Abhidhamma <\/span>class. Ken would enter every class with a smile and \u201chellos,\u201d shaking hands with anyone he hadn\u2019t seen in a while. He regularly asked the most penetrating questions, having been through the classes several times and each year gaining greater depth of understanding in the material.<\/p>\nEach week he joined us for tea at Hawthornes, a caf\u00e9 just up the road from our department. While having an endless list of ideas and pursuits of his own, gathered up over decades of Buddhist practice and study, he was always genuinely fascinated with the particular ideas, interests, and lives of the students.<\/p>\n
As our year together began to wind down and weekly tea meetings became ever more rare, we started Buddhistacademics<\/span>, an online discussion group devoted to continuing our conversations. There, as in the classroom and over tea, Ken was at the heart of countless wonderful exchanges. His kindness and wisdom infused every message. In one post, after leading us through a brilliant account of the notion of the Buddha\u2019s omniscience, he remarked, \u201cI\u2019d be most grateful if anybody who disagrees with any <\/span>of the above will let me know why.\u201d<\/p>\nLast fall Ken, for the first time in his life, began to fall ill. It started slowly, but gradually progressed until a hospital visit last month confirmed he had developed serious pneumonia. He wrote us shortly after the experience, \u201cWhen I saw him the second time that day, my GP said \u201cYou do realise don\u2019t you that you\u2019ve been very ill?<\/em>\u201c, so no wonder I\u2019ve felt so awful for so long!\u201d<\/p>\nHe was put on antibiotics and was weak but in good spirits. I had hoped to see him while I was visiting Bristol and offered to pick up some shopping for him or just stop in for a visit. He wrote back:<\/p>\n
Dear Justin,<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
I hope you are having a good time in Bristol, and I\u2019m really sorry to have missed seeing you while you are here. I\u2019ve been up and down a bit since I\u2019ve been on the antibiotic, but I\u2019m now reasonably confident that it
is<\/strong><\/em> working. Most of all, I\u2019ll be glad to get rid of the nasty taste in my mouth and get my appetite back! It\u2019s weird just not wanting to eat! Many thanks for the offer, but I\u2019m OK over the week-end; my daughter called today and a friend is looking in tomorrow.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
I look forward to picking up the threads with you again quite soon.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
All the best,
Ken<\/span>. [January 17<\/span>]<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\nAt the beginning of this month we received word from Pascale, a friend and
Buddhistacademy<\/span> member living in Bristol, that he had been admitted to the hospital. Thanking her, I sent her my thoughts to bring to Ken\u2026<\/div>\nDear Ken,<\/p>\n
I\u2019m so sorry to hear that you\u2019re in the hospital. Pascale<\/span> was kind enough to alert the buddhistacademy group a few days ago and I\u2019ve thought of you each day and about what I might say to help cheer you up. Just know that I\u2019m thinking of you and the many wonderful conversations we have had over the years, both in person and through email. I have benefited immeasurably and really look forward to continuing those conversations very soon. I will plan to be back in Bristol for a visit by September at the latest and there is a small chance that I may try to come back to live for a year or so. More on that soon. Do rest up for now and let us know when you\u2019re back around again.<\/p>\nBest wishes,<\/p>\n
Justin<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Unfortunately, the news back was that his condition was worsening.<\/p>\n
Hi Justin,<\/p>\n
You\u2019re welcome. I\u2019ll bring your message today. On Sunday afternoon, Ken was moved into the ICU. He was calm and rested when I saw him and gave him some of the messages I had already received for him. He was very pleased to hear from everyone, and I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll be delighted to hear from you as he did ask me if I had heard from you in particular. He\u2019s often mentioned you to me.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re keeping positive and that he\u2019s going to recover. Keep him in your thoughts.<\/p>\n
Best,<\/p>\n
Pascale<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Yesterday we received news that he had passed away, peacefully. As in death, so too in life. I can think of no better tribute for Ken than to think back on his life as a gift to all who knew him.<\/p>\n
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