Guest guest Posted March 17, 2002 Report Share Posted March 17, 2002 Dear Friends, It is disconcerting to watch a trend among some of the Hindu youth to turn to violence, criminal activities and poor academic performance. I wish to seek if there is guidance from Shankara or Advaita teachings in general, that could be useful in building up a more principled and disciplined youth who will grow up to the pinnacles of society. Kindly quote the appropriate sources in your response so that it would serve as an encouragement to the youth to read on such knowledge. Thank you. Sathia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2002 Report Share Posted March 18, 2002 On Mon, 18 Mar 2002, ssathia wrote: > Dear Friends, > > It is disconcerting to watch a trend among some of the Hindu youth to > turn to violence, criminal activities and poor academic performance. > > I wish to seek if there is guidance from Shankara or Advaita > teachings in general, that could be useful in building up a more > principled and disciplined youth who will grow up to the pinnacles of > society. > > Kindly quote the appropriate sources in your response so that it > would serve as an encouragement to the youth to read on such > knowledge. > > Thank you. > > Sathia, > Kuala Lumpur, > Malaysia. > namaste. There is nothing better than the TaittirIya upanishad exhortation to the students in TaittirIya I.11. Those teachings stand as well today as any other day. Regards Gummuluru Murthy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2002 Report Share Posted March 18, 2002 advaitin, Gummuluru Murthy <gmurthy@m...> wrote: > > On Mon, 18 Mar 2002, ssathia wrote: > > > Dear Friends, > > > > It is disconcerting to watch a trend among some of the Hindu youth to > > turn to violence, criminal activities and poor academic performance. > > > > I wish to seek if there is guidance from Shankara or Advaita > > teachings in general, that could be useful in building up a more > > principled and disciplined youth who will grow up to the pinnacles of > > society. > > > > Kindly quote the appropriate sources in your response so that it > > would serve as an encouragement to the youth to read on such > > knowledge. > > > > Thank you. > > > > Sathia, > > Kuala Lumpur, > > Malaysia. > > > > namaste. > > There is nothing better than the TaittirIya upanishad > exhortation to the students in TaittirIya I.11. > Those teachings stand as well today as any other day. > > Regards > Gummuluru Murthy > Namaste Sri Murthy, Thank you very much for your prompt help in pointing out the TaittrIya 1.11 I searched the Internet and found the following site containing an Englsih translation: http://www.realization.org/page/namedoc0/tu/tu_1_11.htm While I agree that the relevant section is an exhortation to students, it is difficult to see how to use them effectively in everyday life: how do we convince and dissuade the youth from continuing their misdeeds and how to encourage them to do well in studies from a sound religious point of view? As you may have observed, today's youth tend to question outright instructions and demand to know the underlying reasons why such and such instruction need to be followed and argue back about alternative ways that they think are better. I will be delighted to have more views on this matter from more of the readers. Thank you. With best regards, Sathia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2002 Report Share Posted March 18, 2002 Namaste Sathiaji In my opinion, Advaita, as in Non-duality, is solely for the purpose of moksha and not for anything else. But the whole approach to Advaita Vedanta where Karma Yoga comes in as discipline to prepare oneself for Jnana, can be useful in your efforts to reform youths. I have been working with youths for about 5 years now, including recovering drug addicts & juvenile delinquents. I am forced to say that most of the youths who happen to be in the categories mentioned by you are victims FIRST at home. My experiences with them showed that what they need is not Vedanta BUT more of an introduction to Hinduism as a RELEVANT religion even in the present times. Upon the realization of their glorious heritage, their self-esteem is boosted further. In my work with the Youths I have particularly benefitted alot from the works of Swami Vivekananda and Swami Chinmayananda. In my opinion, they are only ones who have been concerned about the youths of their times. I believe you can draw ideas and inspiration from the works of both Swamijis. Regards. Kathi P.S. If you need books written by them, pls let me know. I may be able to deliver them to you when I am in KL. > > ssathia [sMTP:ssathia] > Monday, March 18, 2002 12:36 PM > advaitin > Advaita Guidance to Youth > > Dear Friends, > > It is disconcerting to watch a trend among some of the Hindu youth to > turn to violence, criminal activities and poor academic performance. > > I wish to seek if there is guidance from Shankara or Advaita > teachings in general, that could be useful in building up a more > principled and disciplined youth who will grow up to the pinnacles of > society. > > Kindly quote the appropriate sources in your response so that it > would serve as an encouragement to the youth to read on such > knowledge. > > Thank you. > > Sathia, > Kuala Lumpur, > Malaysia. > > > > > Discussion of Shankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy of nonseparablity of > Atman and Brahman. > Advaitin List Archives available at: > http://www.eScribe.com/culture/advaitin/ > To Post a message send an email to : advaitin > Messages Archived at: advaitin/messages > > > > Your use of is subject to > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2002 Report Share Posted March 18, 2002 Namaste Kathirasanji! A very practicable suggestion, indeed. First make them humans before bringing in advaita. You have hit the nail hard on its head. What you have recommended is that which we have always ignored at our own peril. Best regards. Madathil Nair __________________________ advaitin, K Kathirasan NCS <kkathir@n...> wrote: ........My experiences with > them showed that what they need is not Vedanta BUT more of an introduction > to Hinduism as a RELEVANT religion even in the present times. Upon the > realization of their glorious heritage, their self-esteem is boosted > further. In my work with the Youths I have particularly benefitted alot from > the works of Swami Vivekananda and Swami Chinmayananda. In my opinion, they > are only ones who have been concerned about the youths of their times. I > believe you can draw ideas and inspiration from the works of both Swamijis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2002 Report Share Posted March 19, 2002 On Mon, 18 Mar 2002, ssathia wrote: > [...] > it > is difficult to see how to use them effectively in everyday life: how do we > convince and dissuade the youth from continuing their misdeeds and how to > encourage them to do well in studies from a sound religious point of view? > As you may have observed, today's youth tend to question outright > instructions and demand to know the underlying reasons why such and such > instruction need to be followed and argue back about alternative ways that > they think are better. > > Thank you. > > With best regards, > Sathia. > namaste. Your point is quite correct. Yet, we have to impart the value of life according to dharma to the youth. There are many alternate routes the youth can take. But the path according to dharma is the one that is emphasized by the teachers throughout. This was also in kaTha u. as well, where the paths shreyaH and preyaH (the good and the pleasant) are available. Without doubt, the path of shreyaH (good) is to be followed. How do we impart it to the youth? The only way is by following it ourselves; by having a very definitive, unwavering path ourselves on the path of dharma; and by being good role-models. There is liklihood the youth may still follow the path of the pleasant at the expense of the good. In such a scenario, there is not much one can do. We should be able to distinguish what we can do and what we cannot do and not worry about what we cannot do. Shri Kathirasan and shri MadathilNair mention about the value of Hindu religion. It may indeed be useful. But life of dharma is the same according to any religion. A dhArmic life is a much preferred one to a religious life. I would also recommend Chinmaya Mission's contributions in this regard. Their book SELF UNFOLDMENT is a great book for the youth. Regards Gummuluru Murthy -------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.