Update on Thay-- January 8, 2016

Straight_Man

Thay has returned to Plum Village in France.

http://plumvillage.org/news/an-update-on-thays-health-8th-january-2016/

Vastmind

I was glad to hear he returned home. At the bottom of the OP link, there's a recent pic. I felt such mixed emotions. I felt love, joy and compassion for seeing my Teacher...but my mind instantly started comparing how different he looked than the last time I saw him. His mortality through all this didn't hit me until I saw this pic. The eyeball sense kicked me in the jaw.

He would want me to go have a cup of tea right now and stop at the bell.

I will do both.

Love you, Thay. Gratitude for all the teachings I have received from him, and the entire Sangha.

Nele

Yes, the picture is a bit of a shock, seeing how the stroke has affected his physical appearance. I love that he is surrounded by smiling youth; in one of his books, he said that the young should be especially encouraged in Buddhism because they have so much to give, and time ahead of them. At the time I was sniffy about that because, hey, I wasn't young but wanted to be encouraged too! How silly of me.

federica

It's evident that he - just like many of us - was not intending to die, and obviously had no desire to do so.... He readily accepted the therapy, and knuckled under and did the work.
If we're honest, it's doubtful he will ever fully recover from this incident, and return to being the Thay everyone remembers he was.
And I'm absolutely 100% certain that he is well aware that was a 'dress rehearsal' for the real thing.

I am truly grateful that he is at home, where he belongs, among those who love, cherish, support and look to him....

But it would be best to acknowledge that The Great Teacher's days are numbered.

But then again - who's aren't...?

lobster

@Nele said:
Yes, the picture is a bit of a shock, seeing how the stroke has affected his physical appearance. I love that he is surrounded by smiling youth; in one of his books, he said that the young should be especially encouraged in Buddhism because they have so much to give, and time ahead of them. At the time I was sniffy about that because, hey, I wasn't young but wanted to be encouraged too! How silly of me.

The very old/sick have death/mortality to offer us. The vital have all potential to remind us.

The crazy should be encouraged to balance us, the dying to unleash our compassion. The well to improve our health. The wise to stimulate our inner jedi ... and so on ...

Bravo Thay. Thay nacious spirit!

Thanks @Nele