Some organised religions - Christianity, Islam, Judaism, etc - preach their poison to their kids from a very early age by enrolling them in daily or weekly religious education schools and programs. They understand well that what a child sees and experiences in those younger years (from 0 - 12) will stick with them their entire life.
Christians put their kids in Sunday school, Jews have Hebrew school, the Muslims even put their 2-year-olds in madarsa (Islamic faith schools). In that way, they are able to indoctrinate their children into their dogmatic, poisonous faith at a very young age. Our Marga is the voice of bhagavata dharma, even then we are struggling to bring our children and youths onto the spiritual path of tantra.
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So while the various religions are very effective in passing their dogma onto their children, yet we are not able to instill the ways of bhagavata dharma within our own youths.
Why children may miss out on this opportunity
So it is really a question of parenting and schooling for all children. If from a very young age they are guided in a particular direction they will have those experiences and ideals for life. Children remember and learn so much in those early moments. Now I really wish I always kept my oldest with me nearby when doing sadhana. I did that with my youngest but not my older one.
Drawing children into the Marga lies almost cent-per-cent with the families and then with the schools later on. So each and every family must be very disciplined in Sixteen Points while raising their children. This will have a direct relationships in developing their children into strong Ananda Margiis.
These days many Christian families are less strict than before, and the degree to which they are remiss is the degree to which the church loses followers in that area. This has happened to a large extent in Europe. In contrast, to the degree that parents are strict in their households - as is the case with many Muslim families - is the degree to which their children get fully indoctrinated into that approach.
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As parents in the Marga we should clearly understand this issue and put it into practice. Because unlike the dogmatic religions, we have all the wonders of the universe to share with our children. Our Ananda Marga is the path of dharma. Yet without our prompting and clear-cut approach, our children will continue to miss out on this opportunity. And this is an injustice to them - and it is not the way we are to raise our children in service to Guru Dev.
Ananda Marga is not just an extracurricular activity
Part of the problem that can happen is that we may feel that Ananda Marga is something viewed as an extracurricular - and not the essential building block of life. There is so much to do as parents that one can get caught up just following the basic worldly checklist without putting proper emphasis on Ananda Marga. When in fact it is the spirituality of Ananda Marga that is the essence of life - not all that other stuff.
We missed this lesson with our oldest child and instead got caught up in general societal values; in result our son did not develop into a sadhaka. In our own way we paid attention to his physical and mental development, yet never inculcated the spiritual side into his daily life, neither as an infant, nor as a toddler or young boy. And now the sad reality is that this is not part of his life.
I would not raise this point if I did not see this happening with other margii families. Many of the parents in my circle of communication are in the midst of similar circumstances - they openly say so.
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I suppose the main thing is not to rely on the idea that somehow magically our children will walk into the door of Ananda Marga at the age of 18, when up until that time Ananda Marga has not been a major factor in their lives.
Practical points to bring into child's practice
Here is a short list of things we can do as parents to ensure our children grow to be strong sadhakas and active Ananda Margiis.
1. Create a community of friends by having our margii children play with other margii children;
2. Bring children to DC and organise a children's dharmacakra;
3. Have them in the room with you when you do your personal sadhana;
4. Sing kiirtan & bhajans with them throughout the day;
5. Tell them Baba stories before bed;
6. Inculcate a spiritual outlook in life;
7. We must remember that our kids see what we do and follow accordingly;
8. If a child gets raised in Ananda Marga then they will think Ananda Marga is their home and they will follow the basic do's and don'ts their entire life.
Finally, may we all remember that we cannot teach someone about the danger of drowning after he has already drowned. Similarly, we must not passively watch our children grow thinking that they will automatically make it into Ananda Marga. We must be vigilant to guide them every step of the way - the moment they emerge from the womb - and even before then.
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Inculcate spiritual values on a daily basis
Baba says, "The main point is this: for want of a little care, children are deprived of the opportunity to become complete human beings, even though they have a human structure." (1)
Thus to bring our children onto the path of Ananda Marga we cannot merely passively wait for that magic day to happen as if they will realise it with their own rational approach. Rather we have to be assertive and inculcate spiritual values within our children on a daily basis. If we fail to do that our children may even grow to hate Ananda Marga. That is what happened with my first born and I feel the fault is entirely mine - not my son's.
The problem has escalated to such a degree that he does not merely passively oppose Ananda Marga, but actively by eating meat, smoking, drinking alcohol and speaking badly about Ananda Marga. In India there is a saying that I have heard, "Those who kept their babies away and did not bring them to DMC etc , then those children got lost, never made it into Ananda Marga." This happened with many margii families within India and the essence of that problem has occurred with many families outside India, including my own.
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The point is that we must bring our young ones into the fold by including them in all Marga activities and building a strong social network for them. By Baba's grace we did this with our youngest and it worked out very nicely.
Namaskar,
in Him,
Sulekha
(Sarah Darrow)
~ In-depth study ~
Parenting is big responsibility
Baba tell us that forming children into proper human beings is a big job. The most difficult task is to make children into proper human beings.
To do that we must follow the example of the great mother Madalasa who taught her children from their very infancy about, "Why you have come into this world and what is your goal."
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "“Dear son, although you are but a child in a small human frame, you are the veritable expression of the Supreme Consciousness. You are an ever-holy, ever-enlightened entity. As long as you think that you are only a small child, you are spiritually ignorant, but when you realize that you are a part of that Supreme Entity, you become that Supreme Entity, you become spotless (nirainjano’si).”...“My dear child, there is no black spot in your mind. You are spotless. You are unassailed by any kind of sin.” Sam'sa'ra ma'ya' parivarpito’si: “You are beyond the spell of the illusory ma'ya' of this mundane world. You are the embodiment of the pure and unblemished self.”...“This is how Mada'lasa' teaches her son.” (2)
Dharma will be in their bloodstream
We must teach our children about Ananda Marga from a very early age. When we go to our Marga functions then all families should bring their children. If we instill the values of Ananda Marga early then they will embrace it as their own and feel linked. Then even if those children want to give it up and walk away, they will not be able to do it. Because our Ananda Marga way of life will be in their bloodstream. In contrast, if we keep our children separate then they be lost in the sea of materialism and dogma.
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Baba says, "Children will become assets of society in the future to the extent that their parents or guardians discharge their duties properly." (3)
Story: Man softly pinched his mother's ear
Once there was a man who was about to be hung for the many crimes he committed. Before the hanging, he was granted one last wish and he requested to talk to his mother. When his mother arrived he asked her if he could whisper something in her ear. She said, "Why of course, my son" and leaned towards him. Then the man softly pinched his mother's ear.
The mother felt some pain and asked, "Why did you do that?"
The son replied, "Because you are the cause of my imminent death. All those years when I was a young boy stealing and thieving you never disciplined me nor told me that what I was doing was wrong. Because I did not get that important teaching, I grew up to be a criminal. And now today I am going to be hung."
Here the whole point is that as parents we have a huge effect on what our children become in life. It is our duty to do right by them and bring them along the path of dharma, otherwise they will meet all kinds of troubles and even blame us for their problems - and rightly so.
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Ananda Marga philosophy states, "The mental outlook of children has already been moulded in a particular fashion by the influence of their family environment before they start school. No matter what or how much they learn at school, it is extremely difficult for them to free themselves from the influence of their family. Drawing on what they have learned in the family, the immature minds of children begin to learn about the world and understand it, and to receive ideas and master language so that they can express those ideas. Unhesitatingly they adopt their elders’ way of looking at the world. Hence the primary responsibility for acquainting children with the world lies with their parents or guardians. Children will become assets of society in the future to the extent that their parents or guardians discharge their duties properly."
"I have no hesitation in saying that today’s adults have not yet developed a scientific method of training children’s minds. Even most so-called educated and refined people, let alone average adults, are either ignorant about or indifferent to the education of their children. Their ignorance may be pardoned, but how can we forgive their indifference? The family into which a child has been born will naturally have to bear the primary responsibility for the physical, mental and spiritual development of that child." (4)
References
1. Human Society - 1, Education
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 7, The Place of Women in the Spiritual World
3. Human Society - 1, Education
4. Human Society - 1, Education
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
Capitalists manipulate schooling
Ananda Marga ideology states, "The system of education prevailing today was formulated or evolved long ago, mainly with a view to suit the needs of the capitalist class. For the last three to four thousand years, the same type of education is being imparted. The main purpose behind this sort of educational system is to create persons with slavish mentality: this sort of education is fundamentally defective."
"A new educational system must evolve to produce sadvipras: we have to thoroughly revamp the entire educational system. But it must be remembered that unless and until a new system is developed, we cannot demolish the old one, in spite of our aversion to it. Until you catch hold of a new branch, you cannot let go of the previous one. But it is certain that this type of education which serves the capitalists' interests is not at all suitable. This sort of education creates obstacles in the evolution of humanity." (1)
Note: Those who are bragging about the standard of their education should know what type and what category of knowledge they have. In this regard, we should ponder Sadguru Baba's above guideline.
Reference
1. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 11, Taking the Opposite Stance in Battle
Tap into riches of unconscious mind
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “On the practical level, what happens is that the unconscious mind is all-pervading, integral and immeasurably vast. Through spiritual practices the riches of the unconscious mind are brought down into the subconscious mind. The spiritual aspirant then understands everything; he discovers the secret signs of knowledge. Then, according to his or her needs, he or she is able to bring this acquired wealth of the subconscious mind into the conscious mind and use it in the external world.”
“How much can book knowledge help a person! It goes in one ear and out the other. If, by means of sádhaná [spiritual practices], a person can bring into the subconscious mind the boundless knowledge that resides in the unconscious mind, then that becomes transformed into lasting riches which then are, or can be, employed extensively for the welfare of humanity.” (1)
Reference
1. Shabda Cayanika - 2, Indukamala to Iyatta (Discourse 7)
Perfect combo for flower garland
Ananda
Marga philosophy states, “Not only the gods are fond of the fragrance
of flowers; devotees also want to string garlands for their beloved
Iśt́a with the fragrant flowers of the devotion of their hearts. If a
flower has no fragrance, it has no value for a devotee. One should
remember that the fragrance of a flower and the tender sweetness of a
devotional heart together make a perfect combination. What does the
perfume of the flower represent? The worldly activity which a devotee
does with a heart filled with love is the perfume of the flower, and the
overflowing devotion for one's Iśt́a is the tender sweetness in the
devotee's heart. With these two together, the devotee makes a garland.
Now, if there are fragrant flowers, but there is no sweetness in the
devotee's heart, then the devotee cannot make a garland for his or her
Iśt́a – then there is no question of garlanding Him at all, and though
the flower basket may be full of flowers, they wither with the pain of
emptiness and the agony of unfulfilled yearning. Then if the Beloved
does not accept the garland, what is the use of holding the basket full
of flowers." (1)
Reference
1. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shiva in the Light of Philosophy
How to pay labourers
Prout
philosophy states, "Labour disputes have become a chronic disease
everywhere in the world today. In ancient times there was no bonus
system. Some large industrialists used to give a bonus out of
compassion, but nowadays a bonus has become a right. It is noticeable
that in many places the party in power suppresses the labour movement
and the party not in power supports it. Strikes are supported by the
communists in India and suppressed by them in the USSR."
"There
may be a temporary solution to this problem by accepting the rights of
labourers in management, granting them some dividend out of the net
profit, setting apart some amount for reserve funds and sinking funds
for creating fresh capital and interest on this capital, and
distributing net profits among labourers. But this is not a permanent
solution."
Prout
philosophy states, "The question is how can the percentage of the share
out of the net profit be fixed? In Bengal, the Bataidars first claimed
half and later two thirds of the net profit. This will change with the
moving world."
"The
permanent solution lies in the large scale implementation of the
cooperative system and the socialisation of land, industries, trade and
commerce. Key industries should be large scale industries. These key
industries should be managed and owned by the immediate government, and
in order to keep labour relations congenial, a bonus system of work and
piece work payments should be adopted. The harder and better the people
work, the more profit they will get."
Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 15, Talks on Prout
True history: Gandhi & Columbus
How to feel His grace
Sadhana: prerequisite to serve
How to measure donations
