The Five Invitations Audiobook By Frank Ostaseski cover art

The Five Invitations

Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully

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The Five Invitations

By: Frank Ostaseski
Narrated by: Frank Ostaseski
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About this listen

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
Buddhism Eastern Grief & Loss Personal Success Relationships Spirituality Inspiring Witty Funny Wisdom
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What listeners say about The Five Invitations

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Life-changing

Ostaseski identifies the essential qualities of a fulfilling life by embracing the dark along with the light. His approach is both refreshing and insightful. This book changed how I feel about death and what is important in life. Living fully aware, sober, appreciating the little things, in the present moment, loving without restraint, forgiving both inwardly and outwardly, having the courage to experience the full brunt of our fears, and to find a place of rest in the middle of it all in quiet thankfulness.

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Incredibly moving and insightful

This is quite possibly the wisest, most beautiful book I have ever read/listened to. The author’s voice is truly peace itself. Highly recommended !

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powerful!

life changing. read this book! and give it to a friend too. I loved it.

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beautiful, and life changing.

I was a house orderly in a large city hospital, and his stories really moved me,and having just lost my mother,I was comforted by his loving stories.

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Insightful

Thanks for all the views on transcending. A nicely woven tapestry of recollections, quotes, final thoughts , and insights

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Exploration into the Unkown

A must read for anyone exploring the journey as they approach aging, illness and death. A lesson on living fully. A caregiver’s handbook.

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Such an impactful book!!!

I loved this book and would definitely recommend this book! It has been one of the most impactful books I’ve ever heard. I loved it so much I cannot wait to get a physical copy of this book! After having listened to this book I feel I’ve learned to live a more fulfilling life, to embrace change and not live in the fear of it.

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Wisdom filled

This is the most beautiful, wisdom filled book. I have ever read in my 76 years on this earth.

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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,

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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.

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3 people found this helpful