coping up with the longest journey...

In my community, monks are allowed to go on a home visit under ordinary circumstances once a year for only twenty five days inclusive of a round trip travel time.



In circumstances that don't fall under the ordinary like death of a sibling, or a serious illness of parents, a monk is allowed to go home for a maximum of three weeks inclusive of a round trip travel time. such is stipulated in our Customary Practice.



whenever a monk is sent home for these reasons other than the ordinary, travelling by land or by air seems like a lifetime... Heightened emotions like restlessness, uneasiness, nostalgic moments, and boredom usually take over and capture him all throughout his trip or flight. It seems like getting back home entails eternity.





Now, my reflections to tell: These Ten Realities at random are what a monk (or even an ordinary one like you) thinks, feels believes in and experiences whenever circumstances beyond the ordinary occurs in his life.



1. Losing a loved one is like having the rug swept from under him.



2. The tragedy never goes away. He just learn how to cope with it and keep moving on.



3. He really never gets over the loss of a loved one. He just tries very hard to get on with his life.



4. when he is grieving, pity is one of the emotions that surfaces and the shock will create irrational thoughts especially when he has gone through so much.



5. It appears unbelievable and he really would not have imagined that he would still be sane today, but he is.



6. Time is a good healer, but family is the greatest support that he can ever have.



7. He realizes that his experience would allow him to reach out to others and make a difference in the life of others who may still be grieving or have just lost a loved one. He Doesn't give up hope ever.



8.There is no way he could have done all he did without being in the denial stage of grief. He goes through the motions, but does not believe any of it. He kept his feelings in check because he doesn't want to upset his mother any longer. He also goes through the guilt state of wishing that he were the one who died instead of his sister.



9. He Keeps on living and he will be healed of his grief one day, but he must remember to stay close to his family in the process.



10. He also goes through the guilt state of wishing that he was the one who died instead of his sibling. He feels guilty for being the one who is still alive. He wasn’t able to deal with his feelings right away because he was thinking more about how to comfort his mother.

Need i say more?







this one was an image taken by Rebecca , a very dear one, who took her precious time just be able to meet me for an eyeball (for the first time) at Tom Bradley Int'l Airport terminal Los Angeles, while waiting for my 11:45Pm flight to Hongkong.





some random images i took minutes before my plane took off.









while in the Philippines, some blog friends took their time despite their busy and hectic schedules to meet me for an eyeball (first time , too) that turned out to be very fulfilling and remarkably memorable one.



There are, indeed, a million things that friends can do, like drying one's teardrops in his eyes and lending a shoulder to lean on in times of great anxiety and distress.



jeprocks and iRonnie at Saisaki restaurant Ayala Center with me.





Sasha with me in a restaurant at SM North EDSA, in which it's name slipped my memory.





BrVince with me in his receiving room.





Wendy and Karen with me at Shakey's QC.



To you, my dear friends, i thank you so sincerely.