I opened my email and there it was. Thich Nhat Hahn is no longer with us in the flesh. As from today. I'd only recently realised what a towering master he was.
I've been reading his latest book, Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet, which was on display in my local library, written in collaboration with one of his life-time students.
I like how it was presented in bite-sized pieces. Each heading prefixes a 'stand alone' piece that can be read for itself rather like one of these inspirational primers that are becoming increasingly popular.
And the headings then are part of chapters. Again, these chapters can be read as stand alone pieces.
And these chapters, in turn, are part of a structure that frames the book and is laid out in the Table of Contents. Basically, as I remember, the book is an introduction to the practice of Buddhism in the 21st century.
Buddhism and Dementia
The practice of mindfulness, central in Buddhism, is all about being in the moment. Being in the moment is also key to enjoying and participating in the Arts, as they are presented in the Future Learn course, Dementia and the Arts.
Another feature of Buddhism, not so much spoken about, is the importance of the Sangha. This is the monastic community. (Maybe the Christian equivalent is the Communion of Saints?) It is recounted that when the Buddha became enlightened, one of his first actions was to create a community.
The importance of being attached to a community with whom we share fundamental values, cannot, in my opinion, be over-estimated. We need the support of like-minded others to flourish and lead our optimal lives.
Our Dementia Marathon Community
One of the benefits of being part of the Dementia Marathon Community, is that we are an international group of people, who share an experience of being a carer for a person living with dementia (PLWD) or a family member or a friend.
We don't need to be Buddhists to appreciate the importance of being in the moment and the importance of sharing with others who also value this and practice it.
But I have been wondering, as I try to makes sense of the puzzling and, to me, tragic experience of dementia, whether a Buddhist approach might offer some ways of framing the experience that could be helpful both in understanding and addressing some of the issues we all face.
Framing our Experience
I like the focus of being in the moment and being curious as to what that moment might hold. Also, the related idea of practicing ways of extending and savouring a moment.
Looking back at my interactions with my friend, diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, I realise in hindsight that I relied too much on memories of a shared history.
And at the time, this made sense. Our friendship, after all, started in part with a shared appreciation of the arts, and particularly, music.
But, assuming that both our memories were reasonably intact was putting an enormous, and unnecessary, stress on her each time we met. I've no idea what she was actually experiencing. But, in hindsight, I imagine, being a worrying type, she probably worried about being able to remember information what would make sense of what we chatted about.
I would have been a better friend, had I found a way to focus on our mutual enjoyment of the moments we were together.
Life moves on. We evolve. Circumstances change. Over the last couple of days I have spoken with several friends who have been noticing, like myself, how different the energy of the youger people around us is from our own.
Maybe the old dogs can learn some new tricks?
Moving forward
As February approaches, I'm planning a series of newsletters themed around the Arts and Dementia.
I would really value your input.
I'd welcome a chat.
Can you find a connection between the Arts and your experience of/understanding of dementia - or as the Future Learn program like to say, 'the dementias'?
Please comment below or feel free to write to me: Justusatjustuslewisphddotcom.