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Tallahassee Chan Center Courses/The Art of Living and Dying
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  • $180 or 4 monthly payments of $45

The Art of Living and Dying

  • Course
  • 24 Lessons

What makes a good life? What makes a good death? How should we live to prepare for the end of this life? This six-week/12-hour video course on Buddhist teachings on living and dying will prepare students to face the challenges of death and dying as part of living toward awakening. Teachings offer multiple perspectives from Buddhism and a series of guided meditations to ground doctrine in lived experience.
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Contents

Welcome and Syllabus

Syllabus
Preview

Week 1: Introduction to Buddhist Cosmology

The first week of the course explores Buddhist understandings of life and death, continuity, and the importance of the path to awakening. We will learn to ground and relax the body through meditation, as well as basic yoga stretches and self-massage.
The Art of Living and Dying: Week 1 Talk, Part 1
The Art of Living and Dying: Week 1 Talk, Part 2
The Art of Living and Dying: Week 1 Slide Deck

Week 2: Death

This week's class explores our common understandings of death and its implications and discusses how Buddhists face death with peace. We will experience meditating on the breath.
The Art of Living and Dying: Week 2 Talk
The Art of Living and Dying: Week 2 Slide Deck

Week 3: Dying

This week's class explores the process of dying and different ways of dying and other topics such as: pain, suicide, euthanasia, funerals, and mind at the moment of death.
The Art of Living and Dying: Week 3 Talk Part 1
The Art of Living and Dying: Week 3 Talk, Part 2
The Art of Living and Dying: Week 3 Slide Deck
Zen Hospice Project Documentary - Part 1
Zen Hospice Project Documentary - Part 2

Week 4: Karma and Vows

This week's class discusses the Buddhist teaching on the wheel of life, karma, and interdependence. It also discusses misconceptions of karma and explores ways in which one could change one’s karma. We will experience the practices of repentance and vows.
The Art of Living and Dying: Week 4 Talk, Part 1
The Art of Living and Dying: Week 4 Talk, Part 2
The Art of Living and Dying: Week 4 Slide Deck

Week 5: Rebirth

This week's class explores the afterlife, intermediate realm, and the power of merit and vows. We will experience the practice of chanting Buddha's name.
The Art of Living and Dying: Week 5 Talk, Part 1
The Art of Living and Dying: Week 5 Talk, Part 2
The Art of Living and Dying: Week 5 Talk, Part 3
The Art of Living and Dying: Week 5 Slide Deck

Week 6: Living Life

This week's class focuses on how to live with dignity, generosity, clarity, and compassion. We will experience the practice of loving-kindness.
The Art of Living and Dying: Week 6 Talk, Part 1
The Art of Living and Dying: Week 6 Talk, Part 2
The Art of Living and Dying: Week 6 Talk, Part 3
The Art of Living and Dying: Week 6 Slide Deck

Course Materials

The following materials are referenced during course lectures.

The videos uploaded above are recorded at a smaller resolution for ease of viewing and downloading. We have also prepared larger-size versions of the course videos here for interested students.
Guided Loving-Kindness Meditations
Suggested Readings