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ज़िन्दगी टिकटॉक है, बच्चे! || आचार्य प्रशांत, वेदांत महोत्सव (2022)
148.6K views
3 years ago
Child Upbringing
Entertainment
Addiction
Spirituality
Parenting
Information Age
Consciousness
Kabir Saheb
Description

A questioner expresses concern that his children, aged 9 and 11, are not interested in spiritual literature or devotional songs like those of Kabir Saheb. Instead, they are drawn to Punjabi rap and Bollywood item songs, finding spiritual content boring. He seeks guidance on this matter. Acharya Prashant responds by stating that it is already late. He explains that after nine or ten years of practicing something, a pattern becomes established within, which is not easy to change. In this age of information technology, information is bound to reach a child's mind from all directions. Therefore, parents must be very careful about what their children are exposed to. We often think a child is too young to be affected, so we let them dance to DJs at weddings or play rap music in the background, but this is how their interests are formed. The child does not suddenly wake up one day and decide to listen to hip-hop; they must have heard it somewhere first. This kind of music is designed to excite the mind; it is spicy and creates an addiction. It doesn't demand attention but provides intoxication, which the inner animal in us loves. De-addiction is a difficult and noisy process, unlike the smooth slide into addiction. If children find devotional songs boring, they will likely find all higher things, like science and mathematics, boring too. Their value system becomes centered on seeking only what is entertaining. The development of the mind, not entertainment, should be the priority. Acharya Prashant points out that in the age of entertainment, the one who provides entertainment becomes the new god, guru, and parent. Children become the offspring of celebrities and YouTubers. This is a result of a society and a socio-economic system that is itself a victim. We live meaningless lives and seek constant intoxication through entertainment. The literal meaning of 'manoranjan' (entertainment) is the staining or corruption of the mind. He warns that even cartoons can contain harmful hidden messages, teaching children to be like animals. The culture of such music, drugs, and consumerism are all interconnected. The only hope is spirituality. Without it, we create a flawed system, and our children become its victims. Parents must be vigilant about the entire environment, including what is played in the car, on the phone, or at home, as these things can be poison for a child.