This material world has so many promises. I remember growing up and feeling like I could be anything I wanted. Teachers and parents encourage you to strengthen your abilities so that one day you can use them in a profession to make lots of money. Will I do this with my daughter? Will I focus on her material assets more than her spiritual growth?
Parents who are following spiritual traditions want their children to also take part in their tradition. If the children decide to go somewhere else to receive spiritual knowledge than the parents become frustrated and sometimes even reject them. Often the children leave the tradition because it is not relevant to them or the parents want the children to be more serious than themselves.
I realize that I have to strengthen my daughter's talents and at the same time give her spiritual knowledge that will be relevant to her life. To do that I myself must have a strong practice and deep knowledge of the culture in which I am receiving spiritual knowledge. Isn't that kids have many questions that adults cannot answer and then that creates disappointment in learning from the adults?
In the Srimad Bhagavatam it is stated, "One who cannot deliver his dependents from the path of repeated birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a father, a husband, a mother or a worshipable demigod." 5.12.12
Today it seems that parents want somebody else to impart upon their children values and spiritual teachings.
A spiritual culture starts with spiritual parents. I have to look at myself when I get up and ask myself am I being a spiritual parent.
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