kadampa-nyc-spotlight-sangha-joan

Joan: Helping Our Loved Ones Face Death

May 12, 2019

Right now I’m in a state of grieving. I was taking care of my mom for the last year until the moment she passed. She had metastatic lung cancer that spread to her brain. It’s one of the worst things that can happen to a person.

There were times I felt I couldn’t do it. But my mom showed me my capacity for benefiting others. She showed me why my life is meaningful – I saw how precious it is to care for others.

Dharma helped me approach the situation from the standpoint of this is a challenge, so how am I going to transform it into something positive? I had to really watch my mind and keep it light and happy for her sake because she would feed off my energy.

After she died, I went to her room, and there were her reading glasses on the bedside table, along with her computer…and the cat was on her bed. I realized you can’t take anything with you when you die.

I have to process the grief I feel but if I can home in on the loss and use it as energy to motivate me to train my mind then this has all been even more meaningful.

Other Blog Posts

kadam-matthew-riechers

Meet Kadam Matthew – Our New Wednesday GP Teacher!

Meet our new Wednesday evening General Program class teacher, Kadam Matthew!

henry-kadampa-meditation-center-nyc

Henry: Bringing Dharma to the Classroom

Imagine having a classroom of 30 kids. You’re up there trying to teach, but you can’t get a word out, because, all of a sudden, they are all screaming, and…

todd-killian-kadampa-nyc-teacher-spotlight

Todd: A Meaningful Way to Spend Retirement

I retired 13 months ago. These days I’m spending most of my time immersed in the Dharma – reading, thinking, meditating and practicing Buddha’s teachings…and I also volunteer at the…

woo-kadampa-nyc-teacher-spotlight

Woo: Our Main Teacher at Our New Queens Branch

One way in which you can create your life is through will power. You have a vision of what you think happiness is and then you push your way forward…

hanna-raschl-mcronald-kadampa-nyc-education

Hanna: Born and Raised Kadampa

HANNA is the newest member of our KMC NYC Education Team. Check out our interview below where she shares her lifelong journey (yes, lifelong!) in Buddhism. Welcome, Hanna! Right from…

open-mic-open-mind-kadampa-nyc

Open Mic Open Minds

Blog Center Happenings Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Email Share on Reddit An evening of transforming enjoyments and celebrating our precious dharma center with…

france-roy

Inner Peace is True Mental Health

Meet our new Tuesday evening General Program class teacher, France Roy and hear what he has to say about meditation and mental health.

Gen Menla in NYC 2024 6

Three Public Talks in Three Days – Gen Menla’s 2024 Visit to NYC!

Blog Center Happenings Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Email Share on Reddit In early March, we had the pleasure of welcoming Gen Menla at…

how-to-meditate-kadampa-meditation-center-nyc

How To Meditate – A Guide

How to Meditate When practiced correctly, meditation is a scientific method for increasing happiness. Buddha discovered that we each have a natural reservoir of inner peace in our mind which…

change-your-mind-change-your-world-kadampanyc1

Change Your Mind, Change Your World

“We may think that our suffering is caused by other people, by poor material conditions or by society, but in reality it all comes from our own deluded states of…