Wordle image of Shodoka 
Sad news. Feb. 2, 2009 Chan Master Sheng-Yen passed from this life. I never met him yet was deeply touched by his teaching. Last year I spent many weeks with good friends, looking at the Chan text called “Shodoka” or variously “Song of Freedom” or “Song of Enlightenment”. Master Sheng-yen’s commentary in his book “The Sword of Freedom” illuminated the text clearly. Below is his “death poem”.
without busy affairs, I grow old
empty within, i have both laughter and tears
originally, there was no I,
therefore, both life and death can be cast aside.