Join author, Linda Hochstetler, as she conducts a meditation retreat on recognizing the final stage of dying. She will describe what happens at the body, speech, and mind levels, and embeds this information in hospice palliative care options in Canada. She will describe many of the terms and interventions unique to end-of-life care, and ensure that you are equipped to make decisions that align with your values.
In addition to learning knowledge about the dying process, participants will be invited to do traditional Vajrayana Buddhist meditation practices on dying and death in an experiential way.
This will be a silent retreat, but there will be plenty of opportunity for discussing the topic and answering questions that might come up throughout the weekend.
Participants are encouraged to read the book - 21 Days to Die: The Canadian Guide to End-of-Life, in advance of the weekend. To purchase a copy of the book from the publisher, click here.
Lama Linda (aka Linda Hochstetler) has studied both mindfulness meditation and Vajrayana Buddhism for more than 20 years. She trained in mindfulness meditation with Jon Kabat-Zinn in the 90’s, and studied under Namgyal Rinpoche (the first Canadian-born Rinpoche) from 1995 until his death in 2003. She received permission to teach in the Namgyal lineage in 2014, and currently studies Vajrayana Buddhism with Qapel and Catherine Sensei. Silent meditation retreats are a central part of her study and practice, and since 1995, she has completed retreats of between 1 week and 2 months in length every year. She is also a registered social worker with a specialty in illness, dying, and death, and a thriving private practice. More recently, she has authored a book - 21 Days to Die: The Canadian Guide to End of Life - and written numerous articles and been hosted on blogs about dying and death. www.lindahochstetler.com.
Important Details
When: Friday, March 25th to Sunday, March 27th, 2021. Please plan to arrive between 3-5pm on the first day. The retreat will begin with a property orientation at 5:30pm followed by a light supper and the first evening class and will finish after lunch on the final day.
Rates: Non-members: $280.00, Members: $250.00
Rates include: Single accommodation and all meals as well as an administrative fee for Awaken in Toronto. They do not include instructor fees. Linda is sharing her experience within the traditional Buddhist understanding of Dana. To understand more about Dana, please read the following:
What is Dana? Teachers give the teachings of awakening (Dharma) freely so that anyone, no matter their financial means can attend classes. Each time one receives teachings, it is an opportunity to consciously practice generosity. Giving money and other means of support expresses gratitude and support to the teacher and helps to ensure that these teachings continue. Each person receiving Dharma teachings determines the kind and amount of Dāna according to one’s heart and one’s financial means. When deciding how much to offer, one should think about what these teachings mean to you and try to give accordingly. It is recommended that students make an offering of dāna at the beginning of a class or retreat to establish the intention to make the most of this opportunity for one’s own progression and for the benefit of all others.
Deposit: A 50% deposit is required to hold your space upon registration.
Cancellation policy: Full refund up to 7 days before the commencement of the course. For cancellations less than 7 days prior to course begin, a $100 administrative fee will be charged.
Please note that participant numbers are limited due to COVID 19 Health and Safety regulations. We will process registrations in the sequence that they are received and will try to confirm all incoming registrations within 5-7 days. We thank you for your patience.