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What is Wheel of Life?


Help for the Dying and Their Carers
Birth and death, sickness and health, are part of the reality of human existence. In particular, our attitude towards dying and death makes a great deal of difference to the way in which we experience them. Wheel of Life - Hospice Service offers training so that each of us can prepare for our own death.

Helping others wherever one can, according to their needs, is the true expression of compassion. Wheel of Life – Hospice Service aims to offer this gift of affection and love, companionship and emotional and spiritual support to those individuals and their families who are facing life-threatening illness, to the dying, to those who have died and to those who are left grieving.

The Coordinator of the Wheel of Life-Hospice Service is Venerable  Losang Chodron.
Wheel of Life is a community service of the Hayagriva Buddhist Centre.
64 Banksia Terrace, Kensington,
WA 6151.
Phone: (08) 9367 4817

The 2009 Training Program for Pastoral Care Visitors
The Wheel of Life Hospice Service is currently expanding its Pastoral Care activities so that they can be offered more widely in the community. The next stage in this process is the training of new volunteers to become Pastoral Care Visitors.
Orientation Day Sat 21 Feb 2009
The training begins with an Afternoon Orientation at Hayagriva Buddhist Centre, 64 Banksia Terrace, Kensington, from 1pm-4:30pm on Sat 21 Feb 2009. The Orientation will give you an introduction to the six-week program, you will learn first hand what Pastoral Care Visitors do, then you may register if you w

For some time there has been a group of dedicated people meeting regularly at Hayagriva Buddhist Centre with the aim to help ourselves prepare for the end of our life and to be able to support others to do the same.

With this in mind, the Wheel of Life Hospice Service has been formed and one of our aims is to offer support to those who have a life threatening illness as well as to their families, friends and carers.

Our wish is to encourage a meaningful perspective on life and death which is designed to create the optimum physical emotional and spiritual condition for the dying person to be at peace with themselves and others.

 Although we ourselves would approach this from a Buddhist perspective we have no wish to impose our beliefs on others but rather we aim to employ whatever compassion empathy and courage we have developed from our own understanding of Buddhist practices by looking at death openly and honestly according to each persons beliefs and personal outlook on life.

The Wheel of Life exists in order to benefit oneself and others, to help the dying person to help themselves, and to complement any existing service that is being used.

 Since our formation, the Wheel of Life Hospice Service has explored how we can all Find Hope in Facing Death by looking at important issues such as

  • Impermanence: How death can come suddenly and without warning. Are we prepared?
  • Practical Aspects: Making a Will. Being clear about Funeral Wishes. Being clear about Organ Donation. Unfinished Business!
  • How to relate to a dying person and create a conducive environment for the best possible outcome.
  • What we can do NOW to prepare for our journey into the next life.
  • Important resources to have available for ourselves and others such as Books, Tapes/CD's, Teachings, Mantras and Prayers.
  • What we can do is to help those who have died?
  • How can we be of the greatest benefit for our animals both now and at their time of dying?

 By reflecting on, and acting upon these aspects we will have the knowledge and skills to lead a fuller, and more focused life, which will help us to face the inevitable cessation of life that oneself has to experience.

For further information in regards to this service, please ring Venerable Chodron on 9438 1994.

While I am still alive, there will be people, who are, from the depths of their heart, prepared to give their lives for my sake, but on the day when I have to leave, I cannot take even one among them with me. Neither will I be able to take any of my possessions, even the body which has been with me since the time of my birth and which I have always preserved and protected. This will also be left behind.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
Written By: ChristineT
Date Posted: 10/4/2006
Number of Views: 942
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Address 64 Banksia Terrace, Kensington, Western Australia, Phone/Fax: (08) 9367 4817