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GLORY OF OLD AGE
Many years ago we has gone to pay obeisance (vandan) to poojya Saint Acharya Bhadrankarvijayji. He was around 95 years old then. He was not keeping well and could hardly eat. Yet he was extremely cheerful. He used to spend most of the day reading scriptures. He had to strain his eyes to read and was able to hear with great difficulty.
We paid our obeisance to him, inquired about his health and then sat down in front of him. One amongst us asked him casually, "Pujya Saheb ! now you may be facing great difficulty in reading and hearing, isn't it?" He smiled softly, closed his book, sat upright and replied to us by raising a counter question, "During old age people's eyes, ears and limbs become weak. Tell me why does this happen?"
We realized that he was only too keen to answer his own question. Hence we remained silent and moved closer to him with enthusiasm, to listen to his reply. He made an amazing point: "Look! Eyes, ears, tongue, etc. are called senses of knowledge (gnanendris), because we get to see, taste, smell, touch and hear the words through these senses. Our limbs are called the senses of actions (karmendris), because we can perform various activities using them. Old age means a condition of retirement from external feelings and activities and the act of going within. To ensure that the senses stop running and wandering outside, in due course of time, nature only calms down the tempting nature of the senses. Nature is trying to warn us that you have seen a lot; through the senses,
MIND YOUR mind: 08
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