Category: death

Contemplating Disease – Ten Characteristics – Part 12g (final part)- January 9, 2019

Protecting is the second to last of Chih-I’s Ten Characteristics.  By this he means it is incumbent upon you or your caregiver or both to have a clear understanding and knowledge of any and all restrictions or prohibitions concerning every aspect of your medical care.  While this may be challenging to accomplish it isn’t impossible.  Here is where you need to stand up and advocate for your own interests.   It isn’t that doctors and…

Continue reading

Contemplating Disease – Ten Characteristics – Part 12f – December 29, 2018

When a person is ill time is measured differently than generally when healthy.  In some instances especially when pain is present time can seem as if it stands still or even goes backward.  Has it ever happened to you when you’re in pain and you have said something to the effect that things seem to be going backwards getting worse rather than better?  Perhaps not. Time, Chih-I advises is to be not even considered a…

Continue reading

Contemplating Disease – Ten Characteristics – Part 12e – December 28, 2018

Under the section which talks about Means Chih-I advises that you should skillfully employ healing methods as appropriate.  I take this to include the use of doctors and medicines which may be prescribed to you for your treatment and care.  Here I am going to reveal my prejudice to the use of Western medicine.   What informs my preference towards Western medicine would be a fair question to ask.  Mainly it boils down to the…

Continue reading

Contemplating Disease – Part 12d – Ten Characteristics – December 26, 2018

Fourth of the Ten Characteristics is Constancy.  By this Chih-I means that the methods we employ for living in disease should all be consistent.  Every thought, every effort, every should be focused upon our belief and actions in living in disease.  It would be counter productive for us as believers in the Lotus Sutra and Buddhism to then employ thoughts and beliefs that contradict what we say is our core belief.  As Nichiren points out…

Continue reading