Hearing from people today who have fond memories of you and the joy of friendship you shared. Your goodness remains in the hearts of many.

Miss you and your smile, Muriel!

Warm caring memories of your goodness continue to live in the hearts of those you touched.

Muriel,
Thinking of you.
Love,
Akemi

Thinking of you Muriel on this birthday with delight, remembering the times you were surrounded by caring friends celebrating your life.

Thinking of you, Muriel. You are always in my heart.
Love,
Akemi

Muriel:

The photos which RIK posted on this site remind me of who you became.
Not who you were prior to the MCC.

Bless your soul,

Michael

I miss you, Muriel. I remember your smile and playful & kind heart. Hope you are in a better place. Love, Akemi

Dear Muriel,
As I awake this morning on the anniversary of your passing, loving thoughts arise as the warm memory of your smile embraces my heart. You showed so many of us how presence, compassion and kindness toward oneself and others are ingredients towards having a happy life. You exhibited that the mind can grow and change. You never gave up and tirelessly looked out the window of life seeking joy for yourself. Meeting you in your late 70's, seeing you attend your first meditation retreat at 80, stepping onto a mindfulness path showed so many us what's possible.

In the last years of your life, you become the inviting hostess as people entered the Mindfulness Care Center. Your personal friendships grew deeper as you gained self-trust, self-love and even allowed in gratitude that others offered and your tears flowed. You no longer blamed nor got mad at your own tears for showing up.

People continue expressing to me the great heart and care you showed them as you demonstrated that the mind can open and the heart can heal. Your laughter grew and grew until the last months when your mind began to fade and fight, losing it's strength to stay present.

Your death has continued to bring forth the Buddha's teachings for me on a profound level. You and I so often would reflect together on these teachings. I remember the calls and emails I'd awaken to in your asking another question in how to suffer less and share with me when you felt caught. Together we would explore what causes suffering both internally and externally. You began telling me how you personally were becoming more aware of how the human mind can become caught in it's own grasping and aversion. How jealousies and greed lead to confused desires and the pain this causes oneself and can be placed onto others.

You opened to your deeper hurts and began moving into them with kindness, no longer wanting to run away from yourself. Wounds of the past began to loosen their grip as your compassionate heart widened. You began connecting more with your family. I loved seeing and hearing the joy this brought you.

Tears form in my eyes for I am a better person in meeting you Muriel. Our friendship, plus our partnership in creating the Mindfulness Care Center, grew to where we eventually became both the student and teacher with one another.

Muriel...you are forever-missed by those whom you allowed to see the real you. The deep aware kind woman in the last years of your life, until illness of the mind and body creeped in so quickly as death came knocking at your door.

With loving thoughts of care and gratitude...Rik

Muriel, you continue to be loved and missed!
You created a positive life for yourself and wonderful friendships the last years you were with us. You supported the building of a compassionate mindfulness community that helped many others find an inner path of healing who are so grateful to you. It's amazing how many people continue to come up to me and express how much you were admired and influenced them.
You showed all of us what is possible when someone chooses not to play small anymore in their life...but play it large!
Miss and love you and always have a smile in my heart when I think of you..:)
Your wonderful friend and cofounder of the Mindfulness Care Center.
Rik

We moved to the Towers in Dec 2015, near Muriel in Opera Plaza, and invited her for lunch or dinner many times but she was too ill to make it. We lost touch after she moved to Opera Plaza and regret not taking more steps to see her. Had we only known. We were very close to her and Bob with the General Semantics group and introduced her to Rik Center.

We miss Muriel. Also we miss Bob and the General Semantics meetings which we went to for many years. No one can take your place. You both did a great job running the club. We still think of you every time we think of our use GS. We learned so much from GS and it has made our lives better. Also we are sorry you Muriel was not able to visit us and have a meal with us at the Towers after we moved there.

Happy Birthday, Muriel!

Happy Birthday Muriel,
  You were one of the first people I met besides Rik. Your smile and graciousness will never be forgotten.
  What a full, rich life. You are a terrific role model.
      Joanne Kini

Happy Birthday beautiful Muriel. I will forever remember your warmth, child-like smile, graciousness and goodness. You are always in my heart and mind. You have left your indelible caring mark. You will never be
forgotten. So the day of your birth is a celebration which placed you on this planet to touch the hearts around you.
Love you Muriel,
Beverly

Muriel, I will miss having you in my life. We had lots of fun together especially love when you told me you had never been to a rock concert and I said "ALO is playing at the Filmore! Lets go!" I picked her up and we had a fab time. Everyone at the Filmore treated her like a VIP. She rocked out in her seat on the balcony and had a fabulous time. We stayed until the end and even stayed for the after party. Muriel was a wise and loving spirit and she is in our hearts always.

hi dear muriel
~ you will always be in my heart ~ much love and gratitude for having known you.

have a safe journey and see you again!
santacitta b

I first met Muriel about 4 yrs. ago during my first course at the Center, She was so warm and friendly whenever I saw her. I so enjoyed the photos presented of her beaming. I found myself in one of the groups.
  Make her joy and warmth spread. May she rest in peace.  What an amazing role model as the Matriarch of the Center. You are greatly missed.
          Joanne Kini

Remembering and appreciating Muriel's modeling of transparency, authenticity, and openheartedness. Reminding all of us that growth happens at every age. I feel grateful for knowing her and for what she has shared with all of us through MCC!
With Much Love,
Ali

Muriel was the white-haired woman who greeted me at the door when I walked into the Mindfulness Care Center for the first time some years ago. I believe it was her white hair, aging face and figure, her smile and experience that told me it was a safe place with no pretensions. I sat on my cushion and watched as she arranged flowers in vases. Quietly with no need to blare, she gave the place its homey air. Her age, I sensed during the early months of knowing her, she felt she had to apologize for. That began to shift over time to an acceptance, I observed. When she came back from a New Years retreat a little over a year ago, I saw that she had begun to blossom. That blossoming continued through another 10-day retreat this year. One day I saw that her chair was vacant. I sensed it was not just a minor thing. And it wasn’t. A flame had gone out, a bloom faded. The passing of Muriel will be remembered.

What a beautiful, joyful, and gentle spirit Muriel was. She always had a welcoming smile for you at MCC. She was the sanga's matriarch and grand elder. May she truly rest in peace and have an auspicious rebirth. Her bright spirit will be missed.

Muriel: The world is missing a bright, shining star which lit up the people and space around you. You were proof that age is not a factor in continued personal growth and transformation. You were an inspiration to me and countless others with your positive energy, glowing warmth and smile, and inner beauty that touched me in unforgettable ways. You have left a permanent mark of kindness and compassion on all you have touched. I will so miss your girlish laughter and delicious smile. You will forever be in my heart and mind.

Muriel,
I see you in the flowers blooming in the spring, I hear your voice in the morning bird song, and I feel your tears, mixed with mine, in the rain. You may have thought yourself a student but you were such a wise teacher in our midst. I will miss your curiosity, your playfulness, your smile. I bow with gratitude for our times together. I am happy to still have you on my heart. May your spirit be free, may I remember your wisdom, and may the warmth of your love spread the world over to benefit all beings. 
Love, Pam

How nice it was to catch Muriel's eye, finding a smile, a cloud of doubt, a question. What ever it was, she was right there, a fellow traveler on the path, making her way with good humor and good fellowship. A laugh was never far from breaking out. She was a beautiful example to me of an older woman who kept on growing. In fact she seemed to pick up speed as she went along.
A million thank yous to Rik and Muriel for modeling true friendship for all of us. They say relationship is what is between us. Their love for each other was palpable and a true gift to witness. Blessings on you both, and much love from Sandra

I light a candle to Muriel and the integral part she became to my family. There are no words for me to satisfactorily describe who she and my brother Rik came to be to each other. Beyond friends, student, benefactor, teacher.... Muriel had her own relationship with each member of Rik's family, attending family events and celebrations and time together with out of town visitors by both family members and friends of Rik's. She was family. Her sparkle, her luminous smile, her generous heart and constant love will stay with me always. I love that Muriel was in my brother's life, enriching, complicating, and expanding the joy of it. Thank you Muriel for what you brought to all of us.

Muriel,

I remember you as a sunflower. When you talk, your eyes brighten up like a little child.

I didn't prepare your sudden loss. We planned to meet on 2/16/17 and I was looking forward to seeing you more often. I miss your energy and a big laugh. I miss our friendship and sharing our time together. I remember your generosity and continuous effort to make community in a better place. You always have a special place in my heart.

I love you forever.
Akemi

Dear Muriel, we will miss the playful sparkle in your eye, the wisdom you imparted, the treasures you discovered on your Goodwill adventures, your delicious applesauce, sweet giggles and the love you shared so generously. We are blessed to have you in our hearts forever. Love, Jenna, Dan and Estelle Lebowitz

This new moon evening, I look up at the stars, glimmering, twinkling--
and I see your eyes, Muriel, penetrating while delicate, fierce while tender, with the light of truth shimmering within them. And a gentle sparkle of irony.

I will have you with me always, the image of you in your red scooter, driving yourself down Market Street with your high-flung flag waving in the wind, as you tool yourself back home, speaking to me of courage and fearlessness, amidst life's ever-shifting ways.

The turbulence of your life you transformed into generosity and expanded spirit. You touched all of us with your loving, encouraging presence. You always extended an attentive ear.

You have made a deep imprint in my soul and I am ever grateful for your contact, in this lifetime.

May you be restful.

Muriel, it was always nice seeing you when I came to the Center. You had a way of making me feel personally welcomed, and always had a smile to share. I'll miss you, but know your presence will continue to be felt by everyone there.

I remember:
A clear light in your eyes, always wondering...is this how it really is, to be understood, and feel felt and appreciated.
An amazingly generous heart and spirit.
A mischief and childlike awe.
A poetic soul.
A tender gardener of flowers and happy faces.
A beautiful being missing from our present, but not from our hearts and memories.
May you rest sweetly.

I watched you transform from a meek and frightened soul into the incredible person you became. You brought so much love and caring into the universe and made a magnificent difference in so many lives.
Mine included. With your generosity, I learned to feel my feelings.
You will always be with me.

Michael

Dear, Bright, Muriel: How lovely it was to see you at the center and what a treat to have time with you at Abhayagiri on your various visits. It gave me joy to be with you in your glow and also to witness the special bond between you and Ric. Such honesty and care. Kalyanamitta. Your lovely physical presence will definitely be missed, but you will always have a presence in the center and in the heart's of those who were fortunate enough to have met you and had time with you.

Muriel
Your very warm welcome upon my first trip to the Mindfulness Care Center with the Abhayagiri monks remains in my heart. Our time together at your place, shared discussions, poetry and our wonderful trip to the Asian Art Museum is a treasured memory. Thank you for all you have offered to so many people. People blessed to have met and shared time with you.

Muriel we will miss you greatly. You were a warm, generous, and kind person and we were saddened to learn of your passing. We will never forget you and Bob and the great times and learning experiences we had in the General Semantics group. -Dave and Roberta

Muriel, I have been so inspired by my small slice of time with you. Through Rik's gentle encouragement of me to look at my life through the lens of feelings and my body and with compassion, I got to meet you. I have seen what a woman of courage really looks like. I have seen what you have been able to make possible for others, by co-founding the MCC and by your example. I am forever grateful for having brushed against the edge of one of the ripples that you left in the world.

I ran into Muriel last year at our chiropractor's office. I will always remember her great smile. I think of her fondly as I look at some of the artwork she gave me many years ago that graces my office. I am so grateful to Rik for introducing her to me.

Muriel you are missed beyond words. Every where I turn there is piece of you that was left behind, smiling at me and saying "I'm here."

We laughed so much these last years my heart would sing seeing how happy you had become by stepping into your life versus moving away from living the life you always wished for. You built beautiful friendships and found out how important you were to others.

We both loved food, often dining out together and of course sharing wonderful desserts to satisfy our sweet tooth!

You became part of my family sharing in holidays and birthdays. My heart is so filled and over flowing with beautiful loving memories.

My wonderful friend and cofounding partner Muriel you taught me so much every day. You often expressed I was your teacher and yet I kept telling you back...you are my teacher! You could say we were always learning from one another.

You exhibited the true heart of a warrior blended with the kindness and generosity of a bright morning sun! You taught others to never give up on themselves and you supported this not just by words though by action.

You supported me in bringing out my voice and healing work to help reach others in away I never could have expected.

I know the last weeks of your life may not have been as planned, though you are forever loved in this heart and by the many others who truly knew the beautiful hearted extraordinary woman you were.

I miss you dearly Muriel, you will be forever loved and forever missed.
Our friendship of love, laughs and shared foibles continues on and holds court in my heart everyday.

May your spirit be resting in peace, knowing how much you were cared for and loved, Rik.