I enjoyed Sri Rangarajan and this one expands the old age from vedic views by BKS and mine KR IRS 11925
On Tue, 11 Nov 2025 at 16:26, Narayanaswamy Sekar <[email protected]> wrote: > > > ---------- Forwarded message --------- > From: N Sekar <[email protected]> > Date: Tue, Nov 11, 2025, 2:27 PM > Subject: Re: Fwd - On getting old > To: Rangarajan T.N.C. <[email protected]>, Narayanaswamy Sekar < > [email protected]>, Suryanarayana Ambadipudi <[email protected]>, > Chittanandam V. R. <[email protected]>, Mathangi K. Kumar < > [email protected]>, Mani APS <[email protected]>, Rama (Iyer 123 > Group) <[email protected]>, Srinivasan Sridharan < > [email protected]>, Surendra Varma <[email protected]> > > > Thank you. Excellent message. > > But not all old people develop detachment; some, or should i say many or > most, develop even more attachment, for example, to their grand children. > They develop worries and anxieties about how their wealth will be used > afterwards etc. Mundane worries as compared to what is stated in your > beautiful message. > > Wisdom and Detachment do not necessarily accompany old age. > > Adi Sankara gave Advaida and he did not cross 32. Vivekananda did not see > 40. > > We see so many OLD politicians amongst us, who for the sake of power, will > sell this country. > > While it is a beautiful message, it may not be true in all cases. In fact > I will venture to say it is true only in rare cases. > > Another interpretation of old age is long life. > > But I repeat, it is a beautiful message even if I don't agree with it 100%. > > N Sekar > > Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer > <https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&c=US_Acquisition_YMktg_315_SearchOrgConquer_EmailSignature&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=US_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100002039&af_sub5=C01_Email_Static_&af_ios_store_cpp=0c38e4b0-a27e-40f9-a211-f4e2de32ab91&af_android_url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yahoo.mobile.client.android.mail&listing=search_organize_conquer> > > On Tue, Nov 11, 2025 at 1:05 PM, Rangarajan T.N.C. > <[email protected]> wrote: > In the sacred Sri Rudram of the Yajur Veda, there is a section called > Chamakam. > Hidden within its rhythmic chants lies a curious prayer: > “Vr̥dham cha me, vr̥dhiś cha me” — “Grant me growth, and grant me old age.” > > At first, it sounds strange. > To ask for growth makes sense — but why ask for old age? > Why invite what most people fear? > > The answer lies in its spiritual wisdom. > The seeker, who cannot easily free himself from the web of desires and > pleasures, > is praying not for more life, but for liberation from it — > for that sacred stage of mind where longing ends, > where the restless heart finds stillness. > Among countless worldly wishes, > he places one rare, luminous request: > “Grant me the blessing of old age — > the age that brings detachment.” > > Perhaps, in no other faith, has any devotee asked a god > for such a mature, profound gift — > not wealth, not power, not youth — > but the quiet grace of aging. > > It is as if he is saying: > “O Lord, this mind of mine is a monkey — > leaping, chattering, never still. > You may have to satisfy its whims; > there is no avoiding that. > But someday, please bless me > with the strength, serenity, and age > to let go of every whim. > Grant me old age.” > > Old age is not a curse; it is a destination — > a station that everyone reaches, whether they wish to or not. > It is the shaded rest house at life’s end, > where one lays down the baggage of ambition, > and gently revisits the faded memories of youth. > > Old age is also a gift — > a time to look back and smile at past mistakes, > to take pride in the obstacles once overcome, > and to breathe a peaceful sigh, > knowing there are no more mountains to climb. > > Old age walks a step behind one’s son, > leans softly on a granddaughter’s shoulder, > and learns to make peace with truths > that life refused to bend. > > When the son says, “You don’t understand, Dad,” > there is no anger anymore. > The old man smiles — > for he knows that his son, too, > must someday trade his ignorance for wisdom. > > He does not feel hurt when the young say, > “You won’t understand.” > Instead, he feels proud — > that a generation has grown confident enough to question him. > He understands, quietly and completely. > When his wife says gently, > “Let him do what he thinks is right,” > he bows his head in calm agreement. > > Criticism no longer stings; > insults no longer burn. > For the one who has walked the full circle of life > finds peace in simply being. > > Old age earns respect — > not for the achievements of youth, > but for the grace of endurance, > for the wisdom that time alone can bestow. > > It is not the end. > It is the summit — > the final, serene height > from which life looks beautifully complete.. > > — Sri Gollapudi Maruti Rao (Translated and Adapted in English) > > > On Sunday, 9 November 2025 at 11:08:36 pm IST, N Sekar <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > Thought for the day !! > > Question: I am scared about getting old . what if I become a burden to > others? > > What we often hear : “These days, I feel like I am slowing down. I forget > things, get tired easily, can’t do what I used to. Children are busy with > their lives . I don’t want to trouble anyone. Sometimes I wonder what if I > fall sick? Who will take care of me? I don’t want to become a burden. I get > scared when I see a few of my friends of my age leaving this world after > illness” > > How often this worry sits quietly in our minds , not spoken, but always > present, especially at night. > > Our saints remind us gently growing old is not a fall, it is a return. > When the body slows, the soul finally gets space to rest. When the outer > roles fade as a parent, worker, caretaker while the inner role begins: > being a child of God again. > > Just like the moon looks smaller after full moon, but still carries the > same light, aging only removes the noise, not the worth. God doesn’t see > wrinkles, He sees devotion. > > Once, an old devotee came to Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and said tearfully, > “Swami, I can no longer sit long for meditation. I forget mantras. I feel > useless.” > > Ramakrishna smiled and said, > “When a child learns to walk, the mother holds its hand. > When the child grows tired, the mother carries it. So too ,when your > strength fades, let God carry you.” > > That is the essence of spiritual aging , it is not losing control, it is > learning to be carried by faith. > > When your hands tremble and you can’t do long pooja, just whisper His name > ,that one word is enough. When your eyes can’t read the shloka, listen to > bhajans . He hears your heart, not your pronunciation. When you can’t fast > or climb the temple steps, offer your smile, your kindness, your > forgiveness. A quiet heart is the highest offering. > > Think of an old veena ,maybe the strings are worn, but the music it > carries is deeper, softer, full of bhava.That is how a life of prayer > sounds in old age. > > Saint Purandara Dasa sang: > > “When we can’t carry life by our strength, He comes to carry us by His > grace. > > Saint Meera said “When all have left, my Giridhari stays.”That’s the quiet > faith that sustains old age , the company that never leaves. > > Don’t fear becoming a burden. > God is quietly shifting you from doing to being. You cared for others all > your life , now let Him care for you. Dependence is not weakness; it’s > divine surrender. > > Thought for the day > > When your body grows weak, let your faith grow strong. The hands that once > held others are now held by Him. > > Dhanyosmi 🙇♂️🙏 > > Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer > <https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&c=US_Acquisition_YMktg_315_SearchOrgConquer_EmailSignature&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=US_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100002039&af_sub5=C01_Email_Static_&af_ios_store_cpp=0c38e4b0-a27e-40f9-a211-f4e2de32ab91&af_android_url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yahoo.mobile.client.android.mail&listing=search_organize_conquer> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Thatha_Patty" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CABC81Zfm3s0NjQZK0pireG8vz%2BBzr5BeKBRWUCK2D6ykh%2BDgpQ%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CABC81Zfm3s0NjQZK0pireG8vz%2BBzr5BeKBRWUCK2D6ykh%2BDgpQ%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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OLD AGE.docx
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