Zen Practice with Physical Illness or Disability

[Seiko]

Hi everyone! I tried to follow the three sentence guideline (because I want to,) but it went slightly longer.

I was looking for a thread in which to pop in and formally say hello, and... this one fits!

Why? Well, my life has changed drastically in the last few months, as my husband developed a very severe expression of ME/CFS or long COVID.

In mid December, I was actively grieving my inability to attend our local Zen center in person as much as I longed to, and while crying and reading Tricycle simultaneously, (definitely a mood,) I found the ad for the Monastery of Open Doors.

It meant so much to me. And I've deeply appreciated the zazenkais, tea sessions and evening sits I've attended since. Thank you so much for being a truly accessible zen center. So much of zen can be practiced in the depths of illness, or the constant samu of caretaking, but of the three treasures, I think sangha can be the most easily lost when you're affected by chronic, debilitating illness, and living with disability.

Josh sends his gratitude too, but his illness is so severe right now that Zoom audio causes him to crash. We desperately hope we can coax his body back to where it was a few months ago, and that he can attend as well.

Gassho, SAT/LAH

Kailyn

Hi Kailyn,
I live with ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia, and a few other issues too.
Humans, we adapt. We are good at it.

I am here - please feel invited to reach out if you or Josh need a chat. Of course I am just a novice priest, so I will not try to give you advice.

Gasshō
Seiko
Stlah

[Shinkon]

Hello Everyone,
I think I found the right thread.
I live and practice with and alongside Multiple Sclerosis, Depression, and ADD (plus the flotsam and jetsam that come with these conditions).
I am glad to have found Treeleaf and people to share our challenges of practices with.
May everyone find tranquility and peace in their day.
Gassho,
Shinkon
stlah

[Ankai]

Hi, Shinkon.
Have the conditions you live with presented any challenges to your ability to practice that we might offer some help with... OR... have you, maybe found some "work-arounds" you could share that might be helpful to others?