Within the space of a few days last month, I
received news of the deaths of two
homeopathic colleagues, Dr Hoda Zikry in
Cairo and Martin Miles in London. Each in
their own way, they both epitomized for me a
certain quality that I have come to value
more and more over the years.
It has to do with what the zen buddhist
teacher Shunryu Suzuki called 'shining a
light in one corner of the world'. This, he
maintained,
was a worthy aspiration for anyone. It's
tempting sometimes to try and change the whole
world, but to take good care of your own little
corner requires a certain kind of humility and
dedication that few possess.
Dr Hoda was one of the first medical doctors
in Egypt to incorporate homeopathy into her
practice, and I have fond memories of working
in her clinic in Cairo many years ago. It was
a small
space, usually filled with patients, together
with their relatives and friends who came
along in support. One day I remember there
was also the constant noise of hens and
cockerels right outside the window, and we
could barely hear anything that was being
said. Dr Hoda didn't seem the least bit
distracted, and continued to take the cases
with her usual child-like enthusiasm.
Martin Miles was also something of a pioneer,
being one of the founding fathers of the
homeopathic profession that began to take
shape in
the U.K. in the 1970's. His approach was
unashamedly esoteric, and he doggedly pursued
his own path without deviation for over
thirty years. While he seemed to prefer to
stay out of the limelight, he nonetheless
attracted students and patients from far and
wide, who recognized the integrity and
strength of character that he embodied.
As the various institutions of homeopathy and
orthodox medicine continue to jostle for
superiority, I find it reassuring to remember
the countless individuals who are working
away quietly in the background, following
their own path and inspiring others to do
the same. As did Dr Hoda and Martin Miles.
Barbara Hannah, who was a colleague and later
biographer of Carl Jung, once told of a dream
she had just before going on her first
lecture tour of America. In the dream, she
saw a big skyscraper, which was all black,
and had the words 'C.J. Jung Institute'
chiseled across the entrance. Across the
street she noticed a small house in which two
Jungian analysts were quietly working, with
no name over the door. This building was white.
When she told the dream to Dr Jung, he
exclaimed 'Of course! It's always the
small unobtrusive workers who do the best,
and the big pretentious organizations that go
dark'.
Wise words indeed......
