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FEATURES | EASTERN HORIZON 53

Nothing is guaranteed. Life is That’s why I find myself happier I’ve been able to use Buddhism to
fragile, each moment fleeting. All than I was before my husband’s redirect my negative thoughts, which
we know for certain is what we death. It’s not that my life is all prevents me from getting stuck.
have right now. sunshine and rainbows. There are
I am so grateful to my husband for
still storms and many days with
That’s when it clicked. I figured giving me both my children and
questionable forecasts. But I have a
out my “why.” I needed Buddhism Buddhism. It’s like he somehow
new appreciation for each day, and
because it had taught me tools to knew exactly what I needed to live
that has made all of the difference.
refocus how I saw my life. It gave me my life without him.
the perspective I needed to live in a As I took a deep dive into Buddhism
In the back-to-school photo, I was
meaningful way. I had been stuck at and began to consider myself a
wearing a lotus necklace. I love the
a crossroad: wallow in my pain and practitioner, I learned those photos
symbolism of the lotus: something
begrudge reality, or embrace change of me alone with my children were
beautiful growing out of the mud.
and opportunity to heal and grow not reminders of what I didn’t
On any given day, hope and new
as a person — arguably becoming have. Rather, they are evidence
beginnings can spring from the
a better version than who I used to that I have continued to live fully
depth of our despair.
be. Buddhism became a road map in each moment, witnessing
I didn’t know I needed until I was many milestones with my family,
Shinran Shonin said, “What a joy
completely lost. experiencing the highs and lows
it is that I place my mind in the
of human existence. Not everyone
I learned to embrace soil of the primal vow and I let my
is so lucky. I don’t have to be a sad,
impermanence and let go of thoughts flow into the sea of the
widowed single mother. I am happy,
my expectations. Nothing is inconceivable Dharma.”
because I learned to see the moment
guaranteed. Life is fragile, each
differently. Happiness is being I appreciate the imagery of putting
moment fleeting. All we know for
present and grateful, and being able my perseverating mind and
certain is what we have right now.
to find the silver lining in all that thoughts into this sea, letting the
we do. It’s an ongoing excavation Dharma remind me of how to let go.
I’m reminded of Rennyo’s
project. Something we work on
“White Ashes.” he wrote, “By Excerpted from Crossing Over to
each day. I’m not happy every single
so understanding the meaning Jodo Shinshu: Discovering the
moment, but if my happiness is
of death, we shall come to fully Buddhist Path, published by Jodo
measured by anything like how
appreciate the meaning of this life Shinshu International. EH
we track the stock market, I would
which is unrepeatable and thus to
say the trend is consistently high.
be treasured above all else.” Teresa Shimogawa