How can we encourage devotee-kids to explore bhakti and not worldly pleasures?
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So, how can we encourage or help devoted kids to not look for other pleasures in the world, but to cherish the higher taste that they have and persevere in pursuing that.
So, generally speaking, we can do only three things for others. Now, if we want to influence someone else’s behavior, we can provide, we can share knowledge, we can provide facilities, and we can set an example. There are only three things we can do for anyone else to influence their behavior.
Now, share knowledge means tell them, okay, if you do this, this is the consequence, you do this, this is the consequence. If somebody wants to say, drink or explore or get into drugs or something, then you can at least make them alert. These are the consequences of this.
And see, this is what happens. So, one thing is, you can give knowledge. And so sharing knowledge is important.
I talked about intellectually approaching the practices that we have learned from childhood. So, sharing knowledge itself makes a lot of difference. But secondly, we also need to provide facilities.
Facility means specifically, say, you know, if there are kids, if they are told to come to a temple and participate in a temple satsang program, occasionally they can do that, but they just can’t connect. It’s a different generation. So, we need to provide some forums where they have groups of people of their age.
So, facility means association shapes all of us, whether we like it or not. So, you know, our desires are not just linear, they are triangular. What that means is that it is not that I may look at something, I may see some food item and I may want to eat it.
It’s a linear desire. I am here, the object is here and I desire the object. But that is not the only way we develop desires.
Our desires are also triangular. Say, for example, now there is this Pokemon Go. It’s a big fad, this video game.
Pokemon Go. It’s called Pokemon Go. How is it pronounced? Pokemon Go.
Okay. Sorry? Pokemon Go. Okay.
So, now, suppose for the first time, you know, you saw this video game. Okay, it’s a new video game, what’s so great about it? You may not feel much interest in it. But then, if you see your friend completely lost in it.
You’re spending so much time, so excited. You wonder, what is that? You want to explore. So, in this case, our desire came not just by seeing the game, but our desire came by seeing someone who was lost in the game.
So, our desire is not just linear, it is triangular. By seeing others doing something, we feel inspired to do those things also. And this applies especially throughout our life, but especially in teenage years.
A lot of peer pressure is there. Because we are all trying to discover our identity, who I am. And at that time, we want to get a sense of self-worth, self-esteem, and who we associate with, that determines what our identity will be.
That’s why we need, if possible, to provide devotee association. Where, say, if some kids see, oh, these are just of my age, but they are doing these kirtans, they are doing these activities, then, oh, they are doing dramas, they are doing some festivals, they are doing devotional activities, then they feel inspired to do it. So, it’s not just association, but also enjoyable activities in association.
Our devotees can have, maybe devotees together can go for a picnic, devotees can go for outings, or whatever. We can have retreats or whatever. So, if we can create facility, that is very important.
If there is just knowledge, but no facility, then it becomes very difficult to practice it. And third is set an example. That means, if we tell others, don’t do this, and we are doing the same thing behind the back, then that, especially in the teenage years, you know, at that time, people watch actions a lot.
In childhood, whatever the parents say, I’ll accept. Once we come to teenage years, we start watching. And bhakti is actually more caught than taught.
Taught means, do this, don’t do this. Caught means, we see others doing it. We see others, oh, this is how it is done.
So, bhakti is more caught than taught. So, if we are a, whoever are the people around the child, the parents or elder brothers, elder sisters or whatever, if they set an example, bhakti, then they will also see that. So, sharing knowledge, providing facilities and setting an example.
These are three things which we can do. And when sometimes despite this, sometimes some people start some, they start exploring. And at that time, we can express our disapproval, but we shouldn’t do it in such a way that they feel rejected.
So, yes, I don’t like what you’re doing, but whatever you do, I still love you. I still care for you. And I’ll be there for you.
So, then, if we make it a very strong judgmental thing, you’re wrong and you should not do this and I am right and why are you doing this, then eventually, eventually they will realize that they are wrong. But if they have rebelled and fought and gone, then returning to Krishna will become an ego issue. No.
I rejected what you’re doing and I went. Now, when I come back, you know, you will laugh at me and say, see, I was right, you were wrong. And because of that, they may not want to come back.
So, you know, whatever happens, we do want to help others not make wrong choices, but sometimes some people may have to learn their own lessons. So, if somebody is very insistent to do something, trying to artificially force them and not do that, then they will just reject us and then it will be difficult for them to come back. So, that’s why always maintaining cordial relationship, even if people want to explore, then we tell them that we are there and don’t in trying to get people to conform to something, we shouldn’t spoil our relationship with them.
Because that relationship is the rope on which they will come back to Krishna. Does that answer your question? Yes.