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Aging & Health
Aging is a natural and inevitable part of life. As we grow older, 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.
The following are programs, activities, and resources provided by, associated with, or being expored by the centre:
On Aging in Shambhala
Elder Wisdom
Support
Health
End-of-Life Care
Community Projects
Articles, Books, Recordings
Resources
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:
- The inherent nature of mind, basic goodness, being unconditional, does not change with age. No matter how old or infirm we may become, basic goodness remains fully intact.
- 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.
- Physical and mental capacities inevitably change with increasing age.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Read more about the Shambhala Working Group on Aging.
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Elder Wisdom
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.
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Support & Local Steering Committee on Aging
The Halifax Shambhala Centre has a local Steering Committee on Aging that has been meeting regularly, since 2010, to discuss aging issues within our Nova Scotia sangha.
We will begin to develop a support network by first relaying information through regular newsletter and Community Banner information and articles. Survey data will help to focus the need for a support network and how best to design and implement.
There are currently three "action committees" that have been formed: support, cremations/burial, and co-op housing.
Grief support is available to the Shambhala community through a grief support group which meets the third Thursday of the month from 5 - 6:30 pm.
Some additional ideas that have arisen are:
- Online support group to share information and enlist support/help.
- 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.
- Support group that meets regularly (i.e. Seniors Anonymous).
- Deleg support network (volunteers in each deleg community group who provide support when needed).
Please contact the Halifax Shambhala Centre for more information.
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Health
Health related issues that we are discussing include:
- Age related diseases
- Chronic illness and pain
- Nutrition
- Exercise and active living
- Social isolation
- Accessibility to Shambhala Centre
- Accessibility to health services
Please join us in this discussion and contemplation of how to help ourselves and others.
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End-of-Life Care
Important issues to consider when contemplate care for those critically ill include: hospice, palliative care, preparing for death and dying, funerals (planning, cost, sukavati
funeral ceremony).
The following documents provide information and forms for Personal Directives. These are available for download for your reference and use:
- Personal Directive - a legal document that records your wishes regarding the manner in which you choose to spend the last months, weeks, or days of your life in the case of illness prior to death.
This sample Personal Directive contains information to address care, funeral service, and other issues that can be applicable to the Shambhala community and friends.
Please also refer to the following web site on Personal Directives in Nova Scotia.
- Personal Directive Definitions - a support document that explains and defines all terms used in the personal directive document above.
- Personal Directive Card - a small business card-sized document to keep in your wallet in case of emergency, which indicates that you have created a personal directive .
Please refer to the "Who Do I Call?" document and Resources section, below, for more information.
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For more information about aging issues in our community please contact our Community Coordinator. Please also refer to the information for projects, articles, and blogs, listed below.
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Community Projects:
Shambhala Working Group on Aging:
Goals, questions, and aspirations
Origins of this group
Email discussion forum
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Articles, Books, Recordings:
On Aging in Shambhala:
News Blog - Articles and postings from 2009 to the present.
Shambhala Times:
"Join our Network on Aging"
"A Conversation on Aging"
"Aging in Enlightened Society"
"Aging, Families, and Shambhala"
Additional articles on Aging and Aging in Enlightened Society
Narratives:
"Caring for Ruthie" - by Ann Cason (PDF file)
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Resources:
Co-housing:
Learn more
Hospice:
Canadian Virtual Hospice - support and information about palliative and end-of-life care
Nova Scotia:
Finding Senior's Resources - Service Nova Scotia
Community on Aging Knowledge Exchange - Gerontology Association of Nova Scotia
PATH (Palliative and Therapeutic Harmonization) Clinic - Health care planning for older patients with advanced chronic disease.
Organizing care for someone who is ill:
Share the Care
Shambhala:
Vajradhatu Practice Manual (for members of Shambhala): section on Death and Dying
"Who Do I Call?" - Health related information for the Shambhala Community. Topics include: who to call if you need help in your home following a surgery, end of life care, and how to arrange for a funeral at the Shambhala Centre.
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