From Age-Ing to Sage-Ing: A Revolutionary Approach to Growing Older

by Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Ronald S. Miller

Overview

Over two decades ago, beloved and respected rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi felt an uneasiness. He was growing older, and fears about death and infirmity were haunting him. So he decided to embark on mission to get to the bottom of his fears. Through a series of events that included a vision quest in a secluded cabin and studying with Sufi masters, Buddhist teachers and Native-American shamans, Reb Zalman found a way to turn aging into the most meangful and joyous time in his life.

In this inspiring and informative guide, Reb Zalman shares his wisdom and experience with readers. He shows readers how to create an aging process for themselves that is full of adventure, passion, mystery, and fulfillment, rather than anxiety. Using scientific research—both neurological and psychological— Reb Zalman offers techniques that will expand horizons beyond the narrow view of "the present" into a grand and enduring eternity. By harnessing the power of the spirit, as well as explaining exactly how to become a sage in their own community, he gives readers a helpful and moving way to use their own experiences to nurture, heal, and perhaps even save a younger generation from the prison of how we typically regard aging.

In this updated version of his popular book, Reb Zalman has added a brand new introductory chapter that provides insight into the shifts that have taken place in our culture since the first edition of this book came out in the 1990s. Reb Zalman speaks candidly about the role the 78 million (now aging) Baby Boomers are currently playing in how we think about aging. He provides new inspiring ideas about the importance of an elder's role in shaping society, and explains how elders can embrace the power they have to provide value and wisdom to those around them. Additionally he has added a concluding chapter in which he shares his own experience with aging and the time he calls "The December Years."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781455530601
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	06/03/2014
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	236,625
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Zalman Schachter-Shalomi is a pre-eminent rabbi, teacher, and Professor Emeritus at Temple University and Naropa University. He is the founder of the Spiritual Eldering Institute in Philadelphia, which sponsors workshops nationwide that provide the psychological and spiritual tools for people of all ages to grow into elderhood. Most recently he worked on The December Project with author Sarah Davidson. He is now retired and is pursuing his own December work.

Ronald S. Miller is an award-winning journalist and the author of As Above, So Below: Paths to Spiritual Renewal in Daily Life. He has taught courses in human development, transpersonal psychology, and stress management at universities and growth centers. He lives in San Diego where he teaches college English, edits books, and continues exploring the joys of elderhood.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Preface xiii

Introduction 1

Part 1 The Theory of Spiritual Eldering 9

Chapter 1 The Vision of Spiritual Eldering 11

Chapter 2 Becoming the Possible Sage 31

Chapter 3 Elderhood: Past, Present, and Future 52

Part 2 Spiritual Eldering and Personal Transformation 79

Chapter 4 The Art of Life Completion 81

Chapter 5 Tools for Harvesting Life 107

Chapter 6 The Eternity Factor 135

Chapter 7 The Conscious Transit at Death 159

Part 3 Spiritual Eldering and Social Transformation 185

Chapter 8 Mentoring: Seeding the Future with Wisdom 187

Chapter 9 Elders as Healers of Family, Community, and Gaia 211

Chapter 10 Spiritual Eldering Comes of Age 239

Appendix: Exercises for Sages in Training 267

Afterword: The December Years 287

Bibliography 297

About the Authors 303

About the Spiritual Eldering Institute 305

Index 307

Editorial Reviews

"As in his teaching, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi put in this volume much warmth, human compassion, and necessary wisdom." —Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize winner and author

"Medical science has added years to our lives. Reb Zalman's warm and wise book arrives just in time to add life to those years." —Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People

"A wise and inspiring guidebook to the aging process. It will show you how healthy aging may be more like the process of birth than only a reminder of our mortality." —Bernie Siegel, author of Love, Medicine, & Miracles

"Extraordinary...a maginificent view of aging." —Larry Dossey, M.D., author of Healing Words: The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine

From the Publisher