Thursday, May 30, 2019

Renouncing the world at not that ripe age!




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Every now and then, there comes news that 10-12 years old kids receive diksha and become Jain monks. The kids very vivaciously talk about how he/she is ecstatic about their diksha and they also talk about how the materialistic world and life is futile. I don’t think that 10-12 years of age has enough repository of knowledge to deduce that the mundane world is worthless. 

They speak what they have been instilled into their minds.

Though, I am not that erudite on the Jain philosophy, I would like to share that I feel this tradition a bit cruel on part of the children who take diksha at the tender age. I mean what horrendously wrong they found with the world at this tiny age that they say that this world is illusion and real bliss is in becoming a monk. At this age when children cry at the separation from parents while going to hostel, these children get separated from the world. What psychological upheaval they must be going through…I wonder.  The media only reports at the time of the diksha reception that is a gala time with throng, no one cares to read the mind of these kids when they start leading a life in an insulated world. 

If these children are emotionally so strong at this stage that the effect of separation is zilch then hats off to them but what happens to these tender minds when the effect of separation is debilitating.

I am not against the tradition of diksha but at least the diksha recipient should have the experience of boons and banes of body up to an extent where they can themselves decide whether they want to continue with the ways of body or not. And the same is with life. Until there is a substantial amount of experience in the kitty of life, it is kind of unreasonable to tell that worldly life is worthless. The kids should be given a chance to lead a normal life at least till twenty or twenty-five years of age and if after that anyone decides with a mature perception of world to renounce the worldly affairs, then I don’t see any problem with it.

I understand that life is in different layers and spiritualism is one of that. And given the undulating nature of life that entails happiness along with unbearable pain and suffering, spiritualism is the final recourse for a frazzled soul. But to introduce kids as young as ten or twelve is like stunting the natural happiness of human mind and body and replacing it with a distant promised blissful enlightenment.

Receiving Diksha must be solving some issue of humanity but I think that it must be also leaving some issues of a tender mind unresolved and entangled. Despite all the razzmatazz created around the diksha of kids, I fail to feel the same frenzy. The kids should be given a chance to grow a normal life at least till twenty or twenty-five years of age.

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P.S: This post is written with the angle of worldly wisdom so it can miserably fail on the touchstone of spiritual yardsticks.

19 comments:

  1. It is not the case only with Jainism. Even in certain sects of Buddhism, one child from each family is sent to monastery at very tender age to become a monk.
    By the way, spiritual life is not all that dry. It has a charm of its own. Of course as you have said, every one should grow up to take up a monk's like voluntarily and out of maturity.

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    1. I still feel that the austere life of monk should wait till a mature age.

      Thanks for visiting the site and providing your comment.

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  2. well said neeraj...i totally endorse your views on this issue.

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    1. Thanks Deepshikha Jee for letting me know your views on the post.

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  3. At that tender age, are the kids capable of all these traditions. Do they understand?
    Well written.

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    1. That is the question. Thanks for visit Ranjana Jee.

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  4. Recently i read a news of a 12 girl taking diksha. it disturbed me, just like you. this kind of religious ritual is there in many sects - Hinduism - devadasi, Kumari/ Devi in Nepal, Christianity (nuns), Buddhism -lama kids, Jainism etc.
    I agree with you. Kids are too young to take such decisions.

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    1. Be it in any religion...I really feel pained to see such traditions devouring the existence of kids.

      Thanks Rekha Jee for your visit and comment.

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  5. Well written Neeraj👍👌 I do agree..

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  6. Yes, I totally agree with your thoughts Neeraj. Very well written post. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. I understand what you mean Neeraj - we have to make sure that no one takes advantage from their children or abandons them. However, I have heard of children who refer to their previous lives and are sure of what they want at a very young age. Dalai Lama was identified when he was a child. This view considers reincarnation as a part of life. The question of what is more important - the rights of the child or the traditional belief - is a crucial one and at present, the modernist view which gives precedence to child rights is winning. Every time traditionalists take a decision which goes against the modernist view of life, there are persons ready to raise voices and fight.

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    1. Thanks sir for bringing in new aspect in the discussion with your insightful views.

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  8. Whoa! That IS really young for renunciation! I get what you mean, Neeraj. This one's got me thinking. It would be interesting to delve into the other sides of this too, no? I'd like to hear them talk.

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    1. Yes we seriously need to hear them talk.

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    2. Thanks dee Nambiar for your visit to the site and commenting.

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  9. This has often made me ponder on the subject of renunciation too particularly when there was this news about some girls taking diksha. Had heard about little kids too and it happens in many religions. Religion is a sensitive issue to talk about today but we need to think of those kids and what goes behind such scenarios as well and not be exploited! As Dee said, would really like to hear what those kids have to say.

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  10. Thanks Deepa for sharing your thoughts on the subject. Sometimes a change in traditions should be considered to make religions feel more considerate to tender minds.

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