Dear children, in today’s world, we see four things spreading like epidemics: wealth becoming more important than values, physical beauty becoming more important than inner beauty, speed becoming more important than direction, machines becoming more important than people.
There was a time when self-sacrifice and simplicity were considered two of the most important aspects of life. When we take something from nature or society, it is our responsibility to give something back. If we give more than we take, this brings peace, prosperity and unity to all. Parents need to cultivate such spiritual values in their children from a very young age, otherwise they will spend their entire lives in tears.
Spirituality is not opposed to acquiring wealth or fulfilling desires; that is a misconception. Spirituality only insists that these be done in alignment with dharma.Once, two children were playing. The boy had some pocket money. The girl had some chocolates. The boy said, “If you give me chocolates, I’ll give you money.”The girl agreed. Upon receiving the chocolates, the boy separated the most valuable coins and gave her the less valuable ones.
The girl did not realise what was going on, and she laid down and slept peacefully.The boy kept thinking, “I bet she had some really expensive chocolates. Instead of giving them to me, she probably gave me the cheap ones. Just like I set aside the most valuable coins, she must have held back the more expensive chocolates.” With all these suspicions, he could not fall asleep.This is our state. We are sustained by dharma, but only when we sustain it as well.Still, we can see rays of hope here and there despite the challenges humankind faces. There are people who try very hard to help those who are hungry and suffering. Their compassion-filled hearts awaken hope for a bright future.Many years ago on a foreign tour, a 13-year-old boy gave me a small envelope during darshan. Hugging him, Amma asked, “What is it?”The boy said, “300 euros.”“Where did you get this from, son?”“I took part in a flute competition. I got first prize. This is the prize money.
Amma takes care of many orphans, and this will help them in some way.”Listening to his innocence, Amma had tears in her eyes. Amma said, “Son, your goodness has filled Amma’s heart today. People like you are Amma’s real wealth.”But then the boy’s younger sister became very sad. She also wanted to help the orphans. Two weeks later, those children came to see Amma again and the little sister gave Amma an envelope. Amma asked, “Dear child, what’s this?”Her mother answered, “It was her birthday a week ago. When her grandfather gave her 10 euros, she had one strong desire: she wanted to give the money to Amma to buy chocolates for the orphans.” Amma hugged this beautiful girl, kissing her. Amma asked, “Don’t you want to eat ice cream and chocolate?”She shook her head, “No.” “Why not?”“I get to eat that all the time. But aren’t there a lot of children who don’t have the money to buy these things? Amma must take this money and buy them chocolates.”Her brother, in his compassionate action, had become a role-model for this little girl. There are many poor people in our world, but there are also many rich people. If they were to set aside a portion of their wealth, poverty could be totally eradicated.May these compassion-filled little hearts become role-models for all of us. May we all give more than we take from the world.
