46 - Advice To Parents

It was the day of Guru Poornima. Everyone was visiting their ideal Guru Mama for his blessings. At that time eight to ten persons entered at the same time. They were accompanied by their children. All of them bowed down to Mama. They asked their children to bow down. Children bowed slightly and got up. Parents asked, ‘Kids, bow down properly.’ Children repeated in the same way. Mama said, ‘It is all right.’ Mama asked children, ‘Do you perform worship every day?’ Children replied, ‘Sometimes we forget.’ Mama explained, ‘We must worship God every day. How long does it take? Only fifteen to twenty minutes. You must spare this much time for God. Do you remember Aarti of God?’ Children replied, ‘We can sing along with the group.’ Mama asked, ‘Do you remember Aarti of Bapashri?’ Children replied, ‘We do not know that properly.’

Parents of the children complained, ‘Mama, children these days are not interested in such things. They do not feel attracted towards God. They spend whole day in meaningless mischieves.’ Mama sent children outside to play. Then he spoke, ‘Children are like tender plants. You can mould them the way you want. Their life is like a clean slate. We can write on it, whatever we want. Accordingly their lives shape up. Generally, children imitate their parents. You must make a rule to perform Aarti, together every morning & evening at home. By following such rules, children can be taught. If elders are not present for Aarti, children also would not remain present. You must sing even Bapashri’s Aarti fully. Every day you must arrange a family meeting and recite one ‘Vachanamrit’, one ‘Bapashri ni Vaat’ (Sermons of Bapashri) and ‘Nitya Niyam’. This does not take more than one hour. We must do this much to please God. If elders could improve their behaviour, automatically the behaviour of the children is improved. Daily an hour spent in this manner can shape up our children’s lives. It becomes a part of their lives. Then there won’t be an excuse like ‘No time’. It becomes a daily routine.

To impart good values to the children, elders must behave in proper manner. When children are around, you must not spend a long time in worship-devotion. Otherwise children would be bored. They will do it whole heartedly for a short while only.’ The elders understood Mama’s advice. They promised Mama, ‘Mama we will improve our behaviour. We shall impart good values to our children.’ Mama was pleased. Thus, on Guru Poornima, the parents learnt a meaningful lesson.

Difficult words:
Impart - To give
Good values - Virtues or good principle

Points to ponder:
- If the parents behave properly, even the children behave properly.
- Mama teaches us that in front of children, their parents should not be adviced, their drawbacks should not be discussed. This could create an unfavourable impression on children.

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. On which day did everyone visit Mama for his blessings?
2. How did the kids bow down to Mama?
3. What did Mama ask to the kids?
4. What did the parents complain about the kids?
5. How are children?
6. Every day, what rules should be followed at home?

Fill in the blanks:
1. It was the day of _____________.
2. Children are like _____________.
3. You must recite the whole Aarti of ________ also.
4. Every day you must arrange a ____________.
5. If the _____________ behave properly, automatically the children will ____________ properly.
6. Daily _____________ spent in this manner could shape up children’s lives.