Customer Reviews

From Age-Ing to Sage-Ing: A Profound New Vision of Growing Older

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What is the purpose of life lived long past the reproductive years? Using their concepts of "elderhood" and "the art of life completion," Schacter-Shalomi and Miller survey the societal changes that they believe are synchronistic events that give meaning and purpose to the burgeoning population of elders in American society and other developed countries. An increasing number of writers share these men's belief that the aged are needed to guide humanity in its values, to influence the young to make the changes that consider the distant future as well as the present. Rabbi Schacter-Shalomi has spent his adult life studying numerous spiritual disciplines. He believes that the present easy access to ancient spiritual teachings that were once passed secretly from one generation of adepts to the next is for the purpose of allowing large populations to prepare themselves for their contribution to humanity as wise elders. The major theme of this work could be said to be the art of lving and dying with meaning. Going beyond the usual observations of the characteristics of our rapidly aging population, Schacter-Shalomi and Miller have offered sound advice on how an individual can find purpose in life beyond reproduction and career. They even offer specific "Exercises for Sages in Training."

Age-ing to Sage-ing is indeed a profound new vision for aging. In a time when our elder population is rapidly growing, it is important that people find meaning in their elder years. Rabbi Schacter-Shalomi has used his own journey as a stepping off point to assist people in making the most of the extra gift of years they have been given in this century. I highly recommend this book because it not only provides theory about becoming a spiritual elder, but also talks about tools for this and gives exercises for this in an appendix. Rabbi Schacter-Shalomi has an incredible grasp of a wide range of religious beliefs and a very wholistic view of spirituality. His message has provided inspiration for myself as well as mnay people I work with. I also recommend Winter Grace, by Kathleen Fischer.

These days, in our Western culture, for many man and woman over 40, the aging process has become something to fear. Which is utterly crazy, given that most people nowadays are barely half way through their lives at that point. It's like wanting to leave the restaurant somewhere in the middle of the main course and without tasting the dessert at all.
I liked this book because it is one of the few to look deeply into the whole adventure of aging and to broadcast to the world that the later decades of life have a different - and surprisingly wonderful - agenda all of their own. It is time for us older folk to stop cringing about getting older but to open to the process and re-own our place as 'wise elders.' As I was writing my own book - ELDERWOMAN - which is specifically for women, this wise man's book was a marvellous resource for me. It is a full, rich book, worth reading and re-reading. The exercises are useful and practical and the ideas are powerful. Highly recommended.

My attraction to the first named author, Zalman Schachter-Shalomi was due to his reputation as a cabalist, the Jewish practice of mysticsm. When I bought and first read this book, in 1995, I was a mere 48 years old, much too young to put its sage advice into practice. This book is for the retired, and even then is not for everyone. When I lent it to my retired friend in California with whom I swap jokes on the internet, her comment was "Although it was a difficult read, bogged down in places, and I didn't like how it was written, it did say a lot of important things and was worth reading" 3-4 stars would't you say?
In any event, the authors discuss the "theory of spiritual eldering." There are several paths one may take in eldering. First, however, the authors confront the "conscious transit of death." In part three of the book the authors discuss "Spirual Eldering and Social Transformation." This section includes mentoring and elders as healers of family, community, and Gaia-the living Earth.
Finally, an appendix is provided which includes exercises for sages in training.
If you are retired or facing retirement and are at a loss for how to lead a productive life in your 'golden years' your time would be well spent in looking this book over.

My own spiritual journey was faltering when I met Reb Zalman and bought this book. It was his humor and wisdom that helped me back onto the path. Now I go towards old age with a sense of purpose and a cheerfulness. I feel that this book was a personal invitation (to all of us) to join the tribal council of elders. I am currently rereading the book and again it is strengthening my resolve to take on the role of elder in my community.

From Age-Ing to Sage-Ing has been a personal inspiration for me. Being recently retired, it has shown me that it's important to take all of the knowledge and wisdom that I have gained and give it back to the younger generation. If all of us healthy elders volunteered some of our wisdom in the workforce, our Social Security crisis would be greatly diminished. This is a wonderfully timely book with an important message.

this book provides an insight and perspective on changing my view of what opportunity life can create. This book has opened my mind and my heart to new possibilities. I recommend reading this philosophy when you are considering what the next step in your life may be, particularly if you are between the ages of 52 and 65 years old.

This is a book which every elder (or soon to be elder) should read. Even though this book was written in the 90', it still holds much relevance for today.

In a world where we are living far longer than in the past, it is important to find new meaning in our lives as Rabbi Zalman Schachter -Shalomi suggests.

I actually first read this years ago and it has changed my life.

I wanted to get more copies to share with others.

The two chapters in this book that I appreciated the most were Chapter 8 Mentoring: Seeding the Future with Wisdom where on reads that modern day families all to often turn to some 'professional' when it comes to issues involving our families, and these 'experts' don't even have to have kids or even be close to their own families. Its the sheep skin with some Latin on it that makes them more knowledgeable than our own elders.

And Chapter 9 Elders as Healers of Family, Community and Gaia. I ignored the Gaia aspect since its not something I am into. But the rest is pretty on target as far as how the inter generational health benefits are when children and young adults are around older people who have alot to offer, and how what they offer is more patience, a sense of humor and secure grounding that equates to security.

This is a must for all aging folks who have thought this is all there is.

Its a must for coming to terms of your journey ending.

It a must to know your life has been worth living.

No matter what your belief system has been,this book will offer courage,support and ideas to close off this experience with a feeling of Good..