the power of presence …

… Halifax et. al. describe a contemplative end-of-life training program for health care professionals … Being with Dying.

” … bringing a present moment quality of presence to interactions has the potential to transform the care of dying people as well as the caregivers themselves. Cultivating this quality within themselves and others allows clinicians to explore alternatives to exclusively intellectual, procedural, and task-oriented approaches when caring for dying people.”

“A physician said that the training “actually really changed the way I am with people” by giving him “a depth of practice” and “a state of mind I could connect to.” He said that BWD helped him to understand that he needed to develop a “quality of mind” to be present with dying patients, and that this required practice to develop and maintain. He compared this to the place of practice in the life of someone who plays music.”