I don't know if I will ever have full closure. I'm not completely over Michael Jackson. Things that can make it better? 1) Finding out all of the details surrounding his death. How long was he dead before he was found? Did he have some other illness? Did he ever have the hip surgery? What caused his death. 2) Finding out that he had a kid(s) that he knew about and was part of their lives. 3) Music from the vault being released 4) Concert footage being released.

Grog said:

Elodie said:

Evidence or intuition beyond a reasonable doubt that he faked his death for good reason.

lwr001 said:

for someone to say , we was jusyt joking

His fans would forgive him... the rest of the world (ie, the media) would skewer him... I'd jump for joy.

So yeah, honestly, I don't think "closure" is something I'll ever have. I may one day be able to consider the numbness a normal thing. On April 21, I told my wife, "After today, what's left?" She was pretty upset with that statement, and we haven't really recovered. Every day feels like one second of April 21, 2016, the day that will never end. I'm ready to go myself.

rainbowchild said:

BombFunk said:

I will never really get over this, not in this lifetime ...

Me neither.

I don't think I will ever get over it. Yes we will know what caused him to pass away,but its not going to bring him back

There will be no closure for me, not ever, I will never get over this. It's all too sad for words, my heart can't comprehend it.

jasopig said:

jasopig said:

So yeah, honestly, I don't think "closure" is something I'll ever have. I may one day be able to consider the numbness a normal thing. On April 21, I told my wife, "After today, what's left?" She was pretty upset with that statement, and we haven't really recovered. Every day feels like one second of April 21, 2016, the day that will never end. I'm ready to go myself.

ooooh my goodness, I know exactly what you mean. It is like EVERYTHING changed at 12:02PM on April 21st when I was driving and my friend sent me a text. I nearly drove off the road. I think everyday is going to get better, and it just has not. I am really concerned.

I was minding my own business. It was that $1 Jimmy John customer appreciation day and after standing in a long line I was happy, until I got in my car and got that text. At some points during the day I am ok, and then I start thinking of Prince and get sad all over again.

[Edited 5/10/16 12:39pm]

not going to happen... there will always be a hole

No closure for me either. Time may make it feel better but listening to Prince from now on will always be bittersweet.

Just when I think it's getting better I see another picture or video and the grief hits all over again. This will forever be upsetting.

I will need new songs or even albums until I myself die... then there will be closure! My closure.

kitbradley said:

No full closure from me either

[Edited 5/10/16 23:55pm]

tmo1965 said:

I don't know if I will ever have full closure. I'm not completely over Michael Jackson. Things that can make it better? 1) Finding out all of the details surrounding his death. How long was he dead before he was found? Did he have some other illness? Did he ever have the hip surgery? What caused his death. 2) Finding out that he had a kid(s) that he knew about and was part of their lives. 3) Music from the vault being released 4) Concert footage being released.

I agree with U

Elodie said:

boschino said:

I don't think i'll achieve 'closure'. It is getting 'easier', but...

I'll never forget receiving that text from a friend as soon as i got home, telling me to turn on the TV. I'll never forget the headline banner on Sky News, with those particular words in that particular order.

I'll never forget pacing up and down my flat, tearful, angry, and in utter disbelief. Punching the air, slamming my fist on the laptop keyboard when i went on line to get more info.

I'll never forget the following day, at work, when NC2U came on the radio. I bolted from the office and didn't go back til the following Monday.

I'll never forget the genuine outpouring of emotion, and esp Bruce Springsteen's tribute at his concert on the 23rd (which i still can't bring myself to watch), amongst countless others.

And I'll never forget how important this place was for me.

Apart from the Bruce Springsteen thing, this is spot on for me. You summed it up perfectly. In answer to the initial question, I am planning to go to Minneapolis from the UK for the first time to pay my respects.

The Bruce Springsteen performance was filled with emotion and the guitar was great (not better than Prince, but well-rehearsed out of respect). It was so good that you can almost forgot about/ignore the awful Maroon 5 tribute. The D'Angelo one was great too. What I need for closure is to know his estate is in good hands and the back catalogue and vault will be handled properly... the doofus half-brother that I'm not convinced was close to Prince... the made-up prisoner son? Hate all that side show circus...

Closure??

I don't think that is a real thing. When you love someone, when they have been a part of your life, when they have left their unique handprint on your heart.... You are different! And that can never close.

I was overwhelming sad when he passed. My heart couldn't take having to say goodbye to someone who's been with me my whole life, inspiring me. I couldn't get out of bed. All I could do is cry. Then something shifted. I felt his pressence so strong. And I got that he is still with me. Still inspiring me. And I felt gratitude. Gratitude for his life, and for his peace now.

He loved us all, and that will never change.

Grog said:

Have you reached closure? If so how? If not, what will it take for you? A definitive cause of death? Time? A public memorial service? All of the above? For me, I am not sure if I can ever have closure until I know how long he was in that elevator before someone found him. That part of the equation haunts me.

Still working on it.

A cause of death might help ...if just a little. Still will forever be pissed that His Royal Purpleness left us earlier than he really needed to -was sure that he could live at least one more decade -and that I, amony many others, would get to, see him peform just ONE MORE TIME!!! -.....PLEASE!!!!!

Helps to have gone to Buddhist Sutra Class and have this to study on that day...

THE SUTRA ON IMPERPENANCE (To be chanted for example after the death of someone)

I prostrate and take refuge in the Unsurpassed One
Who, with endless vows of great compassion,
Ferries sentient beings across the stream of birth and death,
To reach the safe haven of nirvana.
With great charity, morality, tolerance, and diligence,
One-mind, expedience, right wisdom, and power,
Having reached perfection in benefiting self and others,
He is called the Tamer, Teacher of Heavenly and Human Beings.


I prostrate and take refuge in the wondrous Dharma Treasury;
The principle of three "Fours" and two "Fives" are perfect and clear,
The "Seven" and "Eight" can open the gate to the Four Truths,
By which cultivators reach the shore of Unconditioned.
The Dharma clouds and Dharma rain imbue all beings,
Eliminating searing afflictions and illnesses,
Tempering and converting the obstinate,
Guiding everyone appropriately, not by force.


I prostrate and take refuge in the saints,
The superior beings of the eight stages,
Who can be freed from defilements.
With the vajra scepter of wisdom,
They shatter the mountain of delusions,
Forever severing the beginningless ties and fetters.
In the epoch from Deer Park to the Twin Trees,
They follow the Buddha in propagating the True Teaching.
According to individual vows and karma, they complete
Their missions, realize nonbirth, and abide in stillness
With body and knowledge extinguished.


I prostrate and venerate the Three Jewels,
The true source of liberation for all,
Leading those drowning in samsara
From foolish delusion to enlightenment.


All who are born will die,
All beauty will fade,
The strong are stricken by illness,
And no one can escape.
Even the great Mt. Sumeru
Will erode by the kalpa's end.
The vast and fathomless seas
Will eventually dry up.
The earth, sun and moon
Will all perish in due time.
Not one thing in the world
Can escape impermanence.
From the Neither Thought nor Non-Thought Heaven,
Down to the Wheel-Turning Kings,
Accompanied by the seven treasures,
Surrounded by a thousand sons,
When their lives have ended,
Without a moment's delay,
They drift again in the sea of death,
And suffer according to their karma.
Transmigrating within the Triple Realm
Is like the turning of a well-bucket's wheel,
And also like a silkworm,
Spinning a cocoon to confine itself.
Even the unsurpassed Buddhas,
Pratyekabuddhas and shravakas,
Give up their impermanent bodies,
Why not ordinary beings!
Parents, spouses, and children,
Siblings and other relatives,
Witnessing the separation of life and death,
Don't all lament and grieve?
Therefore everyone is urged
To heed the true Dharma,
Renounce what is impermanent,
And practice the Deathless Path.
Like sweet dew that cools and purifies,
The Dharma eradicates all afflictions.
So listen with one-mind!


Thus have I heard.
Once, the Bhagavat was at the Jetavana Grove
in Anathapindada Park in Shravasti.
At that time the Buddha told the bhiksus:
In this world there are three things
that are not likable, not lustrous, not desired, and not agreeable.
What are the three? Aging, illness, and death.
Bhiksus! Aging, illness, and death, of all things in this world,
are truly not likable, not lustrous, not desired, and not agreeable.
If there were no aging, illness, and death in the world,
Tathagata, the Worthy and Fully Enlightened One,
need not appear in this world, to speak to all sentient beings
on how to cultivate and what can be attained.
Therefore, you should know that aging, illness, and death,
of all things in this world,
are not likable, not lustrous, not desired, and not agreeable.
Because of these three things, Tathagata,
the Worthy and Fully Enlightened One,
appears in the world, to speak to all sentient beings
on how to cultivate and what can be attained.
Then the World Honored One
reiterated this teaching in a gatha:


All external splendor will perish,
Likewise the body will decay.
Only the superior Dharma will endure.
The wise should discern clearly.
Aging, illness, and death are resented by all;
Their appearance is dreadful and repulsive.
The countenance of youth is fleeting,
Soon it will wither and fade;
Even living to a hundred years, still
One must give in to the force of impermanence.
The suffering of aging, illness, and death
Constantly afflicts all sentient beings.


When the World Honored One had spoken this sutra,
all the bhiksus, devas, dragons, yaksas,
ghandaras, asuras and so forth greatly rejoiced;
they accepted and followed the teaching faithfully.


Always pursuing worldly desires,
And not performing good deeds,
How can you maintain your body and life,
And not see the approach of death?
When the breath of life is ending,
Limbs and joints separate,
The agonies of death converge,
And you can only lament.
Eyes roll up, the blade of death
Strikes down with the force of karma.
The mind fills with fear and confusion,
And no one can save you.
Gasping, the chest heaves rapidly;
Shortened breaths parch the throat.
The king of death demands your life,
And relatives can only stand by.
All consciousness becomes hazy and dim,
As you enter the city of peril.


Friends and relatives forsake you,
As the rope drags you away
To the place of King Yama,
Where fate is determined by karma.
Virtuous deeds give rise to good destinies,
And bad karma plunges one into hell.
There is no vision clearer than wisdom,
And nothing darker than ignorance,
There is no sickness worse than hatred,
And no greater fear than death.
All that live must die;
Commit sins and the body suffers.
Be diligent in examining the three karmas,
Always cultivate merits and wisdom.
All your relatives will desert you,
All possessions will be gone;
You have only your virtues
As sustenance on this treacherous path.
Like those who rest by a roadside tree,
They will not linger long;
Wife, children, carriages, and horses
Will likewise soon be gone.
Like birds that gather at night,
Going their separate ways at dawn;
So death callously parts all relatives and friends.
Only Buddha's enlightenment is our true refuge.
I have spoken in brief according to the sutras
The wise should reflect and take heed.


Devas, asuras, yaksas and so forth who come,
Hear Buddha's teachings with utmost sincerity!
Uphold the Dharma so it may endure,
Each of you should practice with diligence.
All sentient beings who come for the teachings,
Whether on land or in the air,
Always be kind-hearted in this world,
Abide in the Dharma day and night.
May all worlds be safe and peaceful;
May infinite blessings and wisdom benefit all beings.
May all sinful karma and suffering be removed;
May all enter perfect stillness.
Anoint the body with the fragrance of precepts,
And sustain it with the strength of samadhi;
Adorn the world with flowers of bodhi wisdom,
Dwell in peace and joy wherever you are.

...OK, reciting this at sutra class did in fact help me.

It is interesting to note, that, whilst I don't personally consider Prince to have been particualrly close to Buddhahood, that, nonetheless the fact that a rainbow appeared over Paisley Park I THINK supposedly means something along the lines of achieving a step not far from NIRVANA.

...i.e. maybe he is into grunge now -just kidding!!!

I am coming to terms with his death. No matter how immature I think it has been (my guess is that he overdosed on pain killers).

I like that caption in a posters's final signature or whatever it is called - quoted, I think from Dr Zuess -about not grieving for what is lost but being so happy for it having been experienced/have been at all.

...what a BEAUTIFUL idea!

And in time, surely all of us will accept it as being THE way to regard Prince, and any other artist or experience or LOVED ONE (for that matter) that blew our mind away.

[Edited 5/11/16 7:35am]

In my experience with loss and grief, there is no such word as closure. You never " get over it ". All you can hope for is, over time, learning to accept it. I'll miss and grieve for him forever.

For this media circus to stop.

The last thing I want to talk about now is closure.