. Both don’t give the full story or really show the challenges to overcome.. If I had to sum up what is Autism. “Its being trapped in your own mind, without knowing how to communicate to the outside world” Or maybe I should rephrase that.. They try to communicate but the outside world doesn’t know how to listen to them.I guess you could say that about any one person, but it is more extreme with a child with autism.
Your podcast with subject such as meditation, mindfulness, and calming the mind, and most important compassion. Have really helped me to speak Autism with my son.. And for that which you have taught me , I am so thankful to all of you that provide these podcasts.
I use to want to cure my son, now I know I was the one in need of cure. And these podcast where the medicine I needed. Thank you so much.
If I was ever to request a podcast. It would be how to do we help people with special needs. I am not sure if Buddha had any experience with this but would love to hear how he dealt with it.
I know Compassion is the key, because that is what has worked with Timmy and, all of my sons. Timmy is still non-verbal, but he speaks alot to me. He has gone from being a distant child to one that sits in my lap, or gives me a kiss before he sleeps. He will sit in my lap as I meditate , while my youngest sits on my head.. :> No my meditations are not quiet but they are beautiful thanks to my children. To me that is a miracle. And your teachings have been a part of that..
Thank you so much and keep this up, you are bringing good things to this world..
Todd
This Letter was made public with permission from Todd.
Filed under: Letters | 2 Comments
Hi,
I read Todd’s letter and I can understand where he’s coming from, my son Charlie is also Autistic. And like Todd I wanted to find a cure for him, and at times I’ve found it both difficult and testing to cope with a child with Autism.
Now I don’t have a full and complete practice, I don’t find the time to have a full meditation practice (usually because charlie is up early and he needs looking after), but I can see how estabilishing a practice can help him and me cope with Autism.
So thanks Todd for your letter and Zencast for the podcasts, its encouraged me to work on my practice.
Thanks Stephen
Your Welcome Stephen, and thank you for posting your concerns too.
I use to get fustrated too, thinking I had no time to practice my meditations or read this or listen to this, because my son needed so much care.. Then I made my son my practice. I listen more deeply now, even if he doesnt use words. And now I see things I never saw before. I can communicate with him in ways I never thought possible. And it made all the difference in our world.
And I hope this gives you hope Stephen, with your son Charlie.. On my sons 6th birthday , he gave me the most wonderiful gift he could ever give me. He left a piece of paper on my desk at home. On this piece of Paper, it had his full name Timothy and his short name Tim. This was the first time he has ever done this without any help and he did it all on his own. To me that paper was a Thank you note. Thank you Dad for comming into my world, I want to try to come into your too..
And the gift didnt stop there. I brought that piece of paper into work and showed my co-workers, they were touched about how proud I was of such a simple thing. This month my place of employement is making a donation to the ASA. Not only did his thank you note touch me, now some other child with Autism will be helped too..