The Five Invitations

Death is not waiting for us at the end of a long road. Death is always with us, in the marrow of every passing moment-a secret teacher hiding in plain sight and helping us to discover what matters most.The Five Invitations shows us how maintaining an ever-present consciousness of death can bring us closer to our truest selves. As a renowned teacher of compassionate care-giving and the co-founder of the Zen Hospice Project, Frank Ostaseski distils lessons gleaned over the course of his career, offering an evocative and stirring call to action.The Five Invitations:· Don't Wait· Welcome Everything, Push Away Nothing· Bring Your Whole Self to the Experience· Find a Place of Rest in the Middle of Things· Cultivate Don't Know MindThese invitations can be understood as practices for anyone coping with death or navigating any sort of transition or crisis; they guide us towards appreciating life's preciousness. 'This book is a loving, compassionate reminder that the best preparation for death is a life fully lived' Ram Dass, author of the bestseller Be Here Now'As a physician and neurosurgeon, I have learned that those who have truly lived are those that understand death as an integral part of life. In Frank Ostaseski's profound book, The Five Invitations, he shares this reality, giving us insights and wisdom on the nature of dying but more importantly on how to truly live' James R. Doty, MD, Professor of Neurosurgery at Stanford University and New York Times bestselling authorJacket design © Keith HayesJacket photography © Getty Images/John_Woodcock