The Third Stage of Life: Aging in Contemporary Society

The True Victor Is Happy and Fulfilled to the Very End

How do we face the issues of aging, sickness, and death?
What’s the secret of living long?
What are the keys to a healthy life?
Is aging a period of decline or an opportunity to bring one’s life to a satisfying conclusion?
What example can we set for others in our third stage of life?

Drawing on the lives of many individuals down through the ages, SGI President Ikeda discusses these and many other questions that affect us as we grow older. From the practical to the spiritual to the personal― as when Mrs. Ikeda joins the discussion in the later chapters―The Third Stage of Life will inspire you to lead a life that shines.

"I hope that everyone can experience a third stage of life that is like a 'third youth.' Youth is not something that fades with age. Our attitude toward life is what makes us young. As long as we have a forward-looking, positive attitude and spirit of challenge, we will gain depth as people and our lives will shine with a brilliance that is ours alone."
―Daisaku Ikeda

Daisaku Ikeda is the president of the Soka Gakkai International and spiritual leader for some 12 million people in nearly every country in the world. Over his decades of leadership, he has brought the wisdom of Buddhism to bear on the practical issues of human life―birth, aging, sickness, and death―helping people find meaning and fulfillment in any circumstance.