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Long Khanh Temple - Where Is My Loved One Now That They Have Died? (Part 1)
Excerpt from the Dharma talk on April 10, 2005 by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
Our greatest fear is that when we die, we will become nothing. Many of us believe that our life begins at birth and ends at death. We think we come from nothing, so when we die, nothing will remain. And we worry because we will become nothingness.
The Buddha had a very different understanding of life. He understood that birth and death are only notions and not realities. Taking them as realities is the cause of our suffering. The Buddha taught that there is no birth, no death, no coming, no going, no sameness, no difference, no permanent self, and no annihilation. We tend to see that everything exists. When we understand that we are not subject to destruction, we are no longer afraid. That is liberation. We can enjoy and appreciate life in a new way.
When we lose someone we love, we suffer. But if you look deeply, you have the opportunity to realize that the essence of that person is unborn and undying. There is only manifestation and the cessation of manifestation in another form. You must be very subtle and mindful to recognize the new manifestation of your loved one. But with practice and effort, you can do this.
So, take the hand of a fellow practitioner and go for walking meditation together. Pay attention to each leaf, each flower, each bird, and each drop of dew. If you can stop and look deeply, you can recognize your loved one in different manifestations, in many forms. You will love life again.
(Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh)
