Guest guest Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 Namaste all family: tonight at the Mandir, a group of devotees discussed a familiar problem: our teenage children do not feel attracted to Hinduism, and they think that their parents are abnormal worshiping deities, chanting mantras, etc. What can we do to help our children? We love them and want the best for them? Swami's recent remarks came to mind. When asked a similar question he responded that we should continue to perform our worship regularly and set an example for our children. Whether they hear us chanting or nor, they will feel the influence of the mantras. If they see us remaining steadfast in our worship, and observe the positive changes taking place within us, someday they will ask about our experiences, and desire to understand the methods of worhsip. Jai Ma Jai Swami vishweshwar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2008 Report Share Posted June 23, 2008 Namaste Vish and family, I'm smiling as I read this because I frequently ask Swamiji questions about setting examples for our children, and of course, your summary of His answer is accurate. I will share a quick story from my own experience about this subject. Recently, at a meal, Shyam and I said our meal prayer, and then a few minutes later my 20 year old daughter sat down to join us, with food she had prepared, and she looked at me and said, " Wait a minute, aren't you going to say a prayer for my food, too? " I smiled, happily said the meal prayer, and we all continued eating. My daughter (my entire family, actually!) has now come to expect me to light a candle and say prayers before we begin dinner, and she always joins in at the end with a resounding " Om Shantih, Shantih, Shantih. " Jai Maa!! ambika , " inspectionconnection108 " <inspectionconnection108 wrote: > > Namaste all family: tonight at the Mandir, a group of devotees > discussed a familiar problem: our teenage children do not feel > attracted to Hinduism, and they think that their parents are abnormal > worshiping deities, chanting mantras, etc. What can we do to help our > children? We love them and want the best for them? > Swami's recent remarks came to mind. When asked a similar question he responded that we should continue to perform our worship regularly and set an example for our children. Whether they hear us chanting or not, they will feel the influence of the mantras. > If they see us remaining steadfast in our worship, and observe the positive changes taking place within us, someday they will ask about our experiences, and desire to understand the methods of worhsip. > > Jai Ma Jai Swami > > vishweshwar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 24, 2008 Report Share Posted June 24, 2008 Peace, everyone! The first question that came to mind, Vish, is that - are the teenagers unattracted to Hinduism, or is it that they see the spirit has been taken out of the ritual? Spiritual - spi = ritual. I do not think the disenfranchisement of our youth toward organized religion is exclusive to Hinduism, nor do I think you are suggesting it. Kids are smart. If they see something that isn't working, they will question it. If they see their parents worship eight hours a day and order each other around and fight for the other 16 hours, or treat their friends and neighbors like dirt, or take communion every Sunday and go home and cheat on their taxes and curse their bosses...well, you get my drift. Until our children see (us) truly live happily and spiritually 24/7, they'll always question why (we) would deliberately spend so much time on something that fails to allow (us) to live (our) heaven on earth.... Instead of asking " how we can help our children " , I would step back and really, really look hard in the mirror and wonder if I am, in fact - deep in my heart, walking the walk...and if I am not doing so, I would hardly expect my children to want to follow my footsteps. with great respect, sal. -- In , " inspectionconnection108 " <inspectionconnection108 wrote: > > Namaste all family: tonight at the Mandir, a group of devotees > discussed a familiar problem: our teenage children do not feel > attracted to Hinduism, and they think that their parents are abnormal > worshiping deities, chanting mantras, etc. What can we do to help our > children? We love them and want the best for them? > Swami's recent remarks came to mind. When asked a similar question he > responded that we should continue to perform our worship regularly and > set an example for our children. Whether they hear us chanting or > nor, they will feel the influence of the mantras. > If they see us remaining steadfast in our worship, and observe the > positive changes taking place within us, someday they will ask about > our experiences, and desire to understand the methods of worhsip. > > Jai Ma Jai Swami > > vishweshwar > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2008 Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 Namaste all, okay, here is the humbling follow-up to this response. While everything I said below is completely true, 2 days ago my husband gave me a beautiful red scarf that he brought back as a gift from his travels in Europe. I commented about my delight in it being red, particularly in relation to Shree Maa, and my daughter then launched into a long commentary about how I should not follow what anyone else does, I should make all my own decisions, etc., etc. Of course, this is what I have taught her for her entire childhood! But it did bring us into a conversation about choosing what or whom to follow, my relationship with Shree Maa, etc., etc. I can't say she was convinced in a big way by the end of the conversation, but it did open the space for more talking, and I think (repeat ..think) that perhaps she has a better understanding of who I am and what I believe. It is never-ending when it comes to our family, and in particular, to our children. I believe that all we can do is continue to set a proper example and share the love. As Swamiji says (and I paraphrase His words), we can talk about the path, but we have to become living examples of it, exemplify the behavior. It is our obligation to demonstrate the benefits of moving on this path. Here is one of my many favorite quotes of Swamiji's. It is part of His response to a question I once asked Him about raising our children. " Give a little more, take a little less, put a little more joy into the family, put a little smile into the household, put another song in the kitchen, and enjoy life. " Jai Maa!! ambi , " way131 " <wendy131 wrote: > > Namaste Vish and family, > > I'm smiling as I read this because I frequently ask Swamiji questions > about setting examples for our children, and of course, your summary > of His answer is accurate. > > I will share a quick story from my own experience about this subject. > Recently, at a meal, Shyam and I said our meal prayer, and then a few > minutes later my 20 year old daughter sat down to join us, with food > she had prepared, and she looked at me and said, " Wait a minute, > aren't you going to say a prayer for my food, too? " > > I smiled, happily said the meal prayer, and we all continued eating. > > My daughter (my entire family, actually!) has now come to expect me to > light a candle and say prayers before we begin dinner, and she always > joins in at the end with a resounding " Om Shantih, Shantih, Shantih. " > > Jai Maa!! > > ambika > > > > > , " in spectionconnection108 " > <inspectionconnection108@> wrote: > > > > Namaste all family: tonight at the Mandir, a group of devotees > > discussed a familiar problem: our teenage children do not feel > > attracted to Hinduism, and they think that their parents are abnormal > > worshiping deities, chanting mantras, etc. What can we do to help our > > children? We love them and want the best for them? > > Swami's recent remarks came to mind. When asked a similar question > he responded that we should continue to perform our worship regularly > and set an example for our children. Whether they hear us chanting or > not, they will feel the influence of the mantras. > > If they see us remaining steadfast in our worship, and observe the > positive changes taking place within us, someday they will ask about > our experiences, and desire to understand the methods of worhsip. > > > > Jai Ma Jai Swami > > > > vishweshwar > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 Namaste' Everyone. I thought I would share my thoughts on this topic. When my son was living with me He would often hear me chanting. Usually he would come home from work while I was involved in one of Swamiji's classes. When I knew he was struggling with something I would put Maa's Chandi cd on to play. When I would ask him, he would always say that " it's cool " . Although he would admit that he wouldn't like to chant the same thing over and over I definitely had the feeling that there was a part of him that enjoyed the bhava, as well as appreciate the committment and persistancy to my practice that he saw daily. As it happened, I was chanting the sarva badha mantra at the time of his death. I have imagined since then that as he left his body my voice, and the mantra, helped ease his transition. I don't know if that is true or not, but I continue to chant it for him daily so that his next life will be free from violence. We have no way of knowing what the effect of our practice will be on those we love, or whether they will experience any effect during this lifetime. But I believe that it is all cumulative. And I do think that our example will always serve them. There are so many times my children would remind me of something that had happened during their childhood that I didn't even remember, yet it had made a big enough impact on them that they would mention it years later. I expect that watching us and our practice will have the same effect. Something will happen to them, maybe years from now, and they will draw upon their experience with us, and it will serve them beautifully in some way. So, I no longer think about what effect I'll have. I just practice so that God will manifest here and now, and trust that She will take care of it all. JAI MAA OM Shanti Morningsong , " way131 " <wendy131 wrote: > > Namaste all, > okay, here is the humbling follow-up to this response. > While everything I said below is completely true, 2 days ago my > husband gave me a beautiful red scarf that he brought back as a gift > from his travels in Europe. I commented about my delight in it being > red, particularly in relation to Shree Maa, and my daughter then > launched into a long commentary about how I should not follow what > anyone else does, I should make all my own decisions, etc., etc. > > Of course, this is what I have taught her for her entire childhood! > But it did bring us into a conversation about choosing what or whom to > follow, my relationship with Shree Maa, etc., etc. > I can't say she was convinced in a big way by the end of the > conversation, but it did open the space for more talking, and I think > (repeat ..think) that perhaps she has a better understanding of who I > am and what I believe. > > It is never-ending when it comes to our family, and in particular, to > our children. I believe that all we can do is continue to set a > proper example and share the love. As Swamiji says (and I paraphrase > His words), we can talk about the path, but we have to become living > examples of it, exemplify the behavior. It is our obligation to > demonstrate the benefits of moving on this path. > > Here is one of my many favorite quotes of Swamiji's. It is part of His > response to a question I once asked Him about raising our children. > > " Give a little more, take a little less, put a little more joy into > the family, put a little smile into the household, put another song in > the kitchen, and enjoy life. " > > Jai Maa!! > > ambi > > > , " way131 " <wendy131@> wrote: > > > > Namaste Vish and family, > > > > I'm smiling as I read this because I frequently ask Swamiji questions > > about setting examples for our children, and of course, your summary > > of His answer is accurate. > > > > I will share a quick story from my own experience about this subject. > > Recently, at a meal, Shyam and I said our meal prayer, and then a few > > minutes later my 20 year old daughter sat down to join us, with food > > she had prepared, and she looked at me and said, " Wait a minute, > > aren't you going to say a prayer for my food, too? " > > > > I smiled, happily said the meal prayer, and we all continued eating. > > > > My daughter (my entire family, actually!) has now come to expect me to > > light a candle and say prayers before we begin dinner, and she always > > joins in at the end with a resounding " Om Shantih, Shantih, Shantih. " > > > > Jai Maa!! > > > > ambika > > > > > > > > > > , " in spectionconnection108 " > > <inspectionconnection108@> wrote: > > > > > > Namaste all family: tonight at the Mandir, a group of devotees > > > discussed a familiar problem: our teenage children do not feel > > > attracted to Hinduism, and they think that their parents are abnormal > > > worshiping deities, chanting mantras, etc. What can we do to help our > > > children? We love them and want the best for them? > > > Swami's recent remarks came to mind. When asked a similar question > > he responded that we should continue to perform our worship regularly > > and set an example for our children. Whether they hear us chanting or > > not, they will feel the influence of the mantras. > > > If they see us remaining steadfast in our worship, and observe the > > positive changes taking place within us, someday they will ask about > > our experiences, and desire to understand the methods of worhsip. > > > > > > Jai Ma Jai Swami > > > > > > vishweshwar > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 It seems to me that as I try to go deeper into grasping the infinite, there comes an increasing pull back to the ordinary mind. It is as if the mind has a big rubber band tied to my soul ... and the farther I go toward infinite realization, the more the negative pull makes progress difficult. The negative pull may arise from western assumptions about how things, mind, and spirit are connected, and a western cultural lack of support for things of spirit. Russell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 Thank you Morningsong for your post. When reading I cld just see your son rushing to you and seeing you doing your mantras. It must have been such a comfort to him indeed it must have given him great peace.You are so correct; our children remember so much and it's hard to tell how we effect them. It must be such a joy to have them come back to you with there lessons. Your email will keep me on my toes in the future. It will remind me that everything I do has the potential to effect them. Group is such a good place to share our experiences. Even if we think we already know what everyone is talking about we can always use being reminded. "For it is the doom of man to forget".Thank you this wonderful lesson.Jai Maa, Devi--- On Thu, 6/26/08, c_morningsong <c_morningsong wrote:c_morningsong <c_morningsong[www.ShreeMaa.org] Re: Do our children like Hinduism? Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008, 9:43 PM Namaste' Everyone. I thought I would share my thoughts on this topic. When my son was living with me He would often hear me chanting. Usually he would come home from work while I was involved in one of Swamiji's classes. When I knew he was struggling with something I would put Maa's Chandi cd on to play. When I would ask him, he would always say that "it's cool". Although he would admit that he wouldn't like to chant the same thing over and over I definitely had the feeling that there was a part of him that enjoyed the bhava, as well as appreciate the committment and persistancy to my practice that he saw daily. As it happened, I was chanting the sarva badha mantra at the time of his death. I have imagined since then that as he left his body my voice, and the mantra, helped ease his transition. I don't know if that is true or not, but I continue to chant it for him daily so that his next life will be free from violence. We have no way of knowing what the effect of our practice will be on those we love, or whether they will experience any effect during this lifetime. But I believe that it is all cumulative. And I do think that our example will always serve them. There are so many times my children would remind me of something that had happened during their childhood that I didn't even remember, yet it had made a big enough impact on them that they would mention it years later. I expect that watching us and our practice will have the same effect. Something will happen to them, maybe years from now, and they will draw upon their experience with us, and it will serve them beautifully in some way. So, I no longer think about what effect I'll have. I just practice so that God will manifest here and now, and trust that She will take care of it all. JAI MAA OM Shanti Morningsong , "way131" <wendy131@.. .> wrote: > > Namaste all, > okay, here is the humbling follow-up to this response. > While everything I said below is completely true, 2 days ago my > husband gave me a beautiful red scarf that he brought back as a gift > from his travels in Europe. I commented about my delight in it being > red, particularly in relation to Shree Maa, and my daughter then > launched into a long commentary about how I should not follow what > anyone else does, I should make all my own decisions, etc., etc. > > Of course, this is what I have taught her for her entire childhood! > But it did bring us into a conversation about choosing what or whom to > follow, my relationship with Shree Maa, etc., etc. > I can't say she was convinced in a big way by the end of the > conversation, but it did open the space for more talking, and I think > (repeat ..think) that perhaps she has a better understanding of who I > am and what I believe. > > It is never-ending when it comes to our family, and in particular, to > our children. I believe that all we can do is continue to set a > proper example and share the love. As Swamiji says (and I paraphrase > His words), we can talk about the path, but we have to become living > examples of it, exemplify the behavior. It is our obligation to > demonstrate the benefits of moving on this path. > > Here is one of my many favorite quotes of Swamiji's. It is part of His > response to a question I once asked Him about raising our children. > > "Give a little more, take a little less, put a little more joy into > the family, put a little smile into the household, put another song in > the kitchen, and enjoy life." > > Jai Maa!! > > ambi > > > , "way131" <wendy131@> wrote: > > > > Namaste Vish and family, > > > > I'm smiling as I read this because I frequently ask Swamiji questions > > about setting examples for our children, and of course, your summary > > of His answer is accurate. > > > > I will share a quick story from my own experience about this subject. > > Recently, at a meal, Shyam and I said our meal prayer, and then a few > > minutes later my 20 year old daughter sat down to join us, with food > > she had prepared, and she looked at me and said, "Wait a minute, > > aren't you going to say a prayer for my food, too?" > > > > I smiled, happily said the meal prayer, and we all continued eating. > > > > My daughter (my entire family, actually!) has now come to expect me to > > light a candle and say prayers before we begin dinner, and she always > > joins in at the end with a resounding "Om Shantih, Shantih, Shantih." > > > > Jai Maa!! > > > > ambika > > > > > > > > > > , "in spectionconnection1 08" > > <inspectionconnecti on108@> wrote: > > > > > > Namaste all family: tonight at the Mandir, a group of devotees > > > discussed a familiar problem: our teenage children do not feel > > > attracted to Hinduism, and they think that their parents are abnormal > > > worshiping deities, chanting mantras, etc. What can we do to help our > > > children? We love them and want the best for them? > > > Swami's recent remarks came to mind. When asked a similar question > > he responded that we should continue to perform our worship regularly > > and set an example for our children. Whether they hear us chanting or > > not, they will feel the influence of the mantras. > > > If they see us remaining steadfast in our worship, and observe the > > positive changes taking place within us, someday they will ask about > > our experiences, and desire to understand the methods of worhsip. > > > > > > Jai Ma Jai Swami > > > > > > vishweshwar > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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