Embracing Aging and Preparing for Life's Challenges : หน้า 33/135

198. DON'T BE RECKLESS ABOUT YOUR AGE We are already old. Don't think that you are still young. Reflect on aging. If you get carried away with thinking that you are still young and do things that you are not supposed to do, you may misstep into an unhappy realm. Try to accumulate more transcendental merit than worldly merit. It is the transcendental merit that releases you from defilements*. February 16, 1975 *Defilements (klesa), mental impurities consisting of greed, anger and delusion; hindrances or poisons that cause beings to perform intentional deeds (kamma) and suffer rebirth. 19. ALREADY OLD Bear in mind that you are getting older every day. Don’t take your youth for granted. I have been telling myself that I am old even since I was a young woman, and it has motivated me to hurry up and pursue Perfections. March 24, 1981 20. PREPARING FOR IT I made a resolution that no matter how serious my illness may be, I want the doctor to conceal nothing from me, but tell me everything as it is, so I can be prepared. March 24, 1981