Going the distance

My whole life long I've sharpened my sword
And now, face to face with death
I unsheathe it, and lo --
The blade is broken --
Alas!

-Dairin Soto

The long-time friend of a close colleague (and friend) passed away a couple of days ago ... rest in peace. On my daily run I recalled how the great runner-philosopher George Sheehan faced death and wrote about it, up to the very end. Doing so took a great deal of courage. But even so he expressed at the very end his wish not to die ... alas.

It's hard to know how any of us will handle the final moment.

There is a story about a village being plundered by a warlord and the people fleeing into the hills, all except for a Zen priest who remained behind. When the warlord arrived, he drew his sword and the priest sat calmly, undisturbed. Then the warlord exclaimed "Don't you know who I am? I am one who could run you through with this sword and never bat an eye." To this the priest replied "Don't you know who I am? I am one who could be run through with your sword and never bat an eye."

Empty-handed I entered the world
Barefoot I leave it.
My coming, my going --
Two simple happenings
That got entangled.

-Kozan Ichikyo