Dynamic living at 90

What is old age? Fundamentally, it is a condition of the flesh, of protoplasm that finds inevitably the limit of its life. It is also a physiological and psychological involution. It is a hardening of the arteries, a retardation of thought and blood. It is said that a man is as old as his arteries and as young as his ideas.

Will such a broad definition of old age fit Kalakeerthi Edwin Ariyadasa who turns 90 tomorrow? Perhaps not. His arteries may be getting old, but he remains young as far as his ideas are concerned.

From a psychological perspective, Kalakeerthi Ariyadasa’s success in life is mainly due to his multiple intelligences. It was Howard Gardener, a Harvard professor, who coined the term multiple intelligences in 1983. According to him, those who have multiple intelligences are extremely gifted and talented people.

Kinesthetic ability

Ariyadasa is gifted with the bodily kinesthetic ability because he has a great sense of balance and proportion in whatever he does. He has a little bit of musical ability although he does not sing, dance or play any instrument. He enjoys classical music and one of his favourite musicians is W.D. Amaradeva who turned 85 recently.

Kalakeerthi Edwin Ariyadasa, a living example of multiple intelligences

Ediwn Ariyadasa has a high degree of special ability because he has the capacity to navigate and move around in society hobnobbing the humble and the most sophisticated people. He feels completely at ease with a villager and a head of state.

His linguistic ability is not confined to Sinhala. His mastery over English and Pali is astounding. Once he translated the Dhammapada from Pali into English. He wrote several other books mainly on Buddhism.

Logical ability

Ariyadasa’s logical and mathematical ability has helped him to solve many problems of university students. So far, he has not turned away anyone who needed his services.

His interpersonal ability is above average. He has the gift of the gab and a fine sense of humour. Essentially, he is a people person who has good conversational skills and he knows how to interact and relate well with others. As far as journalism is concerned, he is one resource person we can depend on to get an article written on any subject. It is a pleasure to read his copies written in long hand.

Above all, Kalakeerthi Ediwn Ariyadasa’s intra-personal ability is exceptional. He knows who he is and what he is capable of doing. This is a rare quality most of us do not possess. Some of us try to perform tasks we are incapable of doing. At 90, he can look back with satisfaction that he has led a fruitful life.

It is very rarely we see a person endowed with Howard Gardener’s intelligences. Some of us may be good musicians or poets, but we find it difficult to relate to different types of people in society.

Prison

Many people in their old age live in a prison of their own in which pain and suffering are the jailers. The bars of the cage are fears about chronological age and death. However, modern psychologists say that we can lead a good life at any age not withstanding the chronological numbering process.

Most of those who reach 80 or 90 tell themselves that life is over. They constantly think of death and talk about physical discomforts. But Kalakeerthi Ariyadasa has turned his life into a dedication to enjoy every minute. Once he said each day in his life is full of thrilling events and meaningful activity.

In Buddhist-oriented cultures there is a reverence for age. Even the great Chinese sage Confucius had a reverence for old age. We are told that good wine and champagne improve with age. And it holds true even with some people. Time, which poets through the ages have denounced as a robber of youth, brings with it seasoned wisdom, knowledgeable contentment and rich savour-faire.

For Kalakeerthi Edwin Ariyadasa, tomorrow will be another creative day for he believes in dynamic living.