When one door closes
Visitors at the San Ramon ashram are familiar with the routine. Amma receives people in the morning and at the end of the morning program, as Amma gets up to leave, a stretcher is discreetly wheeled in. The occupant is Jason Becker, the 30-something neo-classical metal guitarist and composer, a rising star of yester-years torn down from the firmament of fame and success by Lady Fate, crippled and confined by the devastating Lou Gehrig's disease.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease," is a progressive neuro-degenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. People who have the disease lose the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement.
As the disease progressed, Jason's world collapsed around him. He lost mobility in his limbs and soon he was paralyzed from his neck downwards. Searching for some meaning in this altered state of living, Jason first met Amma. Being with Amma, feeling her love, compassion and complete acceptance of him just as he was, gave Jason renewed hope. He saw Amma transform people around her with the miracle of her own life. Assisted by highly supportive parents, who proved to be steadfast pillars in his evolution, Jason looked ahead at the road stretching before him. Although it seemed strewn with thorns, Amma's unconditional love shone as the substratum, making it bearable.
Perhaps the most frustrating part of Jason.s disease was the loss of the power to communicate. He could no longer talk, nor could he move his fingers to sign. The only tool he had left was his eyes- his beautiful, expressive eyes- which he slowly and steadily began using as the most effective communication tool yet.
It started with little things, one eye signal for a 'yes', another for a 'no', with his dad taking on the role of interpreter. Amma was pleased with Jason's mental fortitude. She suggested that Jason develop a new language to offer to the other Jasons of this world. Very soon Jason's talented brain had worked out an alphabet system, numbers, words and music notes; communication communicated through eye movements.
This time in San Ramon, Jason.s eyes were unusually bright. During his visit with Amma, he presented the first draft of his book of Communication with Eyes for Amma's approval.
Amma was elated. With motherly pride, she hugged Jason and said, "There are many people in this world in a condition similar to Jason's. They have so much talent to offer the world... so many thoughts to express... yet that energy remains bottled up within them because they have no means of communication. This new language, which can be named after Jason, will open up a new door for these people through which they can find meaning to their own life, even as they contribute to the world."
"Jason's language reminds Amma of ancient Indian dance forms," Amma continued. "Much of the ideas and stories in those dance forms are conveyed through eye expressions such as Jason's."
It is a universal truth that when one door closes another will open. Jason simply had the immense advantage of having Amma's powerful guidance hold his hand and lead him to it. Although he was given just 3 years to live since he was diagnosed at 20, he has remained stable since 1997, a rare case with ALS. Jason's talents have grown and flourished abundantly- he will soon be releasing another neoclassical CD, painstakingly translated note by note from eyes to computer to keyboard.
Today Jason may not be the rising star sparkling with promise for the future, but he certainly is the phoenix that has risen from the last embers of its own ashes, showing the world the true strength of an indefatigable and indomitable spirit.
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