Being with Death

I am of the nature to grow old.
There is no way to escape growing old.
I am of the nature of ill-health.
There is no way to escape having ill-health.
I am of the nature to die.
There is no way to escape death.

All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change.

There is no way to escape being separated from them.
— Guatama Buddha

This is the second of three daylong retreats exploring Contemplative Care.

As in many spiritual traditions, in Buddhist practice we contemplate impermanence on a regular basis. What does this mean in our daily life?

In this daylong workshop we will be looking at, both our personal experience of death and the impersonal aspects of death. James Farrell (1830-1920) wrote, Keeping death out of mind cuts people off from an important fact of physical, mental and spiritual existence. If knowing that we will die is part of what makes us human, then forgetting that we will die threatens our humanity. Using the practices of deep listening, metta, death meditation, Sandplay, writing and group discussions we will listen deeply to ourselves and to others. This workshop is open to everyone, and will be especially valuable to all those working in the care giving professions or facing the death of a loved one.

Koshin Paley Ellison is a Founder and Co-Executive Director of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. He is a founder of the Buddhist Psychotherapy Collective and in private practice, where he sees individuals, couples, and groups. Koshin is currently a Jungian Analyst Candidate at the Jungian Psychoanalytic Association. Koshin is a senior student and novice Soto Zen Buddhist priest under Roshi Enkyo O’Hara, at the Village Zendo.

Robert Chodo Campbell, is a Founder and Co-Executive Director of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, and he’s a founder of the Buddhist Psychotherapy Collective. He is a Buddhist Chaplain Priest at Village Zendo in New York City. He has served as a Chaplain at Beth Israel Medical Center and Lenox Hill Hospital. Chodo leads meditation practice, facilitates groups at various medical/residential and facilities in the metropolitan area.

When: Sunday, April 6, 2008 Where: New York Insight Meditation Center 28 West 27th Street 10th floor New York, New York 10001 For more information and registration contact NYI: www.nyimc.org Time: 10 am to 5 pm Cost: $50 + donation for the teachers