The late Iain Robinson would, in conversation, frequently exclaim, ‘Good Grief’! This was an expression that covered a lot of ground, anything from mild surprise to outright outrage. I’ve thought of him in recent days/months/years, imagining his heated response to what’s happening in the world. Lots of cause for ‘good grief’s’ these days, ey Iain! In my bones, I feel we are coming up for the anniversary of your death, sometime in July nine whole years ago. Right?

Whether or not those heated responses would be justified, or not, grief itself is ‘good’. I’m coming to understand that rather directly these past days since we heard of Rev. Myfawy’s death last Thursday. Like that tree from yesterday with every twig of it connected to every other branch and twig, one death is all deaths, all connected. Everywhere throughout all time and space, it just takes time (and space) to realise that. It’s a step to know that grieving ends up less personal, more universal. Even when, at the same time, intensely personal.

In the midst of it who goes willingly to one’s sitting place to become ‘intimate’ with nameless blank numbness? But this is part of the curve associated with coming to terms with change. Following the curve on its upward journey, our journey, there is to be found acceptance. That’s integrating the ever-present reality of mortality with the very real practical changes that become our very real, changed, lives.

Death at the door.
Friends, relatives,
lovers and strangers.

Good Grief? Yes, Iain.
Good because grief is
on the path to acceptance.

Not that loss
ever becomes something
other than loss.

While Rev. Master Daizui (the late head of our order) was talking I suddenly had a mental ‘flash picture’ of a great tree and from the deepest root to the furthest twig flowed the lifeblood of training. This lifeblood was the Water of the Spirit and for it to flow, every part of this ‘tree’ had to be in contact with every other part and this contact was (and is) the taking of Refuge (in the sangha).

This is an insight Brenda Birchenough shared with me in an email. I’ve not got a date but it could have been 2000.

The merit of this post is dedicated to Sandy Johnson who is close to death and for his wife Sue. Go in peace.

There is a limit to how much we can predict the future. Chaos theory tells us that everything affects everything else, and this is very evident in many complex work environments. This does not mean we have to surrender to anarchy but it does suggest another reason for relaxing attempts to control the future. Many traditional cultures recognise the usefulness of being lost. To be lost is to be at a place where previous methods of finding
the way are no longer working. This is a call to find new ways of moving forward. The act of being lost requires us to let go of previous beliefs and this creates a space in which new ideas
can arise. What often happens in this situation is that we start to look around us in a new way. We might re-look at the information we have, or talk to people we have not spoken to for a while, or simply create some space to reflect on the situation. In doing this our understanding can deepen and we can gain new insights into the situation.

This is an extract from ‘Kind Leadership’ by Neil Rothwell, Chapter 7 Letting Go of Control.

Neil, who is based in Edinburgh, Scotland is a member of the Buddhist sangha connected with the order I am part of. This book is available to read on Kindle, at £1.95. I was hard-pressed to choose a quote from this packed-full of useful and insightful practical information and advice. Where ever you are and whatever your ‘position’ there is something in this book to benefit from.  No doubt about that.

Thank you, Neil, I can’t say enough good things about what you have written and offered.

Continuing on with a theme.

Work is not required of a person
There is such a thing as sacred idleness
The cultivation of which is often fearfully neglected.

I don’t know the source of this quote sent to me by a sangha friend. Talking of friends in the sangha, this time a member of the monastic community, we had the sad news that one of the monks in the order died on Thursday. We are all, to say the least, stunned. Here is the announcement posted in various places on the Internet.

It is with great sadness that I am letting you know that Rev. Master Myfanwy, a senior member of the Order and a disciple of Rev. Master Daishin Morgan, died at Dragon Bell Temple on Thursday, July 2nd in Tiverton, Devon. For some years her health has not been robust, and in the past week, she had reported to her congregation and to fellow monks that she felt particularly unwell. Last Friday she called the NHS 111 emergency telephone service and then followed up with consultations and prescription medication from her general practitioner; these had somewhat relieved her symptoms. However, the cause of death is not known at this time.

If you would like to share a personal memory please leave a comment on the Throssel blog where others can appreciate the breadth and depth of this big-hearted person. Yes, big-hearted, compassionate and wise and sometimes very forthright! All those aspects and more combined to form the Buddhist monk, Hōun Myfanwy. She will be missed by many.
In gassho