The Five Remembrances
I am of the nature to grow old. There in no way to escape growing old.
I am of the nature of illness. There is no way to escape illness. I am of the nature to die. There is no way to escape death.
All that I love and hold dear are subject to the nature of change.
My actions are my only true possessions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand.
***
Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer and 2-time World Champion Tim Wakefield died a couple of weeks ago. of an aggressive form of brain cancer. Adding to the anguish of his family, his wife is also dealing with her own cancer. In light of this burden, the family had asked the media to respect their privacy.
There was unnecessary pain and drama surrounding his death, with the deliberate outing of his condition in the media by a former teammate and member of the media. You can read about that somewhere else.
I celebrate a man of deep faith who never evangelized, a Bodhisattva from another tradition who employed great and gentle skillful means to serve his community. Equally at home with terminally ill children, war veterans with PTSD, wealthy donors and average Sox fans, he offered his time, money and waning energy to refuse to look away from suffering. We can look to him in gratitude for his efforts and example. He simply did what his faith called him to do; he served.
May we mindfully realize that our actions are the ground upon which we stand. May our only possessions be given as freely and were those of Tim Wakefield.
Namu JiJang Bosal
***
A monk asked Zen Master Yunmen
“What is the one road of Yunmen?”
The Master replied, “Personal experience!”
The monk then asked, “What is the way?” The master replied,
“Go!”
The monk then asked “Where is the road? Where is the way?” To which Yunmen replied
“Just start walking it!”