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Illness and Death: Fierce Teachers

Submitted by Tom Goddard on March 4, 2007 - 7:34pm.

Last night, within a period of a couple of hours, I learned that two friends and members of my extended spiritual community were ill with conditions that could be serious -- or not. Uncertain abounds in both cases.

As I have encountered such news (and such news is increasingly common as I and the myriad members of my cohort move into our 50s and 60s), I am reminded of the unfathomable teaching power of illness and death. While they are harsh gurus, illness and death are gurus nonetheless. It was the encounter with suffering, illness, and death that launched the young Siddhartha on the journey that led to his awakening as The Buddha a decade later. Thich Nhat Hanh has spoken eloquently about meditating daily on the notion of the death and dissolution of all whom we love and ourselves as a means to Realization.


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Community for Spiritual Living: Befriending Death


04/07/2007 - 5:04pm
04/07/2007 - 9:04pm
US/Eastern

Location(s)

Home of Barra Kahn
6438 Lily Dhu Lane
Falls Church, 22044
United States
See map: Google MapsMost months, the first Saturday of the month, from 4 to whenever, the Community for Spiritual Living gathers to explore how to integrate spirituality into our daily lives. The next gathering is April 7, in Falls Church, Virginia. We'll do process work from 4-6 p.m., and pot luck from 6:00 p.m. to whenever. Please bring a dish for 8.

April 2007: Befriending Death


Many of the Wisdom Traditions have understood that Death can be a great teacher about Life. In the encounter with the reality of death, whether we view it as the end or merely a passage, we can glean much about the richness of our lives.

Tom Goddard will lead the community through a series of experiential processes designed to create a series of profound learning encounters with Death. As a result of participating in this workshop, participants likely not only will have a deepened appreciation of the life we are given, but a clearer notion about how to live a life filled with meaning and joy. It is no overstatement to say that some participants in the March 2006 CSL exploration of Death, led by Dr. Goddard and Michael Smith, emerged with a radically transformed view of their lives. Some even made profound decisions that changed the very course of their lives, both professionally and personally.

Bring a friend if you like, and then stay for POTLUCK FROM 6 TO 8PM-be sure to BRING A DISH FOR 8 PEOPLE (main dish, salad, side dish, bread & beverage, or dessert).

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