Not a Cause for Sadness

We often feel it is a sad and unfortunate situation when our parents are sick and we have to drop our lives to care for them. But I’ve been thinking a lot about this recently, and it’s not a sad situation—it’s a time for joy. Our lives are short, and the number of opportunities we get to spend time with our parents, to be gentle and loving towards them, is rare. When we were young, they did so much for us; they loved and cared for us as much as they could.

Now that they are old and need help, it is our chance to repay some of the kindness they showed us. Personally, I didn’t get the chance to care for any of those who lovingly brought me up. That is sad. Having that opportunity is one we should treasure; it is joyous.

Drupon Khen Rinpoche

24.07.25