When you ask elders what they are most worried about as they age, their answer is generally not the economy, the Coronavirus, or even climate change. Most often the response is cognitive decline. Two common misconceptions, however, are first that cognitive decline is an inevitable part of aging and second that it is unavoidable if you have a high genetic risk. The truth is that approximately 40% of your C health may be under your control and attributable to healthy lifestyle behavior choices and proper management of other health conditions.

This is the 3rd and final Episode in the Life of Reb Zalman, as told by his family and closest friends, to honor his memory of the centennial year of his birth.

Episode 3 will bring you the two major turning points that led to the Sage-ing Movement and Jewish Renewal. There is a real-life background story to Reb Zalman's well-known exercise, The Testimonial Dinner: "A Banquet for our Severe Teachers;" We will also hear about personal insights contributing to his move in 1956 which led to his 40-day retreat at age 60, where the inspiration came for his classic book, From Age-ing to Sage-ing; and how that move changed his religious vision and became Jewish Renewal.

The wisdom of elders is to move from a self-centered narrow view of life to a more expansive and inclusive embrace of the other. The challenge is to hold on to one’s own spiritual integrity while reaching out to others. Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi embodied this wisdom and in his meeting with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama showed the significance of spiritual imagination for dialogue. We will see how Reb Zalman first established a heart-to-heart connection. Then breaking free of his original agenda, Reb Zalman could follow the Dalai Lama’s curiosity about angels and this spontaneous and exciting exchange led to an extraordinary transcendent moment.

David Chernikoff draws on Buddhist and other contemplative teachings to guide us in cultivating and celebrating the blessings of spiritual maturity. We will study and experientially explore lovingkindness. Together we create a safe, supportive learning community as we increasingly embody the wise and loving elders we each have the potential to be.

Every one has suffered personal, communal, and planetary losses over the past year. We as individuals, and We, the global interconnected web of life, benefit when we come together to create Sacred Space for honoring our losses and deepening our blessings. You are invited to join the Sage-ing Community in this ritual for remembering, sharing, and transforming our collective grief.

Everyone is getting old; not everyone is growing older. But the path of purposeful aging is accessible to all. And it is fundamental to health, healing, happiness, and longevity.

With a focus on growing whole through unlocking a sense of purpose in later life, Richard celebrates the experience of aging with inspiring stories, real-world practices, and provocative questions to help us navigate the path from adulthood to elderhood with choice, curiosity, and courage.