Ken Hemphill, the legendary Babbling Buddha of Cortes Island, has passed on. He died at his home, Dorje Ling Dharma Centre, on Monday, Sept. 21. The cause of death was coronary failure.

Kenny was a familiar fixture on Cortes, glowing like a furnace as he pedalled his golden bicycle uphill and downhill in the searing heat, snow, and rain. He was a trickster, a rogue, and a controversial character. But his heart was enormous, his eccentric wisdom deep, and his energy unstoppable.

Kenny built Dorje Ling, his ersatz Tibetan fantasy (in his words, "a Buddhist theme park") mostly from film-industry castoffs and found objects, and it is a magnificent creative work in progress. Dorje Ling was his dana, his offering offering to the world, and over the years hundreds of grateful wayfarers found peace and refuge there.

Kenny's daughter Kalyani is currently making preparations to travel from Germany. She is working with Lamme on plans for an appropriate memorial ceremony soon, where no doubt many, many entertaining Kenny stories will be told. An announcement is forthcoming soon.

According to the lore of Tibetan Buddhism, one's spirit travels through the bardo for 40 days after death, looking for a new landing spot. Anyone expecting a Hallowe'en baby had best beware.

Kenny-La will be missed deeply by many, on Cortes Island and beyond. Long may his spirit ride.

Gate gate paragate, parasumgate bodhi svaha!