== WHERE DO BABIES COME FROM ==
Namaskar,
Around the globe there are various ways of explaining to small children,
"Where do babies come from". Because, after all, invariably the situation
arises in one way or another.
Most commonly, this scenario comes to the fore when a young child learns
from its mother that they will soon have a younger sibling etc. Naturally,
with all its curiosity, the child will then ask about the origin of this
forthcoming baby. In which case a reply often has to be given to the child,
in some way.
HOW IT SOMETIMES PLAYS OUT IN THE WEST
In the west, from Europe to the US, there are vying opinions about how and
when to educate children about sexuality: From childbirth to sexually
transmitted diseases. And amazingly enough, some start sex ed (sexual
education) right from the age of 3 or 4 by using picture books that show
the female body, uterus, fetus etc.
Thus when a young child innocently inquires about the origin of the baby,
then parents might sit down with picture books-- then and there.
This is one of the main ways that is happening in the west at present.
OURS ARE LOVING RELATIONSHIPS, NOT BIOLOGICAL
In AM, our outlook is a bit different. Ours is a more holistic vision that
encompasses the whole of human understanding.
In AM, we see one another as humans-- as fellow travelers on the path to
the Divine. So when we see our close people, we do not view them as merely
a collaboration or collection of different biological parts. Such as a
stomach full of food, a gallbladder, two kidneys, etc. Rather we see them
as a whole human personality-- someone whom we love and cherish.
Thus we consider the spiritual, psychological, & emotional bodies, and
indeed all aspects of the human personality.
Similarly, when introducing young kids to their newborn sibling-- rather
than explain the baby's birth from a strictly biological perspective-- we
can instead use a multi-dimensional approach that encompasses the various
aspects of human life-- of our human origin.
BABA'S DIVINE GUIDELINE
Here Baba guides us how the great sadhaka Mada'lasa' was guiding her young
son.
Although in the below passage Mada'lasa' is talking directly to her newborn
son, we can use this same type of approach when teaching a child about
where their younger, i.e. newborn, sibling has come from.
"Although you are but a child in a small human frame, you are the veritable
expression of the Supreme Consciousness. You are an ever-holy,
ever-enlightened entity. As long as you think that you are only a small
child, you are spiritually ignorant, but when you realise that you are a
part of that Supreme Entity, you become that Supreme Entity, you become
spotless (nirainjano'si)." (AV-7)
By this above approach, the child benefits in multiple ways. From an early
age the infant develops a link with the greater universe and understands
that there is a Supreme Being or God with whom they are connected, in a
loving way.
And of course the above is just an example from centuries and centuries
ago. So if there are some words or phrases one wishes to change then that
is certainly an acceptable thing to do.
Here the main part is incorporating a spiritual vision that recognises the
trifarious nature of the human personality. And this approach gets us away
from getting into the nuts and bolts of human anatomy and physiology and
sex ed etc. Those topics can come later on as our children grow older and
more mature.
IN OUR AM FAMILIES
So in our own households, we can employ variations of this same approach.
We can say this about each one of our children. As soon as we tell this to
our 3 year or 5 year old in order to explain how they now have a younger
sibling. Right away we can also tell that 3 or 5 year old that they are
also a child of this grand universe. That way there will not be any
jealously, complex, or difficulties etc.
SEX ED CAN WAIT TILL LATER
And at that same time we can move ahead in life-- knowing that the sex ed
can be delivered at a later date. Because there are innumerable times later
on in their early adolescence that children need to get the full scoop on
human health and sexuality. This everyone must learn once their glands
begin to develop. And parents should be one trusted avenue for their
children in this regard. And certainly they will learn what they will from
their peers and the school curriculum. But parents should have a distinct
role in this-- but that role need not start too early either.
In those early years before the onset of puberty, and especially when the
child is only a handful of years old, that is a sacred time to instill the
notion that every human being is a divine child of this grand universe.
This is also an important and significant concept for them to get. And
besides-- it is true.
ALL ARE CHILDREN OF THE SUPREME
Everyone thinks that, 'this body is mine, but more than that they do not
ask. Just they think that it is mine. But that 'mine' also belongs to
something. And here below Baba tells us where to whom that 'mine' belongs
to-- i.e from where it comes.
Baba says, "Everything has emerged from me, everything is being maintained
in me, and ultimately everything will dissolve in Me...the Cognitive Entity
has been recognized as the primordial cause of creation...the Supreme
Operative Principle, carries on Her creative flow according to the
expressed desire or expressed approval of Parama Purus'a. Hence Purus´a is
the prime cause of creation.
Mayyeva sakalam' ja´tam' Mayi sarvam' pratis't'hitam.
"Since everything in this universe is born out of Purus'a, there is nothing
beyond or outside Purus'a; hence Mayi sarvam´ pratis´t´hitam - "everything
is residing in Him." He is the base of everything; there is no way to go
beyond Him." (SS-11)
By this way, it becomes quite clear that we all stem from Him. He is our
Source; He is our Father. We are all children unto Him.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's grace, part and parcel of everyone's early learning should
incorporate this idea that we all come from Him and that we will all return
to Him. This divine idea should neatly reside in everyone's consciousness--
from an early age. And later on when it is time for the specifics about the
birds and the bees, i.e. sex ed, then that should be told. First however,
one should enjoy the sweet blessings of Parama Purusa and understand that
we all come from Him and will return to His divine Lap. This should be one
of one's earliest memories.
Baba says, "Ultimately one will have to reach Him. There is no other way. "
(12 Nov 78 DMC)
Namaskar,
Gagan
Note 1: HOW MADA'LASA' WAS CARING FOR HER BABY
One day, Mada'lasa' was putting her fourth child, a three-month-old baby,
to sleep with the following lullaby:
Shu'ddho'si buddo'si nirainjano'si sam'sa'ra m'aya' parivarpito'si.
Sam'sa'ra svapnam' tyaja mohanidra'm' Mada'lasolla'pam uva'ca putram.
"Dear son, although you are but a child in a small human frame, you are the
veritable expression of the Supreme Consciousness. You are an ever-holy,
ever-enlightened entity. As long as you think that you are only a small
child, you are spiritually ignorant, but when you realise that you are a
part of that Supreme Entity, you become that Supreme Entity, you become
spotless (nirainjano'si)."
The mistakes that people make, the crimes and sins they commit, leave a
mark imprinted on their minds which remains as a sam'skara'. This spot or
mark is called ainjana in Sanskrit. Ainjana also means a kind of black mark
which is used to decorate the eye.
"My dear child, there is no black spot in your mind. You are spotless. You
are unassailed by any kind of sin."
Sam'sa'ra m'aya' parivarpito'si:
"You are beyond the spell of the illusory Ma'ya' of this mundane world. You
are the embodiment of the pure and unblemished self."
Sam'sa'ra svapnam' tyaja mohanidra'm:
"What is this world after all? Human beings think this world is real, but
to the Absolute Entity it is only a mere dream, having no real existence.
That is why I tell you to break the spell of illusion which makes you dream
about all the attachments of this world."
Mada'lasallopam uva'ca putram':
"This is how Mada'lasa' teaches her son." (AV-7)
Note 2: WHAT IS BEING SAID IN THE WEST
Sex ed is a hot topic nowadays and often the tendency is to tell more to
children at an earlier age. Here below are but a few examples how parents
struggle with using biology alone as a means to explain where babies come
from.
Here is what one mother told:
"My 5 year old daughter asked me where babies come from and I panicked. I
went into this long, nervous, diatribe about when a man and a woman love
each other, how babies are made, where the come out, etc. I was beet red
and my heart was pounding by the time I finished."
And another mother who is also a counselor advises in this way.
"If you have already told her that her mom is going to have a baby then it
is a natural question for her to ask. It is up to you to decide whether she
is old enough to cope with the answer without being frightened, if not,
just tell her firmly that you will tell her when she is older. If you do
decide she is ready, then explain it in simple terms, with a book to help
her understand in pictures what happens. Whatever you do, don't lie to her
or make up stories, children are not stupid! There are many books on the
market that you could find in your local library which explain the facts of
life to young children. Help her to understand by explaining it in terms of
where she came from, make sure she realises how much Mommy and Daddy loved
each other to want to make her in the first place and how much they love
her now. This way, she won't feel jealous or sidelined once the baby arrives."
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Confusion about Microvita
Baba says, "Microvita are the initial stage of matter. Although they are
matter they are very, very subtle. All of a sudden microvita are transmuted
into matter and matter is transmuted into microvita. For investigating the
initial stage of matter, research is not possible in physical laboratories,
but it is possible in the human mind and human soul. Microvitum is closer
to the realm of ideas than matter...While atomic research can be done in
physical laboratories, microvita research can only be done in the human
mind and soul." (MVNS, 'Q & A on Microvita', #19)
Note: In His above teaching Baba is giving the hint that intense sadhana
should first be done and then one can realise & understand the practical
aspects and theoretical concepts of microvita. The key point being that
microvita are very subtle in nature and are "closer to the realm of ideas
than matter".
Nowadays, however, certain dry intellectuals are giving misguiding lectures
on microvita and confusing margiis. Such dry jinanis are telling that
microvita should first be discovered and researched on the physical plane--
with our crude eyes etc. The main source of controversy stems from the fact
that these jinanis themselves aren't clear about microvita, therefore they
are making others confused.
Once again then, we should hold firm to Baba's above reference that only by
doing maximum sadhana can one gain a proper understanding of microvita.
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