Signs of Approaching Old Age

Those who do not die prematurely are certain to grow old and face increased invalidity. A sober ageing man will manifest the following symptoms:

– 1 –

Not arguing with fools

As one wise man said, “When one argues with a fool for more than two minutes, then one can be certain that there are two fools arguing with each other.”

Increasing age brings the realisation that some people – if not most of them – will not change.

Ensuring the next life in another body for themselves, such fools cling to their concepts of life, cheating themselves and consequently others as well.

Unless they become doubtful about their self-imposed divinity, there is no use arguing with them.

Śrīla Prabhupāda said that there is no use preaching to those who already believe they possess the ultimate truth. When one man shared with him his firm belief that he was God, Śrīla Prabhupāda only responded sarcastically by saying, “Please accept my obeisances…” and left the lunatic alone.

Or, as one mundane man said, “One should not fight with pigs. One becomes dirty, and the pigs like it.”

Indeed, some narcissistic fools seek argument because it brings them attention.

Another wise man commented ironically, “Yesterday I had an argument with a fool. Today I feel somewhat stupified.”

– 2 –

Staying with the essential

Kṛṣṇa advises Arjuna not to hear whatever is heard or will be heard in this world.

Especially today, with the possibility of reaching millions with worthless information spoken by any mentally handicapped man through the internet, there is an absolute need to filter the information we receive.

A sober ageing man, considering how many lies he has heard in his life and how many times he was cheated, naturally becomes averse to hearing more worthless information. In practice, those who follow in the footsteps of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda reconfirm any information with his words.

What was important to him is important; what was not important to him is not important. Nothing has changed. Contrary to what some rascals say, Śrīla Prabhupāda was not conditioned by time and circumstances. The essence of his teachings is eternal.

– 3 –

Understanding permanent and temporary

It is therefore important for an ageing man to focus on the permanent and not on the temporary. Materialists are like animals who respond only to immediate urges and impulses.

Despite claiming to be rational beings, they are doomed to follow the instant impact of their sensual and mental impressions.

A sober man, seeing his own body and the bodies of others disintegrating, torn apart by time, while still acting responsibly, distinguishes between his temporary body-dictated duties and his permanent spiritual duties.

Finally, renouncing one bodily duty after another when the proper time comes, an old man becomes interested solely in spiritual activities, as these will remain the foundation of his further spiritual upliftment while everything else perishes.

– 4 –

Absence of expectation regarding “bodily progress”

Most people in this world view “progress” only as upgraded eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. As primitive as it may sound, this is actually the only force moving most “humans” around. Spiritual life is for them either a mystery or not considered of any value.

Even worse, they reduce “spiritual life” to concocted ideas generated by their limited brains.

What is their response when hearing about “reincarnation”?
(It is actually the wrong word, as only God reincarnates by His will into various forms, while we are forced by material nature to transmigrate into various forms.)

They are interested only in how much eating, sleeping, mating, and defending they performed in previous lifetimes. To become liberated from this cycle of birth and death is not their interest.

An ageing man, aware of his upcoming departure from the body, becomes interested in proper, authorised spiritual guidance rather than hearing from pseudo-spiritualists who, though speaking nicely, do not act nicely.

“Actions speak louder than words” is the rule of a dignified ageing man.

– 5 –

Understanding one’s limited ability to change the world

When one feels he has achieved something significant for humanity, it is wise to remember all the forgotten dignitaries of the past who perished and vanished in history. The rivers will continue flowing in the same direction, and living beings will continue transmigrating from one body to another unless they achieve success in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The wheel of saṁsāra will keep turning, powered by forces far greater than we can imagine.

When a disciple asked Śrīla Prabhupāda how we can save those who do not take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, his answer was swift: “No, we cannot.”
What will happen to them?
“They will go to hell.”

An ageing man becomes satisfied that, by the mercy of Śrīla Prabhupāda, he could make even a small contribution to his guru’s mission, and he wishes he could do more—lifetime after lifetime. This alone brings satisfaction.

“A gentleman is one who accepts his defeat,” Śrīla Prabhupāda said. Thus, an old man accepts his defeat at the hands of material energy while planning how to serve more in the future.

Fools, however, when facing the end of life, try to create a final monumental imprint on the earth—building mausoleums that will soon be visited only by rats. As one cynical man said:
“It seems the only significant contribution such fools made to mankind was their death.”

Kṛṣṇa explains in the Bhagavad-gītā that He casts such stubborn rascals for a long time into the darkest regions of the universe so that they may no longer disturb others with their plans to become God.

– 6 –

More interested in how things should be done, not why they should be done

Many wise men speak many wise things, but wisdom itself is insufficient without practical action. Men are ultimately celebrated or criticised for their actions, not their words. Practically all the “genius” thinkers of the Western world were lunatics in one way or another, proving that in the material world lunacy and genius are close to each other.

As Lord Caitanya praised Haridāsa Ṭhākura:
“Some people speak nicely but do not act nicely. Others do not speak so nicely but act nicely. But you speak and act nicely.”

– 7 –

Not interested in being worshipped—more interested in the purpose of one’s being

Those in real knowledge take praise as austerity. When praised by fools, they consider it an insult. With increasing age, one is expected to understand this.

– 8 –

More interested in the legacy of one’s purpose than in what was achieved

This is the natural result of a man growing old in wisdom. What will vanish and what will remain? That is the ultimate question for a dying man.

– 9 –

Increased introspection regarding one’s previous actions

Seeing the impact of karma on others, the ageing naturally ask themselves what the result of their own actions may be.

The law of karma is uncompromising. Even a man who tried to act nicely will collect critics and enemies in this lifetime. That is natural in this world of envy.

But the final question for a dying man is:
Whom did I prevent—through my foolishness and immaturity—from serving God and His pure representative, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda?

This mood of introspection is wonderfully expressed by one of my dignified godsisters, Govinda Devi Dasi, in her letter:

MORAL COURAGE

WHAT IS MORAL COURAGE?

There are those who know what is right and speak out about it. And there are those who know but do not speak, and there are those who do not know, so they have no voice of wisdom.

Those who know but do not speak lack moral courage. We see examples of this everywhere, especially in politics, religious institutions, and even families.

In our case, those disciples, especially leaders, of ISKCON who did not have the moral courage to stand up to the 1978 hijackers of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON lacked moral courage. Instead, they chose their vested personal interests or ambitions rather than showing moral courage. We can all see their fates.

Now, most Prabhupada disciples are in the later years of their lives—60s, 70s, even 80s. We are at the threshold of death. I truly believe we will very soon have to bow before our master, Srila Prabhupada, in gratitude for all he has given us. But I also foresee that he will ask each one of us:

“Why didn’t you defend my books? Why did you not stand up for me and protect my life’s work—my books—from those who would dare to call them ‘horrible’ and dare to change my words? Do you not know the ancient principle of ‘arsha-prayoga’?

It means that whatever the Acharya or sage speaks is considered sacred and cannot be ‘improved upon’. This principle is from Vedic times, and I taught you this. Did you forget?”

“Or were you more concerned about your position in society, your income, or your name and fame than about me and my wishes? I need an answer.”

Each one of us must be ready to answer these questions, because each one of us is at the very threshold of death. It can come any time now.

Now is the time to start thinking about how we will reply. There is no doubt in my mind that these are some of the important questions that will be asked. So now is the time to start contemplating our reply.

We will answer for our every word and deed; of that there is no doubt.

But those of us who are initiates of Srila Prabhupada will be thoroughly tested. He expected more of us. He has given us the greatest of gifts—Krishna consciousness and the opportunity to enter the spiritual world.

This doesn’t come without a price. And the price is moral courage—the courage to stand up for what is right in every situation, and especially in regard to the wishes of our beloved spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada.