Over the week, I pondered how our children seem to be suffering from greater and greater stress-related problems; these range from increased mental health issues as well as different physical illnesses and at times, just feeling apathetic and retreating into a world of virtual reality and video games. I feel that the missing piece could be that we as a society seem to have forgotten our True Purpose.
I feel that we do know our Purpose when we are born.
Let me illustrate with a story that I heard from a Buddhist teacher many years ago. It goes something like this:
There was a couple wondering why their 3-year-old daughter kept insisting that she wanted to spend time alone and unsupervised with her newborn sister. The parents were concerned that perhaps she was resentful of the baby. Maybe she would hit or harm the newborn. They sought guidance from their pediatrician who advised them to allow the 3-year-old to spend time with her newborn sister, but keeping the nursery door slightly ajar, and with a baby monitor nearby so if there were any problems, the parents could intervene right away.
The parents did exactly as the pediatrician suggested. Standing outside the nursery, through the open door, they watched their little girl walk timidly up to the newborn’s cradle. First, she looked over her right shoulder, and then she looked over her left shoulder – making sure no one else was around. Then slowly, she leaned in, and this is what she said:
Baby, baby! Tell me about God.* I’m starting to forget.
Tell me about God. I’m starting to forget.
I believe that we do know our Purpose when we come into this world of space, time and form. Yet there is such a strong spell of forgetfulness- what is known as maya in the Eastern tradition- that literally covers the Truth from our awareness. Yet knowing that our ultimate purpose of life is to know ourselves- the True Self that is Infinite Peace, Joy and Love can free us from so much stress and worry. We have something within us that can sustain us through all the seasons of life- the sunshine as well as the storms.
Imagine if we can share this with our children right from the start or whatever age they are now. Imagine if we could help them see that this place within them is their True Friend, a Trusted Advisor that understands what they are feeling and also has answers to help them feel better. How empowering that would be!
Parenting for Inner Peace
However, to support our children, we must first shift our purpose of parenting – to the purpose of inner peace – which we can then share with them as well.
To enroll in a free online program that I created about two years ago, please click here. Many parents and other caretakers of children have found this course helpful. I look forward to sharing more resources in the upcoming newsletters.
*(If the word God does not feel comfortable, for you, feel free to substitute Love, Peace, Higher Self or Source. The word used does not matter at all.)
