goodbye

i found out yesterday that michael passed away on jan 15. a few years ago, he had been diagnosed with a rare form of parathyroid cancer; he beat all odds and lived a full life, literally till the very end. it was only in dec 07 that i came across michael's remarkable blog (from where i took the picture). it is a beautiful chronicle of his courage and grace, even in the face of death. besides his remarkable photographs and touching poems. he did not dwell much on his sickness but sometimes, whilst in great pain, he did write about it but in a remarkably detached way. some of his writings are reminiscent of the great shiki masaoka, tanka poet extraordinaire and who was in great pain towards the end of his short life, afflicted with spinal caries (tb). a nihonophileand a zen practitioner, michael received his dharma name daiku (great sky) just a few days before, in a solemn jukai ceremony signifying his life-long commitment to zen practice.

it is remarkable how one can be deeply touched by someone one has never met or even corresponded with. "to my newer readers, welcome aboard. speak up now and then." he wrote in his blog. i never did, then. i write now, choking back tears. great sky, happy journey and may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.