Presently, there are only a few countries that provide social welfare for their senior citizens.  Countries such as the United States and especially Australia have complete social welfare programs, and seniors are very well taken good care of.

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But retirement organizations, whether run by the government or by the private sector, mostly emphasize caring for seniors' physical conditions and pay less attention to enriching their spiritual life.  Those who take care of the seniors often do so mechanically and may show little love or consideration.  Consequently, seniors can feel empty, lonely, and helpless, waiting daily for death.

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In view of this and inspired by the four kinds of mind and practice of great compassion that we learn in the Avatamsaka Sutra, I have a new idea for senior retirement.  I hope people of vision and foresight will gladly promote and implement it.  Seniors have devoted themselves to society and should start enjoying good fortune in their old age.  This is the realization of a perfect society.

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Everyone of us has parents, and most of us will also become old some day.  Mencius said, "We should respect our parents and extend that respect to all old people; we should love our children and extend that love to all children."

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Seniors have dedicated their lives to their families, society, and countries.  It is only appropriate that children show filial piety to their now elderly parents and repay their kindness.  We should truly extend the filial piety for our parents to all the seniors in the world, establish a paradise for seniors, and show our love and respect for them.

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If we can do so and, additionally, 

(1) help religious groups and ethnic groups to work together, 

(2) propagate good traditional cultures in the world, and

(3) promote the sages' teachings of filial piety, respect for those who are older, and loving-kindness,

then all people will be happy and they will support our undertaking, together with the beings from all dimensions.  A harmonious world can be expected soon.

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