As an older man myself, I am unperturbed by the passing of my father. This inner state of non-friction is a product of two distinct influences on my life – my father’s attitude to material reality (always be fearless and move forward when under fire) – and Buddhist meditation (remove greed, hatred, and delusion from within – and do not create the conditions that manifests these taints externally). It is a multifaceted approach to conflict resolution in the world. Yes – I have seen my father’s now deceased body – and it is a body that is no longer functioning. He is no longer in physical pain. Indeed, natural processes have removed his presence from the physical world – just as they brought him into it a little over 84-years ago. This does not absolve those around him who contributed to his suffering – as they shall be forever damned – but such an attitude demonstrates that externally deriving ignorance will crush or divert our way of viewing the world. We will not bend or bow-down to tyranny.
