Q33: Venerable Sir, does age make a difference in one’s practice?

问33：尊者，年纪大小会造成修行上的差别吗？

Yes, there is some differences between the old and the young. In order to reach to a certain level of insight knowledge, one man, for example, at the age of twenty or thirty, may take about a month, and another in his sixties or seventies has to take two or three months. It is because the young are physically healthier, mentally active, and less worried than the old. Of course, the older they get, the sicklier they become. The old have weaker memory and understanding, and stronger commitments and worries. As for a monk, it would be great if he would practice soon after his ordination. Because as a newly ordained monk, he is still young and has strong faith in the practice, and his moral conduct is also still flawless. So, in my opinion, however important his study is, a monk should practice soon after his ordination, for three months at least. There were some monks who unfortunately passed away before they could practice. What a pity!---

是，老年人和年轻人有些差别。例如，为了达到某一阶观智，一个二、三十岁的人可能需一个月，而另一个六、七十岁的人可能需要两、三个月。因为年轻人和老人比，身体更健康、内心更有活力、更少担忧。显然，人越老病越多。老人记忆力和理解力都较差些，有更多的担当和担忧。对一个出家人来说，出家后立即禅修最好。新受戒的出家人，仍然年轻且对修行有强力的信心，他的戒行也完好无缺。所以，我的意见是，学习不管多么重要，一个出家人受戒后应该尽快禅修，至少修三个月。有些出家人没能禅修就不幸去世，多么可悲！----