“While Krishna was going to the fruit vendor very hastily, most of the grains He was holding fell. Nonetheless, the fruit vendor filled Krishna’s hands with fruits, and her fruit basket was immediately filled with jewels and gold.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 10.11.11)

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फलविक्रयिणी तस्य च्युतधान्यकरद्वयम्
फलैरपूरयद् रत्नै: फलभाण्डमपूरि च

phala-vikrayiṇī tasya
cyuta-dhānya-kara-dvayam
phalair apūrayad ratnaiḥ
phala-bhāṇḍam apūri ca

“Have some patience here, as I attempt to explain a transformation, which is a positive, and then inevitably raise a potential issue I see, as a result. Let me begin by stating that when I first read Bhagavad Gita As It Is, the experience was positive. I was not turned off by the book. Back when I was a child, I was looking forward to a narrative about a military conflict. As soon as I went through the first few pages, I realized this was something different. I did not continue at that time, but I distinctly remember some of the color plates, such as the one about the changing body.

“No, my positive experience was from an actual reading, as an adult looking for answers to the mysteries of life. At the same time, I would say that the majority of the material was over my head. I am talking way over my head. I did not get most of it. I had no clue about the Sanskrit words. I took relief from the reveal about the imperishable nature of the soul and how the individual never truly dies. I did not get the comparisons, the references to historical figures, or the key concepts like jnana and vairagya, which are knowledge and renunciation.

“Fast forward to today and I know a lot more. I have had time to assimilate the teachings. More importantly, I appreciate a lot more. I think this has to do with maturity, having progressed deeper in the life experience. I appreciate Prahlada Maharaja, for instance, from the perspective of a father. I appreciate Rukmini Devi from the perspective of a person who prays for God’s association. I appreciate Bhishma from the perspective of someone who might get caught on the wrong side of a dispute every now and then, who has to absorb blows from his own family members.

“This is all to say that I think experience helps in understanding the science of self-realization. We appreciate God the more we know about the world around us. The more we appreciate God, the more we know Him. The issue I see is with children. How are they going to relate to anything? They are so young. How are they going to understand the kindness of Krishna volunteering to take a subordinate role for His dear friend and devotee named Arjuna, who was a bow-warrior? How are they going to understand the sacrifice that Sita Devi made in following her husband into a life of renunciation, in the literal sense? How are they going to marvel at the wonderful comparison between the small pond and the large body of water, for understanding the place of rules and regulations in spiritual life? Do you see what I am saying?”

यावानर्थ उदपाने सर्वतः सम्प्लुतोदके
तावान्सर्वेषु वेदेषु ब्राह्मणस्य विजानतः

yāvān artha uda-pāne
sarvataḥ samplutodake
tāvān sarveṣu vedeṣu
brāhmaṇasya vijānataḥ

“All purposes that are served by the small pond can at once be served by the great reservoirs of water. Similarly, all the purposes of the Vedas can be served to one who knows the purpose behind them.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.46)

It is impossible to revisit the way our mind worked during childhood and apply that worldview to today. We think the child will have a difficult time, but they pick up on so much already. One area of focus which is obvious for them to notice is authority. They inherently understand that if they want something, they should approach the mother and father. We have the obvious and beautiful example from shastra in Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in the form of an adorable child asking for milk from His foster mother, Yashoda.

There is the heartwarming interaction of the same Krishna with the lady selling fruit. This was in the farm community of Gokula. Krishna appeared in that area on purpose. It is not that the Supreme Lord descends at any time, on command, based on personal whims. It is a decision taken at His will, based on the conditions that He sees. He determines when His direct presence is necessary. He is the one pulling the strings; He is not a puppet.

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य
ग्लानिर् भवति भारत
अभ्युत्थानम् अधर्मस्य
तदात्मानं सृजाम्य् अहम्

yadā yadā hi dharmasya
glānir bhavati bhārata
abhyutthānam adharmasya
tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham

“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion – at that time I descend Myself.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.7)

As a young child, Krishna knew to approach the vendor for fruit. He brought some grains with Him. Sadly, most of those grains fell out of His tiny, lotus-like hands by the time He reached the lady. She did not mind. She still filled His hands with fruit. She would absorb the loss to her balance sheet. Krishna still understood what needed to be done. As the witness inside of the heart, He appreciated the devotion of the vendor lady. He rewarded that devotion by immediately transforming the contents of her basket into valuable jewels.

This is all to say that children have an idea of who provides. They know where to go to get stuff done. They might not be fully aware of the official org chart for the local area. They might not understand what an election means, in terms of governing authority. They may not know the particulars of how to supplicate certain leaders, in how diplomacy works. Despite their limited experience in this world, they know that there is someone or something that is providing for their needs.

In this respect, they can be directed to offer their kindness towards the one who provides for everyone. This can be their introduction into genuine spiritual life. They can know God as the one who lifts up every individual. Indeed, this was the teaching from the five-year old child named Prahlada, who explained to his inimical father that there is a single source that is the actual strength of every living being.

श्री-प्रह्राद उवाच
न केवलं मे भवतश् च राजन्
स वै बलं बलिनां चापरेषाम्
परे ’वरे ’मी स्थिर-जङ्गमा ये
ब्रह्मादयो येन वशं प्रणीताः

śrī-prahrāda uvāca
na kevalaṁ me bhavataś ca rājan
sa vai balaṁ balināṁ cāpareṣām
pare ’vare ’mī sthira-jaṅgamā ye
brahmādayo yena vaśaṁ praṇītāḥ

“Prahlada Maharaja said: My dear King, the source of my strength, of which you are asking, is also the source of yours. Indeed, the original source of all kinds of strength is one. He is not only your strength or mine, but the only strength for everyone. Without Him, no one can get any strength. Whether moving or not moving, superior or inferior, everyone, including Lord Brahma, is controlled by the strength of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.8.7)

The next question is if the limited understanding of God as the supreme order supplier is enough to make a lasting change. This understanding is fixed. The child does not have to ever let go of this view of God. It is not like they will mature one day into believing something else. This is because a starting point in understanding the Supreme Lord is like progress that never gets erased. Through maturity, their appreciation can only increase, but at least they know where to turn when they need something. In the highest state of advancement, they ask for only one thing: continued devotion. They kindly make this request on a continuing basis, through the chanting of the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

For introduction best,
Consider by whom blessed.

For everything to believe,
At home and all to conceive.

The child their appreciation showing,
God as the greatest knowing.

Progressing more from there,
Like source of strength aware.

Categories: questions

Tags: children, dailyprompt, hare krishna, parenting, poem, poems, poetry, worship