________________
DISCOURSE 66
245
tives and friends as are noble in speech and spiritual in their outlook. Yes. Those relatives and friends should not be addicts to any bad habits. They should not be sinful in their activities. Parents should be cautious about this vital point. An individual acquires a character in accordance with the kind of contacts, he develops. Therefore, they should encourage their children to develop amity only with men of spiritual and ethical excellence.
PARENTS SHOULD BE CAREFUL REGARDING THE KIND OF FRIENDS THAT THEIR CHILDREN MAKE
Friendship plays a very vital role in the formation of a person's character. Do you think of the kind of boys with whom your sons develop friendship? Do you try to find out with what kind of girls your daughters develop intimacy? Do you think of these things ? If you do not think of this vital point and if you do not guide your children rightly in these matters, your children cannot and will not revere and worship you.
From the Audience: When we advise our children not to develop friendship with certain boys and girls, they say, "We know whom we should befriend and whom we should not. You should not interfere with our personal affairs”.
Maharajashri : Of course, your sons and daughters give such replies when they are grown up but what I say is you should keep bestowing your special attention on this even from their childhood. I am sure children when they are young will certainly pay heed to your advice. Won't they ? Keep guiding them to find the right friends.
Of course, the atmosphere of the educational institutions where your children go to study has been polluted. Bad habits. fashions and imitations fill that atmosphere. It is difficult to find good friends, there. Countless evil activities abound in: those places in the name of fashions. We do not find normally in those places, youngsters of noble character and spiritual excellence and when you send your children to study in those places you must guide them to find noble friends..
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
