Rather than wasting your time protesting mask mandates, attending Trump rallies and listening to lies and falsehoods, spend the time working on redemption, which in the end will be time well spent. Salvation is lost to those who believe falsehoods, and freedom from suffering will disappear along with time upon the earth. You will die to be born again upon the earth with new parents and a new life, and not necessarily human. Repeatedly until the time is spent mastering the heavenly way, yes, redemption is given to those who work at escaping worldly existence.

The mantras say that old age is the time to work of returning home to heaven. I have not found a mantra that states the age, but I am over seventy, and think that is the time. I have not mastered the teaching so I cannot say with certainty, but the Rigveda says to follow the teaching and you will become very happy and free of suffering. One thing you cannot forget upon the earth is that misfortune happens and happens quickly. Last week an acquaintance was watching television with her husband and children, suffered a brain embolism and died instantly. You never know when your time is up, so maybe it is wise to prepare early.

It is a dangerous time in the United States with Covid-19 spreading like wildfire. Donald Trump and his Republican conspirators are doing everything they can to kill as many people as possible, and I will not be a party to it. I am utilizing the time away from people for religious retreat, a common practice in many religions. The one notable accomplishment of this time is that, once again I begin each day with prostrations before heading outside for mantra recitation.

A few years ago, I woke up and could not walk due to an issue with knees, but with time and lots of caution, they have improved. It is necessary to be careful, but once again, I do full body prostrations, albeit with a modification. Please refer to the stick figure illustration “Prostrations in Nine Easy Steps” that appears on this site. Step 1 is now reaching to heaven and bending down to touch the toes repeated twelve times. With a cushion for my knees, I run through steps 2, 3, 4 and 5 to stretch out on the earth. There I will do twelve pushups, not partial pushups, but all the way up and down twelve times. Then return to a standing position and repeat the sequence until I have completed 99 modified prostrations. During the retreat I discovered a mantra that says to begin each day with ninety-nine prostrations, so that is what I do. I am very happy to begin each day like that and you can be sure I am nice and warm when done, which helps when going outside in the cold.

For those of any age, the teaching says to enjoy life upon the earth. Brahma created the vast universe and earth for that very purpose. The Holy Teaching says to do what you want as long as it does not harm another breathing creature the cries. That means think of others, think about how your actions could harm another, and do what is proper. Follow that rule and enjoy whatever upon the earth.

Here is a verse from the Veda to become spiritual.

People love to be powerful and to love to be just as or acquire a lot of air and become spiritual and a loving friend of equanimity, a must for those who desire the friendship of the Lord of the village, and discover an excellent manager promising immediate Holy Actions.