Dear Beloved of Ruth.
I just discovered myself typing unintelligible words. I am so tired.
On my way to bed for a few hours.
Ruth continues slow decline. She is, however,still
​“Nothing whatsoever should be clung to as ‘I’ or ‘Mine'”. Buddha

Dear Beloveds of Ruth
It is eight AM and the sun is up over the desert. The sky is clear. Doves call and the life of the world continues.
Ruth slept well all night and her condition is apparantly unchanged.
With a deep bow
Robert

Dear Beloveds of Ruth
The sun is setting over the mountains to the west. Everything seems quiet except the cries of a few birds in the distance.
Ruth’s condition remains much as it has been, though I believe there were some signs of greater wakefulness and presence. She is suffering little or no pain.
Very early this morning we followed our rhythm of turning her every two hours. When we were all done I placed a mala that she had previously been holding into her left hand. I wrapped the beads in an awkward way with a couple of loops over the top of her
hand. She very purposefully lifted her hand up into her range of vision then slightly shook and adjusted the beads so they hung in the necessary fashion to use them. This spoke to me of presence and awareness.


In the early dawn we all sat in silence around her bed. Her eyes were open and it seemed that from time to time they would track toward someone. For a while we turned off the oxygen generator, which makes a loud hum and an occasional thud. Suddenly the room was truly silent. The love was palpable.
Just a few minutes ago one of her local students came to visit and as she cried tears came to Ruth’s eyes as well.
During the day we sat with her in silence. People came and went. In a way it is becoming normal, or at least less shocking, to sit with her, and reflect upon the radical impermanence of life. It is probably not in any way exaggerating to say that Ruth taught of death and impermanence tens of thousands of times over the years. Here it is now in 3D Technicolor LIFE. Change, arising and passing away.
The Hospice home aid worker came and gave Ruth a bath and a lovely Social Worker came and gathered information for her psychosocial assessment. She was of course, delighted to find a situation in which there is so much love, cooperation and support for Ruth.
Thank you to everyone who has sent blessings and to all who are holding Ruth in your hearts. There are vigils happening in Europe and both coasts and in between. It is beautiful and strengthening to know that so much love is pouring out into the world on behalf of Ruth
Please know that if it becomes clear that Ruth is in rapid decline that I will send out a message. I will certainly send a message soon after she passes.
The plan is to have her remain here at her home for a day after her passing. Her body will then be taken to a mortuary in Yucca Valley. On a Saturday as week or so later there will be an all day ceremony and gathering at Dhamma Dena. Word will go our as soon as we know the dates.
With a bow of great love and gratitude
Robert Beatty