Anandhi Jayashankar, Friday, October 30, 2015 4:17 pm

What is it that we compete for??

Recently in a parent teacher meet, I was confronted by a few parents who wanted to know what they ought to do in order to ensure that their children compete well and their future is secure. This set me thinking. What did the parents really want??

Why is it that all of us think that a child who is running non-stop, studying continuously, participating in every known competition, writing every known competitive exam is the one who is actually in the competition?? The children who have a smile on their face, who help their peers, who generally ‘take life easy’ are termed as lazy, not competitive, useless etc. They are the one’s who will never make it to the top!!!! By the way ‘Which top and where is this top???’

History is proof that there is no limit to the knowledge that we gain. Not one person can claim to know all. Are we defining knowledge by the ability to make money, by the ability to “settle down” in life?? Is that the purpose of gaining knowledge?? Is that all we need our children to do with their lives?? Are we really setting them free or throwing them down an abyss of no return??

Well, my answer to all those parents!! Knowledge of any kind should have the ability to set you free. Free from the shackles of the mind, free from all negative habits, free to explore the world around, free to make the right choices in life, free to think originally, yes this is knowledge and this is where we should ideally guide our children.
Instead of limiting them to the subjects taught in school, please introduce them to the concepts of Vedanta. Let them learn this knowledge of life and living. Let them become independent thinkers. Today’s world is looking for such individuals as they are the one’s who can make a change.

Let us for heaven’s sake teach our future generation to be original thinkers and not rats that run an endless race of selfishness and desire!!!

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