Guest guest Posted June 26, 2008 Report Share Posted June 26, 2008 Namaste Ambi: children and spouses have to question, that is their job. We have to be serene and solid and stable, like a mountain. The more solid and stable we are the more safe they feel in questioning our choices. Along this same line of thinking, today I had a very interesting experience. As I think about it , I realize it was a " set up " by Maa to teach me a valuable lesson. I am sure others learned much too. The story: I went with 2 of our Mandir Indian devotees to meet some members of a large Hindu Temple in S. San Francisco. I was the only white Hindu present. Several greeted me, and I responded with a joyful, Namaste, as I greeted them with folded hands. One thoughtful gentleman expressed that it was great I was a Hindu because I had made the conversion after realizing the value of it. Whereas he and his friends had been Hindus since birth and did not know why. To them it is as much a social feeling as a means to know God. He also felt that non Hindus do not know anything about Hinduism and thus Indian Hindus are misunderstood and ill regarded when compared to other well known world wide religions such as Christianity, etc. The moral of the story for me was this: I perform puja, homa, chanting, etc., because these forms of worship have profoundly changed my life. I want to share this feeling with others, and if they want to know more about the techniques, I will help them learn how to have a personal relationship with God. We should all question why we are involved in Hinduism, and seek to find ways to give our love to others, to make this world a better place, and to bridge the gaps and enlighten people's hearts. For we all want to have Peace, and we all want to know who we are and why we are on this Earth. Let's share the wonder of life with our friends and family. Jai Ma Jai Swami vishweshwar -- In , " 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 26, 2008 Report Share Posted June 26, 2008 When we started our serious religious practices, our children had a tough time understanding us. Though they have been brought up in a religious atmosphere from childhood, there was a time when they thought we were crazy. This is understandable. I do not think children who are in their teens and later will understand because of peer group pressure. We were asked " Why can't you be like the other parents? " If this is the case with Indian Hindu children from a religious family, I can understand how it would be in the U.S. But as they grow older the children will begin to understand. Now that our children are older they understand us better. Still the question would always be " Why can't you be like the other parents? " Is it only the children? How many of your near and dear ones understand your practices? May be there are fathers and mothers who ask " Why can't you be like the other sons/daughters? " I think this is true of all religions and not restricted to Hinduism alone. I wonder whether I am making any sense. I think MAA understands our practices and accepts them with all the imperfections. That is all what counts. Jai MAA !!! Sankar , " inspectionconnection108 " <inspectionconnection108 wrote: > > Namaste Ambi: > children and spouses have to question, that is their job. We have to > be serene and solid and stable, like a mountain. The more solid and > stable we are the more safe they feel in questioning our choices. > Along this same line of thinking, today I had a very interesting > experience. As I think about it , I realize it was a " set up " by Maa > to teach me a valuable lesson. I am sure others learned much too. > The story: I went with 2 of our Mandir Indian devotees to meet some > members of a large Hindu Temple in S. San Francisco. I was the only > white Hindu present. Several greeted me, and I responded with a > joyful, Namaste, as I greeted them with folded hands. One thoughtful > gentleman expressed that it was great I was a Hindu because I had made > the conversion after realizing the value of it. Whereas he and his > friends had been Hindus since birth and did not know why. To them it > is as much a social feeling as a means to know God. He also felt that > non Hindus do not know anything about Hinduism and thus Indian Hindus > are misunderstood and ill regarded when compared to other well known > world wide religions such as Christianity, etc. > The moral of the story for me was this: I perform puja, homa, > chanting, etc., because these forms of worship have profoundly changed > my life. I want to share this feeling with others, and if they want > to know more about the techniques, I will help them learn how to have > a personal relationship with God. > We should all question why we are involved in Hinduism, and seek to > find ways to give our love to others, to make this world a better > place, and to bridge the gaps and enlighten people's hearts. For we > all want to have Peace, and we all want to know who we are and why we > are on this Earth. > Let's share the wonder of life with our friends and family. > > Jai Ma Jai Swami > > vishweshwar > > > -- In , " 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...
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