2 Mar 2006 @ 16:44, by Shreepal Singh
A child possesses by nature certain positively precious virtues that make him childlike. And, these virtues are acknowledged the foundations of civilization of mankind. To become childlike, a grown up person has to unlearn many things that he or she has learnt over the growing years. Lord Jesus Christ summons a child and put him in the midst of his disciples and tell them to be like him, to be like child. To properly understand the secret of this commandment, we have to appreciate two aspects of this teaching. Firstly, what virtues are there in a child, which are not found in the grown up persons and the grown up disciples are told to learn once again from child; and secondly, what is the utility and purpose of acquiring once again these virtues by tedious practice and learning.
How old a child should be to serve the example, an infant, a child of 5 or 6 years of age or an adolescent boy? What is the guiding star to find the answer? There are certain virtues that are ingrained by nature in child with his or her birth and which go on eroding in child with his growth over the years. And, modern times, these virtues are systematically sought to be eroded by our education. It is really very difficult to unlearn the things that we have learnt over the years and to learn once again the things that are childlike.
A child, not only of human beings but even a young one of animals to a great extent, is sincere in his or her approach. There is no trace of deceit in his behavior. What he or she says, he or she means it. Sincerity is the first virtue that a child possesses and grown ups are made by surroundings to unlearn and substitute with deceit. On the path of evolutionary ascent of consciousness, or in spiritual matters, sincerity is the first requirement. Without sincerity in full measure, spiritual awakening is unthinkable. Without this virtue, all pretensions of spirituality are farce, all preaching is deceit and all claims are the service of anti-Divine.
When Lord Jesus Christ uttered the following words, he meant this virtue of sincerity: Matthew (23-25) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. (6-5) And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men…. (6-7) But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (6-9) After this manner therefore pray ye…. (6-13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: (23-24) Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
The second virtue that a child possesses is that of surrender of his care and well-being to his or her parents or guardians. A child is dependent on the support offered to him or her by the guardians and there is not an iota of rebellion on his or her part against the command of the guardian. In evolutionary journey of human consciousness towards Divine, there is second requirement, rather imperative of the first category, of complete SURRENDER to Divine care and protection. Just like you make an experiment in material science and get the confirmation of the supposed result (hypothesis), one can make an experiment here in this field. You be complete sincere in your efforts and then surrender to Divine with the complete sincerity (like a child does to his parents) and then compare the results of your experiment. You will find miracles take place; things happen that science cannot explain; you may try to explain by bringing an element of chance. But then go on repeating your experiments and get the miraculous results, till all scope of explanation by chance is eliminated. Thirdly, a child does not have many thoughts. His mind is not yet developed and mature. There are not his thoughts to intervene and oppose his sincerity and surrender. He has FAITH in his parents. These thoughts in grown up persons have very great authority in all matters. They come uninvited when we are called upon to be sincere, bear faith and surrender to Divine and oppose these foolish acts; they reason: it is illogical; it cannot bear fruit; the very idea of sincerity or faith or surrender is ridiculous! It is a conspiracy to dull our personality, these thoughts assert. But let one be wise. You should make an experiment and verify the result yourself. Uttering of Lord Jesus Christ are not vain speaking in this respect. Happenings that are deemed impossible by reason may occur even in modern times also as the happened during the life of Lord Jesus Christ, as attested by Matthew, when he says thus: (14-25) And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. (14-26) And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is spirit; and they cried out of fear.(14-27) But straightaway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. (14-28) And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. (14-29) And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. (14-30) But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. (14-31) And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
But can you overrule the objections of your thoughts, tell them to wait and embark on the path of experiment? It is really difficult to unlearn many things and become childlike. Lord Jesus Christ had taught this secret to mankind ages ago, when he said:
Matthew: 20-21: Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me 20-25- When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 20-26- But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (21-21) Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done (……) to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Why should a person be sincere, bear faith or surrender to divine? Why should he or she toil to unlearn things that he or she has learnt with great efforts and labor over the growing years? Why should he or she become childlike? We are not concerned here with the people who do not want to proceed further and go ahead. We are not concerned here with the people who are self-content with the present state of their existence. We are concerned with those who, though having every thing that the world can offer them, feel that there is something lacking in life. We are concerned with them who toil tirelessly in their life, get what they wanted and then realize that all these rewards of hard work are not that satisfying as they had expected, that would be made to leave the world still unsatisfied and without possession of these hard earned rewards. We are concerned here with evolution; moving ahead and ascending towards a plane of consciousness that is higher than what human being presently possess.
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