The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us about Living Fully - Softcover

Ostaseski, Frank

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1250076749 ISBN 13: 9781250076748

Publisher: Flatiron Books, 2019

Synopsis

The cofounder of the Zen Hospice Project and pioneer behind the compassionate care movement shares an inspiring exploration of the lessons dying has to offer about living a fulfilling life.

Death is not waiting for us at the end of a long road. Death is always with us, in the marrow of every passing moment. She is the secret teacher hiding in plain sight, helping us to discover what matters most.

Life and death are a package deal. They cannot be pulled apart and we cannot truly live unless we are aware of death. The Five Invitations is an exhilarating meditation on the meaning of life and how maintaining an ever-present consciousness of death can bring us closer to our truest selves. As a renowned teacher of compassionate caregiving and the cofounder of the Zen Hospice Project, Frank Ostaseski has sat on the precipice of death with more than a thousand people. In The Five Invitations, he distills the lessons gleaned over the course of his career, offering an evocative and stirring guide that points to a radical path to transformation.

The Five Invitations:
-Don't Wait
-Welcome Everything, Push Away Nothing
-Bring Your Whole Self to the Experience
-Find a Place of Rest in the Middle of Things
-Cultivate Don't Know Mind

These Five Invitations show us how to wake up fully to our lives. They can be understood as best practices for anyone coping with loss or navigating any sort of transition or crisis; they guide us toward appreciating life's preciousness. Awareness of death can be a valuable companion on the road to living well, forging a rich and meaningful life, and letting go of regret. The Five Invitations is a powerful and inspiring exploration of the essential wisdom dying has to impart to all of us.

About this title

About the Author

FRANK OSTASESKI, founder of the Zen Hospice Project and the Metta Institute, is a Buddhist teacher, international lecturer and a leading voice in contemplative end-of-life care. He's been honored by the Dalai Lama and AARP named him one of The 50 Most Innovative People. He consults for healthcare and spiritual institutions, like the Mayo Clinic and Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and his work has been featured on programs such as PBS series With Eyes Open and The Oprah Winfrey Show, among others.

Edition details

• Publisher: Flatiron Books
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1250076749
• ISBN 13: 9781250076748
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 304