Kirsten DeLeo is a meditation teacher, author and co-founder of Authentic Presence, one of the first training programs in contemplative end-of-life care.

Based on her decades of experience serving the dying and their families, she wrote the award-winning book "Present Through The End: A Caring Companion’s Guide for Accompanying the Dying” (Shambhala).

For over twenty-five years, Kirsten has been immersed in Tibetan Buddhist study and practice, including a three-year retreat. Kirsten was a founding member of the Harvard Buddhist Ministry working group and currently supports the development of Buddhist chaplaincy in Europe.

Kirsten lives on the West Coast of Ireland near the Dzogchen Beara Meditation and Spiritual Care Centre where she teaches and also supports people who are bereaved or seriously ill.

Learn more about Kirsten DeLeo: https://www.kirstendeleo.com/
Explore books by Kirsten DeLeo: https://www.kirstendeleo.com/book

00:25 - Sean Fargo introduces Kirsten deLeo
04:15 - Kirsten guides a grounding meditation
08:45 - Presence and mindful awareness as care in itself
10:50 - Kirsten’s background in early hospice care
15:00 - The importance of community support (for both the dying and the caregivers)
18:02 - The role models and early experiences that encouraged Kirsten
21:20 - QUESTION: What brought you here today? Is there one thing you’d like to learn about?
24:40 - Bringing mindfulness to potential power imbalances between giver and receiver
26:19 - Mindfulness as defined in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition
27:30 - “Of all mindfulness meditations, that on death is supreme.”
32:45 - Awakening to the reality of death as awakening to our life and how we’re living
35:22 - The difference between “helping” and “accompanying”
38:12 - When deaths are very difficult
41:59 - The potential impact of just one stable presence in the room
42:52 - QUESTION: Is there anything you invite people to consider regarding the afterlife?
44:01 - Kirsten shares the practices that help her, and which practices she might share with the dying person
49:20 - QUESTION: How do we know when we’re prolonging versus relieving suffering?
54:38 - Guided Meditation: “Another You” (Just Like Me)
1:06:04 - Guided Meditation: “Entering Another’s World”
1:16:09 - Leaving our comfort zone to grow our compassionate muscle
1:19:26 - QUESTION: Discerning between the needs of the dying person, and the needs of all who love them
1:24:27 - QUESTION: What to do if I’m feeling too overwhelmed to be there?
1:28:09 - Guided Meditation: Essential Phowa
1:46:02 - Sharing final thoughts