Now April as Months pass since the retreat and  today  this benefit of the retreat and reflections are in this opportunity as a dear friend  unexpectedly died yesterday  I am struck by heartfelt sadness, shock,  the earth will miss this loving embodied being as will his family.  The hugs and smiles and loving kindness flowing from him we experienced just a few days before.  To be with the sorrows and gratitude of this man in our lives, I am helped by the instructions of Roshi “still, don’t move”. See the mind wander to disbeliefs  of how “ I can’t believe it”… of chattering mind why, how ?  Be with the gift a human life can offer and how impermanence is true, he will be with me always and I will deeply miss him and I am sad.  Holding these truths in gratitude for the teachings.