A Year to Live (YL4X23)

Current Program is now full. Join our Notification List for the next iteration.

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

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 that it could happen at any time. The Buddha recommended that we do just that, not to frighten us, but 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!

• 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 practices: Guided meditations, readings, reflections (estimated 5-7 hours/month + monthly home groups + daily meditation)
• Access: Video and audio recordings

Program Dates:
Monthly large group sessions – Saturdays: January 21 (required!), February 25, March 18, April 22, May 20, June 17, July 15, August 19, September 23, October 21, November 18, December 16, plus a “Graduation” January 20, 2024. All large group meeting times are: 10:00am – 1:00pm US Pacific Time

• Attend at least 10 of 12 monthly large group sessions – must attend the first session. The first 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!)
  • Thursday, January 5; 5:00 – 6:00pm US Pacific Time
  • Friday, January 6; 12:00 – 1:00pm US Pacific Time
  • Tuesday, January 17; 10:00 – 11:00am US Pacific Time

IMPORTANT! If you are unable to make this Participation Commitment at this time, please wait and join us for a future iteration.

Sliding Scale: $50-$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. These fees do not include dana for the teachers.

• Benefactor – $1,500
• Sustainer – $1,250
• Base – $1,008
• Reduced – $750
• Scholarship Rate 1 – $500
• Scholarship Rate 2 – $200
• Mudita/Karuna Scholarship (for anyone who needs financial assistance, including fixed income folks) – $50
• BIPOC Scholarship (for Black, Indigenous, and/or Persons of color) – $50

Financial Assistance:
Scholarships are limited and are reserved for those truly experiencing financial hardship. Scholarship sliding scale: $50-$500. Financial assistance for training programs is generally offered once per year, per person.

• $100 cancellation fee – On or before January 18, by 5:00pm US Pacific Time
• No refunds: Open credit or tax deductible donation (after the second class) – January 19 to February 27
• No refunds or open credits –  February 28 and beyond

*Fees reduced for scholarship participants