SEATTLE—The well-known and widely loved Canadian teacher of Buddhism and yoga Michael Stone passed away last week. He was discovered in a coma on 13 July in Victoria, British Columbia, and was rushed to hospital where he was stabilized in a coma for three days. On 16 July, Michael was taken off life support. He was 42 years old.

Michael had developed a global following with his synthesis of yoga, Buddhism, psychotherapy, social activism, and genuine compassion for all beings. As part of that enacted compassion, he traveled to Japan in 2012 in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, seeking to bring understanding and healing for those affected by the tsunami and ensuing radiation release. In a short film documenting his journey, he recounts:

When I turned nine years old, I started visiting my Uncle Ian every week. We would sit down and Ian would pick up a book, usually the teaching of the Buddha. “What are the teachings of the Buddha?” I’d ask him. And then he would always say, “The core of the Buddha’s teaching is ‘going against the stream’ and that’s what you need to do, Michael. You need to go against the stream. You need to be a reactor.” (Reactor)

Michael lived with bipolar disorder his whole life. Bipolar disorder is characterized by a fluctuation between normalcy, mania, and depression. This manifested in visible and invisible ways. He was aroused by life, he sought experiences. As a young man he drove race cars, followed the Grateful Dead, and experimented with psychedelics. He perceived the world with incredible sensitivity, through music, art, and literature. Along with this lust for life was an impulsivity that he struggled to quell through yoga and Buddhist practice. His brain was rapid-fire and wide open. It was part of his brilliance and his sensitive nature.

Michael came to spiritual practice innately at a young age, and then to formal study as a teenager. It was also a way to take care of his mental health. For a long time he was well enough to resist the diagnosis and stay balanced naturally through practice and self-care, but as things got worse, he opened up more to family and friends, and sought medical help. Taking care of his extreme mental states became a full-time job for him and his partner Carina. They were a team. They were doing well. His international work was incredibly inspired and flourishing. They established self-care routines. He exercised. He went to bed early. He ate a special diet. They joked about fecal transplants. He saw naturopaths and herbalists and trainers and therapists. He continued his daily practice. As things worsened he turned to psychiatry and medication as well. Balancing his meds was ever-changing and precarious. He struggled to be completely open with those around him about how much and how deeply he struggled. He tried.

In 2015, Michael shared- 
“You’d think that given all this inner work, an incredible network of support, strong friendships, a loving partner and kids, and lastly, a life dedicated to embodying the dharma (literally every single day includes practice and study), that I’d be immune to extreme mental states.
[…]
It can be hard to admit even to ourselves that there are times when the stability of awareness that we discover in [meditation] just isn’t there. When this started happening I’d say my practice needs to get deeper. But the truth is, there was a chemical change in my brain.”

As versed as Michael was with the silence around mental health issues in our culture, he feared the stigma of his diagnosis. He was on the cusp of revealing publicly how shaped he was by bipolar disorder, and how he was doing.

In the silencing he hid desires he had for relief. This spring his mania began to cycle more rapidly. The psychiatrist had always said the most dangerous part of bipolar disorder is the manic episode. It’s the part they treat. In an effort to stabilize him, his medication dosage was increased. Now and then he would mention a wish for a safe, non-addictive prescribed natural form of opium. He discussed it with his psychiatrist and Carina. He thought it might calm his overactive mind.

Unbeknownst to everybody, he was growing more desperate. On Thursday July 13, Michael left his Gulf Island home for a routine trip to Victoria. On the way into town, he called a substance abuse and addictions pharmacy, likely to ask for a safe, controlled drug to self-medicate. He was not a candidate. He got a haircut, exercised, ran household errands and finally acquired a street drug. Initial toxicology tests suggest inconclusively that he had opioids, including fentanyl, in his system. Because of the back up due to the fentanyl crisis, it will be five months before the conclusive toxicology test results are in.

When he didn’t come home, Carina initiated a missing persons search with the RCMP and he was found around midnight on Thursday. He was unresponsive and found to have no brain function upon arrival at the hospital. He was declared brain dead on July 14th and was kept on life support for the purposes of being an organ donor on Sunday, July 16th. Within hours of the operation, three people received new life through his organs. His lungs, and kidneys.

His time in hospital was beautiful and peaceful, full of love and gratitude. Carina was by his side night and day until the last moment. He was surrounded by his family, his children and dear friends.

It may be hard to put one’s mind into his, to imagine how he could take such a risk with a young family, baby on the way, with such a full life and such fortune. It could be easy to shake one’s head and think, what a shame. Culturally we don’t have enough language to talk about this. Rather than feel the shame and tragedy of it, can we find questions? What was he feeling? How was he coping? What am I uncomfortable hearing? What can we do for ourselves and others who have impulses or behaviors we cannot understand? Impulses that scare us and silence us? How can we take care of each other?

Michael did amazing work in the world and changed the lives of so many. He was a beautiful father and loving husband. He loved his life, his work and his students deeply. He was loved immeasurably. He continues.

Hundreds of responses have followed the announcement, many from fellow teachers who knew Michael. Zen teacher Norman Fischer wrote, “Thanks for such an honest and full explanation of what happened. very sad . . . mental illness is such a misunderstood path. Michael lived a perfect life. He dealt honorably with his problems as best as he could. We will miss him.” Ethan Nichtern, a Shambhala Buddhist teacher, likewise noted: “An invaluable reminder that the more you teach, the more human you become. May all who knew him be at peace. May his authenticity be an example. Much love from NYC.”

Michael’s public Facebook page has become a site of remembrance for the late teacher, and memorial events have been planned around the world.

See more

Michael Stone’s Passing – Official Statement (Michael Stone Facebook)
Michael Stone Teaching (Facebook)
Michael Stone Memorial Events (Facebook)