A man of enduring love for his family, relatives and friends
It is more than two months since Michael Pinto (retired Engineer) passed away in May 2019. “The evil that men do lives after them; The good is often interred with their bones” (Mark Anthony’s eulogy in Julius Caesar by W. Shakespeare). Not so with Michael, for his positive thinking, vibrant ideas, questioning spirit and good humour still live with us. There was no guile in him. In life, he remained faithful to Catholic principles, duties and obligations, while supporting his Buddhist wife to grow and flourish in her religion.
He regularly went to Sacred Heart Church, Rajagiriya with his two daughters ( now Dr. Yvonne and Dr. Angela) for Holy Mass and took his wife Piyaseele to the temple for her prayers. The success of his life was in his enduring love for his family, relatives and friends, as he demonstrated the following text from the scripture in his life. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self- seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong doings. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” ( 1 Corinthians 13: 4- 8).
While he found meaning in Christian values and the way of life, he also demonstrated in his life-style a pragmatic approach to the tenets of Anicca (impermanence) and Anatta (non-existence of self) in Buddhist Philosophy. He considered problems and failures as impermanent phases in life that needed no worrying, and treated disagreements with humour, as if selfish assertions were illusions of self. He would move forward, rather than seek pity and sympathy. He was critical of the values imposed by the social upper-class and did not hesitate to violate them when he wanted.
When it came to work, he did not bother to ask, whether it should be done by a worker, subordinate or him. He just went and did it. He could get along with anyone, irrespective of social status, religion or political affiliation. He was also a great lover of nature and wild life. As his happy life was brought down by leukemia at the age of 77, and as he stands metaphorically at the portals of heaven, we can join him in singing, “Michael rowed the boat ashore, Hallelujah!”
Dr Leonard Pinto