"One day wind and next day rain "

Like the weather, our fate is forever changing and there is a Hokkien phase " one day wind and next day is raining". Yesterday, it  was sunshine in the morning in the evening and night. Fate can change unexpectedly. Like I say don't take things for granted and tomorrow is never guaranteed.

The grip of fear facing the uncertainty of death is the most  scary thought in all living beings. I noticed this feeling in Brother James when I met him yesterday at this sky condo in Penang. He is here because of the flooding in Bangkok and is back in Penang to avoid the disaster and to seek continuous treatment of his Cancer and dialysis in the Penang Hospital. His appetite was not good because his condition have deteriorated.  He has not been able to continue his Chemo treatment because of his low blood counts and Chemo is the only treatment to keep his Cancer at bay.

My wife and myself meet him when we brought him lunch at his request and it is chance to see him. He was down and expecting the worse as his cancer gain an upper hand. He told us his condition and he is prepared to GOD to come to take his hand and lead him to Heaven. My BIL, J have been giving him Christian songs to listen and he especially like the Hokkien song about God's grace and willingness to take him when the time is ripe. A drop of tear came out from his eye and he gently wipe it off and I sensed the feeling of sadness. He is not prepared to go yet and he has been fighting the disease well when I saw him in his previous trip to Penang.

I asked him about his religious belief and he told us he is a Buddhist but he is not seriously into the religion and is not attached to any temple. He told us that he believe that there is only one GOD and all the religions lead to the same GOD. Whichever religion we choose , it is the same GOD.  He also said that he believe that the first GOD is an Indian GOD  because the Indian religion is the first religion. I did not pursue the matter and I told him that I also a Buddhist but I did not elaborate further. Actually, Buddha is not GOD but a great teacher and Buddhism is not a religion is a way of life to avoid sufferings and to attain Enlightenment.  I told him it is better for him to pray and chant which could bring peace and understanding in life. But ,he told me that he is restless and have no space for religion.

Yes, I have many experience seeing my friends and relatives suffering and most of the time, they withdrawal inwards and live in their own world. They are caught in the blaming game and struggle within their inner self. Like what Ajahn Brahm have taught us, they are not only suffering from the psychical sickness but  their Mind is also sick. If we look at it logically, the body is sick need not mean the Mind must be sick. They are two different part of the body but are well connected.  We need a strong Mind to break this bond and connection and we will be able to think differently. Well, I know it is easy to say than done but on the other hand, if the end is unavoidable what is the purpose of having a sick Mind. It can only make it worse and not just that, doubly worse off.

Coming to an unavoidable end, the only way is to learn to give up  the material things in life and learning to giving up at the last moment is a very difficult thing. We have to gradually loose our grip on our material wealth during our life process by gaining more wisdom and understanding of our purpose in our life journey.  It is not difficult to die but it is our reluctance to give up what we have in the present life which makes the going tough. Well, death is unavoidable and tomorrow is never guaranteed, so live and live and live.

Namaste.