[nukkad] Cliched responses to death

["Harshal Chhaya" <>]

I manage the website for our community organization and part of my
responsibility is to announce recent deaths. I usually add a couple of
editorial sentences expressing our sadness.

While I was editing an obituary announcement today, I was struck by
how cliched and tired the whole thing sounds. Do things like "Our
prayers are with his family during this difficult time" and "May god
give you all the strength to bear this loss" have any meaning any
more? Do people even read those? I would like to just not use them
anymore and just announce the death.

But I am curious if such statements of sympathy and support, however
trite, have a purpose. What do you think?

Thanks,
- Harshal


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Dig the pond without waiting for the moon; and the moon will come by itself 
when the pond is finished.  - Zen koan
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