Death, Afterlife and the Journey of Transformation in Tibetan Buddhism and Kabbalah

RETREAT BY INVITED PRESENTER

Within the ancient writings of both the Tibetan Book of the Dead (the Bardo Thodol) and the Kabbalah (the book of Jewish mysticism) are depictions of the ever-changing journey of the soul from birth to death, into the world beyond and reincarnation. This program will explore these teachings as transformational maps of consciousness, providing wisdom in encountering the enigmatic mysteries of living and dying, bereavement and healing. Through study of sacred texts, group explorations and meditation practices, participants will be guided as they explore the journey of their own lives.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

For over four decades Simcha Raphael has taught on death, dying, bereavement, afterlife, and the spirituality of end-of-life concerns. Grounded in spiritual teachings on the afterlife journey of the soul, he always brings the focus back to how we can respond in healthy and functional ways to the various dimensions of end-of-life issues.

In both Jewish mysticism and Tibetan Buddhism there is a rich tapestry of teachings on life after death, with various ideas often contradictory and confusing to our modern sensibility. During this weekend, we will explore texts and traditions on the death moment and the stages of the post-mortem journey, including:

• The cycle of life, death, and rebirth
• The tradition of the Bardos
• The process of dying
• Near-death experiences
• The afterlife as a journey
• The practical implications of afterlife teachings
• Reincarnational drama and healing

Throughout the course of the weekend, guided meditations will explore:

• In-Womb Consciousness
• Encountering our Images of Death
• Encountering Loved Ones in the World Beyond

Ultimately, we will discover how, by integrating spiritual teaching on life after death into contemporary life, we can transform our rituals of burial, mourning and memorialization into “soul-guiding” practices.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

• Intimate setting with personal access to the teacher
• Interactive sessions with question and answer periods
• Shamatha and guided meditations
• Delicious all-vegetarian meals with locally sourced ingredients
• Option to extend stay on Personal Retreat
• Extensive library of dharma books
• Expansive wooded grounds with beautiful paths, flora and fauna

OPEN TO ALL

There are no prerequisites for this program; it is appropriate for all.

RECOMMENDED PRE-READING

Jewish Views of the Afterlife, Simcha Paull Raphael. Revised 3rd, 25th anniversary edition. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, Publishers, 2019.

The Grief Journey and the Afterlife: Jewish Pastoral Care for Bereavement, Simcha Paull Raphael. Boulder, CO: Albion-Andalus Books, 2015.

The Tibetan Book of the Dead, Sogyal Rinpoche. San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1992.

Musings with the Angel of Death, Simcha Paull Raphael. Boulder, CO: Albion-Andalus Books, 2024.

SCHEDULE

Friday, August 16

Saturday, August 17

Sunday, August 18