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Since college, I always had a natural interest in the mystical and hidden, or occult, aspects of life. I was never satisfied with some of the superficial answers that religions gave me when it came to understanding our existence. I was asked to simply accept a bunch of stories and myths and not question them. I was never asked to go on a journey of discovery and then be able to bear witness firsthand to truth. Then, one day, about a decade ago, I finally ran into the esoteric teachings of Buddhism, finally to learn about the Sacred Syllable OM, and what it means and stands for. I found OM to be an experience unlike any other. Finally, I had discovered something that I could experience, and not just believe in, that would really unite the theoretical and experiential aspects of my life. Finally all became one.

However, with this discovery, I asked myself, what now? How do I balance this discovery with my everyday responsibilities? How do I continue without losing my passion for truth if I have to face the mundane each day? How do I balance material and spiritual life?

Well, there is actually an ancient Hindu perspective on life that says life can be broken down into “phases” or “stages”. The first stage is that of student, where we learn about life and how to do things. Next, we either marry or live as a single person serving society through work and public works of different kinds. Finally, there is retirement. But here is where it is different in the ancient Hindu way of thinking - retirement is time to prepare for death and the afterlife. Retirement is not a time to indulge in food, sex, travel, or our egos. Rather, it is a time to renounce life as a human being and prepare for oneness with our Divine Source - Brahman. So, one’s retirement years in the ancient Hindu world was focused on meditation, prayer, silence, simplicity, awareness, encouraging those who are still young and facing the world’s challenges. Herein we find a balance. The first two “thirds” of our life can be indeed spent in a normal way - school, work, family, friends, etc. However, the last “third” can be spent in time of reflection, gratitude, simplicity, renunciation, and preparation for “that” which has yet to come, and that marks the beginning of a new chapter in our existential journeys.

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