The Five Invitations

Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully

By: Frank Ostaseski

Narrated by: Frank Ostaseski

Death is not waiting for us at the end of a long road. Death is always with us, in the marrow of every passing moment. She is the secret teacher hiding in plain sight, helping us to discover what matters most.

Life and death are a package deal. They cannot be pulled apart, and we cannot truly live unless we are aware of death. The Five Invitations is an exhilarating meditation on the meaning of life and how maintaining an ever-present consciousness of death can bring us closer to our truest selves. As a renowned teacher of compassionate caregiving and the cofounder of the Zen Hospice Project, Frank Ostaseski has sat on the precipice of death with more than a thousand people. In The Five Invitations, he distills the lessons gleaned over the course of his career, offering an evocative and stirring guide that points to a radical path to transformation.

The Five Invitations:

• Don't wait
• Welcome everything, push away nothing
• Bring your whole self to the experience
• Find a place of rest in the middle of things
• Cultivate "don't know mind"

These Five Invitations show us how to wake up fully to our lives. They can be understood as best practices for anyone coping with loss or navigating any sort of transition or crisis; they guide us toward appreciating life's preciousness. Awareness of death can be a valuable companion on the road to living well, forging a rich and meaningful life, and letting go of regret. The Five Invitations is a powerful and inspiring exploration of the essential wisdom dying has to impart to all of us.©2017 Frank Ostaseski (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

I'm so glad I got this audiobook and not the book

First, I think this book got into my top 5 favorites of all time. It was a fantastic journey to listen to this. I felt I got connected with Frank and with the stories he shares, with some of the emotions they had, with my emotions.

I highly recommend it.

Also if you want to live this experience the second time differently - I recommend you listen to this book on 1.5x-1.6x. Frank's voice gets filled with even more compassion, a familiar sad-calm-optimism,

Powerful for those facing losing a loved one!

I read an average of a book a week. Only a handful of books do I know that I will re-read and study. This book is one of those books. I first listened on Audible, which I highly recommend. The author reads the book and his voice was soothing and brought the stories to life because I could hear his tone and his inflections of voice. I then bought a copy of the book so I could mark it up and study it in more depth in the coming months. I highly recommend this book especially if you are facing the death of someone you love.

Profund, insightful and full of presence!

This is one of those beautiful books that is not so easy to find, full of compassionate wisdom. I really enjoyed listening it!

Life changing

This book was a priceless, invaluable gift to me in the months following the death of my 45 year old sister from breast cancer. Being broken open, I was ready to take in Ostaseski's words and teachings. Every human should read this enlightening book. I switched from the hard cope to the audiobook halfway thorough, and I'm so glad I did. Beautiful.❤️

Most Empowering Reading Experience Ever

My experiences with grief and death has been edified, enriched and a permission given to feel every aspect of both was gifted to me through the reading of this book. The outcome currently is one of where I am actively engaged in an intimate dance with grief, and I am simply flowing with the steps as they are presented. Thank you Frank for writing this book, which has allowed it to assist me through my personal journey. I am forever grateful to you.