Beyond the numbers: The spiritual secret of ageing well
I am invited to attend social functions occasionally, which I turn down due to the fact that I tire easily at my age. Such refusals are met with this saying, but I am not convinced, because my experience is different. My advanced age does make a difference to my physical energy level, but I manage my personal tasks and gentle walks after meals quite well.
Surely, I had to know God’s plan to check if what I was experiencing was not unusual. What is God’s plan for us? A human body has been designed for longevity, that is hundred years subject to two conditions. The first one has to be appropriateness of all what we do, that is eating, activities, ‘vihar’ (entertainment) and sleeping. (The Bhagavad-Gita 6.17) The other condition is to connect with God from childhood itself. This part we do quite well by teaching children to pray in schools. Where do we go wrong? In the passion of youth, God is forgotten, whereas prayers for guidance and help are necessary to succeed in life. ‘Ahankar’ (false ego) comes in the way in middle age when need for God is greater. This results in miseries with advancing age, if not earlier.
This explains why masses suffer. Inappropriate behaviour harms the human body. Add to it bad karmaphalas brought from previous lives. Life is of shorter duration and has many sicknesses. Age is just a number has a different meaning; one has aged prematurely. Don’t we see people unable to do even their duties? Some people suffer from laziness.
Contrast this with a minority who are physically quite active in spite of old age. They give support to the saying that age is just a number. What is the secret of this utter contradiction between the masses and a small percentage? It is ‘jeevani shakti’ (vital life force), which is due to good karmaphalas brought from previous lives. The second is appropriate behaviour (6.17), and third is ‘kripa’ (mercy) of God, who is the source of jeevani shakti. Devotees are beneficiaries of God’s kripa, which explains their aura and mental fitness. Even physically, they manage quite well. Don’t we need more mental power than physical strength in old age? I have a close relative who has entered the hundredth year and is quite fit; he is a sincere devotee of God.
The purpose of this article is to alert readers to not get swayed by the saying: age is just a number. For masses, one doesn’t even have enough energy expected in different ages, and specially mental in advanced age. Therefore, be very appropriate in everything you do, as instructed by Lord Krishna in verse # 6.17. Take shelter of God very actively, definitely by the time going past fifty. God will actively help to meet all challenges as they come due to bad karmaphalas. (18.58) He will also give divine jeevani shakti, which will keep the mind, intelligence and body physically and mentally active even in advanced age. Then and then only, age is just a number will have positive meaning.
The writer is spiritual teacher; Views presented are personal.
