AN ABSTRACT TAKEN FROM THE JOURNAL BELOW.


Journal of Aging Studies
Volume 10, Issue 2 , Summer 1996, Pages 103-116

Spiritual community in later life: A modest proposal

Drew Leder

Loyola College USA

Available online 11 April 2002.


Abstract
Aging is often associated with a series of losses. But these can be redeemed by a vision of the significance and value of later life. In this regard, I examine the deficiencies of certain of our cultural models of a "good old age," and suggest an alternative paradigm from ancient India. In a Hindu notion of the fourstaged life cycle, the elder years are set aside for spiritual development. The losses of aging are recontexualized as modes of liberation, and as the stimuli to selfdevelopment. To foster this creative alchemy in the West I suggest the formation of "Elder Spirit Centers"—spiritually-oriented communities and resource centers for older adults. After exploring in detail how such model centers would work, I discuss the needed reformation of existing institutions. The goal is to better support psychospiritual growth in later life.