Does Age Matter?
"Old age is a new soul
With a self-transcendence-goal."
The Transcendence of Old Age
Along with death and taxation, getting old is one of those inevitabilities of life that cannot be avoided no matter how hard we try. Conventional wisdom suggests getting old is synonymous with a declining mental and physical capacities. Getting past 70 is thus a time for retirement, reflection, nostalgia and living the quiet life. Not only this but despite the overwhelming inevitability of getting old the process is something most people are uncomfortable and will often try their best to ignore or even reverse.
Yet Spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy has never been bound by conventional wisdom and approaching his 75 birthday still shows no sign of slowing down in his on going pursuit of self transcendence. A former decathlon champion and long distance runner Sri Chinmoy has made transcendence of human limitations an integral part of his own sadhana (spiritual practise). These range from writing over 1000 volumes of poetry, composing in the region of 17,000 songs and creating new records in weightlifting. It is not surprising that Sri Chinmoy has applied this concept of self transcendence to his own life, paying little heed to his advancing years.
Sri Chinmoy says the secret of maintaining vitality and newness is to live in the heart and not in the mind. As Sri Chinmoy says:
“The moment you think of your old age, you destroy all your inspiration, aspiration, joy and enthusiasm” … “If the mind is used, then you are finished. When you are ten years old, the mind will make you feel that you are as old as ninety years!” (1)
Newness is not always a feature we associate with old age. Septuagenarians are quite likely to have a certain routine with little creativity or starting of new projects. There are of course exceptions, for example the Nobel Prize Winner Rabindranath Tagore began his painting career in the evening of his life. However the example of Sri Chinmoy suggests that if we live in the heart then we can always have access to the fount of creativity and spontaneity no matter what our age.
Spirituality and weightlifting are perhaps 2 things you normally wouldn’t associate with each other but Sri Chinmoy has effectively combined these in an uniquely innovative fashion, always on the look out for new ways of lifting. Amongst many different objects and people he has lifted include elephants, aeroplanes, and a grand piano. See Weightlifting video from 1998. Some people may ask why he doesn’t just lift in a conventional style but Sri Chinmoy says he likes to try in different ways because in newness we get more joy and inspiration. See Question and Answer. Another question that could easily be asked is what motivates a 74 year old to keep painting, lifting heavy weights and working tirelessly for the upliftment of the human spirit. Sri Chinmoy states his inspiration comes from within, from the inner pilot or God. His achievements are not for competition with others but to inspire others to lead better lives.When asked what he hoped to achieve from lifting heavy weights. Sri Chinmoy replied.
"The message that prayer and meditation can help them in all aspects of their lives. If they want to become physically strong, then they can gain much by practising prayer and meditation. On the strength of my prayer and meditation, I have been able to build up my strength and to accomplish something in 15 months which otherwise would have taken me 30 or 40 years to do. Or perhaps I would never have been able to do these things. So my message is that if one needs strength, then uncovering one's inner strength through prayer and meditation is the fastest and most effective way to get it."
From Sri Chinmoy Library
Despite his own personal self transcendence perhaps the most remarkable achievement of Sri Chinmoy has been his ability to inspire others.
“Here I am only competing with myself to show progress. If I can make progress at the age of 68, what is wrong with others? People at the age of 50 or 60 give up. I have students at the age of 27 or 28 who say they are too old! Then I have to scold them and do everything to inspire them. How can they be old at the age of 27? " (2) From: Sri Chinmoy Library
It is said that one of the great achievements of the last century is increased life span. In 2001 one third of the population - will be over 60 years old. With people living longer it is a great to see old people who are still inspiring others.
By: R.Pettinger (5/04/06)
Songs about Old Age
Other notable septuagenarians, and older who spring to mind
- Ted Corbitt running 68.93 miles in a 24 hour race at the age of 84
- Nelson Mandela still inspiring millions at the age of 88
