To Hindu Youth

July 22, 2005

What is your advice for Hindu Youth -- and parents?

Mahant Swami Vidya Giri: "Youth must accept modernity in their outward life, but not let it touch their innermost beings. They can use modern tools for working in the outside world, but not for the exploitation of people around them. When the youth start questioning the importance and relevance of temples, scriptures and even holy traditions like taking a dip in Kushavrat at the Kumbha Mela, then the process of deterioration will start. Our society is standing on the bedrock of dharma. Our shastras say, 'Wherever dharma is followed, victory is there.' So if you want progress, be connected to dharma. A lot of young people come to me to satisfy their quest for spirituality. But unfortunately the elderly people of their own families discourage them, 'You are young, what is the need for you to approach these sadhus?' If the girl goes to the temple, she will be told, 'You stay back and take care of the household chores. Let the old people go to the temple.' If this is our

approach, then how will our youth make progress on the path of spirituality? We have to free them from the irrational limitations imposed on them due to the selfishness of our own elderly people."

Swami Raghavacharya Vedanti: "Today's youth are obsessed with the culture of television. In our preaching to them, we try to awaken their consciousness, but after they leave, the culture of television overpowers their minds. Wrong television programs are a big pollution which has engulfed our society. Today young sons, daughters and daughters-in-law watch obscene programs together. The decorum and decency that was traditionally maintained in our families is disappearing. They all laugh together at the wrong type of scenes. TV should broadcast programs which uplift the human mind. From time immemorial, the mind is attracted towards desires, just as water poured on a slope flows downwards. To bring the mind up requires sadhana, spiritual disciplines and practices. But if we uplift the mind for one hour and then let it float downwards for ten, what will be the result? Today the people of affluent countries are fed up with material things. They are upset and do not understand

why peace eludes them. They came here to India in search of peace. Just see our state of confusion! People from the West come to us looking for peace, while we are going toward the West and adopting a materialistic lifestyle."

Sri Swami Pragyanand: "Today due to the influence of Western culture, the youth are taking to drugs, and dating has become a common thing. I would not blame the children. It is the parents who are responsible for this state of affairs. A few days back, I was at the home of a disciple, and the parents there shared with me that they themselves were pure vegetarians but their children took nonvegetarian food now and then. The father further said that he was against it, but his wife felt that there was no harm if children ate that kind of food. So I told this father that the mother was not a mata, a good mother, but a kumata, a mother who promoted evilness."

Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Samvidananda Saraswati: "Today the parents have no time for their children. Most leave their houses early in the morning when the children are sleeping and come back at night when the children are again asleep. Only on Sunday do the children come to know who their mother and father are. Maid servants take care of them. The children grow up and do not give due respect to their parents, and at times even insult them. The onus of growth and development of the children rests on the parents."

Mahant Shri Foldol Behari Das Ji Maharaj: "I will only say to the youth that in the morning when you get up, first of all touch the feet of your parents and get their blessings. Mother is the first guru of the child. If this culture of respecting the parents and touching their feet disappears, then how will the children attain peacefulness? Earlier, wherever people would go, they used to go with the blessings of their mothers. They understood that mishaps can be averted through her blessings."

Anant Shri Vibhusit Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Sri 108 Swami Shivendra Puri Ji Maharaj: "Just look around us and see all those volunteers who are young people. But with families that are not religious minded, their children naturally do not get to see an event like this. In those families, the parents and teachers do not tell them about their own culture and traditions. You just cannot blame that section of youth for being absent. But those who are taught about their religion and roots at home definitely come here. We have to understand that youth today are living in a different kind of world from the youth of fifty years ago when religious and family traditions were followed quite strictly. But the family traditions still influence the youth more than radio and television, because these are just means of entertainment. We have always taught our youth by our actions and not by our words. If the elders in the family touch the feet of their parents, their youth follow."

Mahant Nritya Gopal Das: "The damage that could not be done to our culture and heritage in the past five hundred years by Islam and the British has now been done by the obscene television programs which are being viewed together by the families in our homes. We are giving the opportunity to our youth to get attracted to what the senses demand. All this is very dangerous."

Shri Mahant Paramananda Saraswati: "Our youth are very intelligent and smart, and more aware and alert than us. They view television and use the Internet. But when they truly understand their own dharma, they like to stick to their own roots and do not follow the Western way of living. You just look deeply, and you will find that most of the youth are deeply religious."

Dharma Discussions -- Mela 2003

FROM:-

Hinduism's top spiritual leaders offer their views on the Mela, dowry, youth, cloning, corruption, untouchability and other tough issues facing Hindu society today

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