This Sangha Body

Our Sangha is actively grieving the loss of one of our members. Her unexpected death on Mother's Day has been a shock, and indeed, feels like a suddenly missing body part.

It turns out I have little to say. If I did, I would probably talk about impermanence. The preciousness of this life. Sitting with unanswerable questions. The physical manifestations of grief. The unimaginable excruciating pain of her surviving husband and children. Observing the heroic practice of Sangha members also touched by death who continue to show up and be present with fresh grief that awakens their own excruciating pain. Helplessness. Gratitude. A Buddhist funeral. Appreciating anew the incredible and unlikely opportunity we have to practice in this life.

Alive or dead? I won't say.