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while enjoying my lending library of Buddhist literature. perspective and caring for our planet and all sentient
Since I wrote my thesis in 2017, I am heartened by the fact beings. EH
that there is so much more attention to mindfulness. At
Symmetree, I am offering mindfulness and environmental
books including The Future We Choose (Christiana
Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac), All We Can Save (edited
by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson),
Drawdown and Regeneration (Paul Hawken), and Love

Letter to the Earth (Thich Nhat Hanh), and invite visitors
to calculate their carbon footprint on the Global Footprint
Network and The Nature Conservancy websites.

I live in gratitude, and deeply appreciate this
opportunity to share my words and thoughts. I hope it
serves the readers in some way that might shift their Acadia Earth, NY City

Making Friends

with Death

By Dr Margaret Meloni

Margaret Meloni is a She began to realize that the loved. She knew that she was
businessperson, Buddhist people she loved were going to unrealistic.
practitioner, and an advocate for die. Her mother-in-law, Lee, was
what she calls Death Dhamma. in her nineties, her parents were Death did come, and it was her
The practice of inviting the approaching their eighties, and Buddhist practice that sustained
awareness of death into your her husband, Ed, had already her as she grappled with the loss
life. She has seen how Buddhism, outlived his father. She had of her closest family members.
combined with a healthy respect already said goodbye to others. She began to envision death as
for the Grim Reaper, has helped a friendly companion. The Grim
her create a life with more peace She began to wonder, “How can I Reaper was doing his job. And
and less suffering. handle losing the people I love the now that she has made friends
most?” with death, her goal is to help
One day, while navigating the She knew that death would come all of us to accept death as an
demands of everyday life: family, but was fearful that she would essential part of life.
friends, work, and studying for be unprepared. She used to tell
her Ph.D.; she realized that more herself that she was not afraid Margaret earned her Ph.D. in the
significant challenges were of her death but did not want field of Buddhist Studies.
coming her way. to be left behind by the ones she