Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre: Empowering Seniors to Savor Joy and Serenity through Chan Meditation

As Canada's population continues to age, the demographic shift is becoming increasingly pronounced. Statistics show that people aged 65 and older are the fastest-growing age group in Canada today. Consequently, ensuring that our seniors lead a healthy and joyful retirement is a pressing challenge that we all face collectively. A modern trend sees many seniors selling their houses and moving into retirement villages that provide nutritious meals and proper care. Wisteria Place in Richmond is one such English-speaking community established in 2020. The senior residents here lead an active, unconstrained life by participating in various activities and learning opportunities. For instance, in July 2023, the residents of Wisteria Place visited the organic farm managed by the Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre (DDVC) and enjoyed a rewarding experience of walking meditation. Building on this positive experience, on May 31^st, 2024, the community invited Venerable Chang Wu (常悟法師) from DDVC to lead a meditation session at Wisteria Place.

Approximately twenty seniors, with an average age of over 80 and the oldest being 92, participated in this event. Given the physical condition of the participants, Ven. Chang Wu thoughtfully planned out the program. First, she led everyone to experience the "Orange Chan," a practice that can be easily incorporated into daily life. The Venerable reminded everyone to engage all six faculties of senses to enjoy the oranges, not just their taste and smell. The participants started by observing the orange from different angles, then feeling the orange peel with their hands. Next, they slowly peeled the orange, inhaling the scent of its peel and flesh, after which they felt the texture of the segments with their fingers. Finally, they placed a segment into their mouth and concentrated on the movements of their teeth, tongue, and throat throughout each bite. As the participants mindfully savored the act of chewing and swallowing, they became fully aware of their internal reactions as well as the changes in their sensations.


Afterward, the Venerable guided everyone through a brief sitting meditation and a simple massage. After the massage, the participants beamed with joy. They enthusiastically shared how the orange Chan practice allowed them to truly appreciate the present moment with a calm and peaceful mind, in striking contrast to their usual habit of mindless eating. Many were surprised at how a simple piece of fruit can reveal such fresh and wonderful flavors of happiness. The brief sitting meditation and the massage also brought them a sense of tranquility, peace, and comfort.

The Venerable shared that many people mistakenly believe that Chan meditation merely involves sitting still with one's legs crossed. In fact, Chan can be experienced anytime and anywhere in our daily lives, especially through many popular activities among the senior community, such as flower arranging, tea tasting, and gardening. As long as we relax our bodies and fully engage our minds in the present moment, we can experience the joy of Chan, no matter what we do.

In the following session of standing meditation and outdoor walking meditation, the Venerable introduced two methods: the natural walking meditation, which involves observing the whole body, and the slow walking meditation, which focuses our attention on the perception of the calve muscles. In the mild sunshine and the gentle breeze of May, the participants followed the Venerable during the walking meditation session, as their steps grew lighter and lighter. In a fully relaxed state, the seniors experienced the harmony between their body and mind and the environment.

As time flew by, an hour and a half soon passed. The seniors invited the Venerable to join them for some afternoon refreshments, where they sought her advice and embraced her wisdom. This warm interaction drew a perfect close to the Chan practice session. The participants praised the Venerable for her lively and engaging teaching approach and invited her to come back to share her Chan teachings next time. The Venerable also wished them peace, health, and an even more enriching life in their golden years.


Photos and original Chinese text / Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre
Translation / Claire Wang, Li Siang-ling
Editing / Keith Brown