Daily Sadhana (Discipline) and Children

Narayan is almost five years old (on Aug 12) and I am realizing more and more how important it is for him to get an experience of what we do every day (yoga, meditation, banis, etc). He is like a fireball bouncing all over full of energy. A while ago I decided to commit to taking time every morning to do a daily Sadhana with him to help him with this. Kids these days have so much outside stimuli and are very hyper, so I think it is important to challenge them and teach them how to still their mind and body. This is what I am working on with Narayan.

Every morning we take about ten minutes to sit down together to do some different things. I try to vary what we do every day a little bit…so that he doesn’t get bored with it. I generally start with some basic yoga. Kids when they are really young are naturally very flexible…but as they get older loose this if they do not stretch their body out (we need to take care of our body and our mind!). Narayan isn’t very flexible anymore so we have been working on him stretching out and then doing some various other yoga excercises. If you are interested you can get a great book called "Fly Like a Butterfly: Yoga for Kids" by Shakta Kaur. She also has a website with some yoga for kids. Narayan has fun with this :)

After body is warmed up, stretched out and more relaxed…we do a meditation. This is what I really want Narayan to work on. It is hard for him to still his mind/body and focus internally. So, we have been doing different meditations. Mostly, just sitting still with eyes closed and spine straight, and chanting a mantra (could be Mul Mantra, Wahe Guru to some tune, or others). We have started with just a mere 3 minutes, and it can be hard for him, but he is definitely getting better and more focused. It’s really great seeing the difference in how his energy changes after doing it. He slows down and get’s more centered.

I realize how important it is to take this time to teach your kids these types of things and give them an experience. They may not be really into it when they start out but when they are older and have that experience and base…then they will thank you. It is also a challenge to keep it as a positive thing and not something that they are being forced to do (negative).

I work all the time so it is always something hanging in my mind reminding me that I have to spend time with Narayan to teach him these things. It’s so easy to just get caught up in every day life and be "Busy"…and loose touch with what is most important. So…my point is that all of us parents should take the time to find something to do with our children and teach them. Teaching starts at home with the parents. We can’t expect our children to be stay Sikhs if we have not taught them the reasons and given them an experience that they relate to.

6 Responses to “Daily Sadhana (Discipline) and Children”

1. Ron Singh Warner says:

   July 28, 2006 at 2:40 pm

   Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa
   Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

   Oh what a lucky little boy Narayan is. Such presents being given to one so young. Oh Satnam, what a luck little boy.

   Guru Ji Ki Fateh

   Ron Singh warner

2. A.k.Sandhu says:

   July 29, 2006 at 6:54 am

   Thank you for telling us that as it can certainely set’s an example to parent on how to get their children into meditation.

   I feel like i’ve learnt a lession from this as well. And in the future when i have kids i’ll surely be determined to put this into practice

   Ur doing a fantsatic job to your son well done.

3. Naydja Maya Kaur Bell says:

   July 29, 2006 at 5:44 pm

   Right On Veerji!
   Too often the spiritual guidance and instruction of youth is left to “Sunday” or “Khalsa” schools (one day a week), camps(a week or so a year), gurdwaras (by osmosis here?) etc, and what so many people don’t understand is learning must also take place within the home – there must be a forum there. Warm Warm Fateh to those who acknowledge AND ACT on that need.
   Peace and Chardi Kala
   Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.

4. sodhi singh says:

   July 31, 2006 at 4:13 am

   Gurbani tells us that the mother is the first guru of the child.

   When the child is young you can mould him/her to whatever form you may wish. What better than in the path of religion and towards GOD. When the child grows older, like a tree, you cannot mould as easily; the branches on the tree become firm and cannot bend as easily, they will break easier then they will bend.

   The mother of one bhagat used to hide candy under his pillow, when he would meditate as a kid. She used to encourage him to meditate as he will receive candy. Afterwards, when he began to feel the divineness in the meditation, and the mother forgot one day to place a candy there, the bhagat replied what can be a greater candy than what is receive from the meditation on GOD’s name; which is sweeter than any worldly candy you can find out there!!!

5. A.k.Sandhu says:

   July 31, 2006 at 10:47 am

   Sodhi singh jee
   that was Bhagat Fareed jee
   and it has became a very famous sakhi

6. Kiran says:

   July 31, 2006 at 4:50 pm

   Hi GM…

   I wanted to let you know that Narayan is so very lucky to have you teaching him. I wish I had someone to teach me things like medidation when I were younger…Not to worry though beacuse I think that its never to late to learn. Hence the word “Sikh” which means ” Learner” so I guess theres hope for everyone to achive what they want if they try to learn hard enough…So Im well proud to be a Sikh and mabe even a Khalsa Singhni later on in life.

   Lots of Pyar

   Kiran

   P.S it was cool in london today with a mere 24* and some rain and clouds. Should be more brighter tommrrow.