There's an old Chinese story that comes to mind... a new Emperor rose to power, and his advisors knew of a holy man nearby. So they called the holy man to court, to give a blessing to the Emperor. The holy man stood before the Emperor and said, "Father dies, son dies, grandson dies." The court was aghast, and the Emperor was fighting back rage as he asked the holy man to explain himself - immediately. The holy man calmly replied, "there are many misfortunes in life. Danger is around every corner, illness, treachery, war, accident, all provide ample opportunities for death. It is only the most fortunate, the most blessed, who are able to experience the proper order in life, the natural procession that is ordained from the protection of heaven. In that order, the father dies before the son, and the son dies before the grandson, and the lineage is kept intact and helathy and whole. To believe death can be avoided is ignorance - true blessing come in beling able to live full lives without tragedy." There is really a great deal of wisdom in this.
And, as the holy man in the proverb noted, death (for us all) is inevitable.
It is just that it is also an occasion for sadness.
as the holy man in the proverb noted, death (for us all) is inevitable. It is just that it is also an occasion for sadness. Of course you are right. And you remind me of another story... : )
A child died in a village, and the local zen master was asked to preside over the funeral. As he did so, his students noticed that tears were pouring down his face. Afterwards, they questioned him. "Haven't you taught us that this world is like a passing cloud, and that true wisdom is not to be attached to either pleasure or pain?
The zen master said, "Yes, that is absolutely true."
The students replied, "Then why were you crying?"
The zen master said, "How can a sane person not cry at a child's funeral?"