July, 2020
“Form is emptiness, emptiness is form.” – The Heart Sutra
Dear Friends,
The last time I wrote you all was March 8th – B.P. – Before the Pandemic. In the last three months, I lost my beloved father to Covid-19 in April, while my mom and I survived our own Covid battles. During this challenging time, all my spiritual practices came vibrantly alive – different meditation practices, yoga, reiki, dreamwork, prayers, ancestors, chanting…My nature meditation experiences from the past few years particularly grounded me and gave me strength and faith, when they were put to test.
As I was walking the line between life and death with my dad for weeks while cheering for healthcare workers every night at 7pm in New York City, I kept remembering the nature retreat experiences at the Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center. There every morning the sky was clear and sunny, then inevitably dark clouds gathered throughout the morning, followed by an early afternoon thunderstorm, then a clear sky re-emerged by mid-afternoon. Impermanence was evident and reminded daily.
What do trees do during a storm? They dig into their roots deeper and expand; they sway with leaves but their trunks stand firm. I was calling in tree energy as I stood in the middle of the storm every day, as I knew I needed to have presence – to be there for my dad, my mom, and myself in one of the most important processes for all three of us to go through, regardless what the outcome might be, regardless whether we were able to see and communicate with each other.
And here we are, three months later, familiar forms fell away – loved one’s body, the way we socialize, the collective denial of systemic racial discrimination – yet what remain become clearer than ever – our faith in the spirit beyond the body, our communications through hearts beyond words, and our capacity to love and change. Old forms dissolve and evolve into new forms.
New York will now re-open. As I re-emerge from this storm and grief, I feel my vision has never been clearer, my faith never been stronger, and my love never been deeper. I would love to continue sharing nature meditation practices and hope that they can support you as you journey forward and they have supported me through this transformative year.
I’m sure no matter who you are and where you are, you have your own pandemic story, how have you gone through it? Where do you draw your strength and faith? May you take in the answers fully and let them ferment and nourish you continuously. May you take in the light and the warmth from the summer and illuminate your own light, so that you carry them with you in this fall and winter. Blessings and love,
Lin
Photo: Full rainbow over East Village, NYC, June 28, 2020
Photo Credit: Benjamin Yee