Caring for Others as We Care for Ourselves

The central question at the heart of the Buddha’s Path is how we can become liberated from old age, sickness, and death. In the sacred story of Shakyamuni Buddha’s life, it is said that the young prince Siddhartha was sheltered from these truths until one day he ventured beyond the palace walls and encountered an old man, a sick man, and a dead man, which stirred within him a spiritual struggle and a yearning for answers.

Through these experiences, Siddhartha’s heart opened to the suffering we all share, and a deep and enduring love for humanity was fostered within him. It is this shared understanding of our impermanent nature that should inspire compassion and empathy for one another. Regardless of our social status, from the most powerful to the humblest among us, we are all subject to these truths of life.

However, in today’s world, how we face these realities is often shaped by our access to quality healthcare and affordable health insurance. The recent actions by our government will not only remove healthcare from millions of Americans but also jeopardize lives by rejecting good science and medicine.

Ultimately, we are increasing disparity and inequality in our society, prioritizing personal and corporate greed as a national value over the collective good and our responsibility to care for one another.

In a story from Buddhist scripture, we learn how Shakyamuni Buddha and his disciple Ananda once cared for a monk who was left to die in filth by his fellow monks. After bathing and tending to the sick monk, Shakyamuni called the monks together and asked them why no one was attending to their fellow monk in need. They replied, “He doesn’t do anything for the monks, lord, which is why they don’t attend to him.” In response, the Buddha admonishes them, “Monks, you have no mother, you have no father, who might tend to you. If you don’t tend to one another, who then will tend to you? Whoever would tend to me, should tend to the sick.”

When tending to the dying monk, the Buddha showed us how to live with sincerity, how to die with dignity, and how to care for others as we care for ourselves. He teaches a profound lesson in accepting the unavoidable truth of impermanence and living mindfully and compassionately.

Recently, I underwent a routine medical screening recommended by my doctor because of my age and the results of a checkup I had a few years ago. Luckily, I have excellent doctors, good health insurance, and a supportive family that helps me stay healthy.

However, many in our country are less fortunate and must depend on social safety net programs that help provide a basic quality of life. My mainly positive experiences with the healthcare system, knowing that this isn’t always the case, reaffirm the Buddha’s teaching on how we should care for others as we care for ourselves. The steady flow of time reminds me what it means to be human and that there is no escape from the fundamental truth that our bodies age and will eventually break down.

Reflecting on old age, sickness, and death offers a profound and empowering lesson on how we should live each precious day of our lives. When we genuinely accept the fleeting nature of life, how do we live with a sense of urgency, making every moment count? How can we offer more compassion to ourselves and others? As Rennyo Shonin writes in the Letter on White Ashes, “By so understanding the meaning of death, we shall come to fully appreciate the meaning of this life which is unrepeatable and thus to be treasured above all else.” The Dharma encourages us to deeply consider how we should live this all-too-brief life we have. Perhaps we should all love and care for each other more deeply.

In the story of the sick monk, we learn that when we belong to a family, we need to care for those who are elderly, ill, or dying. It also reminds us that someday we will need someone to care for us as well, because we are all human. This is an inevitable truth of human life, and shouldn’t this reality open our hearts even wider to everything we share in common? As the spiritual head of the Nishi Hongwanji, Gomonshu Kojun Ohtani, reflects, “We may not be able to resolve all the pain and sadness that other people may be dealing with. But as we share our lives with each other, there will be new heartfelt and deep encounters, connections, and relationships that will emerge.”

So when our leaders callously say, “we will all die” or “they will get over it,” in response to the stripping away of healthcare from the most vulnerable and needy in society, it demonstrates a lack of understanding, compassion, and empathy.

As we navigate these challenging times, let us draw wisdom from the Buddha’s teachings to stay grounded while continually opening our hearts to one another. Seeing ourselves in others is a natural part of being human. Perhaps this is how we can bring light and love into a cold, dark world that seems to have forgotten our shared humanity. Namo Amida Butsu.