One Bodhi Tree invites you to participate in its project "Pioneer Towers" and in the expression  of Bodhicitta.
If you wish to work on the Bodhicitta aspect of your practice, please contact Jeri Petersen at http://www.onebodhitree.org/?q=contact.

"As long as space remains
as long as sentient beings endure
so may I too remain
and dispel the miseries of the world."
-Shantideva

The above  quote is from one of the favorite texts of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Bodhcitta, or awakened heart  , is key to one's liberation. Working for  the benefit of all sentient beings is an important aspect of  the life of a Bodhisattva .

From studying Buddhism and from my own experience, I find it impossible for an individual to achieve his or her Enlightenment and attain Nirvana without integrating care for others with our own path of development . His Holiness the Dalai Lama recommends that we spend 50% of our waking time on spiritual practice. I feel that we need to spend 50% of our spiritual practice in helping others. We need to integrate social work with meditation, retreats , and studying.

After discussion within our Sangha, we decided to adopt a retirement home as an integral part of  our practice. There were several reasons for my inclination toward working  with the aged . I am from  an underdeveloped part of India where the elderly live with their families  .  This natural arrangement provides care for the elderly, yet also provides an important  education to the young . Just one benefit, that is very pertinent to Dharma, is that children may witness at close hand the impermanence of this body . In witnessing aging, illness, and  the dying process of their loved ones , they learn about the impermanence of life itself.

When I  first came to the US,  I wondered where all the elderly had gone;  Americans   all seemed so young. I was in for a surprise when I saw the census data : the elderly were here, but simply were not seen. They were not integrated among the active young.

Impermanence, including birth and death , is one of the Four Seals of Buddhism. Realization and acceptance of impermanence is key to alleviation of our own suffering. Assisting the elderly makes it easy to realize this key aspect of Buddhism , which is  could otherwise  remain an abstract principle if one pursues only  reading or contemplation .

There is yet another reason for choosing a  retirement home for our project. Most of us are affected by the current economic  downturn . Unfortunately  , vulnerable   populations,   such as the elderly and disabled  , are the worst affected  by cuts in  social services.  Thus, there is no better time to volunteer . in the face of such pressing needs.

Each  of us is empowered to be able to do something for this society. We hope that you will come forward with the best you can offer .

Sangha members of One Bodhi Tree are involved in the following activities with the Pioneers Towers Project .

•  Transporting residents  to medical appointments and pharmacies
•   Holding meditation classes for the residents
  
•   Spending time with the residents
  
•   Helping  residents with computer problems
  
  

If you wish to work on the Bodhicitta aspect of your practice, please contact Jeri Petersen at One Bodhi Tree.

One of our feisty sangha members, Shirley O'Key , is a resident of Pioneer Towers and she is acting as the liaison between One Bodhi Tree and the management of the Pioneer Towers.

May we take the fullest advantage of this opportunity to further our practice and be of service to our fellow beings.
 
Shrigyan Dipankar.