Healing Into Life and Death

by Stephen Levine

In Healing Into Life And Death, Stephen Levine deals directly with the choice and application of treatment, offering original techniques for working with pain and grief, and discusses the development of a merciful awareness as a means of healing, as well as how to encourage others to do the same.

Genres: Spirituality, Grief, Buddhism, Death, Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help

290 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1987

About the author

Stephen Levine was an American poet, author, and spiritual teacher best known for his groundbreaking work on death, dying, and grief. A central figure in the conscious dying movement, he helped bring Theravāda Buddhist teachings to Western audiences, alongside contemporaries like Jack Kornfield and Sharon Salzberg. His work, however, was uniquely shaped by devotional practices drawn from Bhakti Yoga and his spiritual connection to Neem Karoli Baba, blending Buddhist insight with heart-centered mysticism.
With his wife Ondrea, Stephen spent over three decades offering workshops, counseling, and writings that supported the terminally ill, trauma survivors, and caregivers. Their book Who Dies? remains a foundational text in end-of-life care. Levine’s teachings also explored “everyday grief”—the quiet accumulation of life’s disappointments—and emphasized the healing power of mindfulness and compassion.
A former heroin addict who transformed his life through spiritual practice, Stephen lived his final years in quiet seclusion in New Mexico. He passed away in 2016, leaving behind a legacy of deep insight and loving presence that continues to influence seekers, caregivers, and teachers around the world.

Reviews

[Alana Cash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book very highly. It is a book that I read slowly and underlined and dog-eared. It is filled with kind wisdom and is profound. It is a book that put me at peace. It is not a "how-to" or "self-help" or any sort of book that gives an answer that will set you on the road to fame and riches or tell you what to eat or how much to meditate or do yoga in order to get cured. It is a book about healing, definitely, but healing as a way of life, healing into freedom from egoic patterns that great chaos and suffering and illness. It is a beautiful, poetic book and I intend to read it again.

[Edwin Heartfulsoul · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this profound book, Stephen helped me to distinguish
between symptom--subtractive--healing,
and additive (Transcendent) healing.

[HG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book to start living. Moving from the unconscious into the conscious.

[Deborah Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm blessed to have finally read this. I read WHO DIES? in 2015 and I picked up this one shortly thereafter. No more time right now to write quotes I appreciated, but maybe I return to this review at a later date.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone with an incurable chronic illness, I'm very interested in healing, healing my old hurts, becoming whole, living consciously, etc, because so much of my life is spent in pain from my illness. I want to live the best life I can but there is so much struggle do to my physical body. This book was such a beautiful read, and helped me realize that even with illness I can find meaning and wholeness in my life.

[Jube]

I absolutely love his writing and am drawn to the subject matter. I am looking forward to this work and am certain I will gain useful knowledge and comfort from it.

[Thibault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book read at poignant time in my life! Made me understand more profoundly the non-dualistic aspect of healing

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and wise

[PAT MOORE]

Excellent book. Live a better life, by accepting a peaceful death. I participated in many of the author's workshops before he died. He was a beautiful human being who could teach most of us how to prioritize our values, enjoy our relationships and make the most of our lives.