So my mother finally passed on the 15th and it was a bittersweet moment. I had often wondered throughout the years how I would react to the call from my sister, Sally. My mother had been sick for a long time, so it was not unexpected. But still, the words laid heavy in my ears. I am grateful that she is now released from her pain and discomfort and free.

I suppose everyone reacts differently to grief, and to be honest I think I’m still in the denial stage on some level but after listening the other night to a Tibetan Buddhist Meditation teacher here in Portland, Oregon, talk about sitting with negative emotions and using the negative emotion itself as the medicine -as the focus point – I feel I’m ready to work with the grief in meditation when it hits.

In the meantime, I am doing a lot of chanting. One of the Sanskrit chants that is excellent for grief is this beautiful Mantra:

SHANTE PRASHANTE  SARVA SHOKA UPASHA-MANI SWAHA

PEACE, SUPREME PEACE TAKE THIS GRIEF, PURIFY IT AND RETURN IT TO ME IN A USABLE FORM

As one of my students reminded me today, nothing is ever lost, no-one is lost to us. I believe that that is true. Like the waves on the ocean, we all get absorbed back into the great One and nothing is lost. Ever.

With love,

Aly M. Dunne