“Does this world age like the body? Does it die with the body? Does it continue to exist in another form after death? These questions remain unanswered and when answered, the replies are not convinces“.
Old age, a degenerative state of human be sly, always precedes natural death. Pre-motive deaths apart, a healthy human being (or any living being for the matter of that) has an approximate life span which terminates into a state called death. And as death is inevitable, so is old age with its incapacitating degeneration ugliness, a worse than death loneliness and innumerable other indications of the approaching end.
We may not be able to avert the inevitable but we can surely delay it that applies to old age too. Once you retard the process of degeneration, you delay the onset of old age check and reduce its intensity and in the final analysis, postpone the termination of human body.
However let us not forget that we are not merely perishable bodies. Human beings have an intellect, a mind and a soul and these inner parameters are much more complex and valuable than the outer ones. Feelings emotions, hopes, aspirations, passions, thoughts, creativity etc. etc are part of an inner world, non physical in nature, unexplored in general and unexplored as a result. Does this world age like the body? Does it die with the body? Does it continue to exist in another form after death? These questions remain unanswered and when answered, the replies are not convinces. The question is whether its degeneration can be averted. Secondly can the same process be applied to slow down the physical as well as mental and intellectual aging? Are these inter dependent? Does the inner world age with the body or vice-versa? Even if you find answers to all these quarries, the inevitability of death and degeneration remains inescapable.
Let us now return to the all-important question-how can we retard the aging process? The following tips could prove helpful:
- If a person is stressed the process of aging sets in early and intensifies with the passage of time. This results in disease and premature debility, leading to an early death. So, in order to delay the onset of old age, it is imperative to avoid stress or at least to minimize its impact on our mind and body. Inhaling large quantities of oxygen and giving exercise to your internal organs through ‘Pranayaam’ could prove very helpful. Make it a habit to go bed early and rise early. Doing meditation after ‘Pranayaam’ will help you stay in a state of equanimity. A small dose of spiritualism will go a long way to save you from becoming stressed.
- The onset of old age can be deferred through healthy eating habits. Stale, spicy and heavy food, food gobbled up simply because of its taste, is a sure invitation to disease, early degeneration and pre-native old age. Fresh agreeable and light food, seasonal food, green vegetable, fresh fruit, juice and milk, these will keep you young over a longer period of time.
- Never allow your emotions to run away with you. As Gaeta says, real yoga means complete objectivity and a balanced state of mind (Samatvam) in such a state of mind, nothing disturbs you, you doubt get stressed. No doubt you will age, but you‘ll age much later than others.
- Laughter, they say, is the best medicine, however, real laughter emanates from a happy heart. Free your mind from evil thoughts and passions and it will stay happy. Of course, it is easier said than done but it is definitely within the realm of possibility. Always spare some time for yourself. Talk to yourself, be your own friend and you can give old age quite a long holiday.