Grassroots Hospice
Mike Haber with Ram Dass 2002
I offer free hospice, end-of-life counseling in Santa Cruz. I am a former Zen Hospice Project volunteer and employee. I was also a volunteer at Santa Cruz Hospice, an end-of-life care provider founded by Stephen Levine, father of my longtime friend, Noah Levine.
I integrate the Zen Hospice Project care precepts that I learned years ago with what I learned in integral psychology. Among the precept taught at The Zen Hospice, I specifically embrace cultivating a don’t know mind. This idea is explained by Insight Meditation Center teacher, Gil Fronsdal, in the following quote:
“Not-knowing” is emphasized in Zen practice, where it is sometimes called “beginner’s mind.” An expert may know a subject deeply, yet be blinded to new possibilities by his or her preconceived ideas. In contrast, a beginner may see with fresh, unbiased eyes. The practice of beginner’s mind is to cultivate an ability to meet life without preconceived ideas, interpretations, or judgments.”
Other ZHP care precepts are:
- Learn to welcome everything, push away nothing.
- Bring your whole self to the bedside. Be present in the moment.
- Don’t wait.
- Find a place of rest in the middle of things.
I am here to listen, and help you work through emotions. Expressing emotions of loss can help people work through feelings of anxiety, grief, numbness, guilt, and isolation. I do not use grief-counseling techniques – recent research suggests that grief counseling could cause more harm than good. I also teach meditation techniques for pain management. My hospice end-of-life counseling is always free to patients and immediate family.
It is important to expect nothing, to take every experience, including the negative ones, as merely steps on the path, and to proceed.~ Ram Dass