According to the varnasrama principle, it is compulsory that one
retire after the age of fifty, without considering other circum-
stances. Business offices close at a fixed hour no matter what
balance of work remains. Similarly, after the age of fifty one must
retire from the active, external life and devote oneself to the
introspective cultivation of the human spirit. This retirement must
be compulsory so that foolish old men will no longer disturb the
peaceful progress of spiritual culture. In the modern democratic
government, no one should be elected after the age of fifty.
Otherwise the storm of the ocean of nescience cannot be
stopped to allow the ships and boats to sail back to Godhead. The
greatest enemies to progressive spiritual culture in human socie-
ty are the old fossils of political parties who are blind themselves
and who try to lead other blind men. They bring about disaster in a
peaceful human society. The members of the younger generation
are not as stupid as the old politicians, and therefore by state law
the foolish politicians must retire from active life at the age of fifty.=

101
