At the time of death, one has to leave behind all that one owns. Wealth and status too do not accompany you. Your friends and relations may come to the burial ground to bury or cremate the body, and thereafter all will return home. Only the good and bad acts that you have performed in your life will accompany you. Your next birth will be carved out according to your deeds in this life. In order to remain good, you must cultivate respect for truth which is permanent, whereas everything else including your body is subject to change, decay and death. So it is desirable to undertake various practices to win the grace of the Lord at this young age when you have the energy and ability to learn and concentrate.
It is quite probable that some of your friends may point out to you this is the age to make success of yourself in worldly affairs. They will advise you to earn money and enjoy life. According to their way of thinking, the pursuit of God can be kept in abeyance till the age of retirement from active life. But, in actual fact, the young age being impressionable and formative is the right age to develop sacred ideas and practice spiritual sadhanas (disciplines). It is common knowledge that if throughout one's life one pursues maya, then at the time of death, it will not be possible for you to lay the foundation for a good future.
(Summer Showers in Brindavan, 1973, pg 197)
