This year long training program, based on the book A Year to Live by Stephen Levine, is designed for people of all walks of life and stages of life. In community, we will focus on waking up and living life more fully through the exploration of death as a spiritual practice.

Most aspects of our largely death-denying modern culture discourage us from actively contemplating the inevitability of our death, or that it may meet us at any time. The prophets and sages recommend a very different approach to the fact of life's transience: that we use remembrance of death, not to put us in a state of anxiety or morbidness, but as a contemplative practice to assist us in our journey to awaken to that which does not die but lives beyond the ephemeral nature of our lives in this world. Their lives bear witness to the fact that there is a way to die to the attachments and distortions of the ego and come to the realization of a deeper self that transcends death and the perishing realm. This is reflected in the prophetic injunction, "die before you die." This core teaching of all wisdom traditions—that we can realize that which is eternal and transcends our physical bodies—paradoxically provides the means to live more fully and more presently while savoring the gift of each precious breath on earth. 

Ultimately, this is a year-long practice in living with presence and intention; as well as forgiveness and gratitude, while letting go of what no longer serves us on our journey. Through reflections from sacred texts, the prophetic teachings, and the great sages—as well as guided meditations, inquiry and small group discussions— we will journey with the support of community, through a process of living this year as if it were our last. All are warmly welcome!