Aging as a Spiritual Practice
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- £4.99
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- £4.99
Publisher Description
In Aging as a Spiritual Practice, Buddhist priest and teacher, Lewis Richmond, describes the four stages of aging, providing an uplifting look at life's enriching journey.
Drawing on the teachings of Buddhism, he urges us to rejoice in getting older, not to fight it; to adapt to a different way of living rather than trying to chase a mythical elixir of youth in a quest to stay younger for longer. He says: 'Everything is aging, all the time. We age from our first breath. The problem is not aging per se, but our view of it'.
Whether you're 30, 60 or 100 there are life-enhancing lessons to learn and a wealth of opportunities in which to experience true joy. With traditional Zen exercises and anecdotes from people of all ages sharing their positive experiences, Lewis teaches us to embrace change and see aging as simply an opening up of new paths. He shows us how we often fail to appreciate the wisdom we develop as we go through life and teaches us that to truly develop contentment we must spend more time with our close ones and in looking inwards at ourselves.
www.lewisrichmond.com/
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This "user's guide to aging well" draws on Buddhist principles to address the challenges of growing older. "Aging is not just change, but irreversible change for better or for worse," writes Richmond, a Zen Buddhist priest, meditation teacher, author (Work as a Spiritual Practice), and columnist (Huffington Post). "The real question... is: What do we do about it?" He weaves current scientific findings with the stories of older adults, including his own, to illuminate aspects of aging. Useful information includes the stages of aging; what kinds of worry are helpful and what are not; the function of elderhood; and the essence of Buddhism. The book's range is wide, and Richmond's insights exceptionally acute. Especially strong are his recognition that individuals experience time's losses and gains very differently, and his analysis of the need to seek out new identities. Richmond draws from multiple Buddhist traditions, especially the wisdom of Zen master Shunryu Suzuki. Each chapter ends with a contemplative practice; the book concludes with instructions for a one-day "personal retreat." This compassionate, hopeful book is a valuable resource for the inquiring adult coping with the passages of aging.
