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.
The Five Invitations show us how to wake up fully to our lives. They can be understood as best practices for anyone navigating a life transition, coping with loss or serious illness or a personal crisis; they guide us toward appreciating life’s preciousness. Weaving together pragmatic tools, real life stories and ancient wisdom, Frank helps us discover how an awareness of death can be a valuable companion on the road to living well, forging a rich and meaningful life free of regret.
The Five Invitations is a powerful and inspiring exploration of the essential wisdom dying has to impart to all of us.
"This book is a loving, compassionate reminder that the best Frank embodies the wisdom and compassion he shares in these magical and compelling pages. You feel it instantly, because it is real, and it is really about you and your life."
“Frank Ostaseski reveals how we can transform this darkness into a bright light (brilliant in every way), a return to the source, the ultimate in intimacy, healing, and meaning the essence of love. What could be better than that."
“I have never forgotten Frank’s incredible compassion and comfort, as you, dear reader, will never forget this book."
“Frank Ostaseski guides us in this opening with a luminous wisdom derived from his own full immersion in the journey. Please give yourself to The Five Invitations; these teachings reveal the mystery and beauty of our essential Being.”
These moving teachings can open your heart and change your life. Frank has been a compassionate guide to thousands of people facing death. In The Five Invitations, he shares his timeless wisdom, beautifully, as a blessing to all."
“Frank shows us that if you are to die consciously, there’s no time like the present to prepare. This book is a loving, compassionate reminder that the best preparation for death is a life fully lived."
"A powerful book by my good friend who has brought together wisdom and compassion in his life and his long years of work with the dying. We will all be enriched, inspired, and edified by his extraordinary book on how facing death can enrich our life."
“In Frank Ostaseski’s profound book, he shares this reality, giving us insights and wisdom on the nature of dying but more importantly on how to truly live.”
“Frank has found the space where awareness of death is revealed as a powerful elixir for living more abundantly, and he shares that secret brilliantly in this landmark book.”
"Through The Five Invitations a broader audience can benefit from Frank's insights, soulful perspectives, and practical guidance. What a gift!"
“Whether facing your own imminent death or that of a loved one, navigating a crisis, or looking to embrace and enjoy living your life more fully, you will find the wisdom lovingly offered in these pages inspiring and enlightening.”
“If this simple, straightforward book does not illuminate your existence, well, you may have to wait until your dying does it for you—in which case, you may be lucky enough to meet Frank Ostaseski again."
An internationally respected Buddhist teacher, Frank Ostaseski is the visionary cofounder of the Zen Hospice Project and Metta Institute. He has sat on the precipice of death with more than a thousand people. He has trained countless clinicians and caregivers in the art of mindful and compassionate care. In The Five Invitations, he distills the lessons gleaned from death and a life of service. This book is an evocative and relevant guide that points to a radical path for transforming the way we live.