Towards a better tomorrow – A message to Parents By Sri.Sri.Muralidhara Swamiji

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Radhe Krishna To All,

 

Once a person was caught stealing someone's wallet. He was handed over to the

police. On investigation, it was found that he had a long history of stealing

cash and jewels from his neighbours and friends, and that day he had been caught

red-handed. Charges were framed against him and he was produced in the court.

 

The magistrate asked if he had anything to say before the judgment was

delivered. The accused then said, " Your honour! I plead guilty of all the

charges and I am also aware that I am going to be punished. But I have a request

to make. It is my request that my mother should have an equal share of the

punishment being accorded. "

 

The magistrate was both astonished and confused at these words and asked him to

clarify. The accused said, " In my childhood, I used to sneak into my neighbours'

homes, filch petty stuffs, bring them home and show them to my mother. Every

time I did so, my mother would feel proud of my 'feat' and would highly

appreciate my behaviour. Today, I stand before you as a thief, thanks to my

mother's encouragement. Had my mother been severe with me the first time I

committed thievery and stopped me from repeating it, I would have grown into a

good citizen. So my mother is equally responsible for these crimes. "

 

Parenting is an art. The tender mind can be molded into any shape or form, and

it is the responsibility of the parents to shape their ward’s mind and heart

in such a manner that they grow up to become good citizens of the world.

 

Today's literature and media repeatedly stress on one fact:

 

Education without moral values ruins a person and hence spoils the society. Only

moral values and fear of God can save the society today.

 

Orthodox religious practices are no longer relevant to modern times. Instead of

confounding the child's mind with such concepts, it is advisable to sow the

seeds of moral values and disciplines in their minds. Teach them to be honest

and inspire in them values of truthfulness and reverence for elders. Teach them

to be God-fearing.

 

Groom them to have an ambition in life, and not be over-ambitious. Teach them

never to nurture desire for others' belongings and never to receive any gift or

offering from others even if given voluntarily, if it is not really essential.

 

Teach them the value of money and not the greed for it. Implant in the young

minds the basic precept that monetary comforts are not the only comforts in life

and that moral values should never be compromised for money.

 

'I have stuck to noble values like honesty and truthfulness all my life; yet, I

have to face ordeals in life,' would be the immediate reaction of even a

grown-up.

 

In Mahabharata, we find that Dharmaputra suffered in spite of being benign at

heart. Do the comforts that Duryodhana enjoyed signify that he was a good soul?

Do not evaluate your goodness against your life in the world. The two do not

stand comparison. What is the true reward for your righteousness? It is the

mental clarity and inner excellence that you will achieve in your life. The

worldly comforts are but trifling when compared to this great asset. As a

parent, internalize this golden rule and pass it on to your children.

 

Don't make your child a bookworm. Accord as much importance to play as you do to

their study. It is from the playfield that the child brings home the noble

quality of equanimity in victory and defeat. There is no better place for the

child to inculcate the value of give-and-take. These are virtues that will be

the guiding stars for success when the child grows up and faces the world.

 

Always communicate in the child's language. Feed them with values in the form of

fables, stories of great men who have stood by principles and values and stories

of Mahans and Saints. Keep repeating these values to the child regularly.

Constantly reminding the child of these disciplines certainly makes an impact in

its mind and bears fruit in the long run.

 

As your children grow into mature adults, they should be able to evaluate their

life. 'Am I leading a worthy life?' This is the prime question that they will

need to answer at various points in their journey of life. Tomorrow, if they

have to answer it positively with a clean, guiltless heart, you as parents have

to take the right step, today. 

 

                         A better society tomorrow is in

your hands!

 

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http://www.namadwaar.org/guestbook/index.php?action=sign

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

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