Hi everyone,
I am very shocked and saddened to hear of my friend Greg's passing on Tuesday. When I first heard about it I thought it must be one of his jokes - but sadly it was not. I really don't know what to say or write at a time like this other than to express my shock and sadness for Greg and for his family.
A few years ago my sister-in-law passed away and my own family was touched by this kind of abrupt and tragic change. It is very wrenching.
As Nichiren Buddhists we have faith that death is not the end - that it is part of a grander scheme of the unfolding of buddhahood that goes beyond any individual birth and death. The Lotus Sutra envisions this as a grand ceremony embracing all time and space. Nichiren believed that for those who have faith in the Lotus Sutra this ceremony will become even clearer and their participation in it is gauranteed. He wrote to one woman that her deceased husband would be with her - watching from the sun and moon. This is all very poetic - but it expresses what I, we, all hope is true - that life doesn't just end it continues on and those have passed will still be present to us to help and support in their own way.
Yumi keeps asking me what happens to people when they die. I get annoyed and tell her, "I don't know. Why do you think I should know that anymore than anyone else?" She points out that I am a Buddhist minister and its my job to know. I tell her, "Well yes, I can tell you what the Buddha said about what happens to us, but that's just passing on second hand information." Granted, it's a good source and not just an idle rumor for us Buddhists. Still, I can't pretend to knoweldge I don't have. I only know that I don't know, but that as I grew up and heard all the theories it was the Buddha's teaching that made the most sense to me. It still does. So I don't know but I can hope. I can hope that death isn't the end of my friend Greg anymore than his birth was really the beginning. Greg is and always was ineffable and that this ineffable, ungraspeable reality of Greg is only apparently absent. If our faith is correct, his presence and participation in our lives, in all life, is birthless, deathless, unconditional.
Despite what my wife and some others might think, I don't think that it's my job to know or to pretend to know. I have taken it upon myself to give consideration to these things in light of the Buddha's teaching, to cultivate faith and to share whatever hope or insight I may find with others and to be open to what they have to share with me. Greg shared a lot with me, with all of us. So that too is something that it is now my role to share if I can. So I don't know where or how Greg is, but I have faith and hope that his love and care will continue to be really present for all of us - but especially for his family.
I don't know what else to say, I hope I have not said too much or too little or spoken nonsnense. But I have tried to express what is really in my heart to express now, and I offer that for what it is worth to Greg, to Nancy, Kaela and Leila, and to all Greg's friends here at fraughtwithperil and elsewhere. He will be greatly missed.
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei
Michael,
I don't know what happens, but I told Kaela and Leia that there is a cycle to birth and death. I used the Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life and Death gosho that I was getting tired of studying. All life is like the ocean. Our lives are like the waves - that fleeting time we are on the top of the ocean. The rest of our time is spent in the deep. Of course this is my take on it. I know I will see Greg again - in my children and grandchildren. He will always be there.
Thank you Ryuei.
Nancy
Posted by: Nancy at June 13, 2008 06:59 AMI kind of initially wondered if this were a joke too. Greg, from I picked up on line, seemed playful. He kind of made me think of my cousin, Stephen, who passed away a few years ago. Steve was a school bus driver who popular with the kids. He had a heart attack while dropping one of the kids off. The School District at Great Bend KS dedicated a bench to him at their football field. He was a stocky, athletic man who had been a star free style wrestler when he was younger. He had a long gray ZZ Top style beard. He was fun loving; and liked to pull people's legs. He also was adventurous and liked to take risks; do new things. Then, there was his sarcastic streak. I pictured Greg as being sort of like Steve.
robin
Hi Ryuei,
sorry to hear of your sadness.
During my few short years with SGI the question of Life and death were raised occasionally. Naturally no one could give an explanation.I always kept quiet and refused to add any comments.
But this has changed and this much I can tell based on personal experiences.
Life does not end at the physical death of the body! I know this as I have seen and spoken to people who have passed on.Death is not the great divide that people expect it to be. Actually death only exists in our minds and limited perceptions.I have always had this ability to see, hear and feel the presence of those who have moved on. Especially during my Buddhist practice when I will see people coming towards me to listed and learn when I recite from the Sutras.
Even in the Lotus Sutra it is stated that the Buddha will send spirit people to listen and learn from ones practice of the Lotus Sutra. This isn't childish nonsense or the product of an unbalanced mind. But just the nature and reality of life. I would strongly recommend that you talk to your friend as if he were there in physical presence. Don't shut him out with sympathy and sadness as no body especially the person who has passed on benefits from that.
Since I left SGI I have no other form of group support. But when I practice I believe that the sangha does come to me and observes and listens. Hence why I always recite the sutras out loud so as not to be selfish.Only a few nights ago when I was feeling a bit lazy I felt a physical tugging at my sleeve to go to my room and practice.
I know it's only my words and I have no other way to convey my experience.Even Nichiren clearly indicated that those who have moved on are still witness to our lives.
Warm regards,
Thomas of Sydney