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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 45

because his condition had been well controlled with pioneered in developing logotherapy and he identified
medication. After 10 months of investigation, I found three main ways of realizing meaning in life: by
out about the truth behind his death. It was in fact due making a difference in the world, by having particular
to misdiagnosis. Ping-hsien suffered from Primary experiences, or by adopting particular attitudes. I
Carnitine Deficiency, instead of NAGS deficiency. We believe we all have concerns in life, but while looking for
always thought that taking the carnitine supplement was meaning of life, death, lack of freedom, and loneliness
supplemental, but it was indeed the essential medication are not horrifying at all. From the Buddhist perspective,
that was sustaining his life. He did not take carnitine these can be seen as an opportunity to cultivate the
while I was travelling to the United States and this had practice of non-attachment.
led to his death. All these while, the time and effort spent
on fighting against his disease turned out to be so wrong. Currently at the age of over 70, I aim to adopt the
I had to accept the truth. I found comfort in reading ‘The teachings of ‘attaining patience with the non-arising
Prayer of Saint Francis’ and part of it stated that: of phenomena through mindfulness of the Buddha’
and ‘gathering the six senses through continuous pure
May I not so much seek mindfulness to obtain samādhi’ (Chapter 5, Śūraṅgama
To be consoled as to console; Sūtra). By following the teachings of the Buddha and
To be understood as to understand; diligently practicing the Threefold Training, I hope I
To be loved as to love. will have less anger, fear, hatred, and suffering while
engaging the world with a renounced heart.
As a mother, I think Ping-hsien would agree with
me that we ought to give our best to humanity with While I was a student at the Institute for Life and
the intention of love and care. He had given away Death Studies many years ago, a Christian Professor
his precious life, and I had given away my dear son. of Ethics proposed that ‘life is coincidental, but death
The pain of losing my son had made me realized the is inevitable’. However, a monk friend told me ‘We
impermanent nature of everything. Just as we should Buddhists believe in reincarnation, hence life and
not attach to the Buddha’s manifestation as Thirty-two death are both coincidental and inevitable’. Based on
Characteristics of a Great Man, I should not attach to the Buddhist logic of ‘Faith, Understanding, Practice,
the body of Ping-hsien’s. Besides, I also recognized the Realization’, we must first have the right view about
emptiness of the three aspects of giving (三輪體空) – rebirth before we can understand Buddhist philosophy,
the giver, the recipient, and the gift. In reality, the pain and then only we can step into the journey of practice
of losing him and the feeling of missing him are always and realization. Nonetheless, right view is the most
there. These emotions are like invisible walls, and I important foundation and we ought to put all our efforts
always stumble upon them unexpectedly. Missing him is into the practice, regardless of fame or success. Sentient
neither attachment nor reluctance, and moving on does beings are wandering within the suffering-laden cycles
not mean forgetting. of Saṃsāra. If we immediately believed and accepted the
Dharma from the time we heard about them, and seize
Developing Single-Pointed Mind – Cultivating the every opportunity to perfect our practice, we would be
Journey Home able to gain the most wonderful blessings in the journey
home, just like the poor son returning to his wealthy
The American existential psychologist Irvin Yalom father’s mansion in the Lotus Sūtra Parables.
defined the four ultimate concerns of life as death,
freedom, isolation or loneliness, and meaninglessness. Translated by Zhi Yi Wong EH
In the 1920s, Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl