The Essence of Life - Love and aging gracefully

When was the last time you have meal with your parents ?

My dear children, the day you see I'm getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I'm going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don't interrupt to say: "You said the same thing a minute ago"... Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep.

Aging is not a pretty process. Yes, there is something to be said about being able to grow old with grace and dignity and about doing things to stay active and alert in our golden years, but there are certain battles with father time that we just cannot win. 

As more and more of our cells die and are not replaced, we suffer both a physical and mental toll. We know plenty about the wrinkles, hair loss, the greying hair, thinning skin, liver spots and the effects of age-related changes in our muscles, joints and bones. 

Forgetfulness is one example. We often make light of instances of fading memory, dismissing them as inevitable but harmless symptoms of aging. Each time we have trouble finding our glasses, remembering a person’s name or sticking to our train of thought, we tend to sheepishly chide ourselves for “getting old”. 

After all, we cannot help it if nature dictates that our memory weakens with age. Or can we?It is hard to reverse the ravages of time – at the time of writing, both the elixir of life and the Fountain of Youth remain elusive – but we can certainly do a lot to know more about problems associated with aging and how to deal with them. 

Buddhism is about overcoming suffering in the material world, so that the individual can escape the cycle of rebirth and attain nirvana -- the ultimate state of blessedness. Buddhism teaches that old age is a time of great suffering, and since we all age, the young must treat the elderly, particularly their parents, with suitable respect.

Your time is the greatest gift you can dedicate to your unconditionally supportive parents and love ones. Treasure them with every moment possible while you can. 

Thank you for reading, may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps to spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen

May it arise and not decrease

But increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migrators from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

Note

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