Bodhicitta or Bodhi mind is important in Buddhism, with the objective of helping all sentient beings and to attain Buddhahood. Thus the Wan Ching Yuen Centre for Senior Citizens runs a very different way, which is the actualization of the Than Hsiang Conviction – ‘for the aged and sick to be cared for’.

Situated on the second and third floor of Wisma Than Hsiang, in Penang, the Wan Ching Yuen Centre organizes various special activities for its residents. I was fortunate to be invited to a birthday party for its residents. I was told that this is a monthly affair. Residents born in the month of March celebrated their birthday together. Birthday parties are usually held on the third Sunday of every month where the next-of-kin, relatives and friends took time-off to make a visit to Wan Ching Yuen Centre. As I walked into the third floor dining area of the centre I felt that I was walking into a very special party. I did not feel like I was in an old folk’s home. There were very young children, school going children, teenage youths, young adults, and people of all ages in the hallway. The hall was decorated with balloons and music could be heard through the happy sounds of chitchat and laughter.

The staff and volunteers of Wan Ching Yuen Centre, and the members of Than Hsiang Sunday Dharma School were busy preparing to get the party started. Food was laid out on the tables in front of the senior citizens who sat at tables arranged around the hall. Residents celebrating their birthday were seated at a special table together with a few other guests of honor. At 2:30p.m. sharp the candle on the birthday cake was lit. Everyone present started by chanting ‘Amitabha Buddha’ and then sang the Buddhist Birthday Song. The singing and atmosphere made it an occasion that is meaningful and occasion to be remembered. The residents celebrating their birthdays were given the honor to blow out the candle and cut the cake. Birthday presents were also presented to them.

While the senior citizens enjoyed the special goodies and food, the youths and volunteers started entertaining them with some Buddhist songs, old evergreens and also pop songs. The atmosphere became more jovial when the senior citizens started to join in the singing. Some of them even came forward to show their talents in singing and dancing. I could see on their happy faces that sweet memories were brought back with songs such as Que Sera! Sera!, Old Mc-Donald. Uncle Yeoh Oon Chye came forward to play his harmonica.

While mingling with the residents I found out that there sixty of them. Three of the residents are on day care and they go home in the evening when their families returned from work. The oldest resident of the centre is over 100 years old and two of the residents who celebrated their birthday this month are 92 years and 90 years respectively.

The party lasted for a whole hour, with not a single dull or quiet moment. There was no lack to volunteers to sing and entertain. Come to think of it, it looks like the seniors are enjoying a second childhood, with the young encouraging them along. While it was a day for the residents to recall their younger days, it was also a day for the young to practice filial piety not only towards their parents but also the aged. Than Hsiang Temple is like a very big happy family, mindful of all the stages of life.

In conclusion; to some, the birthdays is nothing to be excited about but, to others, it does bring some happiness. However, for Buddhist it is a day to remember the hardship our parents go through to bring us up in this world. Activities like will always help fellow Buddhists to cultivate more diligently as it gives us an opportunity to serve and participate. It is through such participation that we become aware of our past, face-up to the present and work towards a better tomorrow through the practice of care, loving kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), appreciative joy (mudita) and a well-balanced mind (upekkha). Come join us at the next Wan Ching Yuen Centre Birthday Party.