Dharma Drum Singapore Held a Series of Talks to Help Listeners Elevate Quality of Life in the Golden Years

In September 2021, Dharma Drum Singapore held a series of four talks entitled "Golden Years Are Great". Each talk invited Venerable Chang Chi, resident monk at Dharma Drum Singapore, as well as social workers, councilors, and caregivers for the elderly, to discuss how to care for elders through companionship, as well as how to practice filial piety-- an important value in traditional Chinese culture-- using Dharma. This series of talks was livestreamed on both Dharma Drum Singapore's Facebook page, and via Zoom meeting. Aside from a live audience, there were some 300 participants viewing the talks online.

The first talk on September 4th was a discussion between Venerable Chang Chi and Mr. Meng De Chen. Together, they shared experiences of taking care of the elderly, while giving the public a chance to ask Venerable Chang Chi questions concerning the Dharma. Mr. Chen shared about the challenges he experienced when, after his retirement, he took care of his elders who had no prior religious beliefs and were not feeling emotionally at ease. Venerable Chang Chi remarked that the best care we can give to our elders is to keep them company. We should first take care of them physically, and then provide them psychological support. Companionship can provide seniors a sense of security and thus establish a trusting relationship between caregivers and care-receivers.

During the talk on September 12th, Ms. Lo Li-ling shared her experience of accompanying her father through the final stage of his life. Due to her father's ill health, Ms. Lo had to frequently travel to and from the hospital. In order to completely dedicate herself to her father's care, she quit her job. Yet, the process was filled with bittersweet emotions, and she felt exhaustion, accompanied with feelings of vexation. Venerable Chang Chi suggested that when in such a situation, caregivers can turn their minds towards the Dharma for second thoughts, and tell themselves just to do their best, do what they should, and not to bear too much of a burden. The exhaustion a caregiver experiences is usually mental and emotional in nature; learning to relax is therefore very important.

The "Golden Years are Great" series, together with speakers' sharing of personal experiences and Venerable Chang Chi's guidance on the Dharma, furthered Dharma Drum Singapore's wish to help more people learn how to elevate the quality of later years, both for themselves and for their family members, and thus lead a healthier and more peaceful life.
 
Text: Tseng Kuo-hsiung (曾国雄)
Photos: Wu Wen-xian(吴汶贤)，Lin Wen-ching (林文庆)
Translation: Denise
Editing: Keith Brown