Love

For those who are in love with another, fell out of love, seeking love, or in a different state of love.

Notions of love and experiences of love are so fluid.
Some think love is like a flower but it can be a thorny bush.
Some think love is like a rainbow but it can be thundery storm.

So what exactly is love?

Holding on to the past is not love, doubting about the future is not love. Perhaps love is simply to live life fully.

I am of the nature to grow old.
There is no way to escape growing old.
I am of the nature to have ill health.
There is no way to escape ill health.
I am of the nature to die.
There is no way to escape death.
All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change.
There is no way to escape being separated from them.
My actions are my only true belongings. 
I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. 
My actions are the ground upon which I stand.
-- The Buddha's Five Remembrances, by Thich Nhat Hanh
 

A matter of justice?

I was preparing to drive off after the lights turned green at a major road junction. As usual some drivers from the opposite direction sped past to make sure they could skip waiting for the next green light

A cyclist came after these cars, attempting to do the same. The car on my left moved forward and I heard a bang. Fortunately the cyclist escaped injury.

If there was injury or death, one could say it was mainly the cyclist's fault because he rashly ran the red light. This seemed obvious, or is it?

There is much to be said with many social constructs guiding my cognitive process. For example:

• The cyclist broke the law and thus was in the wrong, endangering others and himself in the process. 
• The cyclist was rash and did not consider how vulnerable he is against a moving car.
• This is a law abiding country which makes life efficient and safe for all.
• The driver should have given way since he was at no risk from danger to himself.
• The driver should have been more compassionate knowing the cyclist is at higher risk of injury and death.
• Laws make life easier for all but laws can be flexible to accomodate human mistakes.

How easily I ended up analysing and evaluating what happened and comparing the cyclist with the driver, and even with myself and society.

We should practice so that we can see, Muslims as Hindus and Hindus as Muslims. We should practice so that we can see Israelis as Palestinians and Palestinians as Israelis. We should practice until we can see that each person is us, that we are not separate from others. This will greatly reduce our suffering.

 -- Thich Nhat Hanh
 

To keep ourselves and others safe, here are two gathas for driving:

Before starting the car

I know where I am going.

The car and I are one,

if the car goes fast, I go fast.

This car is my legs.
It goes where I choose.
When I drive with awareness,
Everyone lives in safety.

Communion - A reflection on All Souls' and All Saints' Day

In most Christian versions of the Apostles' Creed, the "communion of saints" refers to the relationship between those present here, those who have died, and those yet to come. How does this relationship become real between the living, the dead, and the unborn? Is this something that requires a leap of faith?

Walking slowly in the moonlight through the rows of tea plants, I noticed my mother was still with me. She was the moonlight caressing me as she had done so often, very tenderly, very sweet... wonderful! 

Each time my feet touched the earth I knew my mother was there with me. I knew this body was not mine alone but a living continuation of my mother and father and my grandparents and great-grandparents. Of all my ancestors. These feet that I saw as "my" feet were actually "our" feet. Together my mother and I were leaving footprints in the damp soil.

-- Thich Nhat Hanh 

Perhaps what is needed is deep insight gained through experiencing our world as it is. 

不生不灭，无来无去，无同无异，无存在无不存在。 

-- 一行禅师