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How to bring up children spiritually
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Question:: At what age should children start chanting*?
Which Name should they chant? How can parents help to develop a
liking for spiritual
practice in their children from a young age?
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- Mrs. Kotgire, NJ, USA.
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Dear Mrs. Kotgire,
Just as we attend to the child's physical and
psychological needs right from the beginning (even during
pregnancy), so also we can and should attend to his or her spiritual
needs from as early as possible. (Refer to Issue 131, Clarification
of Doubts section 'Spirituality for well being of the unborn baby'
for details.) The following points are helpful in this regard:
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Until the
child can chant for himself/herself, the parents can chant at
least 3 turns of a mala
(1 turn = 108 times) for the child's sake. The chant should be
The Lord's Name as per the child's father's religion, since it
is most favorable for the child's spiritual
progress. (For
example, 'Namo Buddhaya' if Buddhist, 'Hail Jesus' if
Protestant or 'Hail Mary' if Catholic, 'Allah O Akbar' if
Muslim, the Name of the father's family deity - Kuldevi - if
Hindu, etc.) |
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When the
child begins to talk, just as we teach him worldly skills as
he grows, he should be taught to chant a few times daily.
Later still, he or she can be taught to chant using a mala or
any such tool for chanting.
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Then we can
include chanting in the child's daily routine, by encouraging
her to chant at least 3 turns of the mala of the Name of The
Lord as per his or her father's religion. He or She can also
be encouraged to chant during other activities and to rely on
chanting to calm down, have courage, etc., in various
situations.
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The following can help develop a liking for
spiritual practice in children:
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Parents - the first role models: If either or both parents do
spiritual practice the child will be influenced to follow suit.
Further, the spiritual behavior of the parents and purity of the
atmosphere at home will subtly
increase the child's spiritual practice.
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Spiritual company or satsang:
The child can be taken to moral value classes for children or
children's satsangs. Satsang or spiritual company has similar
benefits for children as it does for adults. (Refer to Issue 7,
Principles of Spirituality for Faster Progress for detailed
benefits of satsang.)
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Spiritual stories, role models: Stories of child devotees like
Prahlad, or Saints/Incarnations' (Saint Meerabai, Lord Jesus,
Buddha, etc.) childhood help children identify with spiritual
role models, and help develop faith and a liking for spiritual
practice.
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Spiritual experiences: Reading other children's spiritual
experiences as well as encouraging the child to share his
spiritual experiences helps the child develop faith in spiritual
practice.
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Encouraging spiritual behavior: Children can be encouraged to
develop pure or spiritual behavior, by explaining to them
importance of various divine qualities like faith, honesty,
obedience, love, timeliness, etc., in an easy going manner. They
can be shown how they can practice these qualities in daily
situations as well as should be praised when they do display
such qualities.
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Religious festivals: Celebrating the religious festivals of
one's religion and explaining the science behind the festival to
the child help in overall spiritual development of the child.
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- Editor.
* Repeating The Lord's Name as per one's religion.
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