And, as far as physical frailty is concerned, it is only another obstruction. The two greatest Japanese Zen masters, Dogen (1200-1253) and Hakuin (1685-1768), were in poor health. Dogen died in his fifties after a prolonged lung disease. Hakuin was unfit physically, but, like Dogen, he went on to be a great practitioner.

In relation to health, then, people can still practice; and, with older people, the main problem usually is health and physical vitality.