Radhe Krishna To All,
Once
a person was caught stealing someone's wallet. He was handed over to
the police. On investigation, it was found that he had a long history of
stealing cash and jewels from his neighbours and friends, and that day
he had been caught red-handed. Charges were framed against him and he
was produced in the court.
The magistrate asked if he had
anything to say before the judgment was delivered. The accused
then said, "Your honour! I plead guilty of all the charges and I am
also aware that I am going to be punished. But I have a request to make.
It is my request that my mother should have an equal share of the
punishment being accorded."
The
magistrate was both astonished and confused at these words and asked
him to clarify. The accused said, "In my childhood, I used to sneak into
my neighbours' homes, filch petty stuffs, bring them home and show them
to my mother. Every time I did so, my mother would feel proud of my
'feat' and would highly appreciate my behavior. Today, I stand before
you as a thief, thanks to my mother's encouragement. Had my mother been
severe with me the first time I committed thievery and stopped me from
repeating it, I would have grown into a good citizen. So my mother is
equally responsible for these crimes."
Parenting
is an art. The tender mind can be molded into any shape or form, and it
is the responsibility of the parents to shape their ward's mind and
heart in such a manner that they grow up to become good citizens of the
world.
Today's literature and media repeatedly stress on one fact:
Education without moral values ruins a person and hence spoils the society. Only moral values and fear of God can save the society today.
Orthodox
religious practices are no longer relevant to modern times. Instead of
confounding the child's mind with such concepts, it is advisable to sow
the seeds of moral values and disciplines in their minds. Teach them to
be honest and inspire in them values of truthfulness and reverence for
elders.
Groom
them to have an ambition in life, and not be over-ambitious. Teach them
never to nurture
desire for others' belongings and never to receive any gift or offering
from others even if given voluntarily, if it is not really essential.
Teach them the value of money
and not the greed for it. Implant in the young minds the basic precept
that monetary comforts are not the only comforts in life and that moral
values should never be compromised for money.
'I
have stuck to noble values like honesty and truthfulness all my life;
yet, I have to face ordeals in life,' would be the immediate reaction of
even a grown-up.
In Mahabharata, we find that Dharmaputra suffered in spite of being benign at heart. Do the comforts that Duryodhana enjoyed signify that he was a good soul? Do not
evaluate your goodness against your life in the world. The two do not stand comparison.
What is the true reward for your righteousness?
It
is the mental clarity and inner excellence that you will achieve in
your life. The worldly comforts are but trifling when compared to this
great asset. As a parent, internalize this golden rule and pass it on to
your children.
Don't
make your child a bookworm. Accord as much importance to play as you do
to their study. It is from the playfield that the child brings home the
noble quality of equanimity in victory and defeat. There is no better
place for the child to inculcate the value of give-and-take. These are
virtues that will be the guiding stars for success when the child grows
up and faces the world.
Always
communicate in the child's language. Feed them with values in the form
of fables, stories of great men who have stood by principles and values
and stories of Mahans and Saints. Keep repeating these values to the
child regularly. Constantly reminding the child of these disciplines
certainly makes an impact in its mind and bears fruit in the long run.
As
your children grow into mature adults, they should be able to evaluate
their life. 'Am I leading a worthy life?' This is the prime question
that they will need to answer at various points in their journey of
life. Tomorrow, if they have to answer it positively with a clean,
guiltless heart, you as parents have to take the right step, today.
A better society tomorrow is
in your hands!
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Regards & Chant the Maha Mantra:
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare
Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
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