Please join us on Saturday, June 14th for a day of practice with Robert Cusick from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislaus County in the Sarana Kuti, 2172 Kiernan Ave., Modesto, CA.

In this daylong, we will focus on cultivating compassion and experientially explore the possibility of meeting the heavenly messengers of aging, sickness and death head-on. This exploration may bring us face-to-face with the impermanent nature of our ever-changing lives and the inescapable experience of loss — the losses associated with growth and change, the losses associated with that which we hold closely as being significant, important or precious to us, the losses associated with the things, roles or identities that we get to choose how or when to let go of and those truly difficult losses that we have no control over, that we can neither hold back or choose when to relinquish. Recognizing the impermanent nature of the way things ceaselessly arise and pass away, helps us cultivate the courage and clarity to be with our losses and changing circumstances without abandoning ourselves or one another.  This is compassion.

This day is freely offered to all.  Donations are gratefully accepted to support the teacher and future offerings.  Please bring a vegetarian potluck dish to share for lunch, if you would like.  For the sake of those who may have sensitivities or allergies, please do not wear scented or perfumed products.  Chairs will be available.  There are also a limited number of zabutons and cushions for use. This daylong is suitable for all-levels of practitioners.

ROBERT CUSICK trained at Stanford University in the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) and is a Stanford certified Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) instructor. Trained in 1998 by Frank Ostaseski, as a Zen Hospice Project end-of-life volunteer caregiver, he has worked at the bedside of the dying and with their families, loved ones, colleagues and companions. He currently serves as a bereavement counselor at KARA, in Palo Alto, where he provides individual grief support for adults and leads men’s grief groups. Robert studied in the Soto Zen tradition at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, in the Ridhwan School’s Diamond approach with A. H. Almaas (Hameed Ali), and in Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s multi-year Dedicated Practioner’s Program. As a former monk, he ordained in Burma under the renowned meditation master Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw and studied there with him for a number of years. Robert is on the-faculty of the Contemplative Caregiver Course at the San Francisco Zen Center. His practice is focused on recognizing and cultivating compassion through the application of mindfulness.

Sarana Kuti is the small stand-alone building on the UUFSC property at the rear of the east parking lot (the building with red and gold trim). It is behind the Johnson Building.

For additional information, please contact Lori Wong at 209-343-2748.

If you plan to come, please let us know (it helps to know if we need a larger space) by filling out the form below. Thank you!