In memoriam

A bright light has left our world. My sister, Hilda Weisberg, passed away this morning at the age of 56. She had been dealing with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) for about a year and a half. She left early in the morning, before sunrise, at home with her husband Len. This picture was taken at a celebration of her life held at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California last November.

Throughout her life, Hilda was one of the gentlest, kindest, most generous, most gracious people anyone could know. She exemplified generosity and grace. For several years, she has been intensely involved in the practice of Theravada Buddhism and Vipassana meditation. She was quickly recognized as a special person in her sanga even before her illness.

When she was diagnosed with ALS in December of 2005, she went after the disease very vigorously, intensifying her spiritual practice and simplifying her diet even more than she had already. It seemed for a while as if her zest for life would prevail. However, in the last few months it became apparent that her body would succumb to the attack on her nervous system.

All the while, she touched the hearts of members of her family, her spiritual community, and anyone else who came in contact with her, by her expressions of gratitude and joy. She always asked after others' health and always looked for ways she could extend herself to others. The manner in which she faced death is exemplary and inspiring. It's hard to count the number of us who will miss her terribly.