After a heartwarming two weeks of sitting with my dear dad as he inched towards the end of his 86 years of life, we tenderly celebrated this wonderful man on Thursday at his funeral.
Then I only had one rest day and headed off alone today to drive to a GFR retreat with an overnight motel stay on the way to Vijayaloka.
It was my birthday and I love a good solo car trip.
When I arrived at the motel the owner told me she had upgraded me to the spa suite at no extra cost. No particular reason but she said she felt drawn to do it the night before I arrived.
I was delighted …as both my dad and I love baths and i knew it would be a great way to absorb the strong time of the previous weeks.
As stood in motel reception and explained to this kind person why the gift of a bath was so timely we discovered both our fathers had died on the same day the week before.
She also had three daughters and one of her daughter’s birthday was the same as mine.
We laughed at the serendipity nature of connecting incidents in our lives.
Just before I went to start my bath I was compelled to dig out my bag of little buddhas and go back and offer one to her.
One of the Buddhas I had placed standing in a row caught her eye straight away.
A small golden Amoghasiddhi.
I explained the fearlessness hand gesture ….a bringer of courage.
Her eyes moistened and we did not need to speak details…of anything.
Suffering is universal …there was just a ‘knowing’ .
-a heart feeling that connected two strangers standing in a small country town between Melbourne and Sydney.
She said quietly, with that little Buddha in her hand, “I will never forget this.”
And I will never forget her kindness or intuitiveness in placing me in a room with a bath where I could have alone time with the pulsating heart ache of that accompanies missing my dearly loved dad.
Buddha donated by Bridie UK
March 20, 2021 at 7:50 am
Sending you much love dear Maitripala, I’ve been thinking of you as you start to accommodate the loss of your precious dad in your heart. You’ve been such a loving daughter.
Kalyacitta
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March 20, 2021 at 8:03 am
Beautiful, touching and gorgeously coincidental. My deepest condolences dear Maitripala go out to you reading of the death of this lovely significant man in your life. .you and I met in Fed Square five years ago when I was over for birth of my twin grandsons. They’re five today and live here now. I too love a bath and look forward to a good soak – once the bathroom is completed!
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March 20, 2021 at 9:41 am
Hello dear Mahasiddhi. Good to know you are getting to play with the twins 💝
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March 20, 2021 at 8:20 am
So beautiful Maitripala.
Thank you for sharing this and what a lovely coincidence of souls. Sending you much love
Parami
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March 20, 2021 at 9:11 am
What a moving and touching account of your lovely dad’s dying and then the magic generosity of hearts and coincidences that followed. Very beautiful. Thank you. With love to you dear Maitripala. Kalyanasri
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March 20, 2021 at 9:38 am
Thanks dear Kalyanasri 💝
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March 20, 2021 at 9:30 am
Beautiful
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March 20, 2021 at 9:58 am
Before I opened and read this very special post I felt excited and said to you “I love you Maitripala”.
Then I read it – oh my goodness, words fail me as they failed you and the woman with whom you shared so much . . . as you said . . . there was a knowing, and more.
Thank you for taking the time on your journey to share the story and the beautiful pics of Amoghasiddhi and your dear Dad.
with love, Much Metta, Jody. (You will probably read this after the retreat which by then will have further enriched you as your presence will have enriched the experience of the retreatants and Order members).
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March 20, 2021 at 10:55 am
A lovely story Maitripala and another little Buddha finds a new home. Sadhu!!!
Love Prasadajata xxoo
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March 23, 2021 at 4:07 pm
Dear Maitripala,
I am delighted to hear that you decided to go to the GfR retreat and how incredible, like you say the serendipity if you meeting someone that shared your recent experience. Somehow I feel like Laurie, was smiling with you and the lady you met who now has in her hands Amogasiddhi. A tender time for you both to absorb this loss.
Wishing you well today, tomorrow and always and look forward to catching up soon.
Big hug full of love and much metta,
Verónica
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March 30, 2021 at 4:28 am
Thanks so much for making the effort to share this beautiful heartfelt story of connection and serendipity with us. More now than ever, we need to be kind and compassionate to each other and ourselves. Go well dear dad, Go well dear Maitripala
Much love and blessings
Jan xxx
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March 30, 2021 at 8:06 pm
Thanks Jan. Lovely to hear from you. Xx
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June 30, 2021 at 11:15 pm
Very lovely story. I miss my father too.
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