A Year to Live 2024 (YL5X24)

Current 2024 program is now full. Complete the wait list application if you would like the opportunity to join the program should we have a cancellation.

Teaching Team: Vinny Ferraro (Lead), Frank Ostaseski, and Pam Dunn.

Description

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

In our largely death-denying modern culture, few are encouraged to actively contemplate the inevitability of our death, or the idea that it could happen at any time. The Buddha recommended that we do just that, not to frighten us, but rather to use death as an object of contemplation to help us awaken to the fragile, fleeting, and precious nature of our lives.

Ultimately, this is a year-long practice in forgiveness, gratitude and letting go. Through guided meditations, inquiry and small group discussions, we will be guided, with the support of community, through a process of living this year as if it were our last. You are warmly welcome!

Program Includes

• Format: Online
• Teachings: Monthly (12) large group sessions (recorded)
• Community support: Monthly (12), self-organized home group sessions with home group sangha (required, each group will determine a time that works for everyone during the January session)
• Q&A sessions (monthly, optional, recorded)
• Home practice: Guided meditations, readings, reflections (estimated 5-7 hours/month + monthly home groups + daily meditation)
• Access: Video and audio recordings

Program Outline

• Session 1: The Prognosis
• Session 2: Fear of Death and Dying
• Session 3: Softening to Fear
• Session 4: Practicing Dying
• Session 5: Life Review—Making Peace
• Session 6: Building an Altar—Service
• Session 7: Who or What Dies?
• Session 8: What Comes Next?
• Session 9: What to Do With This Body?
• Session 10: A Will, a Memorial, and an Epitaph
• Session 11: We are Not Alone
• Session 12: Saying Good-bye

IMPORTANT! If you are unable to make this Participation Commitment at this time, please wait and join us for a future iteration. Please review the Dharma Trainings website for A Year to Live for more details.

Program Dates

Monthly large group sessions – Saturdays: January 27 (required!), February 24, March 23, April 20, May 18, June 22, July 20, August 24, September 14, October 19, November 16, December 14, plus a “Graduation” January 25, 2025.

All large group meeting times are: 10:00am – 1:00pm US Pacific Time

Participation Commitment

• Attend at least 10 of 12 monthly large group sessions – must attend the first session. The first large group session is required(!) to establish the safety of the container and respect the shared commitment of our “Year to Live” sangha.
• Participate fully in home groups
• Complete home practice assignments, practices, and readings (including Year to Live book)
• Attend at least one program orientation session (required – no RSVP, just show up!)

Financial Assistance

Sliding Scale: $1008-$1500
Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports Spirit Rock, staff, and your fellow practitioners. Any amount offered above the Base rate is a tax deductible donation to Spirit Rock, and your generosity will enable and support the participation of others.

• Benefactor – $1,500
• Sustainer – $1,250
• Base – $1,008

Scholarship sliding scale: $50-$750. Scholarships are limited and are reserved for those truly experiencing financial hardship. Financial assistance for training programs is generally offered once per year, per person to allow access for others.

• Reduced Rate – $750
• Scholarship Rate 1 – $500: SOLD OUT
• Scholarship Rate 2 – $200: SOLD OUT
• Mudita/Karuna Scholarship (for anyone who needs financial assistance, including fixed income folks) – $50: SOLD OUT
• BIPOC Scholarship (for Black, Indigenous, and/or Persons of color) – $50

Cancellation Policy*

• $100 cancellation fee* – On or before Jan 24, by 5:00pm US Pacific Time
• No refunds: Choice of Open credit or tax deductible donation – Jan 25 through Feb 26 (after the second class)
• No refunds and no open credits –  Feb 27 and beyond

*Fees reduced by half for scholarship participants until Jan 24. No refunds for all participants after this date.