Cancer Journal 6: What Are Angels?

Angels Answers Cards

Continuing this blog series “Cancer Journals”, named after Audre Lorde's classic The Cancer Journals. Please leave your comments below. Thanks. 

Click here for more Cancer Journals blog posts.  

I don't know what angels are. That is to say, I don't know what they represent in my belief system. Being a Buddhist, I do not believe in, or worship, a god or a creator of any kind. For many years, even when I was a Christian, I did not believe in the existence of angels, But now, I know that they are real, and I believe they are a beneficial influence. I have experienced profoundly, deeply peaceful mental states when working with angels.

A few months ago, I realised that by my bedside I had several decks of angel cards, two books about angels and an angel diary. I had to concede that I really do believe in their existence.

I remember, many years ago, watching a film in which my teacher Sangharakshita compared angels to Bodhisattvas. At the time, I thought, “why is he talking about angels? Surely he must know they don't exist!” Wow, how wrong can you be?

The angels have guided me (via the cards) to write and publish this blog series. I don't particularly want to do so, but I am always willing to try things and see where they may lead. This could be a healing process for myself and for others. Hence, this series.

Lama Rangdrol's Visit

I was privileged to meet Lama Rangdrol earlier this year, when he visited the London Buddhist Centre. He was fresh from giving one of the keynote speeches at the Beyond Race and Caste conference in San Francisco.

We had two meetings with him at the LBC. I asked him about how we can spread the Dharma in the Black community and spoke of my concern about the rising number of young people killing each other. Many of these murders happen in South London, and even in my neighbourhood of Camberwell, but mostly in adjoining areas such as Peckham.

Lama Rangdrol said we would need to practice for others who can't do it for themselves. Many of the young Black men he grew up with in Oakland, CA did not make itout of the ghetto alive. Those who did were often too scarred by their experience to be able to explore the life of peace and contemplation which Buddhism can offer.

I was glad to be able to meet an experienced Buddhist who is committed to exploring and demonstrating the relationship Buddhism has to the experience of people of African heritage.

We will be screening Lama Rangdrol's film, "Festival Cancelled Due to Heavy Rain", on Saturday at the LBC. Click here for more details.