Death and loss pervade the fabric of life, yet we spend a great deal of energy pushing this reality away. What would happen if, instead of avoiding death, we made it our friend?
In this talk, Jonathan Prescott will offer three practices we can use to transform our relationship with loss and death, moving us beyond fear and avoidance and towards the Bodhisattva path of generosity and compassion.Making Friends with Death
Potluck after the service at noon. Please bring a vegetarian dish to share.
The Wise Caregiving website states that Jonathan Prescott is a Board Certified Clinical Chaplain and Pastoral Counselor. As a long time ordained student of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, Jonathan’s practice is to support people experiencing illness and end of life, foster effective caregiving and reconnect people with their innate wisdom and compassion. Jonathan has also studied with Dharmacharya Eileen Kiera and Jack Duffy Roshi at The Mountain Lamp Community and with Frank Ostaseski of the Metta Institute and Zen Hospice Project.
Jonathan provides individual care to hospice patients and their families and offers talks and retreats to help clinicians become openhearted, effective caregivers. In addition to his role as Hospice Spiritual Counselor, Jonathan has served as Chaplain in the hospital and cancer care settings. During Jonathan’s 35-year spiritual practice, he’s utilized his natural warmth and calmness to lead and serve many organizations in the Buddhist, Quaker and non-profit realms, and currently enjoys being a voice of clarity and compassion on medical ethics committees.
At home in the San Juan Islands of Washington, Jonathan relishes the peaceful solitude of his small farm. He balances end of life work with a contemplative practice of meditation, retreat and connection to nature.