Spiritual inquiry from childhood

 

1. Is there a shloka to pray for the safety of planet Earth?
2. What is the difference between courage (dhairyam) and fearlessness (nirbhayam)? Aren't they the same?
3. Does Lord Hanuman exist on the planet now? How can we see him?
4. Why is Lord Krishna called the guru of the Universe?
5. What is the scientific proof of the Mahabali story?
6. Where is the original book on Veda kept? Who wrote it?
7. Why do we have to chant a nama japa 108 times? Why not 10, 20 times?
8. How is chanting "shree rama rama rameti" equivalent to chanting Vishnu Sahasranama?
9. Is Hayagreeva a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu? Why not?
10. When we chant "asatoma sadgamaya", which God is it addressed to?

This is only a sample of the plethora of questions asked by little kids (5 of them aged 5-12 years) in the shloka chanting classes I have been conducting in my apartment in the last 2 months. Their curiosity, interest, and inquisitiveness drive me to come prepared for the classes and share relevant answers as much as possible. One of the most satisfying and fulfilling initiatives I've taken up in all these years!

When they close their eyes and chant or sing, these children have been able to experience certain changes. 

A 10-year-old told me, "Aunty, I could feel my heartbeat slowing down when I sing karpura gauram".

A 7-year-old felt very happy after chanting "jnanandam" - "I felt some energy inside me".

We discussed the meaning of a shloka from Bhagavad Gita (the classic "karmanye vaadhikaraste") and that triggered many questions and thoughts in their minds. During such conversations, I see that they have quite a lot of concern about the environment, climate change, and the misuse of natural resources. 

Children of today's times have a wide range of perspectives, on which they would like to discuss, share and raise questions. If the right environment is available - adults who can give them time and attention and actively listen without interrupting or barging in with their opinions - many of the modern-age problems can be looked at from a fresh perspective.