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.
Friday, April 16, 2010
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/
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.
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.
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