Live Vedanta: Parenting Culture

Challenges: Screen time and recap

Episode Summary

Hari Om Dear Parenting Culture CommUnity! What a lovely series we have had so far with our Parenting Culture space. Earlier in December we had the Happiness Series (Week 11), and a recap of the Happiness Series (Week 12). In case you would like to catch up with the Series, watch the complete series on our Facebook page. For Week 14, we reviewed the 5 Parenting Challenges and also discussed Screen Time. Time to recap and reflect on the Parenting Challenges and Screen Time:

Episode Notes

🎓Recap (December 18, 2023)

Being a seeker

• 📚 Veda is about spiritual knowledge, not IQ but SQ; Veda-anta is understanding oneself. Exploring within leads to Advaita—Oneness in all. 🧘‍♂️
• 👥 Differences breed fear; oneness brings fearlessness, courage, and tranquility. Seeking means feeling oneness, fearlessness, and having less dejection, anxiety, and stress. 🕊️
• 🔄 Generosity begets reciprocity: the more you give, the more you receive. 🌱

Review of Parenting Modern Challenges and their Ancient Wisdom Visualizations

1. Finding Balance (podcast)

• 🐒 Hanumanji observed that Vibhishana was the sole early riser in Lanka.
• 🕉️ As the Master, Bhagavan Krishna led a disciplined life, engaging in contemplation in the  early morning hours.

2. Self Care - longevity of utility (podcast)

• 🐵Sugreeva recovered following a conflict with his brother Vali.
• 🏹Bhagavan Rama waited for the weather to improve before embarking on the search for Devi Sita.

3. Family Communication (podcast, review-podcast)

• 🧘‍♂️ Rishika Maitreyi questioned Rishi Yajnavalka about why he was relinquishing IQ and EQ while embracing SQ without extending the same to her. She pondered thoughtfully on how his choices might not contribute to her happiness.
• 🤔Shri Bharata returned Bhagavan Rama's Padukas to Ayodhya and placed them on the throne, contemplating actively on what the wise would do (WWW).

4. Sibling Relationships (podcast, review-podcast)

• 💔During Vali's conflict with Sugreeva, Sugreeva expressed gratitude to Vali for introducing him to Bhagavan Rama. 
• 🌟 Shree Balarama chose to abstain and embarked on a Yatra during the Mahabharatha war instead of creating conflict when he disagreed with others' actions.

5. Learning Responsibility (podcast, review-podcast)

• 👑Raja Dasharatha commanded Bhagavan Rama to neither be the king nor stay in Ayodhya, and Bhagavan Rama obeyed the leader. 
• ☝️Bhagavan Krishna corrected his own family when they were mistaken.

6. Screen time

• 🐟 In the Mahabharata's Yaksha Prashna, the question is about what sleeps with its eyes open. The answer is a fish. This relates to our screen-heavy habits, suggesting a break from devices an hour before sleep, favoring traditional alarm clocks.
• 🌳 In Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavan Krishna encourages a natural lifestyle, advocating outdoor activities and connecting with nature, including hugging trees and cultivating plants.
• 🍔 Childhood obesity has surged due to targeted marketing, making children more susceptible to processed foods and reduced physical activity.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 As parents, our screen habits influence our children, emphasizing the need for mindful screen use in parenting.

7. (Bonus) Happiness Series

• 🔄 Elevate your purpose - 3R’s - revisit purpose, revolve around passionate individuals, reverse - lift purpose. Passion fuels philanthropy.