Journal entry by Amma Thanasanti —
Thursday morning Marley died. We moved her to UUCSR and laid her out in honor. Thursday night the regular meditation group met while the Dhammadharini Bhikkhuni’s chanted the traditional funeral chanting. They got word Marley died and showed up that evening.
Friday morning the meditation group that I started when I lived in Santa Rosa and has been ongoing met with me and mom’s body. The poem that was read was perfect.
Again The Dhammadharini Bhikkhuni gathered a second time in the evening and again we did the traditional funeral chanting: The sound recording is here:https://youtu.be/E8J8lNnb2FU. They came laden with Dhamma books to give as gifts.
Saturday City Zen met and a chanted. The link for that chanting is here:
Saturday afternoon 15 different Threshold choir song sisters representing 4,Threshold Choirs and including Kate Munger, the founder gathered (with 2 days notice). the link for that is here: https://youtu.be/pQUzMeUisAg.
It’s hard with a few words and even these sound recordings to convey the flow of blessings that come as community gather, honor a beloved Elder, my dear Mother who has passed, and be present with me in my grief, exhaustion and relief – bringing food for guests and meals for me, giving space, and being present; decorating the casket with messages.It’s also hard t o describe the perfection being here in the middle of this deeply loving congregation and have all of this happening.
to say goodbye and to move through this Threshold with Grace, beauty, community; tell and hear stories, laugh, cry, Feel, humbled by others kindness generosity, see friends who have known Marley many decades, and my friends who drove hours to have some time with me, feel joy, and feel exhausted. Yes- all of it right now.
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