A Year to Live (YL7T26)

Teaching Team:

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

Prerequisites:

• A minimum of 3 days of either silent meditation residential retreat or daylongs/mindfulness workshop(s), or a combination of both.
• Consistent meditation practice highly encouraged.

Description

This yearlong journey, inspired by Stephen Levine’s A Year to Live, is a heartfelt invitation to people of all ages, at any stage of life. Together, in the spirit of community, we will explore how contemplating death can profoundly deepen our experience of living.

In our modern world, where we often shy away from the reality of our mortality, we rarely pause to consider the preciousness of each moment. The Buddha encouraged us to reflect on death not out of fear, but as a way to awaken to the fleeting beauty of our lives. By embracing this practice, we come to appreciate the fragility and impermanence of our existence.

This program is a yearlong exploration of forgiveness, gratitude, and letting go. Through guided meditations, thoughtful inquiry, and intimate group discussions, we will support one another in discovering what death has to teach us about life and vice versa.

Program Includes

• Format: Online via Zoom (must know how to join a specific breakout room manually)
• Teachings: Monthly (12) large group sessions (attendance at 10 of 12 live sessions required; this must include the first session on Jan 31st)
• Home Groups (required!): Monthly (12), 1-hour, self-facilitated, self-hosted Home Groups that meet in between large group sessions. They are a foundational aspect of this program and will be organized by Spirit Rock. Each group will determine a time/day that works for everyone during the January large group session.
• Home practice: Guided meditations, readings, reflections (estimated 5-7 hours/month + monthly Home Groups + daily meditation)
• Access: Video and audio recording access for 1 year after program ends via our Online Learning Platform
• Q&As: Monthly, 1-hour, recorded (optional)

IMPORTANT! If you are unable to make this Participation Commitment at this time, please wait and join us for a future iteration. This includes the required(!) attendance at the first session on Jan 31st.

Program Dates

Monthly large group sessions – Saturdays: January 31 (required!), February 28, March 28, April 25, May 30, June 20, July 25, August 22, September 19, October 17, November 14, December 12, plus “Graduation” on January 23, 2027.

All large group meeting times are: 10:00am – 1:00pm US Pacific Time
IMPORTANT – the first session is longer! (10:00am-1:30pm PT)

Participation Commitment

Engaging in the content of this course may be uncomfortable, challenging, and/or difficult at times (it can also be profoundly liberating!). To get the most out of this program, we ask that you read thoroughly and commit to the following agreements:

• Meet the prerequisites.
• Attend ONE of the Program Orientation sessions.
• Attend the Community Essentials session on Jan 24.
• Attend a minimum of 10 of the 12 large group sessions live, including the first session on Jan 31st (REQUIRED).
• Meet with your Home Group each month for ~1 hour in between large group sessions (REQUIRED).
• Commit to a consistent meditation or stress management / self-regulation / centering type of practice (preferably daily) for the duration of the program.
• Skillfully engage in all sessions (home groups, large groups, breakout groups).

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

Financial Details

Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports Spirit Rock’s efforts in offering lower sliding scale rates and supporting the large number of scholarship requests. All program fees include support for the teachers.

Standard Sliding Scale:
Benefactor – $1500
Sustainer – $1250
Basic – $1008

Scholarship Sliding Scale:
Scholarship Rate 1 – $750
Mudita/Karuna Scholarship Rate – $500
BIPOC Scholarship Rate – $500

Scholarship rates are limited and reserved for those truly experiencing financial hardship. These rates are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and will sell out quickly, so we recommend registering as early as possible. While we are not able to offer “pay what you can” type of scholarships for this training, we invite you to email us if the lowest rate does not meet your financial circumstance. We cannot guarantee we can meet all requests.

Payments
ALL participants have the option of paying in full, or a 30% deposit, at the time of registration. Payment plans are available to all and the earlier you register the more months you have to spread out the cost. The remainder of any unpaid balance may be divided into equal monthly installments** that will start the month following your deposit payment up through May 15, 2026 (if needed). All fees should be paid in full by this date. Installments can only be set up on credit cards; and will be automatically set up using the same card you used to pay your deposit. **Exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis for those with extreme financial hardship.

Cancellation Policy***
Full refund: prior to December 15, 2025
25% cancel fee: December 16, 2025 – February 5, 2026
50% cancel fee: February 6 – 28, 2026
No refund: March 1, 2026 and beyond.
***Cancel fee is based on the amount you agreed to pay.

These fees apply to all participants. Late cancellations do not allow us time to fill a vacated spot in the program. If you need to withdraw from the program, the above fee structure will apply. Cancellation fees support future scholarships at Spirit Rock. If you have an unexpected financial situation, please reach out to us at: registration@spiritrock.org.

Testimonials

What a profound year. Life has deepened through this journey of A Year to Live. The connections made are meaningful, safe, and enriching. The guidance, teachings, and community are infinitely valuable. I am so grateful to have taken this leap!
— Jenna

A Year to Live is for those who love swimming in the deep water, so much to reflect and act upon within this program and heartfelt humanity throughout.
— Kathleen

I wanted to take the Year to Live program for several years but had come up with several reasons why “I couldn’t”.  I could not imagine 2020 without having been in this class. It’s one of the most profound things I have ever been involved with and am so thankful to everyone involved.
— Alexandra

How would you truly live your life differently if you knew this was your last year? Simply profound. The teachings and workshops helped me unravel that into practical, no bullshit ways that I now apply every day. By far, the most impactful and important program I have taken.
—Mohamad

I was motivated to sign up for A Year to Live by a nagging sense of obligation: This is something I need to get done! I didn’t expect that in learning to walk through all the doors of dying, and ultimately through death’s door, I would be handed such precious keys to living. Thank you, thank you, thank you dear Vinny for your clarity and compassion. And to you dear Heather, our angel hovering attentively over it all. And to my small-group partners, with whom I shared love and laughs.
— Scott (in Sweden)