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54 EASTERN HORIZON | TEACHINGS

5. With a composed mind, practice introspective If conditions permit, recite The Noble Sūtra
mindfulness and clear awareness to filter off idle, Remembering the Three Jewels [Skt. ārya ratnatraya
negative or unproductive thoughts and emotions so anusmṛti sūtra] remembering the qualities of the
that time and energy can be conserved for attending Triple Gem in detail and entrusting oneself with total
to positive, feasible, creative, productive thoughts confidence to them.
and ideas.
6. Have faith in the Law of Karma if one or a loved one One may also contemplate the nature of saṃsāra,
succumbs to the disease despite executing all the particularly the sufferings in it. A Tibetan master
above. Potowa Rinchen Sel (1027? – 1105), as quoted in
7. Be comfortable with uncertainty as it is a Tsongkhapa’s Lamrim Chenmo, said: “So long as
manifestation of the three characteristics of we are in saṃsāra, … something subject to get sick
existence, the hallmark of Buddhist teachings, is getting sick; something subject to die is dying.
particularly spiritual cultivation. Nothing inappropriate is happening suddenly; …
If we are disgusted by it, then we must eliminate
Min Wei: This coronavirus pandemic is not only the process of (saṃsāric) birth. To do this, we must
challenging our health, work and family, but is also eliminate its cause.”
disturbing our peace of mind and stimulating us to
question our own existence. The Buddhist teachings Contemplate impermanence and the four definite
always remind us that everything keeps on changing endings expressed in Udānavarga Sūtra to the effect
as it is the nature of existence. Without impermanence, that every life ends with death; every meeting ends with
nothing would be possible. parting; every rise ends with fall; every collection ends
with depletion. Train to accept these as unavoidable
At this time of uncertainty, regular meditation can eventualities in life and learn to cope with them as best
allow us to recognize fear, anger, and insecurity. Such as one can.
realization makes it easier for us to recognize these
feelings as simply passing reactions to an impermanent Develop an informed sense of acceptance of the
situation. Such recognition is extremely valuable in a inevitability of death and associated facts of life, thereby
crisis situation today. The pandemic can be viewed as a generating a renewed appreciation of the preciousness
source of awareness. This very moment is our perfect of the time at hand and resolve to fully own one’s
teacher, and one can take it as a good opportunity to put present moment and use it most meaningfully.
it into our daily life practice.
But if someone in the family has just died from
Geshe Dadul: First and foremost, as Buddhists, we the virus, how do we console the loved ones with
can recite the refuge prayer while contemplating the a simple yet assuring explanation based on core
qualities of the Triple Gem and invoking the power of Buddhist teachings? It may be difficult to explain the
truth of those qualities. The simplest version is reciting complexities of dependent origination during such a
the following: tragic occasion.

I go for refuge to the Buddha. Aggacitta: In a nutshell, sickness, aging and death
I go for refuge to Dharma. are the inevitable consequences of birth. No one can
I go for refuge to the Saṅgha. escape from them. Understand and accept this fact
with wisdom and equanimity instead of wallowing
Reflect on what it entails to take them as one’s refuge in deluded denial. Honest introspection will reveal
in terms of one’s mindset and behaviors in the face that one’s sorrow for the deceased is rooted in selfish
of personal situations. Make efforts to uphold and attachment to the continual presence of the deceased
embody these attitudes and behaviors. rather than genuine altruism for the latter. The best
way to assist the deceased is to severe this selfish