Child in us

When born we know no language and so there are no thoughts and in that silence of mind we will know

·       Hunger 

·       Sleep

·       Joy - looking into one’s mother’s eyes filled with unconditional love

And are filled with

·       Playfulness -  simply keeping limbs active and curiosity satisfied

·       Ignorance – blissfulness

A child never feels it needs an identity, in fact it has none. The first identity is name and then it starts getting complex as the self consciousness begins to develop with which slowly the identity also begins to develop.

And the roles we get into as a daughter, engineer, wife, mother etc., are so captivating that we get lost in them totally and slowly begin to create an image of ourselves. A few lucky ones are made to realize what is their true image while others are busy chasing a mirage which makes them look either superior or inferior then what they truly are.

This is how slowly a child who had no identity and was selfless begins to fall in love with the self itself so immensely that every single moment the ‘I’ is ever present in every role and the worst part craves for attention BIG TIME. This, if and when it happens is an indication that we are getting lost, due to which many changes can happen      

·       Hunger  -  Turns to greed where the senses take priority and we eat till we feel the fullness of the stomach and in the case of stress, eat to forget the stress and then feel the stress about our weight J

·       Sleep – Addiction to television, parties, work all of which now snatches away the natural sleep cycles and then we worry about our early grey hair and appearance.

·       Joy - looking into one’s mother’s eyes filled with unconditional love – as a child we are at peace with each moment. And now each moment we live in the past or future, instead of rejoicing the moment by looking into the eyes of a child or looking at a flower.

o   When the mind wanders away from the moment into the past or future, we can bring it back gently to the now and slowly it will be trained to stay that way,

1.       Past: If we are missing a loved one or some good moments then we could try and stop the thought, change grief into gratitude for the experience we had, for having the person or moment in our life. Slowly then we can observe our breathing and in that moment of thoughtless silence, if not joy, there should be a moment of utmost peace. That moment, it is ours completely, we’ve earned it and we deserve to enjoy it.

2.       Future: if the mind wanders into the future, it would be to worry or to desire - both of which are not getting us anywhere. If it is worry, we should learn to trust in oneself, in others and in the universal power and if it is desire – we should desire but without being attached to the desire – for example one desires a car, then one should work towards it and not think the car will decide one’s happiness; if we get it, fine, if we don’t then too life simply goes on... the difference will lie in whether we lived the moment or wasted it.

·       Playfulness - simply keeping limbs active and curiosity satisfied – As an adult we forget to even breathe naturally and are too conscious about others to do what we really want, instead are busy trying to belong to the major section of society, do what they do, eagerly wait for appreciation to know you got it right, simply put - live for others, live like others because some of us over the years have cultivated the fear of standing alone. Instead why can’t we simply be like a child with the advantage of the knowledge of an adult – be ourselves and do what we love to do, no matter what as long as we are not harming society, environment or any living thing.

·       Ignorance – blissfulness – Formal Education is to develop a skill which will help us follow our passion and survive but it is not a guarantee of peace and joy.

Knowledge through informal education happens when

o   we can begin to observe ourselves and our emotions

o   analyse and understand what we observe

o   do the same for others around us

o   we see the beauty in every person, nature and animals

o   we go beyond physical beauty but at all times taking care to treat with respect what nature has gifted us – our body

This knowledge will help us stay what we were as a child – a good human being

As a grown-up, there is lot we can learn by keeping the child in us alive.