I have been anticipating the passing of this beautiful being for some time... When I was in Peru, Thich Nhat Hanh was there too - in spirit, in consciousness. He helped me realize that we are really everywhere, for all time. As he wrote: "If you think I am only this body, then you have not truly seen me...I don’t see why we have to say “I will die,” because I can already see myself in you, in other people, and in future generations. Even when the cloud is not there, it continues as snow or rain. It is impossible for the cloud to die. It can become rain or ice, but it cannot become nothing. The cloud does not need to have a soul in order to continue. There’s no beginning and no end. I will never die. There will be a dissolution of this body, but that does not mean my death. I will continue, always."
And as one of his disciples paraphrased his instructions for his body after death:
“Please do not build a stupa for me. Please do not put my ashes in a vase, lock me inside and limit who I am. I know this will be difficult for some of you. If you must build a stupa though, please make sure that you put a sign on it that says, ‘I am not in here.’ In addition, you can also put another sign that says, ‘I am not out there either,’ and a third sign that says, ‘If I am anywhere, it is in your mindful breathing and in your peaceful steps.’”
i love that.
Thank you Thich Nhat Hanh for transmitting the Essential Teachings to us with such love and benevolence. Thank you for making death and emptiness so friendly. You are everywhere with us, and in us. Now like a pitcher of water returned to the ocean of our Ancestors, in your voice and words - ever present.
And as one of his disciples paraphrased his instructions for his body after death:
“Please do not build a stupa for me. Please do not put my ashes in a vase, lock me inside and limit who I am. I know this will be difficult for some of you. If you must build a stupa though, please make sure that you put a sign on it that says, ‘I am not in here.’ In addition, you can also put another sign that says, ‘I am not out there either,’ and a third sign that says, ‘If I am anywhere, it is in your mindful breathing and in your peaceful steps.’”
i love that.
Thank you Thich Nhat Hanh for transmitting the Essential Teachings to us with such love and benevolence. Thank you for making death and emptiness so friendly. You are everywhere with us, and in us. Now like a pitcher of water returned to the ocean of our Ancestors, in your voice and words - ever present.
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