New Journeys Begin for Several Iconic People

Over the last few weeks, the world has lost several iconic people, people who lived into their 90's. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist, chairman of The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was a court-like restorative justice body assembled in South Africa in 1996 after the end of apartheid; Betty White, with an extensive acting career spanning eight decades, and known as an avowed animal lover, an advocate for guide dogs, and a recipient of American Humane's highest honor, the National Humanitarian Medal; Sidney Portier, known for his prolific acting career, being a front runner for African American actors, the first African American to win an Academy award, and one of the books he wrote appeared on The New York Times Bestseller list, The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography, and most recently the dearly respected and admired Thich Naht Hahn, Vietnamese Thiền Buddhist monk, global spiritual leader, poet, and peace activist, renowned for his powerful teachings and abundant bestselling writings on mindfulness and peace, friend and advocate of Martin Luther King, Jr. who said of Thich, "His ideas for peace, if applied, would build a monument to ecumenism, to world brotherhood, to humanity.” 

At Humanity's Team we do not believe that death is an end, but rather a continuation, and that death is no less a miraculous event than birth. We carry them in our hearts as they journey on. In 2007 Thich Naht Hahn wrote a profound poem regarding how he sees death, which we include here. 

This Body is not Me

by Thich Nhat Hanh

This body is not me.

I am not limited by this body.

I am life without boundaries.

I have never been born,

and I have never died.

Look at the ocean and the sky filled with stars,

manifestations from my wondrous true mind.

Since before time, I have been free.

Birth and death are only doors through which we pass,

sacred thresholds on our journey.

Birth and death are a game of hide-and-seek.

So laugh with me,

hold my hand,

let us say good-bye,

say good-bye, to meet again soon.

We meet today.

We will meet again tomorrow.

We will meet at the source every moment.

We meet each other in all forms of life.