Health in old age should be no issue with proper yin yang balance. But this is more delicate as many aspects need to be handled and there is less buffer or reserve compared to when one is young. This yin yang balance applies not only to the body but to the spirit as well. The aim is to have peace but to have this and to maintain it is more onerous with old age. Peace tends to be more elusive with old age.
Learn to enhance the peace by being more adept in yin yang balance. This though difficult with old age is not impossible in old age. Mind you, even for the young yin yang balance is no child's play but ability to cope with imbalance is more in the young.
Yin refers to the soft or passive aspects and yang to the active aspects. There is good and bad yin as well as both good and bad yang. Buddhists refer them as life contingencies or dualities e.g. happiness and sorrow, health and ill health gain and loss etc.
The issues of man are many and plentiful whatever the age. Many issues which are trivial for the young can be significant to the old. Those elderly who succumb to the many issues in old age and no longer have peace will find old age a battlefield and will give up on life.
It is often not the overcoming of issues but balancing them that matters, more so with old age. The issues of men are many and plentiful, more so with old age and with ageing. It becomes increasingly not possible to overcome every issue and there is need to moderate, come to terms and accept realities. Balancing the various issues will be increasingly necessary for one to have peace.
We may need to seek solace and guidance of Heaven so that issues become no issues but often many big issues can only become small issues. Issues big and small will no longer be issues if we know how and if we cultivate yin yang balance and tap on to the blessings of Heaven. This saints like Ji Gong say not once but many times over.
Namo Omitofo
Go on safe mode if necessary so as not to be overwhelmed. This is more so when one is old. Cut away the less critical and go for simplicity. Focus on core need and family. It may be good to give up the rest if you are not a fully enlightened Buddha. Don't overdo.
Even Ji Gong a care free roaming monk after being asked to leave Lingyin Temple at Hangchow some 1000 plus years ago had to retreat to stay in Lingsi monastery for his old age. Isn't that a safe mode of sorts and mind you, he already was a saint but still had limitations of the flesh and blood, more so in old age.
Don't dabble with one too many (issues) and peace will be less elusive. In short, have less and you will have more. Cheers...... Omitofo.
This is the way to handle life, more so in old age. Learn from the life of Ji Gong when he was man like you and me.
Having less to have more is another way of saying that trying to have everything is as good as having nothing. This has some bearing with what the sages of old did say that the circle is everything and yet nothing.
With regards to family, it is necessary to be concerned with grown up adult children but remember to 'let go' as grown up children will eschew that.
They want their own space and do not want to feel controlled and told what to do. Let them decide what they want to do and give them space and latitude.
Give them a listening ear. But do not try to know too much and be a control freak. The latter would obviously mean more clinging and hanging on to all the bits and pieces of life. This will only stress you in in old age when less can be more and more can mean less.
But in letting go and going for less, do not deny and ignore, leaving others especially your spouse to handle the lion's share and be burdened. Do not let your spouse or significant others be beasts of burden! The stronger spouse or family member should shoulder more so that yin yang balance in family and for every individual would be easier. There must be sharing but this does not mean equal share but sharing that is based on equitable finite potential and real capabilities
With regards to family, it is necessary to be concerned with grown up adult children but remember to 'let go' as grown up children will eschew that.
They want their own space and do not want to feel controlled and told what to do. Let them decide what they want to do and give them space and latitude.
Give them a listening ear. But do not try to know too much and be a control freak. The latter would obviously mean more clinging and hanging on to all the bits and pieces of life. This will only stress you in in old age when less can be more and more can mean less.
But in letting go and going for less, do not deny and ignore, leaving others especially your spouse to handle the lion's share and be burdened. Do not let your spouse or significant others be beasts of burden! The stronger spouse or family member should shoulder more so that yin yang balance in family and for every individual would be easier. There must be sharing but this does not mean equal share but sharing that is based on equitable finite potential and real capabilities
Go for safe mode and deal with the critical. Otherwise you will be at wits end when you try hard as you may and things don't seem right with no peace, let alone the occasional refreshing joy in life Often this too may be true even for those who are not yet old but who have habit of biting off more than they can chew.
Good to seek the blessings of saints like Ji Gong. Handling life will be easier but remember Heaven will help those who can show they can help themselves. But no man is an island and need family and kin and above all, man too must admit that he needs God and saints.
Good to seek the blessings of saints like Ji Gong. Handling life will be easier but remember Heaven will help those who can show they can help themselves. But no man is an island and need family and kin and above all, man too must admit that he needs God and saints.
PS Do you know that...
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| ...double dragons supporting pearl is symbolic of yin and yang each represented by a dragon. Balance of yin and yang results in peace - the pearl of peace and sainthood |
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| The Taiji at centre of the Bagua is a later day depiction of yin yang balance The harmony comes about when there is apt balance of yin and yang. A circle is everything yet it is nothing. Having more is less and less is more |
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| The eight sets if trigrams Each trigram is made of three strokes continuous or interrupted. The eight sets spell out the various combinations of yin and yang |
