Why do you look younger than your age?

By Victor M Fontane

Mahavatar Babaji's teachings on youthfulness focus on the inner state of consciousness rather than the physical body. He teaches that the physical aging process is a reflection of the mind and spirit, and by focusing on inner purity, peace, and connection with the divine, one can attain a state of agelessness. In spiritual traditions, Babaji himself is described as possessing an undecaying body, appearing as a youth of about 25. 

According to his teachings, the principles for achieving and maintaining a youthful state are:

• Purify the mind and heart. Negative thoughts and emotions like anger, envy, and worry act as "devils" that harm the mind and injure the body by disrupting its natural processes. Conversely, love expands one's life and brings luminous light.

• Cultivate peace and equanimity. The ups and downs of life are natural, but they should not disrupt inner serenity. A mind trained to be silent and calm through regular meditation builds an "unbreakable inner habit of happiness".

• Engage in selfless service (Karma Yoga). Working diligently with love, as an offering to the Divine, purifies the spirit and leads to inner peace. It helps detach from ego-driven actions.

• Focus on the Divine. Shift focus from the fleeting, external world to the eternal, blissful Self within. By constantly remembering God, who is the true source of life, wisdom, and love, one can fill the mind with divine thoughts that bring joy.

• Master the breath (Pranayama).Yogis and rishis who have lived for centuries have a slow breathing rate, which is believed to correlate with a slower aging process. Regular, rhythmic, and deep breathing, a key component of Kriya Yoga, calms the mind and creates a composed state of body and mind.

• Embrace detachment. Realizing one's divine nature means that the body's fatigue, hunger, and thirst no longer disturb the true, unchanging Self. A pure heart, free from desire, is the foundation of a lasting blissful state.

• Live in truth, simplicity, and love. These are the cornerstones of a happy, contented life and the foundation of all true religion. 

In summary, Babaji's guidance on looking younger than your age is an inner-focused practice of spiritual mastery, leading to inner peace and a profound connection to one's eternal, divine nature. The external appearance of youthfulness is seen as a natural outcome of this deep inner work.