FROM THE HALIFAX AGING STEERING GROUP

After a series of open meetings on aging at the Halifax Shambhala Centre, documented in several postings on this blog in 2010, an aging steering group was formed to guide further development of aging related projects. The steering group has been meeting monthly and has written the following update to be published in the newsletter of the Centre (The Banner) in March 2011. The Banner is available online through the Halifax Shambhala Centre website. The update summarizes the key issues identified so far in the process of working with aging and provides an example of how one Shambhala Centre is relating to the simple fact that a great many of its members are getting old.


CALLING ALL SENIOR SHAMBHALIANS (60 and older).

Remember the 1970’s, and some of us were first connecting with Shambhala. We were young and didn’t think much about being old and the coinciding sickness or disability. Perhaps we recited the reminders of “precious human birth” and “old age, sickness and death”, but our hair was not gray, and our bodies were capable of sitting nynthuns with the main hardship being resisting the urge to scratch an itch or swat a pesky fly.

Nearly forty years later, on a day-to-day basis we may not be aware of how much we have changed. But bump into an old friend whom we haven’t seen for 20 years, and with a shock, we say to ourselves, “wow, has she aged! Gee do I look that old too?” Or do you experience a jolt of incomprehension when you see a photo of yourself these days?

Those kinds of experiences have prompted some of us to feel our age and begin to look into how our aging relates to Shambhala path both as individuals and as a community.

In the spring of 2010 a series of open meetings were held at the Shambhala Centre to explore aging related issues. Through talking circles and small discussion groups, a list of ideas, concerns, questions and needs was generated. These were assembled into general categories as follows:

(1) HEALTH, age related diseases, chronic illness and pain, nutrition, exercise and active living, social isolation and accessibility to Shambhala Centre and health services;

(2) SUPPORT, seniors’ support group/online support network/healing meditation group, caregiver support, the Deleg system as a network for support, phone calls to people who are isolated, information sharing through workshops, support groups, programs; (

(3) LEGAL, wills, estate planning, power of attorney, advanced directives, organ donations, financial resources;

(4) HOUSING, options, group or shared housing, long term care facilities, homecare; (

(5) END OF LIFE CARE, hospice, palliative care, preparing for death and dying, funerals (planning, cost, sukavati ceremony, etc.);

(6) ELDER WISDOM, a formal rite of passage into the status of "elder", a Council of Elders, passing on to future generations, keeping active, and contributing to Shambhala and wider community.

To focus on priorities and begin taking action a steering group was formed that has been meeting monthly. The members (David Whitehorn, Tom Bell, Denault Blouin, Robert Halpern, David and Meera Flint, Myra Donnelly, Yeshe Fuchs and Pamela DeNicola) have identified four core projects/issues:

(1) Survey of needs and attitudes, (2) Seniors Support Network, (3) Programs for Shambhalians 60+, and (4) Council of Elders. The current thinking on each of these projects is as follows:


SURVEY OF NEEDS AND ATTITUDES:
To understand the needs and concerns of Shambhala seniors we need to conduct a survey. The steering group is compiling a list of seniors and contact information. This list will enable us access to distribute the survey to senior members as well as provide a basis for ongoing communication, including connecting with seniors in need. Our next step is to design the survey questions. We hope to be able to have the survey ready this spring. Updates will be posted in the Banner

SENIORS SUPPORT NETWORK:
We will begin to develop a support network by first relaying information through regular newsletters and Banner information and articles.

Survey data will help to focus the need for a support network and how best to design and implement. Some ideas that have already arisen are (1) online support group to share information and enlist support/help, (2) phone group (volunteers who call senior members as well as any member who is suffering from loss, disability, illness, etc.) to check in on those needing support, (3) support group that meets regularly (i.e. Seniors Anonymous), (4) Deleg support network (volunteers in each delek who provide support when needed).

PROGRAMS FOR SHAMBHALIANS 60+:
There are many issues that seniors may wish to explore through organized programs. Recently the Shambhala Centre hosted a weekend with Jacquie Bell and Shari Vogler on preparing for the end of life. The Thursday night Sadhaka class is currently discussing Ponlop Rinpoche’s book “Mind Beyond Death”. And in October Dorje Denma Ling has invited Andrew Holecek for a weekend program, “Dream Yoga and the Art of Dying”. These are wonderful examples of programs that are useful and relevant for everyone, and particularly seniors.

COUNCIL OF ELDERS:
From the Shambala Centre database we know that more than half the current members are 60 years of age or older. Reflecting on this, we can see how important it is for seniors to share our accumulated wisdom with the next generation as they take on more and more responsibility. By doing so, seniors can play an important role in the continuation and flourishing of our lineage and the Centre. As elders we can lend our experience as wisdom and compassion holders. To help with this process, the steering group is exploring the idea of a Council of Elders that could represent seniors within the governance structure of the Centre.