West London Buddhist Centre

A special Death Conversation Cafe, focusing on
the late WLBC teacher, Kamalashila (d 5 October 2024)

Yashobodhi, Kamalashila’s partner, writes:

“It is a bit over a year ago that Kamalashila was admitted to hospital and an advanced cancer was found. He celebrated his last birthday on 14 April. He received a palliative diagnosis on 1 May, which coincided with the anniversary of our hand fasting ceremony (2007). So quite a number of anniversaries here. Please join us remembering this remarkable, interesting, stubborn, lovable, wise, musical, poetic, creative, intuitive, and sometimes awkward man, who was and is appreciated so much. And who gave the whole of his adult life to teaching the Dharma.”

open to all (you don’t need to have known Kamalashila to attend)

Welcome to Death Conversation Cafe

We have been living through difficult times for the world, and humanity. Perhaps more than ever, we are pushed to explore our own mortality and what life means to us.
Death Conversation Café (DCC) provides an intimate, safe space to talk about any matters to do with death and dying in a supportive, non-sectarian setting.

DCC is based on the principles of Death Café, an initiative set up by Jon Underwood, a psychotherapist in 2011. He was responding to what many of us recognise as a lack of such opportunities in our culture. One of the most common issues participants describe is concern at the way death is not talked about in our society. Thankfully this is beginning to change.

So what happens at Death Conversation Cafés?
Well, we gather, have tea and cakes, introduce ourselves and talk about death (in a confidential environment). That’s about it.

That perhaps does not give any sense of the wonderful breadth and depth of the conversations that take place – or of the extraordinary sense of intimacy, even relief, that many of us experience. Some people attend because they have recently experienced bereavement (though the cafe is not a grief counselling workshop). Some are just curious. Some are facing their own death or that of a loved one; others have a growing sense of unease and wish to address their fears of death. And of course, we fear how we may feel on the death of others: friends children, parents – even pets.

Talking about these fears, clarifies them; often reduces them and can even transform them.

• The bad news is: we’re all going to die.
• The good news is: we’re all going to die.
• I may face death alone but there is a wonderful sense of fellowship in knowing that so do we all.

Another DCC will be held 29th June.

This event is offered in the spirit of generosity in that our teachers give their time for free. Please consider joining with that spirit and donating (suggested donation £15, £30).

Donate here and use reference ‘Death Conversation Cafe (DCC)’ or in person at the Centre.