How can we encourage our kids to go to temple more?

[ShivKC]

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Yams, i admit, you are not only young (with my +0.75 eye sight, i just cant believe you are 60), but also got an intellectual personality cut.

and that young rhode boy is five fold of your personality and top of it, handsomely tall . i'll tell you what, any pretty girl on earth would cross a million oceans and would kneel and ask him, would you ever let me me down !!

recollect one of the core points i was arguing with you before, ie, altruism - why one would do good without god.

i think he too felt the same like me in gautamala. and be watchful , oh ye tarpaulin filtered atheist, he has already started tilting towards god & catholicism. may be, he may make his next move to become the governor, like bobby, who was also a rhode sch.

btw,in order give respect to his & your privacy, i stay away from posting the reference, may be vide PM.

yams, you got wonderful family, i bet

 

[biswa]

This is a great victory, particularly to your wife! She is here to prove that, her marrying, not only a NB but one person of a different religion and succeeding in life by raising a very very successful family, the brahmins who are worried that their children are marrying NB and will fail in life, is uncalled for!!!

Ms. Valli,

I know your sentiments are positively intended, but I just have to sound a word of caution. Definitely the members of a high-achieving family are to be lauded, but I would like to step back and address the larger question you have raised.

I am sure you realize that one positive example is not proof. In fact, it is not even statistics. There are probably countless other negative examples who do not publicize themselves. It is quite unlikely that people whose marriages did not quite work out will come out in the forum and tom-tom about their failures.

So let me just say that I am not against ICMs CMs or marriages of any other sort. All I am saying that whether a marriage or a family is successful or not depends quite likely on the individuals, their circumstances and their luck. Some work, some don't, and some just coast along.

 

[kunjuppu]

children follow the footsteps of the parents. if we visit temples regularly, recite slokas at least for 10 minutes every day surely the children will also inculcate the habit of slokas and visiting temples. what we sow is what we reap

not necessarily true raja sir.

it can happen.

it may not happen.

but no guarantee it will happen. life does not play its cards with the certainty of newton's laws.

everything in this world is random. after all josef stalin's father was a christian priest.

 

[Yamaka]

Yams, i admit, you are not only young (with my +0.75 eye sight, i just cant believe you are 60), but also got an intellectual personality cut.

and that young rhode boy is five fold of your personality and top of it, handsomely tall . i'll tell you what, any pretty girl on earth would cross a million oceans and would kneel and ask him, would you ever let me me down !!

recollect one of the core points i was arguing with you before, ie, altruism - why one would do good without god.

i think he too felt the same like me in gautamala. and be watchful , oh ye tarpaulin filtered atheist, he has already started tilting towards god & catholicism. may be, he may make his next move to become the governor, like bobby, who was also a rhode sch.

btw,in order give respect to his & your privacy, i stay away from posting the reference, may be vide PM.

yams, you got wonderful family, i bet

Hi Shiv:

Thanks for all the kind words..

The basic quality that my kids have is this -

Very early on, I used to tell them, "We must all work harder than anybody around us, to live well". They are all very hard workers and great students.

From Day One, he always got A and A+ in his transcript, including at Stanford.. That to me is his greatest achievement... and to top it off his Standing in Solidarity with the Poor and Voiceless.


Yes, he is healthy, tall and handsome for any girl - he has very many friends, including TB girls... none so far has become his "girlfriend". I encourage him to bring one home to be part of our family... am waiting and watching!

______________________________________

On Altruism and God:

Last Monday (in the week of Thanksgiving which is a big celebration in our home), we drove to a nearby Pantry which serves free meals to poor people on the Thanksgiving Day to give donations. We met many people of our age - they all came to give donations too.

I asked them how many are Believers and regular Church goers? None.. but they all said "From Much is Given, Much is Expected", that's why we are here to donate to feed hungry people on Thanksgiving Day."

I fully agree with this view.. although the saying is from Book of St. Paul, all, including Atheists will agree with it.

As I argued before, goodness is there in all the hearts in us, whether we believe in God or Not...or Worship or Not.

Cheers.

 

[Yamaka]

Ms. Valli,

I know your sentiments are positively intended, but I just have to sound a word of caution. Definitely the members of a high-achieving family are to be lauded, but I would like to step back and address the larger question you have raised.

I am sure you realize that one positive example is not proof. In fact, it is not even statistics. There are probably countless other negative examples who do not publicize themselves. It is quite unlikely that people whose marriages did not quite work out will come out in the forum and tom-tom about their failures.

So let me just say that I am not against ICMs CMs or marriages of any other sort. All I am saying that whether a marriage or a family is successful or not depends quite likely on the individuals, their circumstances and their luck. Some work, some don't, and some just coast along.

Dear Biswa:

"All I am saying that whether a marriage or a family is successful or not depends quite likely on the individuals, their circumstances and their luck. Some work, some don't, and some just coast along..."

Very well said.. some work and some don't whether it is an arranged marriage within the caste/religion or love marriage outside caste, religion to a Theist or an Atheist or whatever...

Cheers.

 

[B.Krishnamurthy]

I am inclined to agree with the views of Thiru.Yamaka in post no.325.
Modern day youths wants to know the rationale of everything.If we can give them
convincing reasons,they appreciate.Still there is no guarantee that they will faithfully follow the parents in all ways.
In my opinion,The periodical visits to the temple by parents with their children is quite
essential.


.
Parents should also encourage their wards to participate in group Bhajans,Satsangs etc.Last Saturday I visited 'Livermore Temple' to participate in Ayyappa Bhajans.
Most of the participants were middle aged parents with their wards.They all participated keenly in the Bhajans.One girl (may be 15 or 16) who was sitting in the back with her parents,came and sat next to me in the front as she wanted to sing a few songs with mike in her hand.Elderly persons like me were very few.I was extremely delighted to see this trend.
I am now going through a book"THE ART OF MANMAKING'-114 SHORT TALKS ON THE
BHAGWAD GEETA by Swami.Chinmayananda.In the preface to that Book written on
24/02/1975 at Stanford University,California,the Swamiji says:- 'These talks are ready in casettes(and tapes).Schools can have them-each day one talk to be broadcast at the time of'Assembly'.If students have this book with them,then they will read it at the time of listening to the tape,in silent attention,allowing these ideas to sink into them,slowly,imperceptibly.These are values that created the mighty Heroes of the past who built up the glory that was BHARAT.
We propose soon to get these translated into all regional languages--so that mothers can read a talk to their children before they retire to bed everyday.I see clearly the reward of such phychological treatment with Spiritual ideals.DO YOU?.
Will you not contribute to such a total national resurrection in our moral and dynamic nature,'
I think every parent whether in India or abroad can take advantage of this and get benefitted

 

[sadasivam.sridharan]

Fully agree with the views of Sri. Krishnamurthy.

 

[nannilam_balasubramanian]

While I was in Pune, I used to attend the Lectures of Swami Chinmayananda everyday morning
despite severe winter. My room mates used to make me jovially so many times, "are you going
to become Sanyasi" His lectures were so interesting and one wouldn't like to leave the place
until it is over. Sometimes we feel that it is over so soon. He used to say so many meanings for
one particular word and so many examples to make a person to understand what is God and
Enlightment of Mind, etc. The right method to educate modern children to tell them stories of
Godly features and Spiritual instances to make them feel that there is some thing which they should
try to ponder. That will automatically make them to visit the temples without any ambiguity. If
the parents visit temple daily and do Santhyavandanam regularly, the children will autormatically
follow them and practice it with no questions in their mind.

Balasubramanian
Ambattur

 

[sangom]

While I was in Pune, I used to attend the Lectures of Swami Chinmayananda everyday morning
despite severe winter. My room mates used to make me jovially so many times, "are you going
to become Sanyasi" His lectures were so interesting and one wouldn't like to leave the place
until it is over. Sometimes we feel that it is over so soon. He used to say so many meanings for
one particular word and so many examples to make a person to understand what is God and
Enlightment of Mind, etc. The right method to educate modern children to tell them stories of
Godly features and Spiritual instances to make them feel that there is some thing which they should
try to ponder. That will automatically make them to visit the temples without any ambiguity. If
the parents visit temple daily and do Santhyavandanam regularly, the children will autormatically
follow them and practice it with no questions in their mind.

Balasubramanian
Ambattur

Shri balasubramanian and others,

Somehow, I have had occasions to see and observe young tabra boys who have had their upanayanam a few years before and get some idea about their mind. These boys come from very different houses and religious backgrounds. But they have been observing their parents right from their young age and they have formed their own conclusions about religion, and more importantly, about the brahmin rituals like sandhyavandanam, learning the routine so-called veda (purushasooktam, rudram-chamakam, vishnusahasranaamam, etc.).

Since the children find their parents and elders mostly following the western mores and running after the present day fashions and goals in life, the imposition of the religious values on them as though these are musts, does not convince them at all. Also, outside of these few mandated items/activities, even the children are constantly pressurized to score better in their English medium missionary schools which foster a generally secular, and in some cases a christian value system in the minds of students. Thus the boys are confused at first but soon they are able to see the utter hypocrisy of it all. By the time they reach 18, they become bold to disobey the instructions of parents and then it becomes the worry and headache of the parents as to how to ensure that they (the children) do not fall into bad company as a token of dissent and take to drugs, and drinks and girls.

The advice given by people like you, Shri Krishnamurthy, and others will, therefore, not be useful in the long run, and they may turn out to be counter-productive. I feel the best path for parents today will be to consider their children - say above 10 yeas or so - as their friends, feel free to tell them about their true and honest attitudes towards religion, success in worldly life, and how they feel there is no dissonance between the two. The saying itself says "praaptEtu ShODaSE varShE putram mitravad AcarEt".

 

[kunjuppu]

.... If
the parents visit temple daily and do Santhyavandanam regularly, the children will autormatically
follow them and practice it with no questions in their mind.

Balasubramanian
Ambattur

bala,

we only wish this would happen. reality is something different.

do you think Yamaka's parents or Nara's parents did not give them religious upbringing or exposure?

Osama Bin Laden's parents were very liberal arabs, who encouraged education and foreign travel and exposure to all their children. infact his half sister i think, is a model, in the usa, of all places

the one method, i can think, is effective is group or peer pressure. afaik, this is effectively practised by muslim students in many canadaian universities. once you are identified as a muslim, they will target you, male or female, to attend friday prayers, which they elaborately organize in an auditorium.

to refuse is very difficult, for fear of ostracism or worse. but we do read in the local papers of those who do, and willing to face the consequences. the large majority follow like sheep, though.

i can imagine, in our environment, about avani avittam, the one day tambrams come close to group prayers.

bala, another quirk that i have noticed is that 'religious' folks always need a god by their side. i know of two tambrams, who used to go to the temple every friday, do all their poojas and what not. one went to usa, got under rev moon's influence, and became a moonie, overnight dumping his poonal and aacharams. the other one, a female, got enamoured by a christian pastor, and switched from daily 'velakku Ethal' to 'candle Ethal'.

we can never predict. that is all i am saying. there are no guarantees in life. and when it comes to humans, newton's laws do not always work.

 

[sarang]

There is one 'vazhakku arutheeswarar' temple near kanchipuram. Those who are in trouble with the authorities, or have cases pending cases against them visit this temple, do pujas, abhishekams, yagams etc.

Recently Ms vasanthi stanley (christian), a dmk Councillor, visited this temple and did abhishekam on behalf of kanimozhi. This incident was widely reported in the press and the dmk spokespersons distanced themselves from it. The sevivazhi seidi is this - stanley had mottai. When she got the vip treatment in the temple and stood in front, other devotees objected and she was asked to sit on the ground by the gurukkal. When the abhishekam started power went off and came back only after the abhishekam was over, as if on a cue.

Maharashtr CM, ashok chavan also visited this temple recently, to seek relief from his case related problems.

Our home minister chidambaram visited guruvayur temple without any 'panda' and security. Even the kerala cm and local congress workers were not aware of his visit.

So, good people visit temples to seek god's blessings and bad people visit temples to seek god's intervention for saving their skin.

 

[sangom]

bala, another quirk that i have noticed is that 'religious' folks always need a god by their side.

Shri Kunjuppu,

You are absolutely correct. I find a majority (tabras) here have to visit the colony temple once or even twice daily. The psychology appears to be what you say - have god by their side (and if possible only by one's side and always). Is this because such a notion, a belief, helps them to face the world with better self-confidence? Or, is it a talisman giving them the boldness and licence to indulge in the many unholy acts they may be doing in their constant quest for (materialistic) aggrandisement? Or, is it an imaginary shoulder to cry on? I don't know. But the fact seems to be that these people themselves create the god image in their minds, worship it, then imagine that the said god is well-pleased with their prayers and will be favourably disposed towards them and close his eyes on any wrongdoing.

But these people have no surety at all about how god looks, whether He is pleased with their prayers, and whether he is of a type who will close His eyes to their wrongdoings?

 

[nannilam_balasubramanian]

I do not mean that the elders are not doing now. The days are so fast, some parents
do not have time to do all the activities ritually due to their official or business pre-occupation
or other commitments, perhaps which are unavoidable. At least once in a week, perhaps on
a holiday, like Sunday or other holidays, they can perhaps devote sometime to do our
routines, so that children will have an idea as to what our parents are doing. That is all.

Balasubramanian
Ambattur

 

[kunjuppu]

There is one 'vazhakku arutheeswarar' temple near kanchipuram. Those who are in trouble with the authorities, or have cases pending cases against them visit this temple, do pujas, abhishekams, yagams etc.

Recently Ms vasanthi stanley (christian), a dmk Councillor, visited this temple and did abhishekam on behalf of kanimozhi. This incident was widely reported in the press and the dmk spokespersons distanced themselves from it. The sevivazhi seidi is this - stanley had mottai. When she got the vip treatment in the temple and stood in front, other devotees objected and she was asked to sit on the ground by the gurukkal. When the abhishekam started power went off and came back only after the abhishekam was over, as if on a cue.

Maharashtr CM, ashok chavan also visited this temple recently, to seek relief from his case related problems.

Our home minister chidambaram visited guruvayur temple without any 'panda' and security. Even the kerala cm and local congress workers were not aware of his visit.

So, good people visit temples to seek god's blessings and bad people visit temples to seek god's intervention for saving their skin.

I guess it is a matter of intense faith, or quid pro quo attitude, towards God. I do this for you god, and you in turn, grant me these favours? Who can tell? Who are we to question their sincerety? As humans, all of us have done wrongs at some point or the other. Have we not?

I sense all these prayers by public folks, for kanimozhi, as more a sign of desperation and faint hope or maybe for show. Who knows? Now she is released, maybe vasanthi can get some solace, and also some brownie points in kani’s books?

I have only one objection to the post by sarang. Who are we, and under what legitimacy, can we brand vasanthi or PC as ‘bad ones intent on saving their skin’? don’t other people do the same?

Also who are the ‘good people’ just wanting God’s blessings, and nothing more. don’t we all ask for something? Maynot be wealth – but good health, care for our children or peace of mind. I do not consider myself good, but I do ask these in my prayers. So I must be ‘bad person’?

I do not understand sarang’s logic here. My ignorance. Maybe, if he wishes, he can elaborate.

Ps. Was it divine intervention that electricity went off during vasanthi’s prayers? Was it amman J the goddess handling the power switch?

 

[sarang]

Everybody has his own standard of good and bad; one is free to put in any slot he wants. For some all brahmins are bad. Is it worth arguing? Ignorance is bliss.

Re. power failure, rationalists can draw a mundane conclusion; some kani-knowers may think this is divine advice to kanimozhi to change her ways.

 

[kunjuppu]

Everybody has his own standard of good and bad; one is free to put in any slot he wants. For some all brahmins are bad. Is it worth arguing? Ignorance is bliss.

Re. power failure, rationalists can draw a mundane conclusion; some kani-knowers may think this is divine advice to kanimozhi to change her ways.

Sarang,

It may not be worth arguing, but definitely worth qualifying.

We are not talking about the haters here, of all shades. I would like to take PC as an example.

Imagine india without PC. Here was the guy, who along with narasimha rao and MMS, instrumental in changing the course of Indian development, from the traditional post independence hindu rate of growth ie 2% or such, to something closer to 4 times and for the first time, since independence, giving some hope to the youth, re employment and future prospects.

Why would we call PC bad?

Even cast doubts as to PC motive, visiting guruvayoor sans the usual security. Was he sneaking in behind everyone’s back, and secretly wish guruvayoorappan to grant him special favours - to overthrow pranab mukherjee or wish some ill will fall on J so that he can assume the mantle of CM of tamil nadu? or wish that he takes a bath in milk, and improves his complexion to that of aishwarya rai?

All I am saying, that PC exhibits no more of human foibles than you or i. he is no more good or bad than you or i.let us not term epithets on folks whom we don’t like.

Like ‘brahmin hater’. Nobody hates Brahmins. Some may not like them like others. That is all

re power failure, what are you saying? divine intervention? J intervention? random intervention? no use publishing something here without an opinion. i am quite sure yo0u have one.

 

[sarang]

This thread is about temple visit and not about atheist chidambaram's economic policies.

When he is implicated in the 2G scam and exposed, his credentials can be reviewed.

Unfettering of economy was done by narasimha rao. We were all in the midst of it and discussed the pros and cons of his decision every day then.

 

[Yamaka]

While I was in Pune, I used to attend the Lectures of Swami Chinmayananda everyday morning
despite severe winter. My room mates used to make me jovially so many times, "are you going
to become Sanyasi" His lectures were so interesting and one wouldn't like to leave the place
until it is over. Sometimes we feel that it is over so soon. He used to say so many meanings for
one particular word and so many examples to make a person to understand what is God and
Enlightment of Mind, etc. The right method to educate modern children to tell them stories of
Godly features and Spiritual instances to make them feel that there is some thing which they should
try to ponder. That will automatically make them to visit the temples without any ambiguity. If
the parents visit temple daily and do Santhyavandanam regularly, the children will autormatically
follow them and practice it with no questions in their mind.

Balasubramanian
Ambattur

Dear Bala:

Perhaps you already read some of my posts here.

I was brought up by a very orthodox religious household. The day started with the early morning prayer and ended with a late night prayer.

This was going on like a clock work.. no questions asked... all activities were very traditional.

It was very suffocating... I was waiting to get out of the place.

So when I was age 20/21, in Madurai, I became a self proclaimed Atheist. I raised my two wonderful kids in a Secular household:

Freedom, Love, Rational Thoughts of Science Engineering and Technology are the norm of the day...

I am a very happy man with a ever smiling family! LOL

What you and others say will work as long as kids are small and obedient; once they start asking questions, you will be in trouble!

Wait & watch.

 

[Yamaka]

This thread is about temple visit and not about atheist chidambaram's economic policies.

When he is implicated in the 2G scam and exposed, his credentials can be reviewed.

Unfettering of economy was done by narasimha rao. We were all in the midst of it and discussed the pros and cons of his decision every day then.

Dear S:

All Threads meander, which is not bad at all.

2G is a "scam" invented by the Media and the political opposition.

Now, the Aam Admi knows how CAG came up with that humongous figure - Rs 176,000 crores, which grew out of a mere Rs.2700 crores, as per RP Singh the Lead Auditor General of CAG.

Again, all are NOTIONAL loss. Not REAL LOSS, about which any court will be interested.

As per the GOVT (Sibal, Kurshid and Dr. MMS) there was NO REAL loss.

So where's the problem, where's the Scam?

All in the perverted minds of the political opposition, Aam Admi wonders!

Wait & watch.

 

[B.Krishnamurthy]

I refer to post no.344.It appears Thiru.Yamaka consider only actual physical loss of 'money' from the Chest or treasury as real loss.
If he has a house which he has let it on monthly rent,he gets some income.If the same house is vacant for some period of time,
we consider the 'notional loss' of income as real income as he has been deprived of additional income during the period his house was vacant.
Since I had worked in Indian Audit & Accounts department for considerable number of years,I can appreciate the point of C&AG.
Perhaps Thiru. Yamaha has not read the report of Shri.R.P.Singh.He has added that in addition to the loss of Rs.2700 crores,there could be additional loss which may be difficult to quantify.
As regards,the views of Shri.Kabil Sibal,Prime minister,they are only defending.
Even KASAB,Pakistani terrorist is pleading innocence in the court.
Recently,I read the interview given by Shri.Raja former Telecom Minister.I feel he had carried out instructions from the top.In politics,some are made
scapegoats.The real story will never come in the open.

 

[Yamaka]

I refer to post no.344.It appears Thiru.Yamaka consider only actual physical loss of 'money' from the Chest or treasury as real loss.
If he has a house which he has let it on monthly rent,he gets some income.If the same house is vacant for some period of time,
we consider the 'notional loss' of income as real income as he has been deprived of additional income during the period his house was vacant.
Since I had worked in Indian Audit & Accounts department for considerable number of years,I can appreciate the point of C&AG.
Perhaps Thiru. Yamaha has not read the report of Shri.R.P.Singh.He has added that in addition to the loss of Rs.2700 crores,there could be additional loss which may be difficult to quantify.
As regards,the views of Shri.Kabil Sibal,Prime minister,they are only defending.
Even KASAB,Pakistani terrorist is pleading innocence in the court.
Recently,I read the interview given by Shri.Raja former Telecom Minister.I feel he had carried out instructions from the top.In politics,some are made
scapegoats.The real story will never come in the open.

Dear Krish Sir:

I am surprised that you brought Ajmal Kasab - a cold blooded mass murderer when we talked about the Cabinet Decision of the sitting Union Govt on 2G! Very strange, in deed.

A Notional Loss is a presumptive Loss, not REAL loss, period.

Dr. MMS, Sibal and others talk about REAL loss incurred to the Exchequer.

It's a common knowledge now that A. Raja carried out the Cabinet Decision to sell 2G license in 2008 at 2001 price. I have posted video of Salmon Kurshid - the Union Law Minister - on this topic in the Politics and Current Affairs Thread elsewhere.

Let's see what OP Saini would do with this bogus case.. I bet Judge Saini will convict Raja and all the Corporates, because he has acted as a Prosecutor and not as an Impartial Judge so far.

On Appeal, all will be exonerated in a minute.

Wait & watch.

 

[guruvayurappan]

dear Sangom sir !
kindly put in tamil or sanskrit the sentance" praaptEtu ShODaSE varShE putram mitravad AcarEt".as i mentioned in one of my post that i could not read it correctly.
with pranams
guruvayurappan

 

[guruvayurappan]

it is easy to make comments about a finished (constructed )house than giving valuable advice to construct a stable and strong house as per vasthu or basic amenities .it will be in the best interest of country not to make our judgment in a sensitive matter which is in trial in a open forum .

 

[mskmoorthy]

लालयेत् पंच वर्षाणि दश वर्षाणि ताडयेत् ।
प्राप्ते तु षोडशे वर्षे पुत्रं मित्रवदाचरेत् ॥
Laalayet pancha varshaani dasha varshaani taadayet
Praapte tu shodashe varshe putram mitravadaacharet


For five years one’s son should be pampered, the next ten years he should be beaten (meaning he must be disciplined) and once he turns sixteen he should be treated as a friend.

This is a quote from Chanakya in chaankya Niti - I am giving the full quote. You can glean more quotes from

GLEANINGS FROM SANSKRIT LITERATURE

dear Sangom sir !
kindly put in tamil or sanskrit the sentance" praaptEtu ShODaSE varShE putram mitravad AcarEt".as i mentioned in one of my post that i could not read it correctly.
with pranams
guruvayurappan

 

[B.Krishnamurthy]

I refer to Post no.346.I agree with Thiru.Yamaha that all political leaders in India gets exonerated from civil/criminal cases.
That is the order of the day in FREE DEMOCRATIC INDIA.
Ps:- After reading posts of Thiru.Yamaha, I feel he would have been a successful diplomat/politician in INDIA.
He can try his fortunes in USA.