Spiritual Care with the Dying

March 29 – April 6, 2023

A 9-day Residential Intermediate-Level Course led by Venerable Tenzin Chodron

Course Description

During this intensive retreat we will focus on understanding death and dying from a spiritual perspective, based on the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and its application to end-of-life care.

We will explore:

  • the spiritual needs of the dying
  • practical skills in compassionate care and support of the dying and their families
  • meditative and contemplative practices related to spiritually preparing for death and

    • spiritual practices used at the time of death

  • developing an understanding of issues connected with letting go, transforming suffering, loving kindness and compassion
  • building and deepening one’s own spiritual practice

This retreat will be deeply experiential – we will be applying all of the principles discussed to our own lives as well as the lives of others, with the understanding that the more we face and prepare for our own death, the more present we can be with others in preparing for theirs.

The program will include a combination of presentations, meditations, discussions, reflection and other experiential exercises. We will explore how a Buddhist understanding of death can be applied in a general way for both Buddhists and non-Buddhists.

Teacher

Ven Tenzin Chodron Venerable Tenzin Chodron is an Australian Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition, ordained in 1999, who has studied Buddhist philosophy for many years, completing the 5-year Basic Program at Chenrezig Institute. She also has a masters degree in social work and offered end-of-life care for 21 years at Karuna Hospice Service in Australia, providing spiritual and counselling support to individuals and families, training to health-care practitioners on death and dying, and facilitating educational groups within the wider community. Chodron continues to present retreats and training based on Buddhist contemplative practices and compassionate care.

Course Details

For more information about Intermediate Courses, including a typical schedule and how to register, please visit Programs > Intermediate Courses.