BUDDHIST WISDOM ON DEATH AND DYING

An All Day Workshop with presentations by Fred Eppsteiner, Dharma Teacher of the Florida Community of Mindfulness, Alex Lerner, MD, and Marilyn Warlick, LCSW

Although all around us we see people dying, we somehow believe that we and those we love are immune from this part of life. In a Hindu text, a wise man is asked, “Of all things in life, what is the most amazing?”  He answers, “That a man, seeing other dies all around him, never thinks that he will die.” Yet, by giving ourselves the opportunity to reflect deeply our own death with clarity, understanding, and compassion, we learn to move out of denial, confusion, and fear.

With greater understanding and acceptance of impermanence and the universality of death, we move beyond apprehension and can now focus on what is important: how to  prepare for being present with the dying process, our own and others. By examining the misconceptions, misplaced hopes and irrational fears that shape our relationship to death and dying, we can also reassess our life priorities and aspirations. Paradoxically, reflection on death and impermanence is the portal to living a life of true meaning and happiness.

Drawing on teachings and meditative practices of Buddhism, as well as medical and contemplative fields, Fred and the other presenters will create a supportive environment for workshop participants to reflect, share, and learn.

This Workshop is open to all who are interested in the dying process, in conscious dying, or who would like to offer psychological and spiritual assistance to the dying, including family members. It is for those who are ill and for anyone who would like to look deeply into the meaning of death and dying within the framework of a spiritual path. It is also suited for medical professionals, psychologists, counselors, and social workers working with dying and illness.

Registration: 8:30 - 9:00 am

Workshop: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Class Objectives

At the conclusion of this program, participants will:

• Understand and be able to articulate their current beliefs and emotions towards death and dying
  
• Have worked through their fears and confusions about the dying process
  
• Be able to articulate a process that offers psychological and spiritual care for the dying utilizing the practice of mindfulness
  
• Be  able to describe specific techniques to develop skillfulness and inner stability as a caregiver guided by wisdom and compassion.
  
• Be able to describe specific techniques to direct this skillfulness and inner stability toward the dying person and oneself.
  
• Be able to describe specific spiritual/psychological practices that can support the dying during the process of dying and the moment of death.
  
• Be able to apply spiritual/psychological practices to help the dying with attachments that are part of the death experience.
  
• Understand how to integrate spiritual practices with the Western medical perspective.
  
• Understand the  basic principles of palliative medicine and hospice care.
  

Workshop Leaders

Fred Eppsteiner has been a student of the psychology of Buddhist meditation for over 40 years, and was a psychotherapist for more than 30 years. He has trained extensively in the Buddhist meditative traditions the U.S. and Asia. He received permission to teach from Thich Nhat Hanh in 1994 and is the editor of two books: The Path of Compassion and Interbeing.

Alex Lerner, M.D., was in clinical practice for more than 25 years.  Since his retirement, he has been studying and practiced various psychological models in different settings and cultures. He has been practicing with The Florida Mindfulness Community since 2006, where he is frequently giving workshops.

Marilyn Warlick, LCSW LCAS C-CATODSW, works with the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). While at the NC VAMC, Marilyn served as Coordinator of Hospice and Palliative Care Program Clinical Coordinator for OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) and OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom). She is the Clinic Interim Coordinator of Health Care for Homeless Veterans Program(HCHV) and a member of the Elder Care Team. Marilyn has been practicing mindfulness since 1994.

Florida Community of Mindfulness, Inc. is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling to provide continuing education credits through CE Provider # 50-14766.

This program is co-sponsored with the Center for Human Potential of America, Inc.  The Center for Human Potential, Inc. is an approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists by the APA.  The Center for Human Potential of America Inc. is responsible for the content of this program.