Do Not Close Your Eyes Before Suffering

Do not close your eyes before suffering. Find ways to be with those who are suffering by all means, including personal contacts and visits, images and sounds. By such means, awaken yourself and others to the reality of suffering in the world.
—The Buddha

It has been an honor working with the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care this month. NYZCCC is an astounding organization that offers compassionate care to the sick and dying and is the first and only Buddhist organization to offer a fully-accredited ACPE CPE Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Program in America.

I am very proud to announce that, in the last three weeks, members of the Tricycle Community have come together and made over 330 donations to the Tricycle Karuna Fund (%100 will be donated to NYZCCC), and that our Special Community Discussion lead by NYZCCC founders Koshin Paley Ellison and Robert Chodo Campbell has brought together caring individuals from all walks of life to share and reflect on the importance of compassion and service. I would like to offer my heartfelt gratitude to all that have made this collaboration such a great success. And it’s not over yet! To anyone who is interested in learning more and has not yet been able to join the discussion or contribute, please stop by Compassion and Action.

As we come together as a community to support the future work of NYZCCC, we might want to take a second to reflect on what this incredible group has already accomplished.

via the NYZCCC website,

One patient at a time, NYZCCC manifests its mission of treating those who are suffering with the wisdom, compassion and equanimity of the Buddhist teachings.

Since August 2007:

    * 31,386 individuals received contemplative care in the face of death, cancer, AIDS, and other illnesses
    * 9,895 family members, couples and friends received contemplative care as they dealt with grief, mourning and loss
    * 21,727 hours of compassionate care have been given by our volunteer chaplains
    * 8,076 staff people in hospitals, hospices, and prisons received spiritual care, including doctors, nurses, social workers and officers
    * 2,347 Contemplative care and meditation groups were run by our volunteer chaplains, with over 7,642 people attending.
    * 4,410 men and women from the general public have received education in topics such as death and dying, Buddhist approaches to death, addictions and spirituality, and contemplative practices.