Daily Dharma

Being a buddhist, I accept that nothing lasts, and that impermanence, suffering, and absence of solid reality are the three marks of existence. Saying this is one thing; living it is another. The actual presence of a chronic, disabling, possibly life-threatening disease is a relentless and vivid reminder of death. It wonderfully accelerates your spiritual journey.

[...from On Being Unable to Breathe, an essay by Stephen T. Butterfield in the March 1988 issue of The Sun. Republished in Stubborn Light: A Collection of Writings from the Second Decade of the Sun, pg. 521]

Comments

[dana]

I was googling Bodhi day decorations and a link to the post you wrote a couple of years ago about how you were struggling with your parents' attitude toward your Buddhism popped up. I'm wondering how that's going, and wishing you well.
Do you celebrate Bodhi? My husband and I and our two young teens do, and on 12/25, we perform service to honor the birth of Jesus, who we consider an enlightened teacher (but not our personal saviour). We're former Episcopalians who don't "do" Christmas anymore, and it works very well for us, feels very genuine. Sending you a lotus: Dana

[duckett]

Go have some tea.