My wife and I were amused to see a parent and their two kids take a sit in meditation while at a temple. We could not believe that the parents had trained their kids to sit and close their eyes in meditation. However after some moments we were amused to see both these kids, probably two and three years of age, open their eyes slightly and look at each other, at their parents and around them before closing them again. This amusing happening went on for some time.
How do you train a child to sit and meditate when even adults find it difficult at the onset?
This is where external worship serves to train and discipline, at the same time bringing a child to the path of worship or sariyai. The concept of god is explained in simple terms and they are showed that god is the statue.
Seeing us carry out the rituals at ATM our grandchild of 1 1/2 years anticipates what comes next and shows and instructs us accordingly. Even before we begin, she is already helping us by telling us the placement of the stuffs for the puja and helps carry the light stuffs. Children love to help out and can be given simple tasks to carry out.
Several days ago, in the midst of singing the potri, she had to be cleaned up as she had defecated. As her mother was washing her upstairs she pointed out to her that we had started the potri and followed us in chanting the potri from the washroom. Today she rushed to joined us in prayer before even her grandma could wipe her dry after washing up.
She would come for the arathi and vibhuti and point out to others around her to be given too, making sure everyone got the prasad.
Sariyai and Kriyai are the initial two steps designed by the Siddhas that includes 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 through their life time. 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 granddaughter does. It is supposed to activate and keep the chakras functioning optimum.
Let them hang out with god too, at the temple, and outdoors with nature. Let them explore god's creation. Join them during these explorations and tell them it is all possible because of god. Instill god in them early. Later they can be initiated into Yoga and Jnana. Older children can then be taught Yoga and Jhana.
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 granddaughter does. It is supposed to activate and keep the chakras functioning optimum.
Let them hang out with god too, at the temple, and outdoors with nature. Let them explore god's creation. Join them during these explorations and tell them it is all possible because of god. Instill god in them early. Later they can be initiated into Yoga and Jnana. Older children can then be taught Yoga and Jhana.
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)
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.