DDM Delivers Warmest Blessings to the Elderly at Yunlai Monastery
To give the Beitou elderly the warmest blessings, as the Chinese New Year approaches, the Dharma Drum Mountain Welfare and Charity Foundation hosted the Year End Philanthropic Party at Yunlai Monastery, Beitou District, on the morning of 7 January 2007.
In line with and in order to fulfill the active Taipei Municipal Government's 2007 Taipei Healthy City initiative, the Taipei City Hospital provided free diagnosis of common geriatric conditions on hypertension, presbyopia, osteoporosis to the 500 or so Beitou seniors on level two and in the parking lot of the monastery. They also provided free diagnosis on cervical cancer for female attendees.
In appreciation for DDM's warmest hospitality, seniors from the Beitou Cultural Foundation graced the occasion in the spacious basement of the Dining Hall with their entertaining performance of chorus singing, fan dance, drum and violin performance. The performance was well rehearsed many weeks in advance and was most enjoyable.
Towards the end of the performance, Venerable Guo Chan warmly welcomed the arrival of the elderly, "DDM welcomes all the elderly in Beitou to take full advantage of Yunlai Monastery in the joyful celebration of the Dharma."
Then, referring to our noble Venerable Master Sheng Yeng's teachings, 'The busy makes the most of time; the diligent enjoys the best of health. The meaning of life lies in serving; the value of life is in giving' Venerable Guo Chan encouraged the elderly to work as volunteers in all the activities of DDM and Yunlai Monastery. In so doing, they can deliver the joy of Dharma to the greater outside world and not merely taking advantage of the remainder of their life as a senior to just bring happiness to the immediate family.
As pointed out in the address by one of the honorable guests, Suweng Teng, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Health of the Taipei Municipal Government, the Taipei Municipality has a population totaling up to 2.6 million and 10.3 percent of which are over the age of 65. Currently, Taipei enjoys and is honored by the philanthropic and successful efforts in contributing to elderly life by DDM, for which the Deputy Commissioner praised and thanked the organization. She then, on behalf of the Taipei Municipality, sincerely wished DDM and the elderly of Beitou all the best in 2007.
The party concluded on a rather warm and happy note at about two o'clock in the afternoon after the delicious lunch in the Dining Hall which was prepared by the volunteers in the kitchen on the day.
(Reported & photos taken by Jin Yang/edited by Andy You)
