ARE YOU PRACTISING AHIMSA?

 

“If a child lives with criticism

 He learns to condemn

 If a child lives with hostility

 He learns to fight”

 I received a WhatsApp forward in which, a dog, a monkey and a cat were sitting in each other’s embrace. It was a very rare sight to see. Even animals tend to live in harmony. Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do, are in harmony. The wars among nations is very disturbing and is not a good sign for humanity. All that we need is peace, and not war. We need not prove to each other who is mightier. We need to be sensible. So, the thoughts we sow in the young minds is what sprouts out as love and affection or anger and hatred. We see children losing their temper for silly reasons, we hear them mouthing foul language, fighting with each other, and physically assaulting each other. Tolerance has to be a learnt trait. Are we providing them the right environment at home? Children learn more from what they see and not from what they hear.

 As parents, we have a huge responsibility to raise our children the right way so that they do not contaminate or influence others the wrong way. That is our social responsibility. Is home a place of tranquility and peace? Is it free from chaos and discord? Then we can expect children to be peaceful and free from intolerance. When they constantly see people fighting at home, or disrespecting each other, or talking ill about someone, then that is what they will learn. We are all the time pointing a finger at the younger generation. Are we providing them emotional security? Only then will they develop faith. Else, they will lose trust in people. They will develop a tendency to manipulate. The behavior of children is an outcome of how they are treated and the life they live.

 The easiest thing is to blame them. But can we pause for a moment and run through the life that we are living? Is our life a Gita or a Koran or a Bible to our children? If yes, then our life is a message to our children. Everything that is happening in society is the outcome of good or bad upbringing, and the home environment. Are the classmates of our children receiving good vibes from them, or are they being influenced the wrong way? Because of my child, many others should not be affected. Our children can be an inspiration, but not a wrong influence. Neither should they be one in the crowd. We should help them to stand above the crowd. That is the basic responsibility of a parent. Thinking for and not against anybody or anything, will promote the quality of ahimsa in us. Let’s make our children compassionate individuals, who care for others.

 “True ahimsa should mean a complete freedom from ill-will and anger and hate and an over-flowing love for all” – Mahatma Gandhi

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