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

Schachter-Shalomi, Zalman; Miller, Ronald S.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1455530603 ISBN 13: 9781455530601

Publisher: Balance, 2014

Synopsis

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."

About this title

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.

From Library Journal:

In the next 20 years 75 million Americans will be reaching retirement age. To deal with this sea change, Rabbi Schachter-Shalomi (Paradigm Shift, Jason Aronson, 1993) introduces the concept of "eldering," or mentoring, each other in the years ahead. He contends that we are at the cutting edge of the next stage in our evolution and that elders will bring us into this more compassionate, intuitive, and caring era. In Part 1 of the book, Schachter-Shalomi recommends meditation, exercise, and spiritual healing to help individuals enter their later years, while in Part 2 he speaks to our limited perceptions of death. Creating ceremonies and learning to forgive help ease the transition into death, according to Schachter-Shalomi, who believes in the certainty of life after death. Adding a personal dimension, the rabbi compassionately relates his own mental crisis as he approaches the age of 60 to help readers understand the process. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries with gerontology collections.?Lisa Wise, Univ. of Southern Colorado, Pueblo
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Balance
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1455530603
• ISBN 13: 9781455530601
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 336