Befriending Mortality: Living an Awakened Life through Mindfulness of Death (Maraṇasati) (376Z26) - Online

Please only register for one of the two formats: On Land or Online.

Registration opens at 9:00am (Pacific Time) on October 7, 2025, and this online format closes at 3:00pm (Pacific Time) on October 26, 2026. A waiting list will be created if the program fills early. Recordings* will be available for this program.

Pending: Continuing Education credits

Description

We all “know” that we will die, yet we tend to ignore this fact and put our collective head in the sand. But rather than running away from our inevitable finitude, we can harness the power of this reflection to stay aligned with our deepest values and to live and love more fully. Through mindfulness of death (maraṇasati) practice, we become more fully and gratefully present for this miraculous, passing show called life.

Fully embracing our life’s impermanence can give rise to a deep letting go and freedom so that we can be fearlessly and peacefully prepared for our death as a potentially liberative moment. Considering the myriad spiritual benefits of maraṇasati, let us come together to explore this supreme practice, one on which the Buddha invited us to reflect daily for the sake of ourselves and others.

This retreat includes one daily session of interactive practice which is essential for deepening practice; and it is a silent retreat except for teacher-led Q&A, small groups, or other practice meetings.

On-Land Teachers: Nikki Mirghafori, John Martin, and Jeanne Corrigal
Online Teacher: Kodo Conlin

Interested in joining the residential retreat instead? Learn more here.

Online Retreat Details:
The online retreat will be offered via Zoom and will include: meditation instructions, Dharma talks, and opportunities to ask questions during Q&A with on-land teachers, broadcasted live from Spirit Rock’s Upper Meditation Hall. There will also be practice meetings on Zoom with a dedicated online Spirit Rock teacher, as well as online affinity groups. Please note: the on-land teachers will not offer practice meetings to online practitioners. This retreat has a limited number of spaces for online participants.

The online retreat will include:

• Live Zoom broadcast of all Dharma talks, meditations, and other instructions
• Retreat homepage – includes retreat schedule, access to recordings, other resources
• Recordings of all Dharma talks, guided meditations, and teacher instructions
• Practice meetings with the online teacher
• Opportunity to ask questions during Q&A with the on-land teachers
• Afternoon sessions will include reflection questions with breakout groups or time for journaling – online retreat only
• Online affinity groups (optional)

Financial Details

Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports Spirit Rock and your fellow practitioners who need to pay less. Registration fees DO NOT include teacher dana. At the end of the retreat, there will be an invitation to offer dana to the teachers and to Spirit Rock.

Sliding Scale for Online Retreat:
Sustainer Rate – $299
Scholarship Rate (BIPOC, M/K) – $149

*Recording Note: If you would like access to the recordings, you must register by the deadline above.

Cancellation Policy – Online: Drop-ins, Daylongs, Multiday Programs (1-3 days), Family Programs/Series, CE fees:

• NO REFUNDS
• Open Credit, or Donation to Spirit Rock = if cancel by midnight, the day prior to program start (Pacific Time)
• No Open Credit = if cancel day of the program, or beyond