Death Is Not the Enemy with Christine Longaker

Program Description

Since suffering is an inescapable fact of life, Longaker says, “what we need to learn is how to go through suffering, how to bring the experiences of suffering into our spiritual path and purpose, because that is how we can transform it.” Facing death–either our own or that of our loved ones–is a part of life; eventually, we are all touched. For anyone seeking ways to cope with death, or finding more meaning in life, Christine Longaker provides compassionate insight and wisdom. Confronting death before it is upon us gives life a meaning not possible otherwise.

A pioneer in the Hospice movement, Longaker has studied with Sogyal Rinpoche (author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying) for more than three decades and is the author of Facing Death and Finding Hope: A Guide to the Emotional and Spiritual Care of the Dying (Doubleday 1997). To learn more about the work of Christine Longaker go to www.spcare.org

Topics Explored in this Dialogue:

• Why there is hope in the face of death
• How you can help a loved one die
• How to let go and say good-bye
• How to understanding what’s going on during the transitional time of death
• How to prepare spiritually for death
• How suffering leads to greater clarity of your spiritual path
• What is the history of the Hospice movement

Program Number: 2617                Host: Michael Toms             Interview Date: 3/4/1997