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There is a clear call in American society to talk about death in new and more open ways. Our culture is awakening to a more conscious view of our own mortality as well as moving closer to traditions which suggest that knowing how to die well is the secret to living well.

This conference aims to help us make peace with our death and, in so doing, find better ways to live. The conference presenters will include a variety of experts and innovators in their fields, including those who are steeped in Tibetan and other cultures, those trained in modern medicine, and those who work with the dying. Together they will examine the issues we must all face: What is death? How can our own death and the death of those we love be faced with courage and awareness? Does consciousness survive death and, if so, what might we expect? How can we best prepare? And how can we work more compassionately and intelligently with the dying?

This event should help us see how death can become much less frightening for ourselves and our loved ones. It brings together outstanding figures in palliative care — doctors, nurses, hospice workers, therapists, and bereavement counselors — with spiritual teachers possessed of profound and sophisticated approaches to death.

The fundamental revision of our approach to death is one of the most significant ways we can enhance our approach to life. Please join us for this unique, informed and heartfelt exploration of a more holistic approach to death and dying.

In this experiential daylong institute, we will utilize mindfulness and inquiry practice to develop the three essential qualities needed by those accompanying the dying. They include compassionate presence in the face of suffering, freedom from the limitations of roles, and an abiding trust in the dying process. When these are present, we become a trustworthy refuge for ourselves and those we serve.

Using harp, voice, word and image, Therese Schroeder-Sheker conveys the work of the Chalice of Repose Project and its emphasis on contemplative musicianship and music-thanatology. Drawing upon 36 years of clinical and spiritual work at the bedside of the dying, she describes awareness of human mortality and dying itself as integral to the whole of human life and biography. Using case study and narrative, this talk describes the inner work of music-thanatology, its theoretical frameworks, and transformative outcomes.

The tragedy in being with the dying is not that life is impermanent or sometimes cut short. It is that we often only see in hindsight what really matters. Sitting with others on the precipice of death offers us a rare view. It is a bittersweet teaching often accompanied by a mixture of opposing feelings. It reveals both the precarious and precious nature of our lives. It reminds us that we don’t have time to waste. We can use our lives to prepare for the moment of death and that preparation is a path to living a wiser and more loving life.

In this workshop, we will go deeper into the inner scientific and meditative preparation for both death and assistance to the dying, and also address the issues arising from the grief of bereavement. We will use Robert’s translation of The Tibetan Book of the Dead and refer to Sogyal Rinpoche’s classic, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, the Dalai Lama’s work on the subject, and other more recent Tibetan works in English. We will concentrate on the “Death Point Between” preparation and on various post-death ceremonial practices primarily for the bereaved, as they might be adapted from the Tibetan treasuries for people of modern cultural backgrounds.

Judaism has a well-developed system of death rituals designed to assist the bereaved and their families in times of need. We will explore the psychological function of Jewish rituals of death and mourning from a spiritual perspective, which takes as a given age-old Jewish teachings that human consciousness survives bodily death. By integrating Jewish ideas of life after death into contemporary life, how do we transform our rituals of burial, mourning and memorialization into “soul-guiding” practices?

Western medicine has not done well in coping with the care of dying patients. Death is seen as a failure of medical care. As a result, dying patients suffer needlessly and caregivers suffer burnout and moral distress. At the University of Virginia, an innovative new initiative normalizes the issue of dying as part of medical care, and teaches clinically excellent, compassionate, collaborative and mindful care of patients with life-limiting illnesses. In this workshop, we explore what it takes to create the systematic change in clinical care that this kind of training might lead to.


Afternoon Plenary Address (all participants attend)

To Die, Perchance to Dream — Aye, There’s the Rub
Robert A.F. Thurman, PhD

The eyes of a dying patient are clear mirrors. In their gaze, there is no place to hide. Being face to face with dying requires a fierce compassion and self-awareness that is best supported through mindfulness, inquiry and fearless receptivity. We will explore the capacities that best serve at the time of dying such as applied compassion, calm presence and non-attachment to outcome. Weaving together moving stories, Buddhist practices, and good common sense, Frank offers an integrated, contemplative approach to dying that is experiential and goes well beyond the traditional medical models.

As clinicians caring for those nearing the end-of-life, our goal is to give our patients a “good death.” Our understanding of what that means, however, is colored by our gender, our religious beliefs, our life experiences and, perhaps most importantly, our culture. In this workshop, we will start by investigating our own preconceptions and assumptions about what constitutes a “good death.” We will then move on to examine what it means to die well across cultures, using case histories, the arts, and social science research. We will also explore how this data can be used to deepen and enrich the ways we care for our patients.

In the tradition of Curanderismo, death is seen not as an end but as a stage in a constant cycle of living and dying. This workshop aims to expand the insight of participants into ancient traditions that can enhance the experience of dying for patients, families and health practitioners. As both a Curandera and a practicing nurse, Elena teaches a holistic approach that includes ceremonies that assist the dying such as Limpia, or spiritual cleansing, treating Susto, or soul fright, and Platicas, or heart-to-heart talks, to enable the dying person to release their body with joy and peace.

This evening is an intimate and contemplative session, a meditation of music and words offered to support the profound issues of life and death, dying and becoming, that animate our conference.

The great religious systems of the world all speak of a realm of eternal life, a dimension of awareness and experience that transcends death. According to Jesus’ teaching in A Course in Miracles, death does not exist. In this session we ask, in what way can such a belief translate into a practical consideration, providing not only greater understanding but also greater peace of mind?

The mystic St. Francis of Assisi related to Death as his Sister, a cherished family member. Like St. Francis, we are all living with dying, whether she is close at hand or coming towards us from the future. Patients and caregivers stand in the liminal zone, that land betwixt and between, where roles are reversed and growth is accelerated. This workshop explores liminality in contemplative musicianship and the delivery of prescriptive music in music-thanatology. It also addresses caring for the physical and spiritual needs of the dying, whether at home, hospice or hospital.

Scholars trace the origins of the modern Day of the Dead to indigenous observances dating back thousands of years. It is a ritual that focuses on the gathering of friends and family to pray for and remember those who have died. Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars, using marigolds and the favorite foods of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts. The altars use sacred objects and pictures that reveal how the patient would like to be remembered and celebrated, and assist the family in the grieving process. Elena also discusses how children and their passing are honored in this tradition.

How do we make faith in eternal life a practical reality, making the journey without distance from theory to visceral knowing? During this workshop, we will use prayer and visualization to open our centers of awakening to a greater embrace of eternal being.

End-of-Life (EOL) Doulas are transforming the time when a person is actively dying into a sacred experience. Using guided visualization and affirmation, meditation, light therapeutic touch, aromatherapy, legacy work, and rituals, EOL Doulas alleviate fear and deepen the meaning of the dying process. People are helped through conversation to face dying with truth and courage and a vigil plan is created for the last days and hours of life. Emphasis is on the kind of dying process and atmosphere the person and their family wants. This approach is deeply valuable for both personal and professional experiences at the bedside of the dying.

A rich tapestry of teachings on dying and the afterlife journey of the soul can be found in mystical Judaism. In this workshop, we will explore little-known teachings on post-mortem consciousness found in the Zohar, a central text of Kabbalistic tradition. Through study and meditative practice, we will discover practical applications of Kabbalistic afterlife teachings in contemporary work with the dying and bereavement.

Participants will be led in the “Medicine Buddha Contemplative Practice” to pacify all negative energies, karmic disorders and external obstacles. This retreat is intended to accumulate merit and increase one’s positive mind and spiritual development while bringing harmony to relationships with one’s self, family, patients, friends, community and environment in order to achieve a holistic balance.

Caring for those near the end-of-life may be a job, but it is also a calling. To be called to do this work means that we bear witness to death as a part of celebrating life, that we view the painful and unanswerable questions raised by nearness of death not as stressors to be endured, but as our spiritual path. In this workshop, we will use a combination of reflective writing, mindfulness meditation and appreciative inquiry to explore ways of reconnecting to the spiritual heart of end-of-life care. We will also look at how we can integrate these practices into our work environment.

Elena Avila, RN, MSN, was a founder of the first hospice in El Paso, Texas. A nurse since 1976, she was Director of Maternal/Child Nursing and Clinical Coordinator at the Neuropsychiatric Institute at UCLA. She combines Curanderismo with modern medicine in her private practice and is the author of Woman Who Glows in the Dark. www.elena-curandera.com

Leslie Blackhall, MD, MTS, is Associate Professor of Medicine and Medical Humanities at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, and Medical Director of Palliative Care Services.

Henry Fersko-Weiss, LCSW, in 2004, created the first End-of-Life Doula Program focused on guiding dying patients and their families through the very end-of-life. This program was featured in an extensive front-page article in The New York Times. He has been working with dying people and those who care for them for almost 20 years, and is a longtime student of Zen Buddhism.

Frank Ostaseski is co-founder of the Zen Hospice Project, the first Buddhist hospice in America, and founder of the Metta Institute’s End-of-Life Care Practitioner Program. His groundbreaking work has been widely featured in the media, including the Bill Moyers television series, “On Our Own Terms.” In 2001, he was honored by H.H. Dalai Lama for his years of compassionate service to the dying and their families.

David Parke  was trained by Dr. Brian Weiss for Past Life Regression and by the Newton Institute for Life Between Lives Regression. David has given workshops on past life regression and life between lives regression across the United States and maintains a private practice in New York.

Dr. Tashi Rabten is a Tibetan in exile from his native land and a citizen of the US. He received his degree from a Lhasa medical school in 1988, and has been practicing medicine for the last 25 years. In 1996 began to practice medicine in NY. Dr. Rabten specializes in the use of Himalayan natural healing products (medicines and herbs) and practices, and uses his healing powers to help his patients find both optimum health and balance in their lives. He maintains two successful medical practices in Valley Cottage, NY, and in Greenwich, CT.

Simcha Raphael, PhD, has worked as a death awareness educator and bereavement counselor for over 25 years. He teaches in the Religion Department of Temple University and has also served as a Spiritual Director at Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. He is the author of Jewish Views of the Afterlife. www.simcharaphael.com

Therese Schroeder-Sheker founded the palliative medical field of music-thanatology and the Chalice of Repose Project. She has served since 1992 as the academic dean of the School of Music-Thanatology and has started large, multi-institutional clinical practices serving thousands of patients with prescriptive music. Her work has been featured on ABC, PBS, CNN and in many other media.

Robert A.F. Thurman, PhD, is professor of Indo-Tibetan Studies at Columbia University, President of Tibet House US, the translator of many philosophical treatises and sutras, and author of numerous books, including Inner Revolution, The Jewel Tree of Tibet: The Enlightenment Engine of Tibetan Buddhism and Why the Dalai Lama Matters.

Marianne Williamson is an internationally acclaimed spiritual teacher. Among her nine published books, four were New York Times best sellers. A Return to Love is considered a must-read of The New Spirituality. Her latest book is The Age of Miracles.


Please Note:  You may register for one, two, or all three components of the Art of Dying (in any combination). Discounts on accommodations fees apply to those attending both the Conference and Post-Conference Retreat or all three components.


Tuition Fees:
(Tibet House and Open Center members receive a 10% discount on tuition:  Discount Code= member)

Pre-Conference Tuition:
$140

Conference Tuition:
$395 (Registrations before June 30)
$430 (Registrations during July and August)
$470 (September Registrations)

Post-Conference Retreat Tuition:
$250 (for those continuing on from the Conference)
$320 (for those attending solely the Retreat)


Accommodations:
(Include Gourmet Vegetarian Meals)

Please note: Most of our rooms have already been booked (except triples and quads). There are a few rooms left at La Duchess Anne (within 10 minutes of Menla). Also, there are nine rooms available at the Full Moon Resort:

La Duchesse Anne
1564 Wittenberg Rd
PO Box 17
Mount Tremper, NY 12457
845-688-5260
Five rooms with queen beds and private bathrooms

Full Moon Resort
Valley View Road
Big Indian, NY 12410
845-254-5117
Nine rooms with king or twin beds and private bathrooms

On-Site Accommodations:

Pre-Conference Institute (Thu 6pm - Fri 5pm)
(Pre-Conference accommodations rates are slightly less than the rates below for those choosing to attend all three components)

Commuter:  $50
Camping:  $95
Queen Bed/Private Bath (Individual): $225
Queen Bed/Private Bath (Couple, Per Person):  $150 
Double Room:  $155
Shared Rooms/Shared Bath:  $110

Conference Only (Fri 6pm - Sun 5pm)

Commuter:  $150
Camping:  $190
Queen Bed/Private Bath (Individual): $450 (Sold Out)
Queen Bed/Private Bath (Couple, Per Person):  $275 (Sold Out)
Double Room:  $310 (Sold Out)
Shared Rooms/Shared Bath:  $220

Post-Conference Retreat Only (Sun 6pm - Wed 2pm)

Commuter:  $225
Camping:  $285
Queen Bed/Private Bath (Individual): $589
Queen Bed/Private Bath (Couple, Per Person):  $380
Double Room:  $465
Shared Rooms/Shared Bath:  $330

Conference & Post-Conference Retreat (Fri 6pm - Wed 2pm)

Commuter:  $320
Camping:  $400
Queen Bed/Private Bath (Individual): $885 (Sold Out)
Queen Bed/Private Bath (Couple, Per Person):  $555 (Sold Out)
Double Room:  $650 (Sold Out)
Shared Rooms/Shared Bath:  $470

Pre-Conference Institute, Conference, & Post-Conference Retreat (Thu 6pm - Wed 2pm)

Commuter:  $375
Camping:  $475
Queen Bed/Private Bath (Individual): $1050 (Sold Out)
Queen Bed/Private Bath (Couple, Per Person):  $670 (Sold Out)
Double Room:  $770 (Sold Out)
Shared Rooms/Shared Bath:  $550


Cancellation Policy

- If you cancel two weeks prior to the program, you will receive a 100% refund, minus a $35 processing fee.

- If you cancel one full day to two weeks prior to the program, you will receive full credit, minus a $35 processing fee, which can be applied to any other Tibet House sponsored program at Menla. This credit is valid for one year.

- If you cancel the day of the program or do not show up for any reason, no refund or credit will be given.

Tibet House US/Menla Mountain Retreat reserves the right to cancel any program at any time for low enrollment or circumstances beyond our control. Should this happen, a full refund will be offered.


Schedule of Events

Pre-Conference Institute

Thursday, September 30

3-8pm                     Check-in for Pre-Conference participants staying on-site

6-7pm                     Dinner


Friday, October 1

8:30-9:30am           Breakfast and Check-in for Pre-Conference Institute commuters

12:00-1:00pm         Lunch

10:00am-5:00pm    The Refuge of Compassionate Presence


Conference


Friday, October 1

3-8pm                      Check-in for Conference Participants

6-7pm                      Dinner

7:30pm                    Welcome and Opening Remarks

8:30pm                    The Art of Dying as Intensified Living: A Blessed Death in the Modern World


Saturday, October 2

8:00-9:00am          Breakfast

9:15-10:15am        The Heart of the Great Matter of Life and Death

12:00-1:30pm        Workshops

    1)    The Book of Liberation in the Between
    2)    Afterlife and the Renewal of Jewish Death Rituals
    3)    Compassionate, Mindful Treatment of Dying Patients
   
1:15-2:15pm            Lunch

2:30-3:30pm           To Die, Perchance to Dream: Aye There's the Rub

4-5:30pm                Workshops

    1)    With Eyes Open: Being Real at the Bedside of the Dying
    2)    The Nature of a Good Death
    3)    Indigenous Teachings on the Art of Dying
    4)    Past Life and Life Between Lives Regression

6:30-7:30pm         Dinner

8:00pm                An Evening of Contemplative Musicianship


Sunday, October 3

8:15-9:30am         Breakfast and Check-Out (those not staying for Post-Conference Retreat)

9:30-10:30am       There Is No Death

11am-12:30pm     Workshops

    1)    The Role and Mystery of Liminality—Betwixt and Between in the Art of Dying
    2)    The Wisdom of the Day of Dead Celebration
    3)    Embracing That Which Does Not Die
   4)    End-of-Life Doulas—A New Model for Guiding Patients Through the End Process of Dying
   5)    The Death Moment, Near Death Experiences, and the Afterlife Journey—Wisdom from Kabbalistic Tradition

1:00-2:00pm         Lunch

2:30-3:45pm         Afternoon Panels

    1)    How Visions of the After-death or "Between" Affect Dying, Assisting the Dying, and Bereavement
    2)    Spiritual, Scientific and Practical Approaches to Living and Dying

4:00-5:00pm         Closing Ritual

5:00-8:00pm         Check-In for Post-Conference Retreat

6:00-7:00pm         Dinner (for participants staying for Post-Conference retreat)


Post Conference Retreat


Monday, October 4th

8:00-9:00am         Breakfast

9am-12pm            Maintaining Spiritual Health while Working with the Dying.

12:00-1:00pm        Lunch

1:00-6:00pm         Maintaining Spiritual Health while Working with the Dying.

6:00-7:00pm         Dinner


Tuesday, October 5th

8:00-9:00am         Breakfast

9:00am-12:00pm   Maintaining Spiritual Health while Working with the Dying.

12:00-1:00pm        Lunch

1:00-6:00pm         Maintaining Spiritual Health while Working with the Dying.

6:00-7:00pm         Dinner


Wednesday, October 6th

8:00-9:00am         Breakfast and Check-Out

9:00am-1:00pm     Maintaining Spiritual Health while Working with the Dying.

1:00-2:00pm         Lunch and Departure

Schedule subject to change at any time.