On the passing of Thay @thichnhathanh ?, I want to recall his own words:
“I asked the leaf whether it was frightened because it was autumn and the other leaves were falling.
The leaf told me,
-No. During the whole spring and summer, I was completely alive. I worked hard to help nourish the tree, and now much of me is in the tree. I am not limited by this form. I am also the whole tree, and when I go back to the soil, I will continue to nourish the tree. So I don’t worry at all. As I leave this branch and float to the ground, I will wave to the tree and tell her, ‘I will see you again very soon.’-
That day, there was a wind blowing and, after a while, I saw the leaf leave the branch and float down to the soil, dancing joyfully. It was so happy.
I bowed my head, knowing that I have a lot to learn from the leaf.
So please look and you will see that you have always been here. Let us look together and penetrate into the life of a leaf, so we may be one with the leaf. Let us penetrate and be one with everything, to realize our own nature and be free from fear. If we look very deeply, we will transcend birth and death.
Tomorrow, I will continue to be. But you will have to be very attentive to see me. I will be a flower, or a leaf. I will be in these forms and I will say hello to you. If you are attentive enough, you will recognize me, and you may greet me. I will be very happy.”
~ Thich Nhat Hanh
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