Question:
I am 36 years old and I’m a single mother of two children (girl 16 and boy 7). Although I’m still in the process of learning, right now I consider that I have actually reached a higher level of consciousness, based on what I knew 7 years ago. I feel the need of helping my children to become aware of the difference between religion and spiritual awareness/enlightenment… please excuse my grammar, I’m from Venezuela and my English is not that good, I hope that I’m expressing exactly what I mean to ask…
My daughter is often invited by her friends to go to church, most of them being from the Christian denomination. I don’t believe in religion/church as an institution. I’d like to know what is the best way to start introducing children to our believes? It is hard for me because I don’t belong to any church. It’s hard to talk about God to them, because my opinion differs from what they often hear outside. My seven year old boy, goes to a Christian church during his dad’s visitation. Could you give me an advice?
Answer:
The best approach is to talk to your daughter about your own spiritual experiences and your journey. You are not expected to know all the answers to all the great spiritual questions. Let her know that she it is up to her to discover her own answers based on her own experiences and understanding.
Institutional religions are eager to have their followers accept their respective beliefs without critical analysis or even reference to one’s own spiritual experience. You can explain to her the many positive features of religions for their moral, social, and uplifting guidance, but then go on to tell her that in the process of self-realization, a time comes when you need to find the source of your spiritual guidance in the divinity of your own consciousness. Relate your story of needing to look beyond religious dogma to finding your spirituality within yourself. These simple honest stories and reflections will mean much more to her than any formal spiritual talks.
Love,
Deepak
I submitted this article on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=233678100214
Looking forward for your feedback on the thread.
Children and Future
Next generation is in school learning math, physics and other subjects. They will finish the school and then start chasing dreams.
They are the future and I wonder if there is or can be a learning program in school to help them to understand spirituality.
What do you think about giving Knowledge to your kids now on: human freedom, freedom from unnecessary religious and spiritual authorities, and freedom from shallow beliefs?
Knowledge on oneness. There is no black or brown or white…We are one.
Children carries impressions got from their parents, teachers, environment for their whole life and make decisions based on the knowledge received, go through same suffering and pain because of lack of knowledge and shallow beliefs.
Is there a subject in schools on spirituality?
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We have lost our capability to find the truth because we are so much dependent on other human to tell us truth. “I am saying or sharing something with you and you may follow it for whole life but do you really know if its truth or not”
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