Vaisnava upbringing

[Guest guest]

Please accept my humble obeisances Prabhus

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

 

As there is an increasing awareness in our society regarding

the important role of our children for the future of Srila Prabhu-

padas mission, the following is a small, but hopefully worthwhile

description of what I see as the first leg of a successful

vaisnava upbringing.

 

The following two quotes will put some foundation to my text:

 

Srila Prabhupada:

"There is a need for a good an intelligent class of brahmanas who are

expert in performing the purifactory processes prescribed in system of

varnasrama dharma. Unless such purificatory processes are performed,

there is no possibility of good population...Therefore all samskaras,

purificatory processes, are not mere formalities or social functions

only, but they are all for practical purposes.." (SB 1.12.13 purport)

© Bhaktivedanta book trust

 

HH Harikesa Mahararaja:

"Sometimes we donït really consider these children in our society to be

very important. We think that we can make new devotees and thus increa-

se sankirtan and ti really doesnït matter whether these children are

educated or not.

This is a huge mistake. This kind of neglect will guarantee ISKCONïs

remaining society of mainly neophytes for a long time. First we need

to cultivate these children by proper birth practices, so that they

will be born with proper consciousness and later be able to take up

leadership roles in the society. Prabhupada said it so often - they

are to be the leaders of the society."

(Social development seminar in Abhenteuer 96)

 

HH Bhanu Maharaja:

"One purpose of the rites is for the production and raising of healthy,

intelligent, mentally sound offspring, who will be assured of achieving

devotion to the Supreme Lord and final shelter in His abode after giving

up the material body.

The rites also serve the purpose of insuring that the man and wife be-

come aware of spiritual duty in married life, and do not exploit married

life for their own sexual pleasure". (Introduction to "Sat Kriya Sara

Dipika)

© Bhaktivedanta Academy, Mayapur

 

In the matter of educating our children much hope has been generated as

more devotees are taking an interest in this field, and the turn of

events after the historical meeting in Abhenteuer this year also adds

most significantly to the progression of this "second leg" of successful

vaisnava upbringing.

 

The third leg, i.e., the protection of our children from being exposed to

abuse from those who are supposed to be their guardians and well wishers,

is also meeting with progress despite several obstacles, due to the great

effort of an increasing hard core of devotees who are establishing more

CPTïs throughout ISKCON, and who are working to cause positive changes

from GBC level and downwards.

 

The first leg (not in importance, but in succession) of creating the best

possible "raw material" through the purificatory rites of the vaisnava

samskaras, seems largely to be undeveloped in our society. One may

even argue that the majority of householders are depriving both themselves

as well as our ISKCON society of the benefit of giving our children the

best possible chance to become first class devotees by neglecting to per-

form the garbhadhana and other samskaras.

 

One of the reasons (surely not the only one) for this asserted "low adher-

ence to the proper following of duties in the grhasta ashrama", I take

to be caused by a lack of a more widespread source of information.

And so Iïve finally come to the core of the issue. The idea is to produce a

small booklet for distribution among those who are about to enter the

grhasta ashrama, as well as for those already in the ashrama who may desire

it. Though not able to work wonders (we can still hope) such a widespread

publication will surely do its part of benefitting the situation.

 

The booklet will be a compilation of quotes from SP and prominent members

of our society regarding the importance and benefits to be obtained by per-

forming the grhasta samskaras. Other things will be included too, e.g some

short stories about outstanding qualities and incidents found in connection

with our devotee children. This is intended to serve as an incentive for

prospective parents to undergo the necessary austerity it takes to help

produce the fruit of highly qualified children (not that it is enough in

and of itself of course).

 

So my request is that as many of you as possible will send me true stories

of inspiring incidents involving ISKCON children. Both stories about one's

own children, and especially of others' children, are most welcome.

Please send them in a private mail. Iïll APPRECIATE ANY CONSTRUCTIVE FEED-

BACK ON THIS ISSUE!

 

Anticipation your kind help -

Your servant

Kamsahanta das

---

Additonal quotes:

 

"The vedic samskaras however are directly concerned with the one item that

is characteristic only of the grhasta asrama: sex life and its consequen-

ces. Performance of the vedic samskaras are therefore the specific duty

of the married man."

 

"Though the Vedic samskaras may be considered secondary activities because

they are discarded when one passes from the material body and society,

they are important because they sanctify and prepare the body and mind

for the primary activities of devotional service. Though there is no qua-

lification for taking to devotional service other than faith, one who has

undergone the samskaras in proper manner and also has faith will have some

advantage in the progress of his sadhana. Therefore the acaryas have empha-

sized the importance of undergoing all of he samskaras."

 

"According to scriptures, anyone who is born, anyone who is to be called

civilized, should undergo the samskaras." (Bhanu Maharaja, Sat Kriya Sara

Dipika)

© Bhaktivedanta Academy, Mayapur

 

There may be discrepancies in pronouncing the mantras and observing the

regulative principles, and, moreover, there may be discrepancies in regard

to time, place, person and paraphernalia. But when Your Lordshipïs holy

name is chanted, everything becomes faultless. (SB 8.23.16)

© Bhaktivendanta Book Trust

 

"According to Vedic principles, the first part of life should be utilized

in brahmacarya for the development of character and spiritual qualities.

In the next part of life, one may accept a wife and beget children, but

one should not beget children like cats and dogs.

Kardama Muni desired to beget a child who would be a ray of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead. One should beget a child who can perform the

duties of Vishnu, otherwise there is no need to produce children.

There are two kinds of children born of of good fathers: one is educated

in Krsna consciousness so that he can be delivered from the clutches of

maya in that very life, and the other is a ray of the Supreme Personality

of Godhead and teaches the the world the ultimate goal of life. As will

be described in later chapters, Kardama Muni begot such a child-Kapila,

the incarnation of the Personality of Godhead who enunciated the philo-

sophy of sankhya. Great householders pray to God to send His represen-

tative so that there may be an auspicious movement in human society.

This is one reason to beget a child. Another reason is that a highly en-

lightened parent can train a child in Krsna consciousness so that the

child will not have to come back again to this misarable world..."

Srila Prabhupadaïs few added comments were highly relevant to this small

community of householders. "So householder life is not condemned; it is

required. If there is no householders, then wherefrom the saintly persons

will come? They will not drop from the sky. (Transcendental diary #4 page 12)

© Hari-Sauri das HS Books 1996