Dear all,
Whenever someone says that Zen is to just take it easy and chill, I always try to explain that that’s just a tiny part of our practice. Zen Buddhism is about life. Whole, plain and uncut. It indeed includes being in the middle of problems and peace, but it also includes to be at peace with things we don’t like, challenges and all those situations that create adverse feelings inside us.
These days have been hard for my family because my mother could die pretty soon and it would be a rarity if she makes it our alive. She has been a chain smoker for 50+ years and finally she got Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This condition makes it super hard to breathe, resulting in lack of oxygen to the body and brain. After many months of not getting the right amount of oxygen, she developed a brain stroke.
Prognosis is not good. Doctors are giving her the strongest drugs and treatment available. If her body can handle them, she might make it, but with permanent brain damage and she wouldn’t last for long anyway.
My sister, my dad and me are pretty sad and taking turns to be with her at the hospital.
In my heart there is pain and sadness, but I am not suffering. I am at peace and with an open heart to accept everything that life is in this very moment.
Sitting right by my mother, I realize that this instant has everything I can ask for. It’s complete and whole. There is anything to add and nothing to take away.
In Shobogenzo Shoji, Master Dogen says:
Illness is just illness, nothing less and nothing more. Being with a sick person is just being there, nothing less and nothing more.
This moment is a bright pearl.
Please join me for a few minutes of zazen with my mom.
Gassho,
Kyonin
Sat/LAH
Whenever someone says that Zen is to just take it easy and chill, I always try to explain that that’s just a tiny part of our practice. Zen Buddhism is about life. Whole, plain and uncut. It indeed includes being in the middle of problems and peace, but it also includes to be at peace with things we don’t like, challenges and all those situations that create adverse feelings inside us.
These days have been hard for my family because my mother could die pretty soon and it would be a rarity if she makes it our alive. She has been a chain smoker for 50+ years and finally she got Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This condition makes it super hard to breathe, resulting in lack of oxygen to the body and brain. After many months of not getting the right amount of oxygen, she developed a brain stroke.
Prognosis is not good. Doctors are giving her the strongest drugs and treatment available. If her body can handle them, she might make it, but with permanent brain damage and she wouldn’t last for long anyway.
My sister, my dad and me are pretty sad and taking turns to be with her at the hospital.
In my heart there is pain and sadness, but I am not suffering. I am at peace and with an open heart to accept everything that life is in this very moment.
Sitting right by my mother, I realize that this instant has everything I can ask for. It’s complete and whole. There is anything to add and nothing to take away.
In Shobogenzo Shoji, Master Dogen says:
This present life-and-death is the Life of Buddha. If we dislike it and try to get rid of it, we would lose the Life of Buddha. If we desire to remain [in life-and-death] and attach ourselves to it, we would also lose the Life of Buddha. What would be retained is simply the appearance of Buddha. Only when we don’t dislike life-and-death and don’t desire life-and-death do we first enter the mind of Buddha.
This moment is a bright pearl.
Please join me for a few minutes of zazen with my mom.
Gassho,
Kyonin
Sat/LAH
I hope your Mom's condition improves.
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