Living in a retirement village, one is soon introduced to the realities of end of life, including dying and death, that are facing a number of of residents — and the important need for basic skills in serving and ministering to people in such circumstances. 

Skills in Dealing with End-of-Life Issues

The following is a list of skills given with the intent that the practices can be aspirations for further study and learning for anyone dealing with end-of-life situations: 

Making Peace with Death

• Reflect on the inevitable reality of death and the ever-present impermanence of life.
• Learn to practice gratitude in order to discover what matters most in life.
• Cultivate mindful acceptance, clarity, and peace in the face of life’s greatest uncertainty.

Hospice, Palliative, and End-of-Life Care

• Explore compassionate caregiving and mindfulness-based pain management.
• Discover the profound practices of contemplative hospice and palliative care. 
• Learn how to offer valuable support rooted in respect, compassion, and stability during end-of-life transitions.

Right Here With You: Care at the Time of Death

• Develop your ability to offer compassionate presence. 
• Explore the comforting power of mindful companionship.
• Learn what’s needed to offer support during the final moments of life.

Grief and Bereavement Support

• Learn to hold and heal our losses with deeper wisdom.
• Navigate the complex terrain of grief with self-compassion. 
• Cultivate mindfulness, equanimity, and resilience in the grieving process.

Awareness of Death Brings Joy & Wisdom

• Explore the supreme meditation of death awareness.
• Discover what death can teach us about living fully.
• Cultivate joy, gratitude, and wisdom through practicing awareness of impermanence.

Source of Information

The above skills were presented in a special summit produced by Lion’s Roar magazine  https://www.lionsroar.com/  or  https://www.lionsroar.com/death-love-wisdom-summit-begins/

The New York Zen Center described this summit in a promotional email as follows:

In today’s world, we often find ourselves sidestepping conversations about our impermanence, but it’s precisely in the moments when we face illness, loss, or the presence of death that we can find our shared humanity and learn to expand our hearts with wisdom and compassion.

We are thrilled to announce an extraordinary event, produced by our friends at Lion’s Roar, that promises to touch your heart and change your relationship with life’s most profound uncertainties.

This online event (Death, Love, & Wisdom Summit) offers a nurturing space to explore spiritual and practical topics related to death, dying, and grief with 16 extraordinary Buddhist teachers and contemplative care professionals. 

For those working in care professions, this summit provides invaluable insights and strategies to enhance your practice and learn to care for yourself at the same time. For individuals seeking personal growth, it offers a unique opportunity to explore end-of-life transitions with wisdom, compassion, and love.

The esteemed lineup of expert presenters includes Buddhist teachers, chaplains and counselors, educators, leading teachers and pioneers in Buddhist and contemplative care.

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