Meditations on Mortality with Andrea
Meditations on Mortality: a 4-week Sanctuary Course with Dr Andrea Boudin Brady
note: this course might not be appropriate for the recently bereaved. Please use your own judgement.
Knowing that we are mortal - that our personal life will end at a non-defined time in the future - can cause worry and despair but also curiosity or an urge for self-improvement in individuals. In this course we learn about different aspects of human mortality. There will be quiet time for led formal meditations at the beginning and end of each session. Andrea will provide reading material, short lectures and introductory talks, and will gently guide the discussions.
The proposed outline of the 4 evenings (90 minutes each) are as follows:
- The Christian view: Believing in an individual afterlife is part of the appeal of the Christian belief system: How are we to understand the post-mortem continuity of heaven and hell, reward and punishment?
- The Buddhist worldview proposes that individuals can die and be reborn or reincarnated over and over again. Let's imagine the possibilities.
- Immortality: would it be wonderful to live forever? Or must we imagine immortality as a terrible burden?
- Palliative Care Modalities: When a loved one falls terminally ill, we can feel overwhelmed, helpless, frightened. During this session we discuss how we can be and act supportive around the dying.
This course will be held in person at the Sanctuary ***
