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He reads the scriptures for hours together every day. He will mark the important lines with a pencil. Thereafter he will note the important points in his diary. Once I asked him jokingly : "what will you do now with these points that you have noted?" He smiled and replied: "if I have noted the points they will be useful to me during my old age, isn't it?". Then he laughed and quoted an amazing saying. He said: "That man is old, whose mind is weak". I found this definition of old age very refreshing as we always associate old age with physical weakness. But as I contemplated, I realized that I received the true description of old age from an 87 year young man. A man is what his mind is. A person whose mind is weak is an old man.
The point that the saint made is true isn't it? A person who cannot mould himself as per the circumstance, is mentally weak and that is true old age. Old age where you need to be supported or led can come even in the fourth decade of your life, and it is possible that you may not face such an old age even in the eighth decade of life, as your mind is strong.
We now understand the significance of the rituals of reading spiritual books, learning and understanding the scriptures, chanting the mantras or meditating while sitting in the crosslegged yogic postures like Padmasana. These activities help you remain lively, smiling and the time flows smoothly.
Many years ago, we were at the upashraya in Sion, in Mumbai, during chaturmas. I noticed one old man listening to my discourses deeply engrossed every day. He would listen, make notes, read, think and gain some elevation also. He was more
MIND YOUR mind: 12
