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· DISCOURSE 37
185
THE EFFECT OF THE CHILD IN THE WOMB ON THE MIND OF THE MOTHER
This also happens. If the child in the womb is a noble soul and if it is a lofty soul, the mother entertains noble ideas and feelings; and gets noble thoughts. The implication of this is that the effect of the good and evil Karmas of the child, in the womb, falls upon the mother's thoughts and feelings. But a sensible and thoughtful mother realizes what kind of jiva is lying in her womb. All her efforts will aim at making her child pure and noble. She wants her child to be healthy and absolutely free from all diseases. She wants the five senses of her child to be intact and perfect. If the mother does not have these aims in her mind, the possibility is that on account of the mother's ignoble propensities and actions, the child may become sickly, blighted and its senses may be impaired.
THE EFFECT OF THE PROPENSITIES AND ACTIONS OF A PREGNANT WOMAN ON HER CHILD
If a pregnant woman keeps listening to the radio and the tape-recorder, her child may be deaf when it is born. If a pregnant woman keeps seeing movies, dramas, circuses, videos and the T.V. the child in her womb may become blind or may develop a weak eye-sight. If a pregnant woman eats very sweet, sour or bitter eatables and dishes; and if she eats very hot or cold food, the child will become sickly, weak or may be born with a maimed or impaired body. If a pregnant woman runs, laughs or talks too much, the child may be born with an impaired or maimed body, and with black teeth. The child's lips also may be black. If the pregnant woman massages her body with oil and if she applies powder to her face her child will develop some skin-disease.
If the pregnant woman wears very tight-dress, the physical development of the child may be stunted and checked. Sexual activity during pregnancy is very harmful. If the woman has a tender and compassionate heart, she will not allow the child in her womb to be harmed even to the least extent.
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