Generation Gap

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Dada Bhagwan Foundation

Page 14

them wrong encouragement. When they go out, the wife insists that the husband carry their toddler. If he refuses, she will nag at him, telling him he is also responsible for the child and that they both need to look after him. She keeps nagging him and he has no choice, so they end up carrying junior everywhere, all over the town. This kind of excessive attention suffocates the growing child. How can the child grow up to be normal? (P.23)
with them. Converse with them and explain things to them in an amicable manner. You need to pay attention to all the aspects of their development. They already have a good personality, but they need encouragement. You have to keep them in check and caution them. (P.24)
A bank manager once said to me, “Dadaji, I have never said a single word to my wife or my children, no matter what they say or do wrong, I do not say anything." He looked so selfassured, thinking that perhaps I would applaud him for his nobility. But instead I said, "Who on earth made you the manager of a bank. You do not even know how to manage your own family! You are the ultimate fool on this planet. You are useless!" He was shocked. Did he expect a medal for this? Your child does something wrong, you have to ask him, 'why did you do this? From now on don't do things like this you have to scold him dramatically and convincingly, otherwise he will think that whatever he did was correct because his father condones it. Because he never said anything, his household was in ruins. You have to say everything, but dramatically, as if you are in a play on the stage of this world. He should play his role to its fullest, but without any attachment and abhorrence.
Teach your children good habits. Every morning after they bathe, teach them to pray for world peace and salvation. If you can do this, it would mean that you have succeeded in instilling good values in them. Pray with them, so they will learn from you. This is your duty as a parent. Everyday, you should also have them sing "Dada Bhagwan Na Aseem Jai Jai kar Ho" (Prayer to the Lord within). Many children have benefited from this and their concentration in their studies has improved. From a very young age, they will learn that God is within them. So many children have changed for the better that they no longer feel the need to seek other diversion. Going to movies is no longer their prime source of enjoyment. At first they raise objections, but after a while they remember how good it feels to say the prayers and they respond positively. (P.24)
(2) IT IS MANDATORY SO WHY COMPLAIN?
There is reward for good deeds a person does of his own volition (marijiyat), but people expect to be rewarded for their obligatory duties, which are mandatory (farajiyat). Parents expect appreciation from their children because they feel they have made a lot of sacrifices for them. Why are they looking for
You should talk to your children every night and discuss things