[allachakb]

Much has been written about the grieving process but what I would like to add is this process of grieving for a departed love one applies to Buddhists too - they are not immune simply because they practice meditation or mindfulness and have studied the four noble truths, etc. But it can be very beneficial for the practicing Buddhist to observe his or her feelings, thoughts, emotions and states of mind as he or she goes through the grieving process rather than get too attached or caught up in it. In doing this we can see what the differences between attachment and love are and how things are impermanent and not subject to our control - we can take the death of a loved one as something which will help us let go ourselves.

When someone close to us dies it is normal for us to also consider our own death and what that means. In doing this we can feel closer to our loved one and we can imagine someone grieving for us when the time comes.

There is a wonderful story about a Zen monk watching and smelling an incense stick burning by the body of his recently deceased mother - by just by silently witnessing the incense stick burn and his own grief, he came to realize the nature of his own mind and became enlightened.