In August 2019, I crossed 80, but more encouraging are the increasing shares of 80+ all around. We have been facilitating the known distinguished super citizens through our Adda at Meghdootam Park. We know of those at 93+, 90+, 85+ and some more. Even in the villages in Bihar among those whom I know are near 90 and 100 years of their life. Here are some data and views of a spiritual masters. I thought of writing about it, as I feel,it will help those senior citizens on the way to become the super citizens ad wish to enjoy that phase.

Interestingly, “at global level, the share of 80+ people rose from 0.6% in 1950 (15 million) to around 1.6% (110 million) in 2011, and it is expected to reach 4% (400 million) by 2050.”

I came across a book, ‘Living with Siva’ by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, who American by birth became a respected Acharya. I found the content in Chapter 16: वृद्धावस्था ‘Old and Gray’ that is given below. It will be a good guide for the super citizens above 80 in our country too. It’s number is gradually increasing in rural as well as urban society not as exception but as normal.

“When I met Satguru Yogaswami, spiritual king of Jaffna, he was 77 ( lived a life of 92 years) still walking 20 miles a day, still meditating hours a day, and he would go on dynamically for another fifteen years…..Sri Chandrasekharendra passed on in his hundredth year, and we recently read of the passing away of a 116-year-old yogi. The US Census Bureau reported that from 1900 to 2000, the number of people in USA 85 and over population grew ten-fold, to four million, while the overall population grew less than four-fold, and the bureau projects that the 85-and-over population will exceed 13 million by 2040. The number of centenarians is expected to grow to more than 834,000, from 63,000 in 1900. Those who know wisdom’s ways have overcome the “I’m getting old” syndrome, a mantra no one should ever repeat, even once. They know how the minds work, and by applying the laws, they have lived long, useful, happy and healthy lives. …The psychological secret is to have a goal, actually many goals, in service to humanity to accomplish. ….Good goals and a will to live prolong life. It is even more life-giving when the goal of human existence, in helping people to fulfill dharma through a predawn morning pujas, scriptural Reading, devotionals acts and meditation are performed without fail, the deeper side of ourselves is cultivated, that in itself softens our kar as and prolong life….This body is impermanent, but it is only one you have, so make the best use of it. …..The older you get, the more disciplined you should get, the more sadhana you should perform…find new eager children to teach, new ways to serve and be useful to others, keep planting the trees, help in maintains clean ambience, be helpful to others as you are “old and gray and but here to stay’, see into the lives of promising people around and encourage them to greater heights….There is another 40 years before the natural life span of 120 years is reached, …to get out and give of wisdom that has been accumulated through the past eighty years….” Plan for your activities in next 5, 10, 15, 20 years. Do never feel defeated till end.