Buddhist Belief and the End of Life
“At such moments one imagines that one stands on some spot of a small planet gazing in amazement at the cold and yet profoundly moving beauty of the eternal, the unfathomable. Life and death flow into one, and there is neither evolution nor eternity, only being.”~~~ Albert Einstein
When we think about how our practice of following Buddhist Belief, and how it might relate to being with people who may be nearing the end of their life, it can bring up questions. Does using the teachings help us when we’re dealing with someone who may be very ill and nearing the end of life on this planet?
Some of you who read here regularly may be thinking, “Where’s he going with these recent posts? A couple of posts about Karma, and now this post about reaching the end of life?” I don’t know how to answer that other then there seem to be more happenings in my own environment of people dying — or anniversaries of people’s death — or perhaps even my own life showing some of the telltale signs of completing the cycle.
Mindfulness is an important aspect of Buddhist Belief. Mindfulness — the practice of being fully present. Wouldn’t this be a great way to be with someone reaching the end of their life? Just showing up. Not trying to get something out of the relationship we have with this person, but rather to just be there for that person. If you think about it, when we are totally “here” — completely “in the moment” — isn’t that like an end in itself?
What did Buddha say? “When I was enlightened, all beings were enlightened.” Our goal as practitioners of Buddhist teachings is to be as mindful and enlightened as we can. If we are all part of the universe, than we, and the person we’re with, are part of the same thing. If we’re grumpy and depressing, that will have an effect on everyone around us. If we’re loving, compassionate and peaceful, that will also have a rippling effect on everyone around us.
When we’re showing up to be with someone who is approaching the end of life, how we are in that moment is crucial. People who are very ill are much more receptive than they would otherwise be. There isn’t much else going on for them. Their life is coming down to the moment by moment aspects of what is in the here and now. They’re not worrying as much about the future or the past any longer. They’re focused on the present.
You don’t have to bring an entire plan of action when you decide to be with someone who is dying. It’s goes deeper than that — you only have to be in the present with them. Share in the moments with them.
You, and the person you’re with, are sharing this universe together. All those eons of time and space have brought you both to this place at this time. This is all there is. You are both in the here and now. There aren’t any more plans to be made. You might share some memories of past events, but there is still only the Now, the present. For you to be fully present in the deepest way, will mean so much more to the person you’re with.
They will feel the peacefulness — the same sense of peace you feel when you are truly mindful in your own daily life. You will be so much more helpful by being a witness to who they are at this moment and showing them how you honor who and where they are. If you want to help ease them on their current path to where they know they have to go, you also need to be accepting to what is happening. As so many of the teachings of Buddhist Belief tell us, inner peace can come once we learn to accept what is. If you show resistance to what is happening, they will feel that and resist with you. Just be there — be present with them.
I’ll be back to write again in a few days with more thoughts about Buddhist Beliefs and how they may apply to our lives.
Until then,
Namaste — Be in Peace.
Ron Rink
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Since the two previous posts had to do with Karma, and since, as so ofen happens, after I think I’ve finished with a particular topic to write about, I come across something about the topic I’d like to share with you. Here’s an example of it:
By: Veronica Ivey
Karma. This is a term and a philosophy that most people are familiar with. I, however, am losing faith that people actually know what it is and how it works.
The term Karma originates from cultures and religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism. It’s a concept that believes that your actions and deeds are direct cause to the effects of the outcome of your life later on. That they actively shape the present and future, and its adaption in the western tradition in Christianity is the whole idea of “You reap what you sow”.
So when adapted to a generalized culture, it’s a general understanding that Karma is simply in place to encourage good deeds and morality. You do something good, something good will happen to you. You participate in heinous behavior, and then life’s waste matter hits the fan.
Everyone knows that Karma can sometimes be a… well, not very nice.
Most people just focus on the bad side of Karma like it’s some voodoo curse you may spray upon the world and walk about cursing people with bad Karma. Like as if Karma undertook the deeds that you wish you could do yourself makes you a much purer minded person. Yes, continue being na’ve. It’s amusing.
About two weeks ago, I was walking through campus in a hurry because I’m always late and running behind, when a certain organization (I will not throw out any names because you know, Karma) stopped me and asked me to donate to their cause. I felt in my pockets and bag for change and realized I had absolutely none. I apologized and tried to move on. The friend I was walking with, however, did have money she was willing to donate, so we walked over to do so. When my friend placed her dollar bill in the collection tin, I got cursed with bad Karma. The person asking people to donate, point blank told me that I would have bad Karma and fail my next test because I did not donate, and my friend would have good Karma because she did. I was rather shocked that someone would be willing to curse me with such a harsh punishment because I didn’t have money to donate. But I walked away laughing at the matter, and both my friend and I were shocked at the audacity of someone just freely giving out bad Karma in the school court yard.
I think cursing someone with bad Karma simply to try to persuade them into cooperating with you just simply to get your way is bad Karma. There is no way you can expect for something good to happen when you are too busy trying to give bad Karma to everyone else.
Good luck to those who have wished bad Karma on everyone else for selfish endeavors. Just sit back, live your life and let Karma do the trick, and remember-what goes around, comes around.
“Karma is a law in Hinduism which maintains that every act done, no matter how insignificant, will eventually return to the doer with equal impact. Good will be returned with good; evil with evil. Since Hindus believe in reincarnation, karma knows no simple birth/death boundaries. . . . Karma is sometimes referred to as a “moral law of cause and effect.” Karma is both an encouragement to do good and to avoid evil, as well as an explanation for whatever good or evil befalls a person.”
-The Skeptic’s Dictionary
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For those who wanted me to repeat the links for the books I’ve mentioned in the last few articles, here they are again — And, I have added another wonderful book by Sharon Salzberg. Here’s some information about it. I highly recommend all these books to you:
Sharon Salzberg — The Kindness Handbook
“It takes boldness, even audacity, to step out of our habitual patterns and experiment with a quality like kindness–to work with it and see just how it might shift and open up our lives. This book is an invitation to do just that.” – From The Kindness Handbook — “The Kindness Handbook
Eckhart Tolle’s amazing best seller, “A New Earth”
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor’s wonderful book, “My Stroke of Insight” — “Nirvana is just a breath away!”
And this one by Sharon Salzberg and is entitled: “A Heart as Wide as the World: Living with Mindfulness, Wisdom and Compassion“.
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Always remember this wonderful quote from Buddha ….
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”~~~ Buddha
Shanti everyone, … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”~~~ Buddha
Have a peaceful day!! —
Ron Rink
http://www.theleaderinside.com
http://www.wecould2.com
http://www.buddhistbelief.com
Tags: attachment, Buddha, Buddhism, Buddhist, Buddhist Belief, detachment, Eightfold Path, First Noble Truth, Four Noble Truths, Fourth Noble Truth, inner peace, karma, loving kindness, Meditation, metta, mindfulness, Nirvana, Peace, Second Noble Truth, Third Noble Truth