Dr. Vijai S Shankar MD.PhD.
Published on www.academy-advaita.com
The Netherlands
14th April 2023
The old age
‘State’
Old age is a state that happens to all. Birth happens to all and no one is in control of birth. Birth happens in the moment and no one is in control of the moment. The moment happens by itself.
Old age state too happens in the moment and no one can control the moment. This means that old age state happens by itself. This implies that none of us can control old age.
In old age, all of us cannot walk. Walking happens to all of us after birth as well. None of us controlsthe moment we begin to walk or are unable to walk. This implies that walk is a miracle that happens to those who walk.
In old age, some of us cannot talk. Talking happens to all of us after birth as well. None of us controls the moment we begin to talk or are unable to talk. This implies that speech is a miracle that happens to those who talk.
In old age, some of us cannot hear. Hearing happens to all of us after birth as well. None of us controls the moment we begin to hear or are unable to hear. This implies that hearing is a miracle that happens to those who hear.
In old age, it is difficult to fall asleep. Sleep happens to all of us after birth without reason until old age. This signifies that none of us controls the moment we begin to sleep or are unable to sleep. This implies that sleep and old age are a miracle that happens to us.
In old age, sight becomes unclear. Clear sight happens to all of us after birth without reason until old age. This signifies that none of us controls the moment we begin to see or are unable to see. This implies that sight and old age are a miracle that happens to us.
In old age, normal body and mental functions become abnormal. Normal body and mental functions happen to all of us after birth without reason until old age. This signifies that none of us controls the moment body and mind function. This implies that body and mental functions, including old age, are a miracle that happens to us.
The enlightened realize that a moment happens by itself and no one makes the moment happen. They realize that the moment contains what it contains and it cannot be other than what it is.
The enlightened realise this and accept every age as it is and do not expect any age to be what it should be.
Author: Dr. Vijai S. Shankar
© Copyright V. S. Shankar 2023
Editors Comment:
The impact of this article regarding the state of old age is of profound significance to all of us who happen to receive it. The momentum of living the life that is granted to every live, human birth is revealed here by an enlightened one with such care and love. The noise of the mind upon experiencing the approach of the state of old age is thus quietened in appreciation of the wise understanding of Dr Shankar. Such gratitude to the intelligence of life for this amazing gift of life itself.
German Translator‘s Note:
The wisdom of this article reveals the unique beauty of each human age: childhood, youth, adulthood, and old age. What they all have in common is consciousness, in which all ages pass by in the form of thoughts, like a screen showing a movie. Consciousness is all that is. This realization of the enlightened comes closer to all those who accept that the changeable in life happens naturally in an uncontrollable, unpredictable and spontaneous way. Boundless gratitude for unconditional trust in life, as a part of which every human being is constantly transforming, is due to the enlightened ones, because only they can reveal to us this wisdom and love for life as it is, beyond all ideas of how it should be and stay according to the mind!
Marcus Stegmaier, Germany.