I host this weblog for all who wish to awaken to the vast possibilities of their life. In doing so, I draw on many interests, including end-of-life care, Engaged Buddhism, meditation practices (Zen, Vipassana, Centered Prayer), being-of-service, silence, inter-faith curiosity, travelling, and life-long learning.
Peter Renner lives in Victoria, British Columbia. After an early apprenticeship as cook and hotelier in Europe and a diploma in hotel management (BCIT), he earned degrees in adult education (Dipl), counselling psychology (Dipl), curriculum development (MEd) and educational leadership (EdD). For 25+ years he toiled as trainer and facilitator in corporate and higher education classrooms. Among his books still in print is The Art of Teaching Adults.
Peter has been a Zen student since 1999, training first at Zen Mountain Monastery (New York) and then at Great Vow Zen Monastery (Oregon). He received Buddhist precepts (jukai) and the name Daishin (boundless heart) from Roshi Jan Chozen Bays MD in late 2002. In 2006 he completed the End-of-life Care Practitioner’s program at the Metta Institute. Peter has presented at professional conferences, offers meditation retreats , teaches on aspects of conscious living and dying, conducts nontraditional funerals and memorial services, and, until November 3, 2009, was a member of the spiritual care team at Victoria Hospice.
Feel free to write renner-at-gulfislands-dot-com
May you be filled with ease and joy.
ps: the photo was taken on December 26, 2008 after a silent retreat at Wat Prathat Doi Suthep monastery high above Chiang Mai, Thailand.
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Peter,
I found you through a lesson on About that I printed to start my Adult ESL class tonight. How strange! After recently moving my parents from their home to a Veteran’s Home because they both have Alzheimer’s disease, I feel the losing is overwhelming the joy of life sometimes. I will be back to this site.
Thanks,
Lynn
Enjoyed visiting your Blog this morning. I will try and cycle over to Galiano sometime this summer and say hello. I have recently returned from the UBC 5th Symposium on the Buddha Dharma with professors from 52 universities in discussion. You would have enjoyed it. Congratulations and blessings on all your efforts and energy. Respectfully, Henry
Lots of wisdom here.
Thank you!
PETER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRIBUTE TO OUR BRAVE FALLEN HEROS.
Dear Peter,
I have been reading your blog for a little while now. And I’m enjoying the insight it provides. One of the things that I looked at (above the picture) was a tab called “sayings”. I’m glad I was able to peruse it before it was gone as there were three sayings there that have given me insight into myself. And they are causing me to “think”.
Thank you for sharing them.
Mariekah
mariekah, glad to hear from you. i sometimes turn off the sayings to make room at the top of the screen. have just them back. p
from aurora on mayne island:
last night i sat all night with my mom [in] emergency as she had a stroke. a kind worker, an orderly, i think, came by with tea for me. it made me think of you at your workplace, and the kindly acts you do for people there.
being offered this tea touched me so deeply, as it was so unexpected. this worker may never know the impact his act had on me/ i just wanted to pass this on to you, as you often do the same for others, and may not know of the impact of your acts.
thinking about it brings tears to my eyes
dawne
Might this be the same Peter Renner, of BCIT Hotel and Restaurant Administration 1969?
Cheers, Brian.
Peter,
Wonderful discovering your blog. Like ‘meeting’ a kindred spirit. I just renewed my meditation practice after many years away. I am also thinking of re-engaging into social work path, this time in hospice setting. Reading about your experience with end-of-life care is very timely . . . Thank you. You write beautifully about profound matters.
marguerite
kindrid pilgrims, walking on adjacent paths, greetings! i saw your blog and intend to follow your story.
what took you away from your practice, and what brought you back? i’m asking because my own hits a dry spot again and again. Hospice work, on the other hand, deepends it with each day. So …. zazen (meditation, Jap) is everywhere, least of all on the cushion (for me).
our intentions coincide. my vow to post on this blog requires daily reflection on what might otherwise go unnoticed. 100 ways to bow and kiss the ground, as Rumi says.