Barre Center for Buddhist Studies

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The Soothing of Grief

Poem
Andrew Olendzki
Spring 1995

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1995-Issue-01-Spring-Poem

This tender poem of loss and recovery was (probably) composed by Patacara, one of the leading women of the Buddha’s order of nuns. Born the daughter of a wealthy banker, Patacara fell in love with one of her father’s servants and ran off to live happily with him in a forest hamlet. Then, through a series of tragic accidents, she lost first her husband, then two sons, and finally her parents and brother. Wandering destitute, naked and mad with grief, she in time met the Buddha face to face, who showed her kindness when others would scorn her. She heard his teaching, joined the order of nuns, and went on to become one of the arahats, or worthy ones. Patacara helped many other women who were overcome by grief regain their sanity and quench the pain of their loss. The meter of the verse is based on eight syllables per line, and there is an interesting wordplay in the fourth stanza. The latter part of the phrase “As he has gone, so has he gone” corresponds to the word Tathagata— a favorite epithet of the Buddha.

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Insight Journal

Spring 1995

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In this issue:

Life is a Retreat

By Sylvia Boorstein

Interview

Dedicated to Dhamma

By Andrew Olendzki

Article

Freeing the Mind

By Joseph Goldstein

Article

The Soothing of Grief

By Andrew Olendzki

Poem

 

All issues:

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978 355 2347     contact@buddhistinquiry.org

 

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  • Home
  • About Us
    • New and Notable
    • Mission and Values
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • IMS
    • Job Openings
    • Getting to BCBS
    • Mailing List
    • Contact Us
  • Residential Courses
    • Residential Course Calendar
    • Yearlong Programs
      • Dharma and Art: A Practice of Investigating Perception
      • Nalanda Program
    • Everything You Need to Know
    • Typical Course Schedule
    • Self-Study
    • Continuing Education Credits
    • Financial Assistance
    • Teacher Dāna
  • Online Programs
    • Foundations of a Soulmaking Dharma
    • Satipaṭṭhāna Meditation
    • Entering The Path: An Online Foundations Course in Early Buddhist Study and Practice
    • Dharma and Art: A Practice of Investigating Perception
    • Cancellation Policy
  • Teaching Faculty
  • Resources
    • Insight Journal
    • Bhikkhu Anālayo Lectures
    •  Publications by Bhikkhu Anālayo
    • Books
    • Access to Insight
  • Generosity
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Teacher Dāna
    • Planned Giving
    • Stock Transfers