Jack is No More!

Jack is no more! Our friend Jack is really no more!

Jack has been a friend of mine for the past two years. He has been a friend of many many people. He, indeed, had a lot of friends.

I met Jack at a Monastery! He drove all the way from Waco to be at a Abhidhamma class(offered twice a month). He made it a point to come to every Abhidhamma class. He drove 100+ miles so each way to spend just an hour at the monastery.

Jack was a Professor. He taught at a University in Texas for many many years. I never asked him which College or University where he taught. He had retired after many years of teaching.

Jack, after his retirement, worked in a jail helping lots of inmates. From what I heard, he had helped a lot of people.

He was attracted to Buddhism for a long time. About an year ago, he gave me a copy of Bhante Gunarathna's talks and a few other talks in mp3 format. Having a few hundred hours of mp3 Dhamma talks, I never listened to any of the talks he gave me on a CD. Now that he is no more, I am going to make it a point to listen to the talks he gave me on a CD. That will be me homage to him.

Jack was funny! Those of us who know him will remember him as a person with a great warmth and a great sense of humor! His smile was contagious!

He always looked great with his unkempt hair and a week's growth of facial hair!

Jack loved listening to Dhamma talks. He liked Bhante Gunarathna. He, specially liked listening to Ajahn Brahm. Often he told me how much he enjoyed listening to Ajahn Brahm, a British Monk (who now lives in Australia) who peppers his wisdom talks with great day-to-day humor! (Click on Dhamma Talks on this link bswa.org)

Jack touched many a heart. He was dear to one and all! May Jack, wherever he is, he be happy! May his wife and family have the courage and strength to bear this loss with grace and with samatha (equanamity) and in the comfort knowing wherever Jack is, he is happy!

We will meet Jack again! And again!! And again!!! You know, he like us, is born again! And again!! And again!!! He is a true Bodhisatva! And like a true Bodhisatva, he is not going to attain Nirvana until all beings are enlightened!