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August 29, 2004

Time to think....

So now that the term is over, I actually have some time to sit down and process what I have been experiencing.

The first thing that keeps drifting in and out of my mind is my issues with death and dying. Personally, I have plenty, but I I need to learn more, to read more, to understand the dying experience from as many perspective as I can, so that I can better care for my patients and their families, and just be at peace for myself.

Everyone's experience with death is different. It is scary and beautiful. It is a transition, just as any other part of life is, and the best I can do is try to understand my own sense of it.... My friend recently described her experiencing caring for a loved one that was dying, and she called herself, "His midwife into death". I thought that was beautiful.

So I bought some books, with the help of Death Maiden (and my current obsession with Zen Buddhism).

I am starting with:

We'll see how it goes.

Posted by missfitsandstarts at August 29, 2004 09:34 PM

Comments

The best book on Buddhism that I've read:
What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula
[http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0802130313]

The best book of Zen stories/koans that I've read
(buy it! It's only $7) is Zen Flesh, Zen Bones
[http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1570620636]

Crooked Cucumber is also great - it's a biography of the amazing Shunryu Suzuki.
[http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0767901053]

Posted by: Casey at August 30, 2004 04:14 AM