“As in life, so in death.”

In January 2017, church members and relatives of the departed attended back-to-back services. One was a Christian funeral, and the other a Buddhist funeral. At the Christian service, stories of personal faith were shared along with photographs of the departed and her relatives, as well as expressions of love towards her family members. On the other hand, at the Buddhist funeral, no message about the Resurrection was shared; however, it was a family-centred event that overflowed with love and gratitude towards the departed. Regardless of religious beliefs, we were each reminded of the importance of living a life full of love.

“As in life, so in death.” These are the words of a Christian psychiatrist that I believe deserve contemplation. Let us aim to live the words of Matthew 22:39 – “Love your neighbor as yourself” – towards our family, friends, and community. After all, the times we live in require from us the ability to transcend religion.