„If one knows how to die, one knows how to live”, it is said.

The Buddha taught that death - just as life - is a part of existence and our life cycle.

But in our western world, death and dying are often traumatizing events, especially when it happens close to us.

In these times of the pandemic, many of us experience the value of health and life itself differently than before and ask questions to which qualified answers are not easy to find.

This is why the European Buddhist Union will hold a one-day event dedicated to the topic of “Death and Dying from a Buddhist perspective”, featuring these well known international keynote speakers: Koshin Paley Ellison, Joan Halifax, Dario Doshin Girolami, Kirsten DeLeo, Lama Dondrub and Claudine Carayol.

In talks, panel discussions and "sharing groups" we will interactively explore topics and questions like: Do we need to be afraid of death or could it be the one thing that gives meaning to life? Is our existence finished when we die or do we go on to another stage of reality? And if so, what does it look like? Is dying a process we should prepare for and what happens in this particular moment?

In this way we want to enable the participants to discover the rich Buddhist perspective on these complex topics to get (new) inspiration and examine ways to lose anxiety and gain hope - for themselves and others.

The event will be held online, on Saturday April 24th, from 10am to 7pm CET.

There will be simultaneous translation available in French, Spanish and Italian!

Conference Schedule:​

9.30 – 10.00 Opening

9.50 – 10.00 EBU Video; Introduction of translators

10.00 - 10.15 Presentation of the EBU and the topic. Council members, Patrick (Moderator), Ron.

10.15 - 10.35 Talk by Kirsten DeLeo :

Present Through The End: Accompanying the dying, whatever our role, challenges us to be authentically and compassionately present and face the uncomfortable truth of our mortality. What can we say or do when nothing can be done?

10.35 to 11.30 Panel Discussion (including questions from the audience): Kirsten, Dario, Lama Dondrub

11.30 – 11.45 Tea break

11.45 - 12.30 Talk by Claudine Carayol - sharing group:

Offering the Dharma in order to soothe dying and dead people

12.30 to 14.00 Lunch break

14.00 to 15.00 Talk by Sensei Koshin - sharing group

15.00 - 16.00 Talk Dario Girolami - sharing group:

“When a Blossom Falls - A course in meditation for parents who have lost a child”

16.00 – 16.20 Tea Break​

16.20 – 17:00 Talk Lama Dondrub - sharing group:

Dying, a great opportunity: The closer death comes, the more valuable life becomes. Reflecting and meditating on death and preparing to help others in that process is an excellent way to practice the Dharma. Everything becomes meaningful.

17.00 to 7.30 Talk Joan Halifax:

Compassion in Care of the Dying

17.30 – 1820: Panel Discussion (including questions from the audience): Dario, Lama Dondrub, Joan Halifax​

18.20 to 18.30 Wrap up and goodbye

Special:

18.30 – 19.00 Dalai Lama: Recorded teaching