Dr. Kazuko Tatsumura Hillyer shared her insights and collective work efforts in the recent earthquake in Japan. She is currently heading the Manjushree Project which is instrumental in the cultural integrity and survival of orphans who have been traumatized by war and massacre. Manjushree is an orphanage located just across the border from China (Tibet), Bhutan, and Myanmar at the northeastern tip of India. A rare old Himalayan Tibetan culture is preserved here to the fact it was saved from Chinese invasion. This holds historic value as it is the birth place of HH the 6th Dalai Lama, an unique Tibetan Monastery, the second largest in the world. Here there are 182 children living and receiving a modern education and learning the traditional ways of Tibetan life. Dr. Kazuko Tatsumura Hillyer has gone there in November 2010 flying to Tawang and saw the construction of temporary school building and have leant their expertise and academic support. She was also fortunate to have met the Dalai Lama’s ORACLE who gives spiritual advice to him and received a deep blessing. They have raised $50,000 with the total project cost at $360,000.
Her other endeavors are the GAIA Holistic Center which is a consortium of holistic practioners who came together in the wake of the World Trade Center tragedy on September 11, 2001. Some of the holistic therapies provided are:
Okido/Shinkiko Classes and Seminars
Onnetsu Far Infra Red therapy and training
Tibetan Medicine therapy and training
Japanese Hari Acupuncture
In particular interest was Dr. Kazuko’s FIR Onnetsuki and Onnetsu Mat. Onnetsu therapy is an infra red therapy bases on NASA’s findings and the ancient Japanese modality of MOXA. She has used this therapy in case treatments of Parkinson’s disease, pollen allergy, prostate cancer, spine injury, thyroid cancer, HIV, herniated disc, breast cancer, Bipolar disorder, atopic dermatitis, stomach cancer, Tuberculosis, and many other ailments.
Dr. Kazuko is an engaging woman with a strong spirit that reaches beyond her lithe frame. She spoke of the earthquake in March 11, 2011 that devatsted Japan. One could see the angst swelling inside her as if she was to implode. The reflection of her tears demonstrated the strength and vitality of the Japanese. Speaking of the collective organization of Japan she contrasted her own passion for individualism celebrated in the United States as the expected norm. This cultural contrast was apparent as she held two values within herself. Immediately she made plans to get on a plan and help but was distracted by the concerns of her colleagues and friends. Their reaction was to coordinate the outrach and recovery alas Dr. Kazuko was moved to go immediately and followed her passions. Her passion is insticinctive and she is not moved by peripheral design. The impact of the earthquake was devastating as it interrupted the cultural and tradions of the Japanese. She responded that in Japanese custom one takes a hot bath each day and with the lack of hot water and unhealthy conditions this was a breech in customs. There was a reticence for Japanese in their willingness to receive from her as they do not share their problems with outsiders. Ethnically Dr. Kazuko was Japanese but culturally she was seen as Japanese American and not a native. An elderly woman with her hair pulled back was carrying water with an arched back in pain, finally she learned to trust Dr. Kazuko after several weeks. In her language she said the to answer the questions or take assistance from others was seen as improper. For Japanese to do so would be seen as complaining about their hardships despite the apocalyptic conditions. A graduate from the trainings shared this value and stated that as she is Japanese she was viewed as an outsider and had great difficulty in assisting in the recovery offerts over there.
Her philosophy in the recovery efforts was that she felt God would not have let her the Japanese people suffer with the nuclear plants and mass deaths if they could not serve as an example of survival if they could not bear it. The concepts of Buddhims were discussed with an emphasis on compassion.
Dr. Kazuko’s interpretaion on volunteerism was prolific:
“ You find what has to be done and do it! That is a volunteer. If you have to be told what to do then you are not a volunteer” .
She found a great depth in the acts of children in Japan. Children and the elderly are given provisions first as the reverance is for the youth and the elders. A child had a small container of milk which was a rarity. The child shared his milk with others in the face of all who were suffering. She commented on the resilience of the Japanese and their will to live and move forward. Dr. Kazuko did comment that now is the time for fiscal support for the Japanese as they have no export and need the financial capitols to be open to Japan for its recovery. The onslaught of the tides of bodies still buried was heavy and she shared that they honored many of the dead, known and unknown with reverance and ritual.
The impact of Dr. Kazuko’s words were not lost to me. Her intense passion and knowledge displayed professional and personal committement. Her clinical practices were instrumental in easing the trauma of surviving victims and how to identify depression and suicidal ideation that resonated in the wake of this tragedy. She is going back to Japan to follow up with members of the Gaia Holostic Health Center.
For more information Please contact::
Gaia Holistic Health Center, telephone-212-799-9711, www.gaiaholostic.com
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