Monday, March 12, 2007

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.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hare Krishna

My heartfelt condolences.
But of course we all know that "dying" is a process we all have to go through being encased in a material body.
I noted that Hilda took to the buddhist path.
Metta to Hilda.

Babhru das said...

Thanks so much for your kind thoughts, Malati. Hilda was a wonderful example of metta herself. We have no doubt that her passing was auspicious and that her next stop will be even better than this one, for her and for those who know her.

Anonymous said...

Babhru das,

I just came across your posting about Hilda and wish to belatedly extend my condolences to you and Len W., your brother, your parents and Leonard. I knew Hilda in the 80's and was a guest at her and Len's wedding. I even met you and your family when I accompanied Hilda to visit you and her beloved and beautiful nieces in the Sierra foothills. Your words painted a beautiful picture of the gentle and generous person I knew.

Unknown said...

That is my age.
Just looking at her lovely face, I feel sorry I did not meet Hilda.
Hare Krishna.
Jitashakti dd

Babhru das said...

Thanks for your kind words, Jitashakti. I would guess that you and Hilda would have liked each other.