Older and Wiser: Classical Buddhist Teachings on Aging, Sickness, and Death

by Mu Soeng, Gloria Taraniya Ambrosia, Andrew Olendzki

This book is offered as a support for all of us dealing with one very real How do we continue seeking and finding happiness, inner tranquility, and wisdom in our elder years? Through both scholarly examination and thoughtful reflection, these selected discourses guide us in how to apply the teachings of the Buddha to our daily life and practice. Embodying the teachings in this way, we find that even in our elder years it is still very much possible to find ease and joy, even while dealing with the inevitabilities of aging, sickness, and death. The three teachers—a Theravada scholar well-versed in the early teachings of Buddhism; a Zen scholar and practitioner from the Korean Zen tradition; and a lay Buddhist minister and Dhamma teacher rooted in the Thai Forest Tradition—offer a range of perspectives speaking to a wide range of interests, points of view, and levels of experience with meditation and Buddhism. A collection of reflections is additionally offered, which can be used both for private contemplation or to support discussions among friends or communities.

Genres: Buddhism

266 pages, Paperback

Published April 20, 2017

Reviews

[Edward Kimble · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aging as a spiritual practice, or more precisely its advantages for Buddhist practice. Three contemporary Western teachers from the three major Buddhist traditions provide easily digestible but often profound refections on topics that loom large for us aging Boomers, such as illness, dying, mourning, and equanimity in the face of it all. Great study guide in the back for groups and classes, which is an ideal way to encounter this material.