The Practice of Prayer byThich Nhat Hanh - The Mindfulness Bell

Five Remembrances of Jim
byThereseFitzgerald
1.1 am of the nature to grow old. There is no way to
escape growing old. One time when Arnie and Ivisited Jim
inthe hospital, Iasked Jim if there was anything he'd like us
to read from the Plum Village Chanting Book. He responded,
"Sure, I'll read "TheFive Remembrances.'" After
reading the first remembrance, he paused and, with abig
grin, said, "That sure sounds good to me."
2. / am of the nature to have ill-health. There is no way
to escape having ill-health. The remembrance of ill-health is
one that Jim had to be very aware of since he was diagnosed
with cancer in 1991. From time to time he would say, "This
is noway to live, having injections and treatments all the
time." We can empathize with him. He raged against it, but
he also reached that strong place of acceptance, even to
some humor and detachment. We learned much from him.
3.1 am of the nature to die. There is no way to escape
death. Jim's awareness of death fueled his urgency to live
fully and completely in every moment. At a September
retreat with Thay, Jim looked at me and said, in no uncertain
terms, "Therese, please give me something to do. I don't
need to be here for myself. Let me do something to help
others."
4. All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the
nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated
from them. We appreciate so much how strong Artie isin
her love for Jim to bear with this loss. There is a nugget of
inconsolable grief, but there is also the joy of remembering
what Jim taught us, and allowing him to continue in us.
5. My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot
escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the
ground on which I stand. The last time we visited Jim in the
hospital, he was completely lucid, although in much pain.
At that time, the almond blossoms were in full bloom. I bent
down to Jim's ear and said to him, "Jim, the Almond
Blossom Sangha is blooming beautifully now." He had so
much energy, joy, and love to share with others that weall
joined with him and asked for his help whenever we could.
Hecreated places of refuge for people to come, sit themselves
down, and try to make peace with all the stuff kicking
around inside. He set out on a course of meditation to center
himself, to ready himself to meet death with as much ease as
hecould, with the help of all his wonderful family and
friends—friends in the Hospice Movement, his veteran
buddies, his friends in the Methodist Church, the Almond
Blossom and Order of Interbeing Sanghas, the Jewish
Synagogue, and many other places of prayer and contemplation
that he made his home.
The following poem by Jim was read at the memorial
service by Jim's friend Ed Miller.
Remember me in fall,
when days are warm and nights are cool,
when trees show off warm colors
stored up from summer's heat,
and everyone has somewhere to invite me to go.
Remember me in winter,
when everyone has a holiday
and I love to celebrate them all,
when the Solstice promises longer days to come.
Remember me in spring,
when young lovers lie in grass by the river,
when warmth of midday
lets us swim in nearly full canals,
when the promise of summer
brings such joy to my heart.
But especially, remember me in summer
when the bright heat of day
warms me to the bone.
Therese Fitzgerald, True Light, assisted Arnie Kotler in
celebrating Jim's Memorial Ceremony, held on May 26 at
the Lotus Garden in Modesto, one of Jim's favorite spots.
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Jim on the trail