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14 EASTERN HORIZON | TEACHINGS

All my worldly activities and concerns are the gifts of to the fact that our mundane life is supported by the
an unseen spiritual source. Every aspect of my ordinary pillars of wisdom and compassion. How else could my
life is a reflection of the spiritual. inadequate ego receive so much benefit? To learn about
and experience more of these profound yet accessible
“Namo Amida Butsu” affirms that even with the teachings, visit a Shin temple—you can find one
inadequacies of my ego, so much in life benefits me. A at buddhistchurchesofamerica.org.
sense of humility inspires me to join the effort of others
for the betterment of life for all. The gate of gratitude Though the appearance and conduct at a Shin temple
is the threshold of a spirit-ual life. Being liberated from may appear ordinary, appreciation of the ordinary
the need to achieve goodness, we flow naturally toward lifts one’s heart and mind to a true and natural state of
harmony. Gratitude brings us to a simple awakening spirit. Namo Amida Butsu. EH

Short Buddhist Prayers for

the Dead, Dying or Sick

By Kate Wight

Kate Wight has been a
full-time freelance writer
and small business social
media consultant since
2011. She has written
content for a wide array
of clients across several
industries, but she
has a particular fondness for writing about interior
design, parenting, lifestyle, and social justice, as well
as topics pertaining to science and medicine. When
she was in her early thirties, Kate was diagnosed with Buddhism is the world’s fourth-largest religion, with over
470 million adherents. It originated in India, though it
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a chronic genetic condition
has largely been supplanted by Hinduism, and it is still
that also affects her young daughter. As a result of
widely practiced throughout Asia.
her diagnosis, she discovered a passion for medical
advocacy for patients living with chronic illnesses.
Many people are drawn to Buddhism because of its
Kate believes the process of planning for medical and emphasis on self-reflection. Its focus isn’t on a God
financial contingencies is one that should constantly or deity. Instead, followers strive to achieve a state of
be revisited throughout every stage of life, and that enlightenment. Buddhists believe that enlightenment
transparency can help both patients and their families cannot be achieved in a single lifetime. They believe
achieve emotional peace. She hopes to help remove the in samsara, which is a cycle of death and rebirth. When
stigma around preparing for end-of-life decisions even someone dies, the energy within them doesn’t die with
at a relatively young age. them. It just passes into another form. Only by achieving
enlightenment can you escape from that cycle.