![\"\"](\"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/gjnNXLo.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
By Devaki Devi Dasi<\/p>\n
In connection with the Institute for Spiritual Culture we launched a new
\ncourse on the Vanaprastha Ashram in Mayapur during the month of January.<\/p>\n
It was well received by a nice group of devotees of all ages who were
\neagerly participating. A few senior devotees and disciples of Srila
\nPrabhupada also took part. This topic of the Vanaprastha Ashram is rarely
\ndiscussed, and there is almost no awareness amongst the devotees of how
\nimportant this last phase of life is in order to fully prepare for meeting
\ndeath, our final challenge. We have training courses for brahmacaris
\ngrhasthas and Sannyasis, but what about those who are aspiring for the
\nVanaprastha ashram?!
\nIn the SB we find many quotes and descriptions of Vanaprastha life, which
\ndon’t seem to be relevant and practical for the modern days. However, we can
\nsimply extract the principles and apply them in our life – no matter where
\nwe might be living. Instead of leaving to the forest we can invite the
\nprinciples of simple forest life into our flat in the city: simplifying our
\nsurroundings and freeing ourselves from so many unnecessary things, which we
\nhave most likely accumulated over the years: comfortable and oppulent
\nfurniture, decorations and so many nick-nacks, which occupy some little
\nspace in our mind while we are attached to them. Freeing ourselves from
\nunnecessary belongings is indeed a very liberating experience. Sooner or
\nlater we will have to leave them behind anyway. Therefore better to
\nvoluntarily let go of them by for example donating them to young devotees
\nwho are just about to start with their household life. Thus we at the same
\ntime experience the joy and benefits of giving in charity with a generous
\nand happy heart.
\nAnother principle of Vanaprastha life is to keep our externals more and
\nmore simple, thus reducing the bodily concept of life. No need to dress in
\nbark. Yet especially for us ladies it means we can give up our attachment
\nto make-up, decorations, oppulent dress and bright colors and keep ourselves
\nmore and more simple. The aging body is already getting less attractive,
\nwhich is Krsna’s perfect arrangement to help us in the process of
\ndetachment.
\nAnd last but not least we are meant to reduce our fancy eating and simplify
\nour diet – something which would be very natural when living in the forest.
\nAnd again, the aging body is helping us along, since the fire of digestion
\nis reduced, and we are forced to keep a more simple diet. As we know, the
\ntongue is the most ferocious sense organ and always demands some
\nsatisfaction. And especially in the renounced phase of life we are meant to
\nconquer over the demands of the tongue and develop a higher taste.<\/p>\n
Prabhupada speaks very strongly in the SB about the importance of
\nsimplifying our eating. In the purport to SB.5.18.10 he states: “Why should
\nthe menu be unnecessarily increased for the satisfaction of the tongue?
\nDevotees should eat as simply as possible. Otherwise, attachment for
\nmaterial things will gradually increase, and the senses, being very strong,
\nwill soon require more and more material enjoyment. Then the real business
\nof life\u2014to advance in Krsna consciousness\u2014will stop.”
\nNeedless to say, this instruction is especially relevant for those in the
\nlast phase of life….<\/p>\n
All these aspects have to be cultivated internally, which can go on over
\nseveral years. It is not a matter of externally accepting them from one day
\nto another. It is a matter of meditation, internal cultivation and
\ntransformation. And ultimately these aspects are meant to help us deepen
\nour focus on sravanam and kirtanam.
\nAnd there are of course so many more aspects of Vanaprastha life, which we
\ndiscussed in our course, the most obvious one being no more sex life.<\/p>\n
One may ask how this topic of the Vanaprastha ashram is connected with the
\ntopic of culture. Interesting to note how in materialistic culture where
\nsense gratification is the ultimate goal of life old age is viewed as being
\nthe last chance to one more time enjoy life to the fullest, with luxury
\ncruises and pleasure trips, in all comfort, leasure and opulence. Also, in
\nmodern society old people are considered to be a burden, and thus they are
\npushed aside into Old Age Homes and Retirement Centers. The elderly can’t
\nkeep up the race for sense gratification and are seen to be a disturbance
\nin the pursuits of enjoyment of the young generation. However, in spiritual
\nculture where self realization is the goal of life, the elderly are very
\nimportant members of society and embody life experience, wisdom and self
\nrealization. They are highly respected for their guidance and advice, and
\nare passing down traditions and values to the young generation. And it is
\nunderstood that this last phase of life is meant to be lived in simplicity
\nand austerity to increase hearing and chanting, to ultimately prepare for
\ndeath. As long as we find it difficult to embrace spiritual culture, the
\nVanaprastha Ashram will not really manifest. And as we will be able to more
\nand more apply and actually live our world view and philosophy, very
\nnaturally the Vanaprastha Ashram will gradually develop. It is a matter of
\nsystematic training and education. I felt especially encouraged by the fact
\nthat also young devotees showed interest in this topic and eagerly
\nparticipated in the course. It should be of general knowledge and interest.
\nEvery devotee should receive insights in how old age is meant to be lived
\nwithin spiritual practice. Then devotees can plan their life and gradually
\ncultivate internal detachment.
\nThe recordings of the course will be soon available on
\nwww.therootsofspiritualculture.net<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Devaki Devi Dasi: In connection with the Institute for Spiritual Culture we launched a new course on the Vanaprastha Ashram in Mayapur during the month of January.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[93],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26138","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog-thoughts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26138","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26138"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26138\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26140,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26138\/revisions\/26140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26138"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26138"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}