(or how belief in reincarnation makes better parenting)
In response to a note I received, there are reasons why devotees of Krishna don't have to force their Vaisnava beliefs while raising their children. First and foremost, the Bhagavad gita says and Prabhupada has also explained that whatever a child does in devotional service, no matter how seemingly insignificant or simple it may be, such as saying Krishna's name while playing or helping change the water cups on the altar or just bowing his head to Krishna...any little thing, Krishna is so kind that He NEVER forgets it. Therefore the activities in Krishna consciousness accumulate in what Prabhupada called our "spiritual bank account" and what this Gita verse confirms also.
"In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear." -Bg 2.40
In other words, action in devotional service is not used up like regular good karma from pious activities. "It is never lost". That means that even if one does not complete the path of devotion in this lifetime, then Krishna assures in many other verses of His Gita that the person is given another chance to continue further in the next. It's not that we glamorize reincarnation- it is best to strongly encourage not to come back while stuffing the spiritual bank account, but at the same time we know that Krishna Himself, seated in the heart of every living entity in His expansion as Supersoul is guiding. He will remind the living being from within, so that he may make further spiritual progress in the event of having transmigrated to another body. Thus one will automatically become attracted to such activities once again, picking up where they left off.
"By virtue of the divine consciousness of his previous life, he automatically becomes attracted to the yogic principles—even without seeking them. Such an inquisitive transcendentalist stands always above the ritualistic principles of the scriptures." Bg 6.44
This explains a lot why some people take immediately to Krishna consciousness, whereas others need more time.
Prabhupada also compared this concept to how a cloud accumulates water:
"They may come again. It will never go in vain. Just like this cloud. Cloud is meant for raining. Now it is not raining, but when there is sufficient cloud, it will rain. You cannot say there is no rain. There is, but it is not sufficiently collected. When it is sufficiently collected, then."
And in this regard he also said about children, "Never force a child or he'll take sadly" or "If you feel you need to beat a child then you should be beat because you do not know how to handle the children properly!"
Also he said:
"Don't say "no." But give a taste for the good, then it will be automatically "no." And if you say "no" then he'll, they will rebel. The four "no's," that is very difficult. Still they are breaking. No illicit sex, they are breaking. But if they develop Krishna consciousness, this will be automatically "no." So don't bring many "no's," but give them positive life. Then it will be automatically "no." And if you say "no," that will be a struggle. This is the psychology. Positive engagement is devotional service. So if they are attracted by devotional service, other things will be automatically "no."
And Gita 2.59 confirms:
"The embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, though the taste for sense objects remains. But, ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher taste, he is fixed in consciousness."
The point is, we'd be a whole lot more fanatical about the whole thing if we thought this was the ONLY life, this is the ONLY chance for our kids or else the "loving" God will put the once-created -but -now -eternal- being into hellfire forever. That makes no sense, something that was created has to suffer eternally? It'd seem more merciful to just undo the dust sculpting process from the beginning.
And how does something that never existed before, suddenly exist forever after? That the Bible interpreters cannot say, but Krishna explains in Bhagavad gita on the contrary:
"NEVER was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings, nor in the future shall any of us cease to be."- Bg 2.12
In Vaisnavism we are of the same spiritual nature of God; it has been forgotten only because we now identify with matter.
Krishna consciousness is so practical and sensible and open minded.
Another example is that one's family members may not be able to follow so strictly at this time, but Krishna says, "If you can't follow these practices strictly....then work for Me." along with other prescriptions. So Krishna and His entire Bhagavad gita teaching wants to help us, not hinder us.
In response to a note I received, there are reasons why devotees of Krishna don't have to force their Vaisnava beliefs while raising their children. First and foremost, the Bhagavad gita says and Prabhupada has also explained that whatever a child does in devotional service, no matter how seemingly insignificant or simple it may be, such as saying Krishna's name while playing or helping change the water cups on the altar or just bowing his head to Krishna...any little thing, Krishna is so kind that He NEVER forgets it. Therefore the activities in Krishna consciousness accumulate in what Prabhupada called our "spiritual bank account" and what this Gita verse confirms also.
"In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear." -Bg 2.40
In other words, action in devotional service is not used up like regular good karma from pious activities. "It is never lost". That means that even if one does not complete the path of devotion in this lifetime, then Krishna assures in many other verses of His Gita that the person is given another chance to continue further in the next. It's not that we glamorize reincarnation- it is best to strongly encourage not to come back while stuffing the spiritual bank account, but at the same time we know that Krishna Himself, seated in the heart of every living entity in His expansion as Supersoul is guiding. He will remind the living being from within, so that he may make further spiritual progress in the event of having transmigrated to another body. Thus one will automatically become attracted to such activities once again, picking up where they left off.
"By virtue of the divine consciousness of his previous life, he automatically becomes attracted to the yogic principles—even without seeking them. Such an inquisitive transcendentalist stands always above the ritualistic principles of the scriptures." Bg 6.44
This explains a lot why some people take immediately to Krishna consciousness, whereas others need more time.
Prabhupada also compared this concept to how a cloud accumulates water:
"They may come again. It will never go in vain. Just like this cloud. Cloud is meant for raining. Now it is not raining, but when there is sufficient cloud, it will rain. You cannot say there is no rain. There is, but it is not sufficiently collected. When it is sufficiently collected, then."
Also he said:
"Don't say "no." But give a taste for the good, then it will be automatically "no." And if you say "no" then he'll, they will rebel. The four "no's," that is very difficult. Still they are breaking. No illicit sex, they are breaking. But if they develop Krishna consciousness, this will be automatically "no." So don't bring many "no's," but give them positive life. Then it will be automatically "no." And if you say "no," that will be a struggle. This is the psychology. Positive engagement is devotional service. So if they are attracted by devotional service, other things will be automatically "no."
And Gita 2.59 confirms:
"The embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, though the taste for sense objects remains. But, ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher taste, he is fixed in consciousness."
The point is, we'd be a whole lot more fanatical about the whole thing if we thought this was the ONLY life, this is the ONLY chance for our kids or else the "loving" God will put the once-created -but -now -eternal- being into hellfire forever. That makes no sense, something that was created has to suffer eternally? It'd seem more merciful to just undo the dust sculpting process from the beginning.
And how does something that never existed before, suddenly exist forever after? That the Bible interpreters cannot say, but Krishna explains in Bhagavad gita on the contrary:
"NEVER was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings, nor in the future shall any of us cease to be."- Bg 2.12
In Vaisnavism we are of the same spiritual nature of God; it has been forgotten only because we now identify with matter.
Krishna consciousness is so practical and sensible and open minded.
Another example is that one's family members may not be able to follow so strictly at this time, but Krishna says, "If you can't follow these practices strictly....then work for Me." along with other prescriptions. So Krishna and His entire Bhagavad gita teaching wants to help us, not hinder us.