From my 11/19/13 Facebook Post, based on wisdom drawn from
No Death, No Fear by Thich Nhat Hanh
I am thankful for Essence.
If we are grieving the loss of a loved one, it helps to understand that the Essence of our loved one does not begin at birth and end at death. Their Essence has gone into everyone and everything they ever met or touched, their friends, their children, and the earth.
If we can stop seeking their Essence in their body, which is no longer here, we can become awakened to find their essence in so many other people and places.
We can do this with people who are still alive, which will help us understand that Essence is going out into the world at all times, it doesn’t wait until we die. Watch the Essence of a friend, your child, or an older ancestor. You will become awakened to all the ways their Essence has gone and is going into the world, to friends, family, and the earth. You can even watch the essence of yourself and see how your Essence is continuing.
We cannot know how many people our words, actions, or thoughts have touched. Even the Essence of an unborn or newborn child has touched many, many more lives than we will ever know. Essence is our continuation.
– Jessica
