Technology combined with economic prosperity has enabled us to have more spare time than ever before. While for many media , entertainments & social media consumes most of it, some are able to use it to ask deeper questions to themselves and travel the path of introspection. who am I, what am I here for , how should I live and many such questions keep popping. They need concrete quick fixes and look for prescriptive answers. the serious are even willing to devote x hours a day/ week but they need a plan to follow, exercises to do, etc. some religions have a dos n don’t formula with chanting/ praying rituals and thus became popular. I asked few learned people that why couldn’t Hinduism too do that so that it’s easier to know that I’m a devoted hindu and do the regular rituals. but answers has been the the flexibility of each to choose his path has been the key and different people have different methods applicable. each has to choose method most suitable for him. but that is the biggest bane as throughout school life, we choose just once I.e. after class 10 , our stream of further education. thus we aren’t in a position to decide what’s the best method for us.
while some texts point out various steps one needs to do as one processes. for example starting with meditation can be the worst thing you could do as your mind isn’t yet still enough to do meditation and because of your inability to do it properly, your faith in this powerful technique will diminish. so it’s better to start with reading, discussing, thinking , implementing , singing bhajan, sitting and single mindedly doing puja, attending discourses etc. as we keep doing it our mind becomes clearer and calmer. the usual anxiety is replaced by a steadfastness. our actions also become more thoughtful. we are aware of the rise and play of thoughts. that’s when we should embrace meditation. we would find that this concentration of energy helps us transcend limitations of our mind and intellect. this flight into the sub consciousness is expanding your consciousness.
the bhagwata geeta, the most powerful book for hindus, is a layered text where different words and phrases have very different and deeper connotations. to understand that one has to study basics of vedas. many organisation provide preparatory courses for people who want to follow karma yoga path, the path of selfless action, like chinmaya mission, brahma kumari, etc. there are schools which focus on hatha yoga and Kriya yoga use body and energy chakras and are very popular in west too through art of living, parmahansa yogananda etc. this energy system is also harnessed by other systems like pranic healing, however this quest is lot more than technique mastery as it’s hoped that with better techniques you will be able to travel deeper and faster into your quest.
talking about energy, one interesting thing I’ve observed. your body is designed such that least energy is consumed if your are in the present. the moment you worry about tomorrow or lament about yesterday , body consumes far more energy. thus children don’t get tired after 6 hours of non stop running while we are fatigued after a desk job. similarly it’s far easier for a child to meditate than adults as complete takeover of mind has not yet taken place. so it’s best we start the steps with our children now when they are far more ready than they will ever be.
find relevant texts and videos and talk your child through it. this will be the biggest investment you can do for him. for I clearly foresee a future of cultural zombies who know nothing about their culture. neither their native language, nor food, nor clothing, nor sings, dance . they wouldn’t know history , nor religion . all they would know is I believe in doing good. but without any solid compass to direct them through. these stories develop value systems in our children which is the soil on which our culture would grow. it cannot be outsourced. your child has to have memory of you telling her those stories.
incase any of you need any specific stories to share, ping me. I’m always there
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