“Inspiration From a Near Death Experience” - Tea & Talk program hosted in Chan Meditation Center

On June 11, 2 pm EST, Chan Meditation Center hosted the Tea & Talk program "Inspiration from a Near Death Experience" led by Chao-Pin Hsiao (Pin), a nurse scientist and associate professor at Case Western Reserve University whose specialty is symptom science in oncology.
 
Pin shared how she accidentally drowned while traveling in Japan during her youth. She experienced near-death until she was successfully rescued by CPR. She talked about common near-death experiences such as flashbacks, separation of body and mind, and returning to the body when resuscitated, and compared her experiences with them. Participants expressed their opinions freely. By understanding the near-death experience, they learned to face life and death with wisdom.
Pin said that after experiencing her near-death experience, she felt lucky to "come back" and started to re-examine her life. While engaged in medical work, she was moved by the illnesses and suffering of terminal cancer patients with metastasis. These all became the motivation for her Buddhist practice. She regretted arguing with her sisters and learned to reflect on herself. She became gentler, more inclusive, and forgave others more easily. Meanwhile, she was more decisive and tried her best in everything she did. Pin encouraged everyone to cherish the present moment and lead their lives positively.
 
Some participants shared that they experienced separation of body and mind while under mental stress and asked if this kind of separation can happen during meditation practice and how to handle it. Venerable Chang Hwa, Director of CMC, encouraged everyone to practice mindfulness and unification of body and mind. She reminded participants not to "stick" with or "play" with any experiences during meditation, but to be aware of them and return to the method immediately.
 
Grace Fu, a volunteer in CMC's chanting group for the deceased, shared that on one occasion after Venerable's Dharma talk and eight hours of chanting Amitabha Buddha's name for the deceased, she noticed the countenance of the deceased practitioner was serene and the body had become less rigid. This experience strengthened her faith in Buddhadharma. In addition to persisting in daily practice, Grace is trying to simplify her life and reduce her dependence on and attachment to material things. She hoped that everyone, including herself, could make good connections with sentient beings, and remember to be mindful and recite the Buddha's name wholeheartedly even when facing life-or-death situations.
 
Article: Amanda Yeung
Photo: Yin Ting