Asrama gurukula was not wrongly introduced...or was it ?

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Text COM:1758138 (37 lines)

Ciranjiva (das) HKS (Malaysia)

09-Oct-98 18:43

Cc: Granddisciples (of Srila Prabhupada) [1201]

Reference: Text COM:1754471 by Jaya Nrisimhadeva (das) PDA (Paris - F)

Asrama gurukula was not wrongly introduced...or was it ?

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> I spent five years in Vrindavana Gurukula from the age of five to ten, and

> I can say definately that in many ways, this system was not working on so

> many levels. First of all, show me one instance in Vedic history where

> smalll children are sent off far far away from their parents to live with

> strangers. The whole culture of India is that the family is a very strong

> unit. Most families in India would not even consider sending away their

> children at such a young age. In their teens sure, but not as small

> children. Even Prahlada Maharaja was coming home every evening and his

> mother was receiving him and his father was taking him affectionately on

> his lap, Ramanuja Acarya also was going to Gurukula and coming home in the

> evening. This is very important for the development of a child. Take it

> from me !!! Plus there were so many other anomalies which I won't go into

> here.

 

I agree with you, prabhu, that the parental love that a child receives in

his/her formative years are so essential for the emotional stability of the

child when he grows up.

 

When I think of the gurukula ashram arrangement, it always bring to mind the

scene from the movie series of Ramayana where Rama and his brothers went to

gurukula at the ashram of Vasistha Muni. They were certainly away from home.

But, that's where the pararrel stops. One scene left a lasting impression on

me. In the evening, Vasistha's wife would come in, hold each child when they

prepare for bed and each child would think of their own mother. The

situation then was that although the child was sent away from their parents,

they were not lacking in parental love. The gurus were inevitably grhasthas

and together with the wife they create a family atmosphere and were life

foster parents. This kind of loving atmosphere is very much lacking in our

gurukula ashram situation where it is run by sannyasis, brahmacaris and

perhaps grhasthas who had not gone through the experience of raising their

own children.

 

Unless such grhastha couples are available who can create that kind of

loving, family atmosphere in the ashram, the ashram arrangement is doom to

fail. Of course, unless the kids are older and are capable of taking care of

themselves and who have been loved and cared for by their parents in their

earlier formative years.

(Text COM:1758138) --------

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>

>

> Unless such grhastha couples are available who can create that kind of

> loving, family atmosphere in the ashram, the ashram arrangement is doom to

> fail. Of course, unless the kids are older and are capable of taking care of

> themselves and who have been loved and cared for by their parents in their

> earlier formative years.

> (Text COM:1758138) --------

 

There are seven mothers who need to be present and respected for a balanced

society to survive and thrive. When they are absent, or disrespected, then

the society should only be seen as transitional. The seven include the cow,

and the wife of the guru. By necessity the guru must be strong and applying

discipline, but without the balancing energy of his wife, the education is

incomplete.