President’s Message

Ageing as a Spiritual Practice

Let’s consider this because it’s The Elephant in the Room…. ageing and getting older. And a spiritual practice? How does one practice Ageing? Should we sit by a clock to count the seconds passing by, or by a calendar for long practice sessions? So there’s no time clock other than Mother Nature and those landmarks we make for ourselves.

Our society does not promote or want to recognize ageing other than to make money off of it. Indeed there’s a huge industry, industries for that matter, to help and yes deny ageing. Think on it, makeup, hair stylist, hair replacement, stylish clothing, under-garment support, spa treatments, facials and more. It’s not new, primtive cultures did it and animals and insects also adorn themselves with items to attract the attention of the young and fertile mates. We can struggle to deny the truth, but we are all Ageing.

And along with the elephant in question… Was the realization of getting old-er a shock or a gradual awakening? Was the realization an acceptance, anger or denial? Did we question, “where do I go from here? The old cliche “ìt’s downhill from here” runs in my memory.

I’ve read that the first principle of Buddhism is that “Everything Changes”. Ageing is undeniable, no matter what the cosmetic commercials insinuate. We come to understand this Buddhist teaching as a fact, a reality, and we learn it naturally by living, no matter how much we deny it.

“Emotionally, this teaching means that everything and everyone we love and care about—our family, friends, and even our precious self—will change, transform, and eventually pass away. That is the first truth of Buddhist teaching, and the first truth of aging, too”. Via “Ageing as a Spiritual Practice” by Lewis Richmond

One of the characters in a video I’ve watched proposed this, so-called *extra time* of senior life past the working years, as a Gift to us, one not often available to so many people in the past. We humans are living longer. It used to be live, work and die. Sadly not everyone has that gift, I understand.

But if we’re fortunate enough, we’ll have, do have, some extra years beyond the moment when we no longer have the responsibilities of job, family and economic burdens, those so-called “productive years”.

This gift of extra time, if available to us as we age, can be an opportunity to “continue” doing the things we’ve had to put aside when “our responsibilities” took precedence. We read about people starting or re-starting hobbies, getting involved in programs, clubs, groups or taking classes and for some, new careers (shudder). Was there a fork in the road choice that we regret when we were young-er?

So, the Spiritual Practice becomes an ongoing process of Awareness, Appreciation and Gratitude, for the extra time, good health, good fortune and opportunities at all levels. That’s “the Practice”, that’s The GIFT. Recognize it, Practice it, Enjoy it!

Namaste, Chas

*That title coined by Louis Richmond, was also September’s Spiritual Exploration topic. That book is available on Amazon. I may reprise that program in January for our Winter friends and members and for the public as a ministry.