Why too many people become too old too soon ?

 


NEERAJ MAHAJAN


Mankind dreads old age. Yet too many people become too old too soon ; loosing their energy, drive, enthusiasm towards life. Are they subject to the universal law that one attracts one's worst fears ? And the fear of becoming old is potent. So the answer probably is yes! 


Benjamin Franklin said, " the tragedy of the world is that too many people become old too soon ". After attaining the age 50, most retire or at least obsess on retirement. Why? Is 50 cul de sacs for humans? My guess is a No . And here's my thing :


The Ritual Of Age

Aging is considered a ritual. And this ritualization is partially responsible for the malaise. In most societies, age is the marker of every thing important. At age 4 you start schooling, 16 is the time to enter high school, 18 you go to university, earnings commence in early 20s and before you hit 30s its time to tie the nuptial knot.. By the time 50s end, its time to hang your boots and retire. Everything is time linked. That is the end of the story.


With this background, most take their cues about everything that happens to them from aging. Age is the elixir of youth if in your favor and also the curse of infirm and senile if pitted against ! Religion also has a lot of influence over such mindset. It determines how faithful view aging.


In Hinduism, the Vedas prescribe four stages of human life according to age. Christianity equates aging with wisdom and glory. Islamic literature uses the term Shykh to refer to a person who has physical signs of old age and Mussin to connote a senile. In Buddhism, aging is considered a time of great illness and suffering.


It is clear that almost all major religions equate old age with decline and suffering. Hinduism exhorts the believers to retire to forest after 50 and be abstemious there after. It was a great Hindu ritual in ancient times that had a salutary effect on health, longevity & spirituality. It is rarely followed now as the Vedic wisdom and gain has largely been atrophied. Age is the marker here as well, though.


But does any religion preach that you don't become old ? That old age suffering is avoidable ? That you become mature adults and not senile with age ? None, I conjecture. Suffering is seen inevitable pervasively. Old age is considered a truism and not a disease. Pl. refer to the article is Aging natural or a disease . Nothing can be farther from the truth , in my opinion.


Spirit Is Everything

The great Roman Seneca said, " The way you walk, talk, stand, act, eat reflects your spirit. Every small thing you do reveals the strength of your spirit. Spirit is everything". The decline in the spirit precedes the attenuation of human body and not the vice versa. You must take care of your spirits, bodies & nurture them if you want to stay young. If done well, they become complementary to each other. And how does one do that in a contemporary material society ?


FIND YOUR IKIGAI

Ikigai is Japanese for purpose in life or raison d'etre in French. Most lose the will to achieve, challenge themselves in their 40s and 50s. It is that time when the kids have started their careers and financial security is achieved. This trend is most conspicuous in 9 to 5 generation. They retire mentally much earlier than their designated age of superannuation with enjoying retired life in old age as their leitmotif. Whether that purpose is fulfilled is also debatable.


As to it, here's my thing :


graphic reperesentation of how not to become old


 It is clear from above that the only way out to live and die young at 100 is to tie your life to  ideas , dreams as did Albert Einstein , or the denizens of Ogimi in Okinawa. Toyotas Takumi artisans are another class of passionate performers who have found their Ikigai in their obsession. Each Toyota is designed by them to perfection. 

Shakunaga, a Takumi artisan who inspired Steve Jobs to create I phones with his porcelain crockery designs, begins his work At Source ; right from sourcing raw material to designing everything is micro managed with great perfection and energy. Age is just a chronology to Takumi experts. M F Hussain was another shining example as he painted till 100.


 A Venn diagram from the famous book Ikigai , the Japanese secret ----- depicts it beautifully.


FIND YOUR IKIGAI

This is your conscious choice. Discover your Ikigai if you don't want to fall in to trap of old age disease. Always remember, its never too late and many thnx for reading me.


Would love to hear from you if you have any constructive feedback / ideas on the above . Email me at Neerajmahajan0770@gmail.com


best 

WANABI STOIC











 






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