Mindfulnessinaction’s Blog
An interactive Mindfulness Meditation blogWhy on Earth would I ever want to think about growing old!
One of the Three Witnesses that led the Buddha on his search for Enlightenment was the sight of a person who was very old and frail. This pitiful sight stirred within him a deep sense of compassion and he committed himself to finding a solution to this undesirable human experience.
Instead of discovering the Fountain of Youth or the newest anti ageing cream The Buddha found a solution that was based in reality. As we discussed in the last post the Buddha came to a conclusion that was based on direct experience; that one cannot avoid ageing. Even in unfortunate circumstances where one dies at a young age, they still experience the ageing process.
The Buddha encourages us to contemplate this fact of life because it has very real consequences for our existence. “Now, for what good reason should one often contemplate the fact that they are sure to become old, and cannot avoid aging? Beings while young take pride in youth and infatuated by that pride in youth, they conduct themselves in a bad way in deeds… words… and thoughts. But in one who often contemplates the certainty of old age, that pride of youth will either be entirely abandoned or grow weaker…For that good reason the fact of aging should often be contemplated.”
I can tell you that I took liberties with my youth that I am certainly paying for now and I am sure I’m not alone. I am now the product of poor food choices, drinking and late nights, reckless behavior, physical inactivity along with various unskillful deeds and thoughts, which I would prefer not to go into. That being said, the realization that I will grow old has weakened that pride of youth and hopefully with more contemplation I will abandon it all together.
This is not intended to be a morbid look into existence nor is it intended to be a guilt trip. If you want to look at the glass half empty it can certainly feel as if there is not a lot left to drink here. But the glass half full approach will empower you to be proactive and begin to turn things around for the better. Ultimately you see the true essence of personal accountability and how much power you do have to plot your own course to happiness.
The next time you meditate, gently think, “I will strive be at rest with this fact of ageing. I will learn to accept it as part of my existence so that I may truly know what it means to exist, for when I see this fact of ageing as it really is I empower myself to live mindfully, love freely and live without fear.”
May you ever be well, happy and peaceful!
