I was so impressed by Reflections On Aging, Sickness and Dying by Sky Dawson that I wanted to make a regular CD for "emergencies." I would want to suggest it to someone who is facing death and I would want to listen if I was in a end-of-life situation or talking with someone who is.
Finding these resources that resonate with wisdom also causes me to reflect on my conviction to continue to be intimately involved with a Christian congregation while experiencing such resonance with American Buddhism. It has been awhile since my last entry, I just looked back to find that it was on this very topic!
I am still teaching a bible study class each Sunday morning for a month, alternating with another teacher. I enjoy the preparation to see how this fits in with my understanding and listening to the faith stories of the class. I may agree with it, I am not going to blurt out anything like this:
I do not believe that Jesus died so that I might be saved, by a vengeful, sadistic and petty tyrant of a god, from an eternal torment as a result of an act committed by a mythical ancestor 6,000 years ago. I am a Christian by DairyStateDadI don't think this would be helpful to anyone or understood. It does seem more and more to me that Christianity is superstitious much more than I have ever thought.
Unfortunately Christianity appears to fail to provide understanding or tools for many people at critical times in our lives. I know it works for many people but the answers often seem very unsatisfying to me as time goes on. I have listened to the Christian message most of my life and at times what I hear is right on. More and more though the part of the explanation that I like the most is consistent with Buddhist thought.
It seems that it is very common for Buddhist teachers to also be involved in care at the end of life. They seem to have the tools to deal with this extreme point in our lives. Sky Dawson's talk above is a good example, so good that I wanted to make sure I have a copy and reference.
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