To Hindu Youth

[Guest guest]

What is your advice for Hindu Youth -- and parents?

Mahant Swami Vidya Giri: "Youth must accept modernity in their outward life, but

not let it touch their innermost beings. They can use modern tools for working

in the outside world, but not for the exploitation of people around them. When

the youth start questioning the importance and relevance of temples, scriptures

and even holy traditions like taking a dip in Kushavrat at the Kumbha Mela, then

the process of deterioration will start. Our society is standing on the bedrock

of dharma. Our shastras say, 'Wherever dharma is followed, victory is there.' So

if you want progress, be connected to dharma. A lot of young people come to me

to satisfy their quest for spirituality. But unfortunately the elderly people of

their own families discourage them, 'You are young, what is the need for you to

approach these sadhus?' If the girl goes to the temple, she will be told, 'You

stay back and take care of the household chores. Let the old people go to the

temple.' If this is our approach, then

how will our youth make progress on the path of spirituality? We have to free

them from the irrational limitations imposed on them due to the selfishness of

our own elderly people."

 

Swami Raghavacharya Vedanti: "Today's youth are obsessed with the culture of

television. In our preaching to them, we try to awaken their consciousness, but

after they leave, the culture of television overpowers their minds. Wrong

television programs are a big pollution which has engulfed our society. Today

young sons, daughters and daughters-in-law watch obscene programs together. The

decorum and decency that was traditionally maintained in our families is

disappearing. They all laugh together at the wrong type of scenes. TV should

broadcast programs which uplift the human mind. From time immemorial, the mind

is attracted towards desires, just as water poured on a slope flows downwards.

To bring the mind up requires sadhana, spiritual disciplines and practices. But

if we uplift the mind for one hour and then let it float downwards for ten, what

will be the result? Today the people of affluent countries are fed up with

material things. They are upset and do not understand why peace

eludes them. They came here to India in search of peace. Just see our state of

confusion! People from the West come to us looking for peace, while we are going

toward the West and adopting a materialistic lifestyle."

 

Sri Swami Pragyanand: "Today due to the influence of Western culture, the youth

are taking to drugs, and dating has become a common thing. I would not blame the

children. It is the parents who are responsible for this state of affairs. A few

days back, I was at the home of a disciple, and the parents there shared with me

that they themselves were pure vegetarians but their children took nonvegetarian

food now and then. The father further said that he was against it, but his wife

felt that there was no harm if children ate that kind of food. So I told this

father that the mother was not a mata, a good mother, but a kumata, a mother who

promoted evilness."

 

Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Samvidananda Saraswati: "Today the parents have

no time for their children. Most leave their houses early in the morning when

the children are sleeping and come back at night when the children are again

asleep. Only on Sunday do the children come to know who their mother and father

are. Maid servants take care of them. The children grow up and do not give due

respect to their parents, and at times even insult them. The onus of growth and

development of the children rests on the parents."

 

Mahant Shri Foldol Behari Das Ji Maharaj: "I will only say to the youth that in

the morning when you get up, first of all touch the feet of your parents and get

their blessings. Mother is the first guru of the child. If this culture of

respecting the parents and touching their feet disappears, then how will the

children attain peacefulness? Earlier, wherever people would go, they used to go

with the blessings of their mothers. They understood that mishaps can be averted

through her blessings."

 

Anant Shri Vibhusit Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Sri 108 Swami Shivendra Puri Ji

Maharaj: "Just look around us and see all those volunteers who are young people.

But with families that are not religious minded, their children naturally do not

get to see an event like this. In those families, the parents and teachers do

not tell them about their own culture and traditions. You just cannot blame that

section of youth for being absent. But those who are taught about their religion

and roots at home definitely come here. We have to understand that youth today

are living in a different kind of world from the youth of fifty years ago when

religious and family traditions were followed quite strictly. But the family

traditions still influence the youth more than radio and television, because

these are just means of entertainment. We have always taught our youth by our

actions and not by our words. If the elders in the family touch the feet of

their parents, their youth follow."

 

Mahant Nritya Gopal Das: "The damage that could not be done to our culture and

heritage in the past five hundred years by Islam and the British has now been

done by the obscene television programs which are being viewed together by the

families in our homes. We are giving the opportunity to our youth to get

attracted to what the senses demand. All this is very dangerous."

 

Shri Mahant Paramananda Saraswati: "Our youth are very intelligent and smart,

and more aware and alert than us. They view television and use the Internet. But

when they truly understand their own dharma, they like to stick to their own

roots and do not follow the Western way of living. You just look deeply, and you

will find that most of the youth are deeply religious."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dharma Discussions -- Mela 2003

 

 

FROM:-

Hinduism's top spiritual leaders offer their views on the Mela, dowry, youth,

cloning, corruption, untouchability and other tough issues facing Hindu society

today

 

 

 

 

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