From Ramakrishnan.

Re.Gayathri's posting, Peria Thatha (P.S.Swaminathan) did not take 'aabat Sanyaasam'. I wonder where Gayathri got the idea. He was not the type suitable for Sanyasam either.

I fully agree with Ramu's and Gayathri's comments about the fate of the woman in the Varnasramam. But may be MAN includes WOMAN in this and she can also adopt sanyaasam.

Nowadays, the economic and social structure does not facilitate Vaanaprastham and Sanyaasam for the average man. Like my father-in-law perhaps we should, in our old age, eat what we get(at home, without complaining) and spend all our time reading the Bhagawat Gita, and avoid getting involved with the family affairs. But this can happen only if the wife or one of the children take the load.

Now, the children do not want the parents to go away because they need them to look after their children when both husband and wife go to work and also do some housework, receive courier letters etc. They are often unable to appreciate that the old parents do not have the energy for this task.

Coming to my/our life in Kovaipudur, there have been some showers in the last two and the weather is not so hot. Charu and Vivek are leaving for Trivandrum tomorrow for a three week stay.

-Ramakrishnan.