Practicing Dharma in Old Age
Yutang Lin
As one enters old age physical strength gradually dwindles
And one realizes that the remaining time is not much
Furthermore, now and then, illnesses and pains arrive to bother
How should one practice Dharma at such a juncture
Since one is no longer capable of handling complicated and heavy stuff
One should simplify and reduce Dharma practices and activities
Concentrate on simple epithet of Buddha or short mantra
And if one is still capable of doing some physical exercises
Daily do prostrations to Buddha and circumambulations
As one meaningful way of exercising the body
In life many are the things that one could not let go of
Making use of the increasing forgetfulness in old age
Be grateful that one could now really forget something
And thereby reduce self-inflicted mental tortures
Only the aspiration toward full enlightenment must not be forgotten
Because only this path can ultimately benefit oneself as well as all others
All the rest, no need to expound explicitly, will soon become
Flowers in mirrors and moon in water
What one has seen in life is full of endless human sufferings
One should hover in mind genuine compassionate mercy
And dedicate the remaining meager strength and energy
Fully into praying to Buddha for all sentient beings' sake
May they soon leave suffering in transmigration
And arrive at the other shore of blissful emancipation
If one could develop great Bodhicitta
To employ all powers one has accumulated in life
To help propagate Dharma
Thus one would not only soon advance to the stages of Bodhisattva
But also help many beings and increase harmony and happiness in the world
To fulfill Buddha's compassionate intentions
There could be no better approach in old age
Written in Chinese and translated on February 21, 2012
El Cerrito, California
Amituofo /\
May the elderly find refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.
I have been trying to help my mother to realise no-self.... so far without much success.
My mum has been meditating for many years... in fact i got interested in meditation by observing my parents when i was a teenager.
IMO, the main problem is that many people are unable to differentiate between concentration meditation and insight practices. Due to their own misconception, many think that just by doing concentration meditation that one can gain enlightenment.