I asked you this question because I am thinking of teaching underprivileged kids between the ages of 8 and 15 years. Apart from the Academics, I wish to teach them more in the light of Mother and Sri Aurobindo and the Gita. We have all been brought up with a sense of competition in ourselves during school and college days, due to which humans fall when their goals are not met. I want to teach them what Gita has explained – like to give 100% at work and have no attachments with the fruits.
Life is much bigger than any circumstances that we face. To learn to accept whatever you get from life and be satisfied. No sense of competition among peers. To not have any kind of inferiority complex, etc. What do you think, sir?
2. What basic spiritual lessons can I give the poor children that they would be able to understand? Of course, Sri Krishna and Hanuman stories are the best things to give. Staying inwardly quiet. Character building like Rama.
3. Sir, I do not wish to have any kind of sattvic or Rajasic ego while doing this. What attitude should I have here in teaching them? From inside, I am teaching because I cannot see poverty among humanity. I wish to give education even to the poorest of the poor so that in future even if any one succeeds financially in life through education, he/ she could then at least try to understand the spiritual concepts of life out of curiosity or due to any other reason because when a person is struggling for bread and butter, then we cannot expect that person to be curious about the higher truths of life. We, the children of the one reality which is infinite in nature, should all be equal in each other’s eyes.
4. A thought keeps coming to me sometimes, which says, ” When you have not achieved anything much in life in the outside world, then how can you expect to teach the children to be successful in life?” It tells me that first you become successful in the outside world, then think of teaching others. It also comes while doing yoga that “when you have not achieved anything in life, then how can God come to you”. Is this the desire soul pulling me down?
The idea of helping others are itself a form of the sattwic ego. Underprivileged, economically deprived children are the language of sentimental idealism that has its place in the evolutionary journey of man when we are circuiting through ignorance. But to truly help, one must root out the real causes. See how the rich nations claim to have pulled out most out of material poverty. But the emotional, intellectual and spiritual poverty makes their riches look like a golden crown on a pig’s or a monkey’s head, making it worse. The first necessity is to pull people (rich and poor alike) out of the general state of ignorance that identifies us with the body and the desire-self and makes its satisfaction our true goal. The rich are, in fact, in a worse state of suffering. They may be in material comfort, but their psychological life is quite unhappy and disturbed. That is why they restlessly run to parties and fun-things. I have often found the poor more contented and happier. They at least have a genuine smile and generally sleep well. But the more a man acquires, the more his desires begin to emerge like a hydra’s head.
What the rich and poor both need is, first, building of character whose three main ingredients are, first, wisdom or true knowledge, a true understanding of things, next, strength of will and faith to which nothing seems too high or impossible; finally, love, the key to the cosmic mystery, and to God Himself. This is what is most needed today and there are very few who can do this. There are many who are trying to uplift the economic condition of the poor, – and it is good if one is inclined to do so. But very few are working to raise the psychological awareness and the inner condition, without which outer riches often become a curse rather than a boon.
Seen this way, the first necessity for man is to indeed develop himself spiritually and in every other way. If one could do it, then merely the presence of such a person will be of great help to one and all because such a person draws beautiful divine forces upon earth and radiates them around even as he breathes. The flower and the fruit serve best by developing themselves fully. It is not desire but an aspiration.
Yes, equality is needed, but equality is not sameness. People are in different stages of evolution and the outer circumstances of life are usually a clumsy reflection of that. Changing within is the key. And even their equality is not sameness but the sense of being one, even though different and distinct. That can only come by developing true brotherhood and belongingness by thinking of oneself as children of the same universal Mother. If one lives in this consciousness, then one can easily transmit it to others. Merely saying this intellectually may not help much. So here again, there is the necessity of first discovering oneself before one can truly help…
These are my thoughts on the subject.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
(Follow-up Question:)
Sir, please answer my 4th point question also. Thanks.
Wanting to grow towards the Divine is an aspiration rather than a desire. Desire keeps us tied to the circle of ignorance by asking for this or that material object or something that will give us vital pleasure or emotional gratification. Aspiration, on the other hand, frees us from ignorance by cutting the bonds of every illusion that keeps us tied to material and vital objects that are temporary and transient. Aspiration puts us in contact with the Permanent, the Eternal, the supreme subject whose contact liberates us into peace and joy and strength. All fear and feeling of incapacity, weakness and little littleness come from Ignorance that mistakes the little surface ego-personality for the true Soul.
The first thing necessary, therefore, is to focus on finding the Divine Presence within us, not with a sense of self-depreciation but as a natural need of one’s being.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
