Death of Buddha Painting

As you may know I have been haunted by the shadow of death the last few months. Trying to understand my feeling of death I wrote these words tonight:

The death of a large star creates a black hole in the sky.
The death of my son, Peter, creates a black hole in my heart.
The daily dying of wars creates a black hole in the USA.
The senseless dying on the streets creates a black hole in lives.
Death and darkness surrounds us, every breathe we take.
Death is unavoidable so we might as well face it head on
And pray we see the light on the other end of the black hole.

Also trying to write more in stories I discovered this story about Buddha and Death that was told my Anthony De Mello S.J., an Indian Jesuit spiritual writer I admire.

Buddha was once threatened with death by a bandit called Angulimal. “Then be good enough to fulfill my dying wish,” said Buddha. “Cut off the branch of that tree.” One slash of the sword, and it was done! “What now?” asked the bandit. Put it back again,” said Buddha. The bandit laughed. “You must be crazy to think anyone can do that.” “On the contrary, it is you who are crazy to think that you are mighty because you can wound and destroy. That is the task of children. The mighty know how to create and heal.”
(From the blog http://www.Spiritual-Short-Stories.com)

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