Again, I agree with Kristy.
I always am reminded of this when I see a 3-legged dog. He still runs (hops) around. He plays and chases balls, and interacts with other dogs. He doesn’t seem to know he only has 3 legs, or doesn’t care. He just accepts what he does have and gets on with life. An encounter with a dog such as this is always an inspiration to me. …Bill! From: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:zen_fo...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Kristy McClain Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 11:34 AM To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Zen] Death Good Eve DP, I understand.. But what YOU don't understand yet is that OCD... is your particular vulnwerability. I spent 25 minutes underwater. I drowned. Don't you think I faced rehab.. and my own inabilities.. not to mention judgements from others during recovery?? For me.. part of Zen practice is acknowledging and accepting the real flaws I have. It would have been easier if I had parents who, (though they love me), were not perfectionists. THEIR needs for me to be brilliant, beautiful, Ivy-Leaguerd--educated-and married-to-wealth and power~ certainly would have made my recovery easier, shorter, and would have provided me with real life options. They lived in fantasy--assuming I would STILL recover and be all those things. But what I realized some time later is that "I" had to embrace and live values that were right for me. *sigh* There isn't a person on the planet without problems, disabilities, or inabilities. Harsh as it reads.. you "ain't nuttin' special". We've all got struggles, problems, sorrors and questions. I will always have some residual problems stemming from my accident. You are wise enough to not only join a group like this, but to acknowledge your own problems openly here. Perhaps the best thing I can offer you is that I don't feel sorry for you. You have unique gifts to offer. We all do. Get busy in finding yours.. and offer them to others. Remember.. there are small children with OCD who don't understand their problems. Maybe you can help them. The "presence" you may be seeking is outside yourself. Look within to what you can offer, rather than what you can "feel" from some higher "spiritual parent". Give first. At least try. With compassion, Kristy thank you for your kind words. My main setback is that I've never *felt* a true presence of anything outside this world. --- On Sun, 8/29/10, DP <dave.dplat...@gmail.com> wrote: From: DP <dave.dplat...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Zen] Death To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com Date: Sunday, August 29, 2010, 7:09 PM I greatly appreciate your words. The idea of getting involved with life is helpful, but the problem is that with my OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) it will always be in the back of my mind.OCD perpetuates my fear of death, and my fear of death is the root of my OCD... --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com <http://us.mc552.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com> , Kristy McClain <healthypl...@...> wrote: > > *bows* to you DP... >  >  > I've often read and heard that the reality of death is an important part of > zen practice and training. Personally, I have never devoted any time to it. I > will explain why. WhenI I was 25, I had a life-altering car accident. So > serious that I was technically "dead" for moments while my heart and > kidneys stopped functioning. I spent a month in a coma, and six months in > the hospital. No-- I didn't experience any of those "near-death" visions. I > wasn't at all religious then --or now. It was long before I found Zen. >  > But if I HAD died, I wouldn't have known the difference. If there is some > kind of transcent existence after death, I suppose I'll find out. If not, I > won't experience anything at all, including pain, fear or loss. I suggest > you look within about why you fear death. Do you have unfinished business > here. Finish them. Do you feel guilty due to some behavior or > action you have done? Fix it and work on forgiveness. Do you believe in a > hell where you fear you are headed for eternity? If so, seek guidance > from those who share your belief. Is your ego so big that you feel entitled > to be immortal? Truthfully, what is there really to fear? >  > I guess I just can't wrap my head around such a fear. If someone runs me > over at a crosswalk today..(which is possible due to these crazy, texting, > cell-phone-talking, putting on lipstick on with one hand while driving > with their knee), I guess I will die. Other than the fact of dealing with > resolving  my financial and living issues by family and friends as they > grieve my loss-- in the end..life goes on. >  > Perhaps your problem with being stuck on this issue is due to your focus on > it. Get involved in someon else's life, and the fear and focus will gradually > cease. >  > Be well. :) Kristy >  >  > > > --- On Sun, 8/29/10, Rose P <things_r...@...> wrote: > > > From: Rose P <things_r...@...> > Subject: Re: [Zen] Death > To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com > <http://us.mc552.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com> > Date: Sunday, August 29, 2010, 12:26 PM > > >  > > > > > > > > > Hi DP >  > I've read your posts and the replies you've gotten with interest. I don't > have much information, zen wise, to offer with regards death and the fear of > it, although I do *get* where you're coming from. Some of the others will > hopefully post on this subject perhaps. What I have found extremely useful > is the site www.dharmaseed.org. I try to listen to at least one talk a day. > In terms of repetitive, troublesome thoughts, there are some fairly good > talks given by a teacher called Gloria Ambrosia. I've only been using the > site for a month or so, so I'm sure there's a wealth of other stuff on there > that could be checked out, and might be of some use. >  > Take care, >  > Rose >  > > > --- On Sun, 8/29/10, DP <dave.dplat...@...> wrote: > > > From: DP <dave.dplat...@...> > Subject: [Zen] Death > To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com > <http://us.mc552.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com> > Date: Sunday, August 29, 2010, 2:59 PM > > >  > > ARe there any good meditations I can do which helps me deal with my fear of > death? I just finished Thich Nhat Hanh's No Death No Fear, and I liked it, > but I feel such a hard time getting around the idea of continuance - it's too > much for my materialist mind. So maybe I need a different tack... > > How do I confront the reality of death with the aim towards lessening my fear > of this? > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5407 (20100829) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5407 (20100829) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com
