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.
