As we continue to think about the people of  Japan in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and tsunami, we find that no words we can muster adequately express our deepest sadness and, outside of donating  to the Red Cross and other organizations, we feel a bit helpless when we think about what we can do to help.

On Friday, LA YOGA MAGAZINE sent their weekly newsletter out and it contained a letter from Thich Nhat Hanh that moved us so much we wanted to share. Our hope is that it offers one possible way to honor those the world has lost and helps each of you find a way to treasure each moment you are alive:

“Dear friends in Japan,

As we contemplate the great number of people who have died in this tragedy, we may feel very strongly that we ourselves, in some part or manner, also have died.

The pain of one part of humankind is the pain of the whole of humankind. And the human species and the planet Earth are one body. What happens to one part of the body happens to the whole body.

An event such as this reminds us of the impermanent nature of our lives. It helps us remember that what’s most important is to love each other, to be there for each other, and to treasure each moment we have that we are alive. This is the best that we can do for those who have died: we can live in such a way that they continue, beautifully, in us.”   —Thich Nhat Hanh