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Editorial
Lessons from the death of
Great Masters
Four months into 2023, we lost two of the world’s As practitioners of the Buddhadharma, what lessons
great Buddhist masters. Master Hsing Yun of Fo Guang can we learn from the passing of such great masters?
Shan passed away on February 5, 2023 at the age of First and foremost, I believe even though they have left
96. On April 13, 2023, Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, us physically, they left behind their teachings and core
most widely known as the founder of the international advice for us to live our lives with kindness, compassion,
Buddhist community, Foundation for the Preservation and wisdom.
of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), died in Nepal. It
is a sad occasion for the close students and disciples So just as we reflect on the passing of great masters,
of these two great Buddhist masters, as well as for let us remember their key advice to us. Master Hsing
thousands of others throughout the world who have Yun constantly encouraged his students and disciples
benefitted from the many religious and social welfare to practice the Four Givings – [1]. Give others faith, for
projects carried out by organizations established by faith is the source of power. [2]. Give others hope, for
both Masters to benefit sentient beings. hope is a catalyst. [3]. Give others joy, for joy can be
infectious, and [4]. Give others convenience, so that
In the Upajjaththana Sutta, AN 5.57, the Buddha advised sentient beings may be guided towards a world that is
all of us to contemplate wisely on a daily basis five truthful, virtuous, and beautiful.
things: “I am subject to aging; I am subject to illness;
I am subject to death; I must be separated and parted Likewise, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who is the embodiment
from all that is dear and beloved to me; and I am the of bodhicitta, has always stressed the importance of
owner of my actions”. By reflecting on death, we can remembering impermanence, and the need to put the
appreciate that everything is always changing, and will teachings into practice. My favorite teaching of Lama
treat life in a more peaceful and balanced way. Zopa Rinpoche is found in his book Transforming
Problems into Happiness which has been a source of
Atul Gawande’s best-selling book Being Mortal has great inspiration for my practice ever since Rinpoche
shown us that we have done a great job of curing presented it to me as a gift of Dharma when I first met
illnesses, managing pain, and helping people to live him in 1996 in Malaysia.
longer, but we still haven’t figured out how to deal
gracefully with death. That is why even though we know Finally, let us always bear in mind the Buddha’s last
that we will die, yet we spend much of our lives trying words in the Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta, DN 16: All
very hard not to think about it. But is it wise to ignore conditioned things are subject to change, strive on with
death? Could we live better if we spent more time heedfulness!”
thinking about our own mortality?
May all be well and happy!! EH
Our daily practices of mindfulness and compassion will
result in wholesome mental, emotional, and physical Benny Liow
qualities that will prepare us to meet the inevitable. April 16, 2023
When we understand life wisely, we will see death as
the final stage of growth.