Authored by Swami Tejomayananda
Out of all the phases of life that we go through, people mostly like youth the best. Old age is usually looked upon as the age of complaining.
In Marathi, there is a saying: ‘Man becomes wise by experiences.’ Nonetheless, merely going through numerous experiences need not make a person wiser. Understanding those experiences and drawing the right lessons from them is important. Every experience holds valuable lessons waiting to be discovered.
During our student life, we study and try to understand life’s nuances. As householders, the major portion of life is devoted to careers, household responsibilities, and what we can do for society. In vanaprasth, more time should be devoted to spiritual sadhanas, with decreasing involvement in worldly activities.
Old age can be wonderful and productive – if one has the right attitude. Tulsidasji’s advice in Ramcharitmanas applies to a vanaprasthi. He says, “Practice control over the senses, develop dispassion, withdraw from too many worldly activities and devote greater time to the ways of saints and sages.”
In life, there comes a time when we can neither read nor hear. Then, we realise the importance of memorising shlokas. Therefore, spend time in japaand nama smaran. Open an account in the ‘Bank of God’ and keep depositing in it the name of the Lord. Tulsidasji prays: “Just as a greedy person loves to count money, in the same way, I must become greedy about counting Your name.”
His guidelines are: “Develop more and more control, withdraw from worldly pursuits and concentrate increasingly on spiritual sadhana.” If this is done, life will be wonderful. If this is not done, our bodies become weak, and desires gain strength; the body cannot keep pace with our desires, and this leads to frustration.
Life is a discovery channel. Every day, there is something new to learn, and one is never too old to learn. Life is also a package deal. These days, low-cost air tickets are available, but they come with special stipulations. Likewise, if you intensely want something, you may have to give up other things. Generally, we do not like the word ‘sacrifice’, but people often compromise higher values for small pleasures. If we want higher values, we must relinquish lower pleasures. Unless we stand for something, we will fall for everything! Wisdom lies in choosing the higher.
We have to decide how we wish to live; we have the choice between a life of sacrifice or one of compromise. History has proved that anything worth achieving is made possible only through sacrifice. The scriptures clearly state that a human life is difficult to obtain. The goal of life is not just to enjoy sense pleasures; it is to know the Truth.
Therefore, it is essential to appreciate the uniqueness and value of human birth. Why waste it by merely amassing money and living for oneself? We can know the Truth and attain liberation in this very life. Choose to strive for it. Be resolute and remain firm in it. Then, we can reach the final goal of permanent bliss.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
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