Phase 1- Research Studio 4 Spring 2017 Kendra Clemenson
Buddhism and Hospice Care Studio 4_Spring 2017_Kendra Clemenson
Buddhism It was awareness of death that prompted Buddha to explore the truth behind worldly concerns. After a long search, Buddha finally came to the conclusion that death is inevitable. Today, Buddhists look at death as taking a break from this materialistic world. Buddhist people do not think death as a continuation of the soul but consider it as an awakening. They believe in reincarnation: once a person dies on this earth, he will be reborn to a new life here and the status of that life depends on the work he did before his previous death.
Background According to traditional stories of the life of Buddha, he first decided to leave his home and seek enlightenment after encountering the "four sights" 1. a sick person 2. an old person 3. a corpse 4. a world renouncer The first three symbolize the sufferings of humanity and the last indicates that one can transcend them through meditation and religious practice to find peace.
Basic Buddhist Beliefs Everything changes, nothing is permanent, and suffering is inevitable. True happiness, enlightenment, and freedom from suffering can be found through Buddhist teachings. Death is a natural part of life. Wisdom and compassion should be refined and practiced. A spirit is not disappear upon death, but instead transfers into another life in one of six separate planes (three fortunate and three unfortunate)-reincarnation and Karma. A person s actions during his lifetime results in karma that determines what form his spirit will be reborn as a human, an animal, or various forms of spirits, including angels, demons, gods, and ghosts.
Buddhist Death and Funeral Traditions
When Death Is Imminent When a Buddhist is approaching death, close friends and family members should sit with the dying person and help him or her feel calm and peaceful. Death is a natural and inevitable part of the lifecycle, and the dying person should be at peace with this reality. Friends and family should help the dying person reflect on their good deeds in this life, and the power those good deeds will have over their next incarnation. A small statue of the Buddha may be placed by the head of the dying person and parittas, or protective verses, may be chanted. The dying person should be made as comfortable as possible before death occurs.
https://hinamayatantra.wordpress.com/buddha/
After Death Has Occurred According to the Last Rites of Amitabha the body of the deceased should not be touched, disturbed, or moved in any way because they believe the soul doesn't leave the body immediately after breathing stops. Preparing The Body The body must be completely cold, then it can be washed and prepared for burial or cremation. The deceased should not be dressed in fancy clothes, but rather in the everyday clothes that they would normally wear. Cremation is the most common ritual, but embalming and burying the body is also acceptable.
Funeral Services Religious memorial services are traditionally held on the third, seventh, forty-ninth, and one-hundredth day after death, however these days can be flexible if they don t fit into the family s schedule. The services may be held at a family home or at a monastery. The family may choose to limit the participation to only family members or invite the larger community. Dana is performed, which is an act of giving and generosity that purifies the mind.
The Paro Taktsang Palphug Buddhist Monastery (1692) https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/11/a-trip-to-bhutan/100191/
Funeral Services A funeral service may be performed before burial or cremation. Also a memorial service can be performed after cremation. In all funeral variations should be simple, solemn, and dignified. The funeral is not an appropriate time to display wealth. Mourners should wear white. For the funeral or memorial service, the casket or cremated remains should be placed at the front of the room with an altar placed nearby. At the wake, the altar may feature an image of the deceased, an image of the Buddha, candles, flowers, fruit, and incense. Any flowers or wreaths given to the family of the deceased by mourners may also be displayed. When entering the space, mourners should approach the altar, bow with their hands pressed together in a pose of prayer, and reflect at the altar for a moment. Then they may sit.
http://tri140.50webs.com/rituals/buddhist_funeral.html
http://tri140.50webs.com/rituals/buddhist_funeral.html
http://tri140.50webs.com/rituals/buddhist_funeral.html
Contemplative Practices involving, allowing or causing deep thought -meditation -deep listening -contemplative arts -journaling -centering -yoga http://www.contemplativemind.org
Meditation to engage in mental exercise (as concentration on one's breathing or repetition of a mantrarepeated word or sound) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness http://aboutmeditation.com/beginners-guide-to-meditation-tips-benefits-techniques/
Deep Listening Deep Listening involves listening, from a deep, receptive, and caring place in oneself, to deeper and often subtler levels of meaning and intention. This can include listening to music, stories, prayers, guided practices, etc. http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/tree/centering
Journaling Writing in a journal is a good way to write with some freedom, with little to no judgment. A journal can help one manage the ability to live in the present, to become deeply aware and appreciative of life. http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/tree/journaling
Centering Centering practice is especially helpful in the midst of strong emotional states such as excitement or anxiety. The center refers to a relaxed yet focused state of mind. It helps the individual feel stable and prepared before a potentially stressful event. Common centering practices include: Count numbers, such as counting down from 10 Repeat a word or phrase, such as a prayer or affirmation Smile and relaxing your body Go for a walk; get out into a different environment Stretch Close your eyes and breathe deeply Concentrate on breathing, such as breathing out for a count of 8 and in for a count of 4 Count your breaths Doodle or write Carry or place near yourself a visual reminder to stay centered, such as a quote or image Use sound to bring yourself back to your center. Periodically ring a bell, chime, or other gentle reminder. http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/tree/centering
Yoga Yoga is a Hindu spiritual discipline including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures It is practiced for health and relaxation. Contemplative Yoga is a gentle, therapeutically oriented style of yoga. As your physical tensions diminish, you naturally enter into a state of greater mental ease and tranquility http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/tree/yoga
Contemplative Practice Centers http://www.contemplativemind.org/ http://zencare.org/
Precedents Hospice Centers/Training/Projects http://zencare.org/
New York Zen Center For Contemplative Care Website: http://zencare.org/ Address: 119 W 23 rd St. Ste 401, New York, NY 10011 Twenty-six hundred years ago Shakyamuni Buddha established a practice to address suffering, old age, sickness, and death. In 2007, Zen Buddhist monks Koshin Paley Ellison and Robert Chodo Campbell established the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, in the heart of New York City.
Zen Hospice Project Website: https://www.zenhospice.org/ Address: 273 Page St, San Francisco, CA 94102 Mission: Our mission is to help change the experience of dying and care giving. We create space for living that offers the opportunity for individuals, their loved ones and caregivers to find comfort, connection, and healing in this shared human experience. Through our pioneering model of care, we inspire each other to live fully.
Upaya Zen Center Website: https://www.upaya.org/ Address: 1404 Cerro Gordo Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87501 Upaya is a Zen Buddhist practice and educational center dedicated to the development of the relationship between traditional Buddhism and compassionate engagement with our world.
Mahayana Temple Website: http://en.mahayana.us/ Address: 133 Canal St, New York, NY 10002 The Eastern States Buddhist Temple of America, Inc., found in 1962, is the oldest Chinese Buddhist temple on the eastern coast of the United States. The Temple was initially founded to fulfill the needs of Chinese Buddhists in the greater New York area
Site- The New Yorker Hotel Website: https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/wyndham/new-york-newyork/wyndham-new-yorker-hotel/overview?cid=lc:wy:20160927:rio:local Address: 481 8 th Ave, New York, NY 10001
Site Pictures
Site Pictures
Site Pictures
Floor Plan
Floor Plan Diagram
Sources http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zfts4wx/revision/3 http://en.mahayana.us/ https://www.upaya.org/ http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices http://www.zenhospice.org/ https://www.everplans.com/articles/buddhist-funeral-traditions https://www.everplans.com/articles/buddhist-funeral-traditions http://zencare.org/ https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/wyndham/new-york-new-york/wyndham-new-yorkerhotel/overview?cid=lc:wy:20160927:rio:local