Reflections in the Pond

We don’t often talk about it over coffee, but every one of us, sooner or later, meets the profound mysteries of life and death—sometimes through the joy of new birth, other times through the pain of loss. And alongside these moments, many of us are called to care for those we love through illness, aging, or transition. These experiences can be beautiful, heart-wrenching, exhausting, and sacred—all at once. In this reflection, drawn from the teachings of the Buddha, the writin