Loneliness and Remembering the Whole
2009Posted by Gustav 15 Aug, 2009 02:20A few days ago, I spent the night at a hospital emergency department with an inmate who had cut his arms with pieces from a small plastic spoon. He survived, and we talked. Among other feelings, he was overwhelmed with loneliness. At the prison, I often hear inmates express how painful it is to feel alone.
Being imprisoned means being very restricted regarding interaction with others. Because of ongoing investigations before court proceedings, many of the inmates are only allowed to talk with police investigators, lawyers and prison officers. No one else. This can last for months.
At the prison, we try our best to help the inmates feel less lonely. We can have a cup of tea and talk for a while, or we can play some basketball or table tennis together. We try to say things that give hope and peace. Sometimes it helps a little bit. Sometimes it is more difficult.
For some reason, the night at the hospital emergency department made me think about how Nishijima talked about reality as not being one sided. He said that there is one whole, and at the same time there is concrete individual existence. Both are true.
I think we have a tendency to forget about the whole, and only see individual existence. I believe this makes us feel more lonely, and I think it makes us suffer more. We need to be reminded that we all belong to everything. We are all living in God.
We need each other, and we need to take care of each other, because we are not separate from each other. In my experience, zazen is helpful in returning to a balanced state that makes it easier for us to intuitively see this.
I think sanghas, congregations and other communities of friends are beautiful things. On August 20-22 we will have a short sesshin here in Umeå, Sweden. The following are links to some great opportunities to practice zazen together with my friends. Welcome!
http://www.shambhalasun.com/news/?p=4618
http://www.ahimsa.se/storm/program.html
http://www.dogensanghafinland.org/bwarner_inenglish.php
http://lagundaforsamling.se/meditation/
http://www.dogen-sangha-frankfurt.de/html/englisch.html
http://www.dogensangha.org/septretreat.htm
http://homepage.mac.com/doubtboy/BradWarnerTourDates2009.html
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