November 20 (Thu) or 27 (Thu), 2008
33 Swiss Club Road, Singapore
7pm to 9 pm
Light refreshments will be provided
RSVP
Fong Cheng Hong, contact no 81832986
Shirley Ong, contact no 91727553
Madeleine Lee, contact no 98486336
MaryAnn Tsao, contact no 96225825
(host)
About Amitayus Sanctuary Project Group
We are a group of people who are working together to build a special sanctuary in Bhutan for elderly sangha where they can live past retirement in dignity and grace.
While the Sangha is revered in Bhutan and supported in their later lives by the monasteries they served in prior to retirement, there are occasions where some elderly monks “fall through the cracks” in their old age when – upon retirement after the age of 62 – the monastery system was not able to take care of them and they have to struggle to eke out a living.
Living conditions in the monasteries can also be harsh for the elderly monks because of cold weather, cramped quarters and a built environment that poses a challenge for older people with mobility impairment.
For these reasons, we aim to build a prototypic retirement facility for elderly sangha who need a safe place to live in their older age, and whose design is replicable to benefit both elderly Sangha as well as elderly Bhutanese citizen in the future.
The Bhutan Escapade is part of our fund raising efforts towards the project.
Alternative Text : Draft by Ling : Nov 6th 2008
About Amitayus Sanctuary Project Group
We are a volunteer group, spear headed by Dr Mary Ann Tsao, working together to build a Sangha sanctuary in Bhutan for elderly Monks.
The Monastic life is one of a blessed and revered status. Many Bhutanese have been drawn to serve in the monastic disciplineand joining the monastries. This is turn has led to a heavy burden on the monastic system to house and care for its entire monk body. Monastic Living conditions are usually spartan and basic. Given the cramped quarters coupled with freezing cold winters and the burgeoning overcrowding, the present built environment poses a major challenge for the older people with mobility impairment. .
The Situation today is a growing crisis. Monks who have served diligently for their entire lives find that - upon retirement after the age of 62 – due to the sheer over crowding in the monastry, many are falling through the cracks, as they suddenly face having to struggle to eke out a living beyond the system. For the built up space can no longer accomodate them.
From our perspective, we believe a solution to the crisis can be overcome. Thus we aim to build a prototypic retirement facility for elderly sangha who need a safe place to live in their older age, and whose design is replicable to benefit both elderly Sangha as well as elderly Bhutanese citizen in the future.
The Bhutan Escapade is part of our fund raising efforts towards the project. We hope you will join us to be part of the working solution.
Most of all, enjoy an adventure through Bhutan, the Magical Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon .
Text As of Nov 10th 2008 : Shirley Ong
About Amitayus Sanctuary Project Group
We are a volunteer group of people, spearheaded by Dr MaryAnn Tsao, working together to build a special sanctuary in Bhutan for elderly sangha where they can live past retirement.
While the sangha is revered in Bhutan and supported in their later lives by the monasteries they served in prior to retirement, there are occasions when, due to overcrowding and lack of adequate resources, some elderly monks “fall through the cracks” and – upon retirement after the age of 62 – find they have to struggle to eke out a living as the monastery system was unable to take care of them.
Living conditions in the monasteries can also be harsh for the elderly sangha because of cold weather, cramped quarters and a built environment that poses a challenge for older people with mobility impairment.
For these reasons, we aim to build a prototypic retirement facility for elderly sangha who need a safe place to live in their older age, and whose design is replicable to benefit both elderly sangha as well as elderly Bhutanese citizen in the future.
The Bhutan Escapade is part of our fundraising efforts towards this project. We hope you will join us in this exciting and meritorious undertaking. But most of all, we hope you will enjoy the adventure through Bhutan, the Magical Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon.
