Love and Fear: Stories from a Hospice Chaplain

by Renshin Bunce

The author is a Zen Buddhist Priest who works as a hospice chaplain. Her book is a series of stories about people she has met as she learns that every death is different and there are no universal rules or easy answers in hospice care. These stories show what's possible, allowing the reader to learn along with her as she continues to ask, What am I supposed to do? What is help? What is it to be human?

215 pages, Paperback

Published June 18, 2020

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don't have to be a chaplain or a Buddhist to see value in this book. I felt as though the author was sitting across from me, telling me about her life and her connections with people who were dying. I hope there will be another after this. Thank you Renshin Bunce.

[Dylan Tweney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Zen Buddhist chaplain's memoir, with many stories shining light on what it means to die, and some of the many different ways it can happen. Written with a gentle, understanding, open heart, and a knack for telling detail and flashes of gentle humor. Also, embedded in these many moving personal stories are some core life lessons, about the importance of connection, the power of ritual, and how love helps draw meaning out of the onrushing river of life.

ALSO: If you ever wanted to know what an exorcism performed by a Zen priest might look like, this book has an amazing account.

[Evan Hodgens · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Offered With A Sincere Heart"



It takes a great amount of both compassion and courage to take on the role of a hospice chaplain. Rinshin Bunce tells her experiences with clarity and love for her work. Highly recommended.

[Cecelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories from a Buddhist hospice chaplain scared me at first. I was reading them at bedtime- Not a good time for an anxiety prone over thinker like me. Nevertheless I could not easily put this book down. Author Renshin Bunce allowed me the gift of facing my own fear of death with the clam realization that, as Buddhism teaches, everything in the present moment is fine whatever we are facing, and that love and connection are important to create as we live and as we die. Bunce came to a patient’s bedside to listen, answer practical questions and just be there exuding her spirituality. This is a beautiful book. Right now I’m rereading sections of Love and Fear, using it’s words as medicine for my soul.

[Kurt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Renshin Bunce is a Zen Buddhist monk who works as a hospice chaplain. She describes her work well, with a clear and unaffected writing style that has provides a window into what her work is like, why you might want a chaplain in hospice even if you are not religious.

The book is a quick read. If you or a loved one is in hospice, or want to understand more about hospice, I’d encourage you to read it.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting to hear a chaplain's experiences. Some of this was very scary as I contemplate my own mortality. Not as reassuring as some I've read on the topic. It was fascinating to me to hear a Buddhist perspective. Most I've read have been Christian.