The Art of Dying: Tibetan Practices of Liberation
With Lama Willa Blythe Baker, Lama Liz Monson and Guest Presenter Rosemary Lloyd
June 6 - 10, 2018
Registration is open until May 30th. Please don’t delay!
Death is a topic that we often shy away from, and its realities are hidden in our cultural context. Yet the Buddha taught that contemplating death is a practice of liberation – one that vastly enhances the quality of our life. By looking directly at death, we access our appreciation and joy for this human life and its transformative potential. Join us in the foothills of the White Mountains for a residential retreat in which we delve deeply into the liberating practices of death and dying, drawing on the profound resources of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Among topics and practices explored include Transference of Consciousness (poa), the bardo (in-between state) and the contemplative practices of death. We will also explore spiritual care for self and others at the time of death, and practical preparation for our own death.
What to bring
- A photograph (framed if possible) of someone you love who has passed away. We will set up a shrine with their photos. It might be a photo of someone whose death deeply affected you and shaped your life, that is good. We will use these memories as a basis for exploring our relationship to death and dying.
- A container to use as your ‘death basket’: a basket, wood box, sturdy bag, etc. (with lid). It should be large enough to hold approximately two gallon jugs of milk.
- Compact items that you would like to have nearby if you were to unexpectedly find yourself in the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital for an extended stay. Your death basket will hold these items.
- A notebook for writing
Wonderwell Mountain Refuge Full Calendar
About the Teachers
Lama Willa Blythe Baker
Lama Willa Blythe Baker, Ph.D. is the Founder of Natural Dharma Fellowship in Boston, MA and its retreat center Wonderwell Mountain Refuge in Springfield, NH. She was authorized as a dharma teacher and lineage holder in the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism after twelve years of monastic training and two consecutive three-year retreats. She also […]
Learn more about Lama Willa Blythe BakerLama Liz Monson
Lama, Managing Teacher, Spiritual Co-Director Elizabeth Monson, PhD, is the Spiritual Co-Director of Natural Dharma Fellowship and the Managing Teacher at Wonderwell Mountain Refuge in Springfield, NH. Liz was authorized as a dharma teacher and lineage holder in the Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism after over 30 years of studying, practicing, and teaching Tibetan Buddhism […]
Learn more about Lama Liz MonsonGuest Presenter Rosemary Lloyd
Rev. Rosemary Lloyd, BSN, MDiv, is Advisor to Faith Communities for The Conversation Project at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Boston, Massachusetts. Rev. Lloyd organizes, educates, and supports clergy and congregations in having values-centered conversations with loved ones and health care providers about crucial end-of-life matters. Rev. Lloyd is a graduate of Georgetown University […]
Learn more about Guest Presenter Rosemary LloydCategory : Meditation Retreat