The Buddha’s Invitation to a Life of Practice
There’s a beautiful line from the Sutta Nipāta, where the Buddha urges:
“One should train oneself while still young,
strong in body and mind,
lest later one laments
‘I wasted my youth aimlessly.’”
(Snp 2.14, Dhammika Sutta)
This ancient advice might sound a bit stern at first glance, but beneath the surface is something gentle and wise: the Buddha is reminding us that a life of awareness and presence is a gift best opened early—and that it can transform our whole arc of living.
Pop Culture Says: Wait Until You’re Old
Modern Western culture often tells a different story. We’re encouraged to spend our youth striving—chasing experiences, careers, and goals—while saving reflection and contemplation for old age.
Movies and media glamorize “living large” while you’re young, and only later turning inward (if ever) once you’ve “done enough.” Even mainstream developmental models echo this: Erik Erikson’s stages suggest that inner reflection doesn’t really arrive until we’re confronting mortality.
But does it have to be that way?
A Different Way of Growing Up
The Buddha’s teachings offer a more integrated path. They suggest we don’t need to wait to get wise. We can begin growing inwardly at any stage—and if we start young, that wisdom becomes a foundation for a lifetime of resilience, joy, and compassion.
Rather than dividing life into “doing” and then “being,” we can weave the two together. Starting contemplative practice early doesn’t necessarily mean avoiding the world—it can mean showing up more fully for it. Or setting boundaries for contemplative times (like retreats) and for more social or work related times.
With more awareness, more patience, and more capacity to meet the ups and downs without being tossed about, we can learn to steer our lives more wisely.
And—just as importantly—starting later still brings immense benefit.
It’s Never Too Late to Begin
Some of the most profound practitioners I know started after 60. Sylvia Boorstein provides one great example. Sometimes it is illness, loss, or caregiving that cracks open the door. And sometimes, it is simply readiness. The practice meets people where they were, and they blossom.
The truth is: every one of us begins right where we are. Whether you’re eighteen or eighty, life is happening now. Each breath, each step, each moment is an invitation to wake up.
So, whether you’re…
🌱 Young(ish) and just beginning to wonder if there’s more to life than hustle…
🌾 Midlife and craving deeper meaning…
🌳 Older and sensing that it’s finally time to turn inward…
…you are right on time.
Gentle Ways to Begin (or Begin Again)
✨ Join a Retreat or Group — Being in community helps us remember we’re not alone on the path.
✨ Listen to a guided meditation — Start small. Sit quietly. Let it be enough.
✨ Schedule a session — One-on-one support can be a wise first step, especially if you’re unsure how or where to begin.