Saturday, June 5, 2010

The ground (experience) of aging in Shambhala

Contemplation on the question: What is the experience of aging in Shambhala?

What is written here arose from a 90 minute conversation among 12 Shambhala practitioners, all 60 years of age or older. I have summarized some of the points that were articulated and mixed them with my own experience at the age of 68.

--David Whitehorn (Mountain Drum)
5June2010, Halifax


Precious human birth.
There is a finite amount of time left in this life. The meaning of ‘precious human birth’ becomes more and more evident.

What to do with whatever time remains; a more and more frequent spontaneous contemplation. A long list of personal interests comes to mind, creative passions not yet explored, places to visit literally and in my mind. Perhaps the time could go into long periods of meditation or programs in contemplative disciplines of various kinds that I’ve always wanted to learn but never found the time.

On the other hand, perhaps the time and energy would be better used by engaging the world to help sort out the multitude of difficulties that face the world at what seems like a crucial period in the evolution of human culture. After all, the Shambhala vision is of enlightened society. If that vision has been central to my life so far, would it not make sense to engage it even more intensively in the final years? The Bodhisattva Warrior certainly takes care of her/himself, but does so in order to be able to help others.

Death.
There is no escaping death. What will that be like? The practice has always been about letting go, but what will it be like to let go of everything? In my practice, formal and informal, I notice how much I cling to my preconceptions, how often I freak out when the experience of groundlessness suddenly arises. At some level I understand that the ‘me’ who is going to die never really existed, but there is no denying my attachment to this form, empty as it may be. There are inspiring stories of many old people, some great practitioners, some just ordinary folks, who have relaxed into death. But is there a ‘good death’ to which I should aspire, or is it more about relating directly with how ever my death unfolds? If the concept of reincarnation is true, we’ve all experienced death many times and, the last time around, handled it well enough to achieve a precious human birth, but not well enough to avoid reincarnation altogether; or perhaps we chose to return to help others, a comforting thought.

Nursing homes.Death is one thing but what about an extended period of serious illness and disability, being unable to care for myself for months or years. I’ve been in nursing homes and I don’t like to idea of ending up in that kind of institutional environment. Can the Shambhala mandala organize itself to provide an alternative?

Isolation.Even if I don’t need to be in a nursing home, will I become less and less active and become isolated from people and the activities of the world? Will I be unable to attend programs to hear the teachings and be in the presence of great teachers and my dharma sisters and brothers?

A friend who lives alone recounts how, when she had an extended illness, it seemed that everyone forgot about her. Do I take my connections with others for granted? I think of myself as being independent, but there is no denying that I do better, in terms of body, speech and mind, if my life is interlinked with others in a meaningful and caring way in which I can both give and receive.

Happiness.I recognize that there is a difference between experiencing aloneness, the fact of being an individual sentient being, and experiencing loneliness, a confused clinging to the idea that happiness comes from external events (see the 1974 Seminary transcripts). I’m in awe of the 100 year old woman in Halifax, a friend of a friend, who lives in poverty in the most dangerous and degraded apartment building in the city, yet is always caring and giving toward others and radiates happiness.

Is it useful to contemplate and talk about aging?
Has this contemplation on the experience of getting older, the ground of aging, been useful? When a 76 year old friend was invited to participate in a group discussion about aging she laughed. “No thanks, I already did that. I’m too busy living”. Another friend, 94 year old, is angered and offended by the idea that people would relate to her as an old person.

If this kind of contemplation tends to solidify my view of myself as being ‘old’ then it would seem counter-productive. On the other hand, if it helps me to be more aware of what is unfolding in my life and how to work with that in a skillful way, then it would seem to be helpful.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Suggested change to statement on aging in Shambhala

Gary Kellam has proposed the following changes.

Old version (November 2009):

(4) In Shambhala we can simultaneously recognize both the opportunity to be more openly engaged with the world as we grow older, and the inevitable decline in physical and mental capacities, culminating in death.

Proposed new version:

“(4) In Shambhala we can recognize both the opportunity to be more
openly engaged with the world as we grow older and, at the very same
time, the increasing likelihood of conditions that lessen mental
capacity and the inevitable decline in physical capacities that
culminates in death.”

Many thanks to Gary for this important suggestion.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Invitation to join a "Shambhala Network on Aging"

An Invitation to Join a Shambhala Network on Aging.

Each year more Shambhalians experience the delights and challenges of what is conventionally termed ‘old age’. Some of us are ourselves celebrating birthdays in our 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s. Many of us have family members or friends who are.

A recent survey revealed that 20% of Shambhalians are already over the age of 60 and fully 50% are between 45 and 60.

Over the past two years, ten of us, convening as the Shambhala Working Group on Aging, have been contemplating the implications of this shift in the demographics of our community. Our thoughts to date are summarized in a “Statement on Aging in Shambhala” that was presented to the 2009 Shambhala Congress. (see below )

The central message of the statement is that being older offers both (1) a rich opportunity for practice and contribution to creating enlightened society and (2) challenges and needs for support arising from illness, disability or financial difficulties.

Considering how to address the opportunities and the challenges, the working group concluded that local initiatives are needed, tailored to the needs and conditions of each centre and community.

We are, therefore, inviting interested people to join a network of Shambhalians interested in working with aging related issues.

People who would like to join the network should be willing to (1) participate in a network phone conference once every other month, and (2) explore the opportunities and needs associated with aging in their own local center and community.

To join the network contact: davidwhitehorn@eastlink.ca

Please join by 15 May 2010.

For further information and background documents see:

http://onaginginshambhala.blogspot.com/ http://www.shambhala.org/community/aging/index.php

For those interested in aging, but unable to participate in the network, please join aging-talk@shambhala.org

Members of the Working Group on Aging: Ann Cason, Aaron Snyder, Marita McLaughlin, Donna Hanczaryk, Jacquie Bell, Victoria Howard, Louis Fitch, Chris Rempel, Susan Stewart, Acharya Emily Bower, David Whitehorn (Chair).

On Aging in Shambhala

The following statement is intended to provide the emerging Shambhala society with an initial set of principles upon which to contemplate and build an enlightened response to the inevitable process of aging. The statement has been developed by the Shambhala Working Group on Aging, a working group of the Sakyong’s Council and a core working group within the Community Care Council.

Statement on Aging in Shambhala:

(1) The inherent nature of mind, basic goodness, being unconditional, does not change with age. No matter how old or infirmed we may become, basic goodness remains fully intact.
(2) Rather than viewing aging as leading to the fixation of long standing habitual patterns, with mind training (meditation practice), as we grow older there is the opportunity for mind to become more open and less fixed.
(3) Physical and mental capacities inevitably change with increasing age.
(4) In Shambhala we can simultaneously recognize both the opportunity to be more openly engaged with the world as we grow older, and the inevitable decline in physical and mental capacities, culminating in death.
(5) In this context, ‘conventional’ retirement is a misguided myth. The idea that as we age we can ‘retire’ from the world and become less engaged is not consistent with Shambhala vision. Quite to the contrary, as our responsibilities and time commitment for family and livelihood decrease we can devote more time and energy to building enlightened society, as well as to our personal practices. This is ‘enlightened’ retirement.
(6) As we age many of us will, at some point, experience physical ailments that will make it difficult, or perhaps impossible, for us to care for ourselves. At those times, other members of Shambhala society need to be positioned to come forward to be sure that what we are unable to do for ourselves is done.

This invitation was also posted on the Shambhala Times website on April 9, 2010. The link to that post is:

http://shambhalatimes.org/2010/04/09/join-us-in-a-network-on-aging/

Further progress report on open discussions on aging held at the Halifax Shambhala Centre

Three open discussion sessions on aging were held in March and April 2010 at the Halifax Shambhala Centre. A summary of the first session is provided in a previous post on this blog. Here is summary of the second and third sessions.

Summary of the second session:

On Tuesday, March 30, from 4-6pm, the second ‘Open discussion on aging in Shambhala’ was held with ten people engaged in a lively two hour discussion. The list of topics arising from the previous session (March 15) was noted. In this session the discussion delved more deeply into some of the previously identified issues.

Three topics seemed to stand out: (1) helping people prepare for ‘old age’ through awareness of benefits and available supports; (2) beginning to define the role of ‘seniors/elders’ in the Shambhala community, this being the first generation of practitioners to enter old age in large numbers; and (3) how to develop a more organized and visible community care process.

There was a general sense that ongoing discussion/work group(s) would be helpful.

Summary of the third session:

On April 6, 2010, the third open discussion on aging was held at the Halifax Shambhala Centre. Ten people participated, several of whom had not been at the previous two sessions.

Amidst the wide ranging discussion the overall theme that emerged had to do with developing mutual supports among older Shambhalians.

First, there was talk about creating on-line groups that would allow people to keep in closer communication with one another.

Second, there was an extended discussion about community housing; ways in which older Shambhlians could live closer together. The complexity of actually creating housing projects was acknowledged.

Finally, there was a strong interest expressed in forming an ongoing group to discuss and share the “experience of aging”. This group would not approach aging as a problem. Rather the intent would be to simply examine the ground, the actual experience of aging.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Open discussion on aging: Halifax initial progress report

This is the second post in a series of the process of open discussion about aging in Shambhala within the Halifax Shambhala community.

PROGRESS REPORT: ON AGING IN SHAMBHALA; An open discussion.


Thirty people gathered at the Halifax Shambhala Centre on the evening of March 15, 2010 to share ideas, concerns and information about aging. After a talking circle in which each person expressed their views, we formed into working groups to begin defining key issues. The results from the working groups are listed below. It was also decided to schedule two additional gatherings.

THE NEXT GATHERINGS WILL BE: TUESDAY, MARCH 30, from 4-6pm (Not Monday the 29th as previously announced) and TUESDAY, APRIL 6, from 7-9pm; at the Shambhala Centre.

At these gatherings we will further explore, refine and prioritize issues and develop plans for how the key issues could be addressed. The gatherings are open to anyone interested. It is not necessary to have attended the previous meetings.

Anyone wishing to be on an email list related to aging in Shambhala can send an email to: davidwhitehorn@eastlink.ca


SUMMARY OF ISSUES RAISED AT THE GATHERING ON MARCH 15:
Advocate for accessibility to the Halifax Shambhala Center.
Service for people who need help, including creating a group housing situation.
Elders as wisdom and compassion holders.
A needs assessment of community members over 50 years of age.
Time limited ‘aging group’ for discussion of aging related issues.

Cultivate compassionate resources to help people in need.
Co-housing as we get older (Why don’t we have a Marpa House in Halifax?).
Economic crisis for people who put time into Shambhala instead of their own careers.
Practice and talk are fine, but it’s time to ‘do something’.

“Good at the beginning, good in the middle, good in the end”.
Support group among elders.
Housing options; group and shared.
How elders can offer their wisdom.

Support for care givers of elderly parents.
Using the Deleg system.
Help getting funding.
Social isolation and social networks.
Nutrition.
“Universal Design” for accessibility.
Passing wisdom to the next generation.

---21March2010…..dw

Open discussion of aging related issues: the process in Halifax

One of the goals of the Shambhala Working Group on Aging is to support Shambhala Centers and groups in identifying and working with aging related issues. It is likely that, although there will be many commonalities, each center/group will have somewhat unique issues and resources to work with them.

It my be useful to share the process and content as different centers working on aging related issues. A series of postings on this blog will attempt to do so, beginning with a process that has begun in Halifax.

The first post includes the invitation tht was sent out to all members and friends of the Halifax Shambhala Centre. The next post will provide an initial progress report.


On Aging in Shambhala: an open discussion of ‘old age’ and its implications for individuals, families and community

Discussion facilitated by David Whitehorn, Chair of the Shambhala Working Group on Aging.

Monday, March 15, 7:30 – 9:00 pm at the Halifax Shambhala Centre

What does it mean to grow old in Shambhala? How do the Shambhala practices and the vision of enlightened society relate to the experience of what is conventionally termed ‘old age’? How can we, as individuals and as a community of practitioners, respond to the needs of older people in our lives?

These and related questions will form the basis for this open discussion. We will use an informal “talking circle” and related formats so that everyone can contribute to the discussion, to the extent they wish.

This gathering also marks the beginning of an ongoing network for people interested in addressing issues of ‘old age’ in the context of the Shambhala teachings.

There is no cost for this event. Everyone who is interested is warmly invited

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Report to the Sakyong's Council

This website provides a way to archive documents that have been developed by the Shambhala Working Group on Aging. These documents are part of an evolving discussion based on the question, "what does it mean to grow old in Shambhala?". The document below was presented to the Sakyong's Council on 11 February 2010 and represents a refinement of the "Statement on Aging" that was presented to the Shambhala Congress in November 2009.

It has been two years since a working group on aging was initiated. During that time the working group has been contemplating and exploring issues raised by the fact that a significant proportion of the citizens of Shambala society will be, over the next 10-20 years, entering into what is conventionally termed ‘old age’.

These two years could be considered as Phase 1, the goal of which has been to understand the nature of the issues and develop an initial approach to the issues of ‘aging in Shambhala’. Some of the key points are summarized here:

Aging is not a problem to be avoided or denied. Like any other phase of life, the older years are an opportunity to wake up. Nonetheless, there is a reality to the decline in physical and mental capacity that accompanies what is conventionally termed ‘old age’. It is helpful to acknowledge aging and mix the experience of being older with practice.

In terms of formal practice, contemplation on old age, sickness and death is a basic Buddhist practice. As well, ‘The Elixer of Life, a Birthday Practice’ written by Sakyong Mipham, works directly with aging, at all ages. Note that we have recently supplicated the Sakyong to write additional practices for students reaching the age of 60-65.

During most of what is conventionally called old age, people are basically able to take care of themselves. However, due to socioeconomic and/or health issues, many people are, at some point in their older years, in need of significant support. How that support is organized and carried out is a central question for us as a Shambhala society.

At this point the concept of “community support”, in which groups of people come together in an organized and intentional manner to support one another, appears to be a workable approach. The ad hoc support teams that frequently form around Shambhalians who are ill are one example. There are larger and more sustained examples in the general society.

Goals for Phase 2 (2010-2012).
Develop a network of people at major city and land centres to address issues of aging. The issues include (1) how to adapt the physical and organizational structure of the centres to relate with the capabilities and the needs of older Shambhalians so that they can continue to participate in programs and contribute to the life of the centres and (2) how to develop supports for older Shambhala who may need it.

The members of the working group are: Ann Cason, Aaron Snyder, Marita McLaughlin, Donna Hanczaryk, Jacquie Bell, Victoria Howard, Louis Fitch, Chris Rempel, Susan Stewart, Acharya Emily Bower, Jane Ward, David Whitehorn (Chair).

http://onaginginshambhala.blogspot.com/ http://www.shambhala.org/community/aging/index.php