An six-week live online program exploring the profound relationship between life, change, and death—supported by guided practice, personal reflection, and small-group connection.
Thursdays · July 30 – September 3, 2026 · 12:00–1:30 PM ET (New York) · Online
We live our whole lives knowing that we will die, yet rarely do we give death the kind of thoughtful attention that can transform how we live.
Contemplating Living and Dying is an six-week live online program that invites you to slow down and look closely at the realities of life, change, and death.
Each week we’ll gather in a small, supportive group to explore one aspect of the human experience—from the wonder of being born into a changing body and mind, to the inevitabilities of aging, sickness, and death. Along the way, we’ll discover how awareness of these truths can deepen our presence, courage, and compassion.
This program is not about abstract philosophy. It’s about looking directly at our lives as they are, and discovering practical ways to meet them with clarity and care.
Over six sessions, we’ll follow a natural arc from birth to death, with each class combining teaching, guided contemplative practice, and group discussion.
Birth: Coming into Being. Exploring what it means to be alive—in a body, in a changing world, with a responsive mind.
Aging: Continuous Change. Recognizing the ongoing transformations that accompany every stage of life.
Sickness and Injury: Unprepared for Encounters. Facing the often-surprising physical and emotional challenges that illness and injury bring.
Dying: The Final Transition. Considering the process of dying—what it means, how to prepare, and how to support others.
Death and Its Implications. Reflecting on the mystery and finality of death and how it reshapes our sense of meaning.
Karma: What We Truly Own. Discovering that our actions—how we live, how we relate, how we respond—are the only things that remain truly ours.
Live Online Sessions: Six weekly sessions via Zoom, recorded for later viewing.
Guided Contemplative Practice: Each session includes a practice to help you integrate the topic personally.
Small Group Experience: Enrollment limited to 14 participants for a supportive, connected learning environment.
Individual Mentoring: One 30-minute 1:1 mentoring session with the facilitator—to set intentions and support practice.
Perpetual Access: Continued access to recordings and program materials after the program ends.
This program is for anyone—new or experienced in contemplative practice—who senses that exploring death and impermanence can illuminate the way they live. It will be especially meaningful if you want to:
Cultivate a deeper relationship with change and impermanence.
Prepare for your own mortality or support loved ones facing illness or death.
Find steadiness and compassion amid life’s inevitable transitions.
Develop or deepen a contemplative practice that’s rooted in real experience.
Each weekly 90-minute session includes:
A brief introduction to the evening’s theme
A guided contemplative practice
Space for reflection and group discussion
Participants will also schedule a private 30-minute mentoring sessions during the six-week program to receive individualized guidance.
All sessions are recorded and available to watch at any time.
The program is led by Ryan O’Connell, director of the Death Awareness Project.
Ryan has been drawn to questions of life, death, mind, and reality since his teenage years. After twenty-five years of spiritual practice, he created this program to focus directly on the themes of change and death—truths that transcend belief, culture, and background.
He believes that much of human fear arises from our fear of death, and that meeting this fear directly can help us live with greater freedom and compassion. Ryan has trained as a meditation teacher and as an end-of-life care specialist, and has studied applied Buddhist philosophy at the Tergar Institute.
The program fee is $108 for the full six-week program, including all live sessions, recordings, and two one-on-one mentoring sessions.
To make the program accessible to those with financial need, we are offering two need-based scholarships.
Enrollment is limited to 14 participants to ensure a personal and supportive learning environment. We encourage you to register early to secure your spot.
Do I need prior meditation experience?
No. The practices are simple, guided, and accessible to all levels of experience.
What if I miss a session?
Recordings of all sessions will be available for you to watch at your convenience.
How do the mentoring sessions work?
You’ll have a 30-minute one-on-one meeting with the facilitator—to help establish, support and refine your contemplative practice.
Is this program affiliated with a particular religion?
No. While the approach is informed by Buddhist contemplative traditions, the program is presented in an open, inclusive way that welcomes people from all backgrounds.
Exploring death is not about becoming morbid. It’s about discovering what it truly means to live—right here, right now.
Join this small, supportive group to contemplate the realities we all share, and discover how facing them directly can bring more clarity, compassion, and freedom into your life.
QUESTIONS?
Please use the messaging feature in the bottom-right corner of the screen or send us an email at info@deathawareness.org.