OUR KING WILL LIVE ON

I am a doctor. The truth about death and dying is a familiar and accepted part of life to me. That is, until the evening of Thursday, Oct 13, 2016.

Never before have I experienced such sorrow. Its depth reaches not only into my heart but also to the very core of my soul, filling them with unfathomable darkness. The breath of such sorrow reaches across this vast country, touching the lives of every man and woman, young and old, rich and poor. It is inescapable. There is no respite. It is everywhere and anywhere, all at once. It is encompassing our hearts, our minds and our souls. All one can do is mourn in the hope that, by mourning, we will finally accept what is already an irreversible part of history.

Someone posted a teaching by Buddha during the last days of his life, to Anon, his closest and best loved disciple. It reads, “Do not grieve so, Anon, for I am with you everywhere. I am in the leaves on the tree, the water in the river and even the sunshine. The wind that touches your skin is a blessing from me, Anon. I am even in the soil and dust. I am in your heart and your body, yet I am outside of it. I am in everything that surrounds you.”

And so, King Bhumibol lives on in his beloved nation. He lives on in the lush countryside he helped to create from barren, dry land. He lives still in the ponds and reservoirs that he commissioned to build. His images can be seen in homes and offices across the country. His works are evident in the bountiful smiles of farmers, coffee growers and many others who are taught to earn a meaningful living through his royal projects.

Most of all, his teachings, his words, his ideals and aspirations for his country and his people remain an integral part of who we are. And finally, his life, lived as an example, will live on in all of us who love him. Chulathida Chomchai