Spiritual care
Sogyal Rinpoche with Cecille Gassler (Spiritual Care
International Director)
and Australian Spiritual Care Team
“To inspire a quiet revolution in the whole way we look at death and the care for the dying, and the whole way we look at life and the care for the living.” Sogyal Rinpoche
The mission of the Spiritual Care Program is:
- to demonstrate how the wisdom and compassion of the Buddhist teachings can benefit those facing illness or death and their families and caregivers
- to emphasize the universal spiritual principles, which can be used by people of any faith or none.
The Spiritual Care Program brings the compassion, wisdom and richness of the teachings and practices in the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying into care giving.
Students are encourage to undertake spiritual care work in a health care environment, both as professionals and as volunteers, in order to manifest and deepen their practice and to be of benefit to those who are ill and/or dying. The program is offered in seven European countries, the United States, Canada and Australia.
It includes public conferences and seminars, study groups for professional and trained volunteer caregivers, and training days for hospital or hospice staff. A conference organized near Munich in 1996 for 1500 professionals had a major impact on the German hospice movement.
Spiritual Care in Australia
Over the last few years there have been a number of spiritual care seminars in Australia. These seminars have reached a broad section of the community (both Buddhist and non-Buddhist), health professionals, pastoral workers, volunteers, carers, older people and members of the general public. Participants attending these seminars report that they have been ‘deeply moved and changed by their experience’.
Upcoming seminar
Facing Death & Embracing life
23 - 24 October 2008 - Melbourne area
Integrating Spirituality & Care Giving
30 - 31 August 2008
see flyer for more information
Judy Arpana - SENIOR EDUCATOR
Judy Arpana is known throughout Australia and Europe as an expert in the area of spiritual care for the dying. She approaches this theme from a Buddhist perspective and her extensive experience of working in this field makes her seminars unique. People attending Judy's seminars frequently acknowledge that they are "life transforming".
Background
Judy has been a practicing Buddhist for over 30 years and is a senior student of Sogyal Rinpoche since 1995. She trained with Mal & Di McKissock and was mentored by Jungian therapist, Patrick Jansen. Judy has been counselling and giving practical advice to dying people and their relatives for over 25 years.
Since the year 2000, Judy has accepted invitations to conduct training seminars for doctors, nurses, pastoral care workers, social workers and the general public in the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands.
Judy's additional role is to continuously provide spiritual care seminars to both the public and to Rigpa students throughout Australia . She is responsible for training Rigpa's spiritual care educators and facilitators.
Seminars and workshops
The seminars demonstrate how to bring a spiritual dimension to:
- caring for the ageing and dying
- healing/preventing burnout
- supporting families and friends
The seminars also address the practical issues and concerns of health professionals relating to:
- communicating about death and dying
- bereavement
- working with unfinished business
- supporting families
The seminars are relaxed, with time for self-reflection, and include a variety of short meditations and interactive processes using everyday language.
Ideally the seminars are two days, in a residential setting. They can be tailored to particular groups and workplaces as needed. Judy is available to present at conferences and give in-service training. Seminar fees are available on application.
Judy Arpana can be contacted at jarpana@aapt.net.au or through Australia@spcare.org
Seminar topics
The time of our death is uncertain. Our culture is in constant denial of this fact and provides very little preparation for this profound transition. This seminar explores deeply held attitudes towards death and dying, including personal and cultural beliefs and the effect these have on our lives and society. Therapists and teachers from many traditions acknowledge that underlying all fears, is the fear of death. A willingness to confront this fundamental belief can free us from unnecessary suffering.
Any major change in life has components of loss and grief. It is important that we understand more about the grieving process and honor it as an essential part of healing. By embracing change with grace and ease, we can move more positively and freely towards the next stage of our lives.
This seminar explores the inescapable side of death and examines the nature of loss and grief, not only in relation to physical death, but also of life's many changes. In a supportive environment, through shared stories, with the experience of meditation and guided visualizations, participants explore acceptance of, and preparation for a conscious death.
Integrating Spirituality and Care-giving
This seminar assists carers to explore how the practices of meditation and compassion can heal burnout through guided visualizations and reflections, and can help them reconnect with their true loving nature in order to enrich their caring role
Opening the Heart to Loss and Grief
This seminar explains that bereavement is not an illness - it is a wound that will heal in time. It looks deeply into the spiritual dimension of life and death, and deals with individual styles of coping with loss, grief and mourning. Gentle meditations and time for self reflection are an integral part of the seminar.
Spiritual Needs of the Aged
This seminar helps medical staff and carers to develop a greater capacity to recognise the spiritual needs of patients and their relatives, and to give them the spiritual support they require.
Spiritual Preparation for Death
This seminar assists participants prepare for their own death through the introduction of practical processes and simple meditations. Exploring themes of dying inevitably results in people learning how to 'live and die' well. Developing this unique awareness is an invaluable tool in helping others.
Wisdom and Compassion in Care for the Dying
Every day health care professionals face emotional and spiritual suffering for which they may have little or no training. This seminar offers participants the opportunity to explore how to give more effective and compassionate care through cultivating the qualities of presence, authenticity, and genuine confidence.
The seminar includes exercises, guided reflections and meditations relating to the emotional and spiritual needs of the dying and their family members, exploring deeply held attitudes around loss and grief, death and dying.
Local contacts
For further information about the study groups and seminars in your area please contact the following coordinators:
Brisbane - Carmel Williams
Ph 07 3030 0649
info@rigpabrisbane.org
Canberra - Janet Perry
Ph 02 6230 5093 or 0411 815 502
rigpaspiritualcaremelb@redballoon.net.au
Melbourne - Nigel Stone
Ph 0429 095 165
rigpamelbourne@netspace.net.au
Newcastle - Steve Patfield
Ph 02 4925 2770
inquiries@rigpanewcastle.org.au
Sydney - National Coordinator - Mary Jane Elliott
(M) 0400 655 822
australia@spcare.org
