Graceful Passages: A Companion for Living and Dying (Wisdom of the World) [Hardcover]

Ram Dass (Author), The Very Rev. Alan Jones (Author), Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (Author), Fr. Maximillian Mizzi (Author), M.D. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (Author), Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh (Author), Lew Epstein (Author), Michael Stillwater (Creator), Gary Remal Malkin (Creator), Sam Keen (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: Wisdom of the World | Publication Date: June 1, 2006

Through words and music, this beautifully designed set offers a renewal of faith to anyone struggling with grief. The book’s heartfelt words, from some of the world’s greatest visionary leaders, are set to original soul-stirring music, creating an atmosphere of relaxation, insight, and healing. Created by the cofounders of the Companion Arts Foundation, Graceful Passages addresses themes of letting go, closure, expressing love, forgiveness, appreciation of life, and continuity of spirit from different perspectives and faith traditions. Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish clergy are represented as well as Native American, Confucian, and Buddhist voices, creating a truly multifaith resource. A compelling musical score, created by a pioneering healing music artist and award-winning composer, lovely still-life photographs, and elegant design create a gentle invitation for the reader and listener to reflect upon what matters most in life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...this CD emerges as an intimate tool for compassion, awareness and support- both for the person facing their transition... -- Steve Simon, Producer, "What Dreams May Come"

A perfect blend of words and music that opens hearts and soothes souls. We highly recommend it! -- Kenny and Julia Loggins

A stunning musical prayer for the ages that honors the rich and sacred transition of dying... a must for every sensate adult's music library. -- Nadine Condon for GraceCathedral.org, December 2000 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Each year half of America will be touched by the death of a friend or loved one. Bill Moyers, whose landmark PBS series on dying aired in September of 2000 (which listed Graceful Passages as a primary musical resource) writes, "Surveys show that Americans- including baby boomers (estimated at nearly 80 million people in their late forties and fifties) who are becoming aware of their own mortality while caring for their elderly parents- are exploring issues of death and dying with new openness. Awareness is growing that we can and must improve care at the end of life." Feature articles in Time, The Wall Street Journal and other mainstream media show growing attention to this issue.

The wonder of life is often overlooked. The preciousness of being alive, of appreciating ourselves, each other, and our world, is sometimes the last thing we remember in our rush.

Despite advances in medical science, we are neither capable of preventing our transition from this world nor in control of the timing. As reluctant as we may be to approach the subject, admitting our mortality is an important step toward embracing life on its own terms. Such an acceptance can profoundly support a recognition of the moment-by-moment gift of life itself.

At any stage of life, suffering is increased by denial and resistance. This applies equally to those at the beginning, middle, or end of life. There is a need for effective, artful ways to ease the shift from resistance to acceptance, to address anyone who is going through or anticipating loss.

Our response has been Graceful Passages, A Companion for Living and Dying, a 2-CD giftbook of spoken voices and music addressing this issue. We have recorded people, among whom are foremost experts in the field of loss and transition, speaking candidly on the key elements common to the dying process, themes which are relevant at any stage of life.

These themes include: the process of letting go, elements of closure. giving and receiving love, forgiveness , appreciation of life, and continuity of spirit.

The people we have selected as speakers, coming from different traditions, share an extraordinary quality of presence which infuses their words with a tender, universal eloquence. The messages they deliver are spoken in an atmosphere of peaceful honoring.

To further enhance the delivery of these messages of acceptance, we have created music to support the psycho-spiritual transition observed in dying persons, created with the intention of gently addressing persons behind the resistance of their conscious defenses. This music is intended to provide an opportunity for all listeners to both relax and to feel supported in freely expressing feelings with or without words, thus more easily experiencing reconciliation, resolution and peaceful transitions, wherever they may be on the continuum of life.

Our sincere appreciation to the Nathan Cummings Foundation, Fund For Global Awakening, and all who have contributed financially to this endeavor. We tithe 10% of this product to hospice and numerous organizations. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 56 pages
• Publisher: New World Library; 2nd edition (June 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577315618
• ISBN-13: 978-1577315612
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 6.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,883 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A soothing balm for the soul, September 20, 2007

By 

Michael Davis "ElderHope" (Rowlett, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Graceful Passages: A Companion for Living and Dying (Wisdom of the World) (Hardcover)

Death is not an easy Passage. Seventeen years years of caring for hospice and hospital patients have taught me that. While the dying process has the potential for tremendous meaning, beauty, and sacredness, it is also deeply human. This Companion is an illustration of each of those qualities.

For myself as a professional caregiver, this selection of words, music, and printed pages continually stirs my heart. The package includes a book that features text from several wisdom and faith traditions. The text is read with accompanying beautiful - indeed, haunting - music on CD1. The second CD has just the instrumentation. These CDs are masterfully produced: the music, the readings, the production itself. No sacrifice was made in quality or in meaning.

MIchael Stillwater and Gary Malkin have done an enormous service in preparing this deeply human and humane collection of words and music. It is well worth the money spent on it.

I have had the privilege of hearing Michael speak twice at seminars for the health care system of which I am part. He has an amazing sense of intuition about what will speak to people and what touches them. On both occasions, staff spoke of his giftedness and blessing to each of us.

It should be noted that there are numerous traditions represented on the CD, as well as styles of music. While I consider myself a fairly inclusive person, I initially found myself really wanting to hear readings from traditions more familiar to myself (just being honest here). But, as I listened, I began to take increasing levels of comfort from these other Wisdoms. Indeed, they were quite rich in their meaning. I can see though, that someone at the time of life's end might not want to be "dipping their feet into new waters." Particularly those of more fundamentalist traditions may find this harder to embrace. One can always listen to the instrumental CD, though.

Of the two CDs, I find myself missing whichever CD I don't have on at the moment. The instrumentation along with the voices of those from other geographies and traditions offers it's own solace, so I want on the Reading CD. But, then I want on just the instrumentation CD because I can work well with just the music playing.

Of the media that this occasionally soul-tired old chaplain values, this package is the most frequently turned to. Not a week passes by that it isn't on in my office. If I need something to lift my heart, this is what I listen to. That's been true for a year now. And, I'm moving into my second year...

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunningly Beautiful - Compelling, January 8, 2003

By 

David Enzel (Chevy Chase, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Graceful Passages : A Companion for Living and Dying (Audio CD)

I do not have words strong enough to express my admiration and appreciation of this CD. The music is gorgeous and the words are very spiritual. The combination is very moving and full of love. This CD has the power to transform. It would be a bargain at 4 times the price, and I do not say this lightly.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Draws on a rich variety of religious traditions, June 9, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Graceful Passages : A Companion for Living and Dying (Audio CD)

Graceful Passages: A Companion For Living And Dying is a collection of sensitive readings from a variety of sources on the experience of mortality, set to timeless music of compassion. Transitions are spoken about in hopeful, wise words. The set includes two CD's as well as a book of lyrics. One CD plays both readings and music and the other simply plays the musical backgrounds, appropriate for meditation background. Readers and performers include Ram Dass Arum and Sunenda Ghandhi, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Lew Epstein, Sam Keene, Thich Nhat Hanh, Jyoti, and many others. Drawing on a rich variety of religious traditions, Graceful Passages is a beautiful tool to aid those experiencing loss or difficult transitions. Its healing qualities are evident throughout.

Nancy Lorraine, Reviewer