Sunday 19 September 2021

GRANDPA, GRANDDAUGHTER & THE SIDDHAS

 

When I shared my desire to become Light with my 4-year-old granddaughter she replied she did not want that but instead wanted to remain a child forever. She is so right. Poet Kannadhasan wrote the following lyrics mentioning that he wished to forever be a child too, இன்னொரு பிறவி நான் எடுத்தால் என்றும் குழந்தையாய் வாழ விடு.


Goddess Ma came to ask us to cherish the pranks of these children. Agathiyar says it's a joy to be with them. Henry Wei in his book “The Guiding Light of Lao Tzu”, Synergy Books International, writes that both Lao Tzu and Jesus consider reversion to the state of a child as necessary for salvation for entrance into the kingdom of heaven. In the eyes of Lao Tzu, “the infant with its pristine purity and innocence is the perfect symbol of Tao itself.” He goes on to say that one needs to bring tenderness in him. There is many a thing that we could learn from a child. We only need to observe them closely and they shall teach us too.
Imagine being like a little child again and believing everything you hear. There is something so wonderful about that trusting, open-hearted naivete that God loves. The more I have grown up, the more I realize that maturity in Christ is all about “growing down.” It is about becoming a child again. Not being childish but being childlike in our ways and our thinking. (Source: http://www1.cbn.com/Devotions/being-a-child)

Science tells us that, "Young children up to the age of 4 or 5 are permanently in the open region of activity, alpha region or theta region. Children are in that region until they are 8 or 9 years old." (Ervin Laszlo in bringing us an insight into the mind of the child).

"These are the slowest recorded brain waves in human beings. They are found most often in infants as well as young children."(From https://mentalhealthdaily.com/ we learn of delta waves.)

A child is always fully absorbed at the moment be it just looking at a page from a book or playing with his or her toy for hours. Have you noticed how difficult it is to bring a child away from what he or she is doing? They are so engrossed in the task that everything else can wait, even hunger, peeing, or sleep. While absorbed in his or her moment they do not fail to absorb all the sounds that go on around them too. A Chinese neighbors child whom we babysat in the past surprised us by singing the theme song from the Tv serial Annamalai. She had been listening to it while engaged in play with my little daughter back then. I used to wonder what goes on in the minds of these children each moment. I am watching my granddaughters grow up. They teach me a lot. We have a lot to learn from them, for the child is the closest representation of divinity. I would rather be in the presence of a child than a holy man. The child does not put on a face or a show. We have the divine living around us as a child, bringing cheer, happiness, and joy to an otherwise dark world of prejudice, jealousy, anger, and hate. Children do not judge, they do not know right or wrong. Experience teaches them to avoid the flame and love rain. Agathiyar too told us there is no right or wrong; our experiences shall show us which is which. Cherish those moments with the child for he/she shall grow up too and fast and step into the ugly world of adults.

Sariyai and Kriyai are the initial two steps designed by the Siddhas that include participation from children where they tend to follow and learn to do all that we do. Kids are taught virtues that they take on with them throughout their lifetime. Kids who follow their parents during the annadhanam will learn to continue the act of giving and feeding later in their life too. A parent who frequents the temple or spends time doing puja at home will initiate the child to do the same.

It is said that singing aloud can help increase the breathing capacity in children. Going round and round like a top spinning is something children including my granddaughters do. It is supposed to activate and keep the chakras functioning optimum.

Let them hang out with God at the temples, and outdoors with nature. Let them explore God's creations. Join them during these explorations and tell them it is all possible because of God. Instill God in them early. Instill faith and believe. Give them hope and be the strength behind them. Instill bakthi or devotion in them. Later they can be initiated into Yoga and Jnana. Older children can then be taught Yoga and Gnana.