Our Children – The Novel Generation!!

Hello Everyone,

Hope all is well at your end! It’s going to be a long weekend with kids and lots of fun. Well, our children are the best things that could happen to us. Today the topic of discussion is – our children!

I am a huge fan of Swami Vivekananda, after all who isn’t…! the entire world went crazy with admiration when he spoke at the Parliament of Religions Chicago 1893. He was an ocean of knowledge be it our culture, western culture or any topic he just knew it. He is the epitome of wisdom. I grew up reading books of Swami Vivekananda. Therefore, today I am sharing a lot of quotes/ teachings and stories from these sources, I try to inculcate these into my kids. It’s not that easy, it’s a tough job raising responsible children!

Having said this, it’s my perception that today’s kids are far more enlightened than us, these Lilliput’s are not only growing tall but intellectually far more superior than our generation. Off course the exposure and technology has a significant role to play. Therefore, I feel they have the right attitude for learning and can deep dive into topics. With such openness, the kids are ready to grasp the teachings of Swami Vivekananda very easily. In short kids, today our “cool” Yo!!

I will share a story or two from Swami Vivekananda’s life treasury which will tells us the few most important values that we can impart to our kids that will help them in the long run.

Stories and Learnings:

1. One day after the death of Prabhu Ramkrishna Paramhansa. Swami Vivekananda went to meet Sharada Maa (before leaving abroad), now she wanted to test Swamiji whether he is ready to take on the world. After lunch in the pretext of cutting fruits she asked Swamiji to get the knife from the kitchen. Swami Vivekananda like a good son fetched the knife and gave it to Maa Sharada. After some time Swamiji asked why did she ask him to get the knife. Maa Sharada said – “I was testing you whether you are ready for preaching abroad. So yes, you are ready. Because while giving the knife you kept the sharp edge in your hand and put the wooden handle in my hand”. This shows you care about small aspects when it comes to others. And a person who cares about others can preach. A selfish and self-centred person has no right to preach in the world.

This simple story tells us a very important thing and that is – caring about others before yourself. This was the most important mark Swami Vivekananda left in the hearts of many he met in his lifetime – to think of others before thinking for self.

The moral that we can teach our children: there are some qualities which draw the difference between a common man and an uncommon man. To think about the welfare of everyone falls under an extraordinary quality. A true noble person is the one who thinks of others happiness even if it is in small matters in day to day life. The one who thinks of only himself alone is considered selfish and will not be valued by the world in the long run. It is the law of nature that big hearted and noble people keep receiving more all their life than the narrow-minded people.

2. The second story told by Swami Vivekananda is about knowing yourself. Once upon a time in a crow’s nest there was a parrot egg (landed there by mistake). Once the eggs hatched the crow babies and parrot baby grew up together, the parrot cawed same as the crows. Then one day a wise parrot was flying over the nest and saw the situation, it tried to convince the parrot that it was not a crow and to come with him. But the parrot denied. The wise parrot flew back and got a group of parrots back to the nest. After seeing all of them, the young parrot was convinced of its real self and where it belonged.

Moral of the story for kids: Swamiji talks about knowing yourself here. Sometimes children out of peer pressure fall into the wrong group and they don’t realise it. The attributes of the group start rubbing onto the personality unknowingly. Therefore, at such a time children should listen to elders or teachers and elder siblings who know better and have experienced life in much deeper sense. We as parents should always encourage our kids to try and understand their inner interests, hobbies and inclinations. Their inner hobbies always speak a lot about their personality. We should encourage sports as well – sports help build confidence, team spirit and never give up attitude.

3. We should always teach our children the importance of their roots. We all at one point or the other live in different countries due to our work and other commitments. But we can tell them the importance of unity in disparity the way it happens in India. Once Swami Vivekananda was asked by a foreigner “how do you all live together? everybody looks different, distinctive features, colour of skin is different? The spontaneous answer came – “you see horses, they all live together, each one is different and unique. But you see donkeys, they all look similar! The foreigner was just stunned. We must instil this culture and nation pride into our kids. Without knowledge of their roots, kids will always remain in darkness and in confusion.
4. “Let people say whatever they like, stick to your own convictions, and rest assured, the world will be at your feet. They say, ‘Have faith in this fellow or that fellow’, but, I say, ‘Have faith in yourself first’. that’s the way” – Swami Vivekananda. Cannot agree more. Faith in oneself is the most important virtue, once our children learn to have faith in themselves no one can break them, we need to keep working on that though. Constant encouragement and motivation in their skills, lots of love and affection really helps. They can conquer anything in life.
5. “If you are really my children, you will fear nothing, stop at nothing. You will be like lions.” This is astonishing – Lion is called the “King of the Jungle”. But fascinatingly lion is not the fastest, cheetah is. The biggest animal in the jungle is elephant, tallest animal is giraffe and the smartest animal is the fox. But none of them are called the king of the jungle! The quality that sets Lion apart is his courage, boldness and focus. This is what our children should be fed everyday instead of telling them not everyone is made for everything. Focus – lets teach them to take up one idea, think of it all the time, dream and live it. Hundred percent the child will grow into a fine adult.
6. “It is our own mental attitude which makes the world what it is for us. Our thoughts make things beautiful, our thoughts make things ugly. The whole world is in our own minds. Learn to see things in the proper light.” “If you can think that infinite power, infinite knowledge and indomitable energy lie within you, and if you can bring out that power, you also can become like me.” – Swami Vivekananda. I think text books should be replaced with books of Swamiji in schools – it positively energises you! This is a profound message which states that positive attitude/ purity of thought is the way of life, persistence, hard work, energy and enthusiasm can take you places and boosts your self-confidence at a different level.
7. “No need for looking behind. FORWARD! The remedy for weakness is not brooding over weakness, but thinking of strength.” – Swami Vivekananda. Do I even need to explain what we as parents should infuse our children with, no fear, no weakness, no looking back on failures…! The conditioning that we do now has potential to create a generation of children who can take on any challenge and face the world.
8. “Truth can be stated in a thousand different ways, yet each one can be true.” – Swami Vivekananda. When you think of what this means, it’s beautiful. We as adults should absorb this first. It’s difficult sometimes for us to accept the truth, the present. We are always sceptical and in denial. Only if we teach these values and principles to the next generation – I can imagine what an incredible future this world has!!

I have spoken extensively today how I relate to “God” – this extraordinary human being Swami Vivekananda and his teachings designed for our children. He taught this world that God is in every soul on this earth therefore service to all living beings is service to God.

My intention was to charge everyone with positivity, courage and voice that spirituality is the best way of life. And if we set our children on this path from an early age… trust me we are successful parents and the kids can achieve all that they aim for!!

The last message for you before I part today which has had an everlasting impact on me. It’s amazing!!

“The Vedanta recognizes no sin it only recognizes error. And the greatest error, says the Vedanta is to say that you are weak, that you are a sinner, a miserable creature, and that you have no power and you cannot do this and that.” – Swami Vivekananda!!!!!

Trust you get the essence of this Vedanta mantra – it will change your views and your life!! 😊

Keep smiling – Molly!