My wife and kids are supposed to fly out this afternoon to visit her grandmother for a week in Florida. I don’t know myself to be overly sentimental about such things but I have been feeling strange all day because of this. So this is what is meant by the suffering of being parted from the dear and beloved.
I have been thinking a lot recently of what I would do in the event that my family were to die in an accident and my only consolation has been the thought that I would go forth. And although it is a good and noble plan I know that I would have to work through a lot of suffering before I was strong enough to do so. Whenever I have been struck by this particular fear, I have always turned to thoughts of ordination as my respite and refuge but I fear I may be doing so too glibly and somehow fooling myself that in doing so I would be able to side step grief and loss. Despite my misgivings, in order to put an end to suffering it really does have to be understood and tap dancing doesn’t do much to aid in seeing clearly.
May all of our loved ones be well, happy and peaceful! May the devas protect them and may they ever meet with Dhamma until the find true release!
Cattāri Brahmavihārā 
Oddly, when my wife takes the children away for a few days, I am excited by the opportunity to see just how I’ll practice when I don’t have to compete with others for my own time.
Be well, friend, and may your family be safe on their journey.
By: Hickersonia on 02/14/2013
at 3:12 pm