Community, Service, and Spirituality An Ethnography of Zen Hospice Project Volunteers

Date of Award

2006

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Vesperi, Maria

Keywords

Buddhism, Hospice, Volunteer, Community, Service, Spirituality

Area of Concentration

Anthropology

Abstract

Using an ethnographic approach, I portray the experience of being a volunteer caregiver at Zen Hospice Project, a Buddhist inspired hospice. I look primarily at three distinct, yet inextricable aspects of the volunteer culture: service, community, and spirituality. Using these as the guiding ideas, I examine facets such as the volunteer journal, humor at hospice, the notion of a good death, and the value placed on being with, rather than doing for, the hospice residents. I use the four bramhaviharaslove, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimityas another lens for understanding volunteer culture. I conclude by discussing notions of responsibility and creativity that are not dependent upon control and suggesting surrender as a possible alternative to the classical notion of acceptance in the mourning process.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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