Swamiji, in his simple yet eloquent style explained Ageing Gracefully is the Art of Leaving and not the Art of Living
Time moves ahead mercilessly and change is constant. The body is also subject to change – childhood, youth, old age. Even in old age when the body is weak and infirm, the mind is restless with desires and strong attachments which make it difficult to let go.
There are 4 stages in life
Student: (0 – 25 years) for learning and acquiring knowledge
Youth :(26 – 50 years) earn and burn, for acquiring name, wealth, fame and righteousness
Middle age :(51 – 75 years) U- turn, A person reflects on his life and understands that power, position, wealth are all temporary pleasures. An individual should perform his obligatory duties with a selfless attitude, surrendering all actions to the Lord, this helps him develop dispassion, makes the mind pure and single pointed. He should spend his time in satsang, in the company of good people, to develop dispassion, devotion and dharma. The individual should develop a WOW (happy ‘with or without’) attitude
Old age: No return,- is to live in simplicity- a life of solitude, silence and spirituality. A person should reduce his involvement in worldly activities at home, work, and learn to let go. One must think of a post retirement Seva plan of Yagna (selfless cause), Dana (charity) and Tapas(austerity)
To reach the desired spiritual level, an individual should attend satsang, read and study the scriptures, drop harmful food and sleep habits and practice pranayam. This makes the mind steadfast and it can stay in silence, from alone to all alone. Go deep within to know the bliss within. To know this, we must detach from the lower and attach to the higher, as given by Swami Chinmayananda.
The talk which was interspaced with anecdotes and video clippings of Pujya Grudev Swami Chinmayananda was well received by an audience of 200 people.