About Zazen – CrowPolo Demo Site

About us

Zazens Root System

Zazen was born in rural KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), while Jesne and Jodi were taking a holiday in a beautiful lodge tucked deep in the trees, in September 2022. For Jodi, the opportunity to create a health system, albeit small, that works well, that supports patients and staff and ultimately that delivers quality care was always the primary driver for her doing a PhD. Jes was seeing palliative patients at their home and noticed the need for a place where people could go as an alternative place for care.

Why this name ?

The meaning of sitting zazen- learning how to be with suffering, impermanence and everything in between felt so fitting for our vision for the centre. Respite is in our name because we have a triple aim to provide respite for our patients, their loved ones and our staff. For our patients: Zazen offers an alternative to the de-personalised death in institutions; patients will be able to spend their last days surrounded by family in a home-like setting. For families and caregivers: Zazen will also offer respite for families (however they may be constructed or defined) when they need a break to re-gather themselves. Literature shows that caregivers who are well supported through the dying process are more able to enjoy and connect with their loved one in their final stage of life. For Zazen staff: Zazen will offer mental health and mindfulness support for all its staff and contractors and offer salaries that reflect the physical, emotional, and spiritual load required for this type of work.

Our Values

1. No Self

Given the emotionally taxing work of palliative care, we will imbue a strong sense of ‘no self’ in our staff to help them separate themselves from the emotions and de-centre ego in their delivery of care.

2. Mujo

The principle of impermanence is critical for palliative care. Reminders for our patients and their families that the terminal stage cannot last forever and that any pain or negative emotions are transitory and will end. Further, life is impermanent and death is a part of life.

3. Ku

Nothing exists on its own. Our loved ones feel loved because we love them. Our work in palliative care is meaningless without patients. The reciprocal nature of life and death allows us to find ourselves in relationship with each other and draw strength from the idea that nothing exists on its own.

4. Non Attachment

Non-attachment particularly to worldy things (like money) will form part of our fundraising efforts and part of how we convince people to donate to this worthy cause.

5. You are the universe

The principle of inter-connectedness will help us to guide our staff to see their role in their patients’ lives and how their actions directly impact on others.

6. Appearances are faulty

Particularly because our staff will be interacting with people in very difficult circumstances and with high-emotion, this principle will help us to remind out staff that the way we perceive the world or others in it is often faulty and overlaid with our own interpretation. Recognising this will help our staff have more grace for our patients and their loved ones.

7. Acceptance

Death is difficult for the dying and those they leave behind. We hope to help ease the guests and families pain during this time.