The River Of Silence

Merciless light of death means to me to realize that death of form is inescapable. Death is a common denominator. It is a universal symptom of existence. Realizing we are all alike in that we will all die can make us all less afraid of our differences. Impermanencedoesn't liberate us from suffering -- we suffer all aspects of human life including impermanence. Impermanence can liberate us from the illusion of permanence and from our "relentless grasp", to use Manuel's term, for the permanent. The near death of my wife deepened my appreciation of life, deepened my gratitude for this briefhuman life that we each have, deepened my awareness that bodily death is in the near future for each of us. What helps me be more awake to the truth that underlies my fears is my faith that human death is death of my body which is a manifestation of God in human form and not death of soul or God that is me and is eternal.

Amen! ("What helps me be more awake to the truth that underlies my fears is my faith that human death is death of my body which is a manifestation of God in human form and not death of soul or God that is me and is eternal.")