Fading Into Light
My sister Trish has a condition that involves, among other symptoms, a form of dementia that is slowly taking her from us. The decline is unpredictable in the short term, but consistent over time—and will lead to the end of her life. Similarly, both my parents experienced different types of dementia; still with the same conclusion. Death claimed them as it will my sister, not from the dementia itself, but related complications.
After my sister dies, I will be the last of my biological line. So far, I’ve avoided the dementia thing; other than the usual lapses of memory that happen with us septuagenarians. Western medicine seems unable to deal effectively with cognitive declines. Many drugs appear to postpone some symptoms, and various herbal and homeopathic remedies offer modest relief. I wonder when we will cease trying to quell the symptoms and learn to work with the mind in a different way. Maybe we can gain some skills through discovering diverse ways of being present to dementia.
Where does awareness go when our cognitive capacity is compromised? From a Buddhist perspective, it goes nowhere; we always remain spacious and aware, although the brain itself becomes less functional as an organ. Awareness is unaffected by the condition of the physical apparatus. This is why, as caregivers, we should make an effort to honor our capacity to interact nonverbally through the practice of simply being present—no matter how the moment appears. Our loving acceptance of a person or situation, along with use of color, sound, smell, touch, taste, etc., communicates much more than words.
We will all eventually leave our bodies behind; our awareness will merge into the bardo of dharmata, the intrinsic nature of everything. Stripped of a physical body, our consciousness experiences pure perception, unlimited by conceptual thinking. This is sometimes referred to as uniting with the luminous and infinite “basic ground of being.” At this point, the brain is unnecessary to our transition into death, but our spacious awareness can use all the support we can offer.
On a recent trip to see Trish, I saw a Great Egret in the wetlands adjacent to my motel located in the town near my sister’s country home. The bird’s white feathers reflected the evening sun, and produced a luminous display contrasting with the backdrop of dark green leaves of pond lilies. In Native American and Celtic traditions, the egret’s pristine white feathers symbolize peace, spiritual enlightenment, and connection with nature. I now visualize planting this seed of awareness in Trish’s fading mind so she may fly free as a Great Egret into the spacious sky of liberation.